ZSL London Zoo Gorilla Birth

taun

taun

Well-Known Member
ZSL have annouced birth of Gorilla, no news on sex (obviously) and born to Mjukuu.

Guess he knew where to put it after all!
 
Fantastic news, here's hoping after all these years, wee one makes it.
 
Absolutely brilliant news for ZSL and the Primate Team!

I assume when this baby gorilla will be a few months old that some other female group members might be taken off any contraceptives and similarly may become pregnant and some stage ...
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I assume when this baby gorilla will be a few months old that some other female group members might be taken off any contraceptives and similarly may become pregnant and some stage ...
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I don't know if any of the three ZSL females at London have ever been contracepted. I rather doubt it as they have had so many problems trying to breed them over the years.

The eldest female 'Zaire' is actually the great grandmother of this new baby. She is considered 'too old' to breed now- though she is still within the age limit of(some) breeding females. But its so long since she had her last/only baby(1986 from memory) that its quite possible she isn't reproductively active any more.

That leaves just 'Effie' who came from West Berlin zoo. She bred twice in Germany before coming to ZSL, but rejected both her young.
 
IanRRobinson said:
Please God let it be female,
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Given the recent spate of castrations of genetically well-represented young male Gorillas(including two just down the road at Chessington in Mjuku's home family group)that is an important issue. Though with Kumbuka's w/c father 'Keke' having only two offspring and as there are none(yet) surviving in the next generation- apart from this new one- so if a 'he' that should be a failsafe.
 
Pertinax said:
Given the recent spate of castrations of genetically well-represented young male Gorillas(including two just down the road at Chessington in Mjuku's home family group)that is an important issue. Though with Kumbuka's w/c father 'Keke' having only two offspring and as there are none(yet) surviving in the next generation- apart from this new one- so if a 'he' that should be a failsafe.
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Considering the genetic importance of Kumbuka, and even Mjuku not being too bad genetically, even a male would be welcome. But the most important is that this is another hand reared male that has proven to be a succesful breeder, and if he is very valuable for the population.
 
Going through records, aren't Kumbuka and Mjukuu related (distantly)? Both Mjukuu and Kumbuka share a great-grandfather (Jersey Jambo). I know it's not close but still they are somewhat related.
 
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