Why do they hold him still in as this may complicate breedings with the true verus females for the pure-bred males?
Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo News 2016
- Thread starter Quincey
- Start date
Why do they hold him still in as this may complicate breedings with the true verus females for the pure-bred males?
Possibly but the verus males that can breed still mate the females and it was one of them that got Heleen pregnant. Also moving Qafzeh could be very stressful for him so if it wasn't to breed elsewhere, why would they?
It's not always only the dominant males that mate with the females; in Twycross their western male Kibali is intended to breed with the females but he is nowhere near the top of the male hierarchy of Jambo's group.
Ratty, or anyone, do you have the dates of birth for the chimps?
David- 2nd of March 1975
Lucy- 11th of May 1976
Lyndsey- 24th of December 1983
Qafzeh- 31rd March 1992
Kilimi- 20th of February 1993
Kindia- 5th of February 1997
Liberius- 20th January 1999
Heleen- 16th of April 1991
Louis- 1976 in Wild
Cindy- 1964 in Wild
Rene- 21st of February 1993
Pearl- 1969 in Wild
Paul- 8th of May 1993
Frek-21st of October 1993
Velu- 24th of June 2014
Lianne- 14th of February 1989
Eva- 9th of December 1980
Edith- 11th of April 1996
Lyndsey died a couple of years ago, Sophie is missing from the list, her birth date is 22nd Nov 1981
Thanks for that Ratty. Sophie- 22nd of November 1981
Five squirrel monkeys has been born
Looked like it still had some way to go today.
Visiting for the first time since last summer tomorrow...is Tian Tian offshow/the indoor enclosure shut off at the moment?
Did you book a visit to pandas, if not, you need to.
The indoor enclosure is closed but both bears have access to their outdoor area's. If on your first visit to the outdoor enclosure the panda's are both inside, you may be able to try again later in the day subject to visitor numbers.
Would I need to book two session tickets then...?
and yes I have booked a session ticket already 
No, you would only be able to book one session unless you booked another lot of tickets. The staff will tell you at your allocated time slot whether or not the panda's are outside. If they are indoors, they will tell you that you can try again later in the day...as long as visitor numbers allow. They do there best to encourage the male Panda to remain outside, by feeding him outside etc...the female is left to decide for herself where she wants to be...best of luck I hope you get to see them both
Ah thanks! Will update about it tomorrow