Taronga Zoo Gorilla Moving to Melbourne

I wonder if she will be integrated with the existing group or becomig he frst female of a new troop?
 
Interesting times for the Melbourne Gorillas.
Perhaps they will reorganise the two groups again to try and stimulate some breeding. The obvious thing would seem to be to exchange this young female for the one at Melbourne (Jumatano) so Taronga gain an unrelated female too.
 
Pertinax said:
Interesting times for the Melbourne Gorillas.
Perhaps they will reorganise the two groups again to try and stimulate some breeding. The obvious thing would seem to be to exchange this young female for the one at Melbourne (Jumatano) so Taronga gain an unrelated female too.
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Very unlikely that they would move Jumatano. She is the one most likely to breed with Rigo, who last I heard was taking an interest in her, but not really the others.
 
CGSwans said:
Very unlikely that they would move Jumatano. She is the one most likely to breed with Rigo, who last I heard was taking an interest in her, but not really the others.
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I would have expected him to mate when she first started oestrus periods. It could still happen I suppose, but I'm less optimistic given the time that has already passed.

Its good to see a Gorilla move between the Melbourne/Taronga groups anyway.
 
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Hi Pertinax

I went to an update on MZ primates by one of the keepers last week and Mbeli seems to be doing very well. I had seen her when she was off display and she's a very beautiful girl....not that it's relevant, but she is.

Rigo has undergone a RE-introduction as apparently he has been the 'subordinate' male in the group up until recently. He is now behaving more like a dominant male and the group, along with Mbeli, have settled down well and they're spending more time together instead of in their little 'nooks' in the enclosure.

All the females except Yuska (due to her age) have had their implants removed. Rigo and Yuska have actually mated (saw the photos) so this positive. Julia is showing interest along with her daughter Jumatano (Johari).

As Mbeli is the only individual in the group who has actually been mother raised there is great hope that she will pass on some of her skills to the Melb girls (once one of them hopefully conceives).

The three males, Motaba and his sons Ganyeka and Yakini will be heading off to Werribee at the end of the year. There was no mention of reorganising the groups.



Don't give up on the big guy yet...........
 
I know it's wierd but I'm a little bit excited that Rigo has been seen mating the females in his group. I hope the results are positive. :)
 
zookiah63 said:
Rigo has undergone a RE-introduction as apparently he has been the 'subordinate' male in the group up until recently.
All the females except Yuska (due to her age) have had their implants removed. Rigo and Yuska have actually mated (saw the photos) so this positive. Julia is showing interest along with her daughter Jumatano (Johari).
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Hi again. and thanks for the update.

Can you explain the first part any further?

I guess maybe they would be pleased now if Rigo can get any female pregnant so aren't being so choosy anymore with the contraception business and selecting which he should be breeding with. The Taronga female is a good addition to the group but I don't know if she can change anything.

I'm still not very hopeful for 'Rigo' though:(. It has gone on so long without any successful outcome so far. I know these decisions have been made on genetic grounds but I do rather wish now that 'Motaba' was returned to his rightful place as the group leader- he'd have them all pregnant in no time...;)
 
zookiah63 said:
As Mbeli is the only individual in the group who has actually been mother raised there is great hope that she will pass on some of her skills to the Melb girls (once one of them hopefully conceives).
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She will almost certainly rear her own baby if she has one. But adult females like G.Anne and Julia may be too old to learn new behaviour, even from example.
 
Pertinax said:
Can you explain the first part any further?

QUOTE]

Rigo was initially introduced to the females and they have been sharing the same enclosure but he hasn't been behaving like the dominant male. Most of the individuals in the group shared the enclosure but didn't spend too much time together.

The re-introduction (as it was decribed) as I understand was conducted over several months where Rigo would spend one on one time with individuals from the group.

As I said it was an update from one of the keepers and were limited with time and questions were kept to a minimum.

He used to be a bit nervous with the females and any positive behaviours towards them have been rewarded (with food) until he regained (or maybe gained for the first time?) his confidence. This is how I understood it but I'll try and get some more details.

All the individuals in the group have benefited in some way or another. (And I think Yuska, God love her, has been put in her rightful place as well.)
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And yes Pertinax, I think you're right about Motaba. He would have all the females 'knocked up' in no time (he's done it before...lol).

He looks fabulous and Yakini and Ganyeka have grown so much! But Motaba still keeps a really close eye on the two boys (even though they're now ten years old). I think he's great.
 
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zookiah63 said:
Pertinax said:
Rigo was initially introduced to the females and they have been sharing the same enclosure but he hasn't been behaving like the dominant male. Most of the individuals in the group shared the enclosure but didn't spend too much time together.
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Yes, I see what you mean. I suspect maybe his advancing years have meant he lacks the impetus anymore to be a proper group leader. Unfortunately his 'prime' years were spent on his own (but no point in raking all that up again!)

I really do hope they can induce him to breed with one or more of the females. Its not impossible(that's provided he's still fertile of course) and of course the staff all know his behaviour and potential in that direction a lot better than I. However, I'm still a little tempted to say 'I'll eat my hat' but not quite yet...;)
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