Taronga Zoo gorilla birth?

[Jabiru96]

Maturity in Gorillas;

Males can be fertile from 8 years onward(sometimes even younger still) though not fully mature until 12-15. In the wild only fully mature males normally control their own groups.

So Kimya might just be able to breed by the time the new male is sourced.

Females- start breeding around 8 years old (can sometimes be fertile younger, especially handraised ones). Will continue breeding into their forties.

Wow, so the older females might be able to breed for another 10 years or so.

I think Melbourne will persist trying to obtain young from Rigo for some time to come.

But do you think if they cannot eventually manage to breed from him they will source another, younger male?

 

[Pertinax]

But do you think if they cannot eventually manage to breed from him they will source another, younger male?

I guess so though Melbourne's plans regarding Gorilla breeding are always rather confusing to me I would really just rather see Motaba returned to his group and allowed to breed again, but as with Taronga, there is great emphasis on keeping the genetic-base as wide as possible and unfortunately Motaba wouldn't fit that plan.