Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Durrell news
- Thread starter Nisha
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Great news!
It might help if the Education team don that giant Chough suit and stand out on the cliffs for a few hours! I'm looking forward to spotting some cornish choughs in the summer when I run/hike the SW coastal path.
* Whats going to replace the Maned Wolves - has it become a permanent extension for the Macaques?
Keep up the good work Rick.
It might help if the Education team don that giant Chough suit and stand out on the cliffs for a few hours! I'm looking forward to spotting some cornish choughs in the summer when I run/hike the SW coastal path.
* Whats going to replace the Maned Wolves - has it become a permanent extension for the Macaques?
Keep up the good work Rick.
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Haven't they been able to see/read his rings? I hope he has at least managed to join the others- if he's still alive now that's a good sign too.
Hi Pertinax,
It's the lack of (large, highly visible) rings that makes hing identifiable from the release cohorts, and the sighting (which wasn't expressly thought by the observer to be Arthur) reported no large, coloured ring, which indicates a slightly better possibility that it was indeed the errant, now legendary bird!
Hiya, how is life in the hotbox treating you?
I'll suggest that to Naomi, and tell her it was your idea!
Wolf paddock looks like it, and secondary (horrible and thankfully soon to be vacant macaque-matraz) will become a new adventure playground. What goes in the old playground site will remain to be seen.
Cheers for the kind words, but all I do is talk about stuff!
The real 'good work' is done by the others here!Nothing, I'm afraid. They are mixed and getting along, but no signs of mating, sadly. This is bad news for the species in captivity.
Other news is that the new gorilla climbing frame will be officially 'handed over' by the Jersey Field Squadron on 24th of May. It's big, and adds a nice amount of 3D space to the gorillas area. Now if we could just do something about the indoor area
Oh right, I guess he has just JWPT metal rings, not the big numbered ones of the release birds. Lets hope it is/was him, but I'd be very surprised if he is still alive and can forage for himself. Here's hoping...
Other news is that the new gorilla climbing frame will be officially 'handed over' by the Jersey Field Squadron on 24th of May. It's big, and adds a nice amount of 3D space to the gorillas area. Now if we could just do something about the indoor area
Maybe you could supply a photo or two for us after the official opening?
Agree about the indoors but I imagine changes aren't planned anytime soon?
Sure, would be happy to!
We have had plans drawn up for free by a local architect, We're just missing that magical ingredient that makes things happen, as ever. If we had the money, and could expand the indoor area, we could potentially get another female, which might break Kahilli's monopolising of Badongo (and the food... and everything else...), as she'd hopefully back Bahasha up. Then we'd probably see some more youngsters. It's time that indoor area was updated, regardless.
Very bad..... all things considered I am glad I got to observe the species at length and for a prolonged period at Magdeburg last month, as I suspect it may be the last chance I get.
I just saw the mock-up photo you posted in the gallery.
Do you think Kahilli is preventing/impeding him mating the others?
And was a decision reached breeding-wise about orangutan 'Gina'?
It seems to be the case, she's monopolising him like she did Ya Kwanza, and Bash struggles to stand up to her. Kishka is largely oblivious, but Bahasha quad-walks and flirts, and shows real interest until Kahilli charges her, then it's all over. Jonathan worked so hard at integrating them, and now separating them off causes Badongo real stress, so it's not an option.
Gina... well, that's news. You'll need to wait until June to find out what's going on there, there will be press!
Gina... well, that's news. You'll need to wait until June to find out what's going on there, there will be press!
Thanks. no need for further comment obviously, but I guess it has to be something positive as otherwise there would not be press.
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threeple61
Well-Known Member
How many black lion tamarins does Durrel keep? They haven't had much success with them as of late but I was under the impression that they still had a fair few..
Hi Three!
We've got 8 of the fifteen that are in captivity, and all current surviving captive L. chrysopygus (as far as I can ascertain) were born in Jersey.
Obviously, this presents us with severe genetic issues. We are looking into artificial insemination as a last resort with the last viable pairing in captivity at present, but our main aim is to ramp up enough support and awareness to persuade the Brazilian government to allow us to take some from the rescue centres and reserves in South America.
It's the last ditch, and it would take one fire in Morro do Diabo State Park to finish the species off in the wild. We are essentially the 12th fragment of the Atlantic forest, as far as this species is concerned, and we need to get that message to the right people.
Is the small genetic base the only problem? Or are there other (husbandry?) issues why this species hasn't done as well in zoos as other Leontopithecus sp.?
Hi Mike,
The below is from our most recent draft internal strategy document for the species. Dominic Wormell is working hard on this at the moment. I think it demonstrates it all stems from the beginning of the programme – relatedness amongst the founders of the captive population for L. chrysopygus.
• Research is being carried out on:
• The relatedness of the captive population, using hair samples collected in Europe; this is a collaboration with São Carlos University in Brazil. and compare with fragmented wild population . Tiny populations are being found in the east of the species range which may be genetically distinct from the western population. Individuals from the western population formed the founders for the captive population. The European population has nearly disappeared due to lack of breeding and disease. This is almost certainly because the original founders were related, and DNA analysis should shed light on this.
• Historical analysis of the prevalence of gall stones, which appear to afflict the species far more than other callitrichid species in captivity.
• a review of the species in captivity.
I hope that helps.
The below is from our most recent draft internal strategy document for the species. Dominic Wormell is working hard on this at the moment. I think it demonstrates it all stems from the beginning of the programme – relatedness amongst the founders of the captive population for L. chrysopygus.
• Research is being carried out on:
• The relatedness of the captive population, using hair samples collected in Europe; this is a collaboration with São Carlos University in Brazil. and compare with fragmented wild population . Tiny populations are being found in the east of the species range which may be genetically distinct from the western population. Individuals from the western population formed the founders for the captive population. The European population has nearly disappeared due to lack of breeding and disease. This is almost certainly because the original founders were related, and DNA analysis should shed light on this.
• Historical analysis of the prevalence of gall stones, which appear to afflict the species far more than other callitrichid species in captivity.
• a review of the species in captivity.
I hope that helps.
It is good that Dominic is doing this review. The observation that there is a western and eastern population is interesting. I would hope the population is actually genetically not distinct, but diverse … It may well be right that the captive stock was quite related to begin with.
Did they all come through the Rio de Janeiro Primate Center?
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