Taronga Zoo Gorillas at Taronga

[Kifaru Bwana]

It has been a while since the last good Friday. Female Frala has just given birth to a bouncing male gorilla baby. Kibabu looks well at ease with his new offspring. Perhaps one or 2 other female gorillas are also pregnant?

Can someone elaborate on which gorillas are still at Taronga?
Where did the 2 adolescent boys go to in Japan?

Thanx,

Jelle

 

[Pertinax]

Can someone elaborate on which gorillas are still at Taronga?
Where did the 2 adolescent boys go to in Japan?

Thanx,

Jelle

According to my data, one (Haoko) went to Tokyo Ueno, and the other (Shabani) went to Nagoya. By my reckoning that leaves the following at Taronga;

m. Kibabu.
f. Frala
f. Kriba
f.Mouila(mother of Kriba)
f. Mbeli(daughter of Mouila)
m.Fataki (son of Frala)
m. name unknown (new son of Frala)
That's unless any of the three older females have died in recent years....

 

[NZ Jeremy]

Sorry, I know you've probably all talked about this before, but what is the history behind this exhibit..?

I've read on here it was originally designed for Pandas..?

Did the zoo always have Gorillas (if so where were they previously kept)..? Or did they get them when the Pandas (?) fell through and converted the exhibit..?

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

m. Kibabu.
f. Frala
f. Kriba
f.Mouila(mother of Kriba)
f. Mbeli(daughter of Mouila)
m.Fataki (son of Frala)
m. name unknown (new son of Frala)
That's unless any of the three older females have died in recent years....

Pertinax,

Is it too much trouble digging out their histories (date of birth and stuff like sire and dam at all)?

I guess females Frala and Mouila are the old females from the early days (what are their estimated ages?). Kibabu (by the looks of his naming) is a Howletts male?

Cheers for Christmas,

Jelle

 

[kelvin]

THE KIBABU FAMILY
The personalities

There are eight gorillas in the Gorilla Forest - one silverback, three adult females, two juveniles - one male and one female, a two infants one female and one male .

1. KIBABU
Born May 1977
The ‘Ki' in Kibabu's name was also part of his parents' names and was used as a family identifier. He is the dominant male and silverback, is a close-to-perfect leader, well respected by the other gorillas in his group and at 210 kilograms, a magnificent gorilla. Kibabu is the father of the four young gorillas in the group. He is the obvious leader, protective and always alert, should any disagreement arise within his family. He can often been seen sitting towards the back of the exhibit, watching his family. Despite this, Kibabu still displays characteristic features of juvenile behaviour occasionally. He can sometimes be seen playing wrestling games with the younger gorillas - but once he realises the keepers are watching him he stops and becomes very serious again! Kibabu doesn't take advantage of his position as a leader, except during feeding time. Kibabu loves his food! He'll become dominant and a little assertive but never aggressive.

2. MOUILA
Born November 1972
Mouila, meaning ‘African fantasy', is the maternal one, always busy cuddling her children and spoiling them by letting them have their way. She is the mother of Kriba and Mbeli. Mouila is calm, wise and a very experienced gorilla. As her former keeper said, "She makes you think that she is really able to put things into perspective." She joined Kibabu's group in 1988, and made the significant move with a special dignity and absolute minimum of concern, enabling a smooth and very short introduction. Mouila has a friendly and even-tempered nature with other gorillas in the group and also with her keepers. She respects Kibabu but is not fearful of him.

3. KRIBA
Born August 1979
Kriba was named after Kris Baris, a former ape keeper at Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands. Kriba lacks the self-assuredness of her mother Mouila, sometimes becoming restless for only minor reasons. As the mother of Kimya, she is always careful and concerned for her well-being. No doubt she has learned these skills from her mother. Kriba will often assume the role of Kibabu's second in charge. In times of potential threat to the group Kriba, like Kibabu, will patrol the exhibit and monitor closely what is going on in the outside world.

4. FRALA
Born June 1981
Frala is named after Frank Lambach from the Netherlands, who was a member of the council in the town where Apenheul, the primate park she came from is situated. Frala is the youngest adult female in the group and the mother of Fataki and now a new baby boy. Frala is a relatively nervous and unpredictable member of the Kibabu family, sometimes being a little off-hand and abrupt with the other group members. Her brusque behaviour is no doubt due to the fact that Mouila, Kriba and their children form the central clique in Kibabu's group. This sometimes leaves Frala a bit of a social outsider.

5. MBELI
Born 15 February 2003.
Named for Mbeli Bay (pronounced Mmm-bay-lee bye) a paradise-like clearing in the dense forests of West Africa where the only continuous study of Western Lowland Gorillas takes place. Mbeli is a very precocious little Gorilla, very confident and always interested in what her keepers are up to. She proved to be quite tolerant when infant Kimya used to jump on her back. Zoo staff will watch with interest as little Mbeli continues to develop her own personality.

6. FATAKI
Born 24 May 2003
Fataki, whose name means ‘fireworks', is a typical little boy, complete with toddler tantrums and bouts of showing off. He is quite cheeky and loves running out to steal food from the magnificent silverback, Kibabu. He frequently runs around beating his chest and making a spectacle of himself like the average toddler!

7. KIMYA
Born 7 January 2005
Kimya's name is Swahili for ‘quiet one'. These days however, Taronga Zoo's youngest female gorilla, while still being very much a little girl, is definitely starting to become more confident and has been seen to jump on Mbeli's back for a ride around! Her keepers think she is one of the prettiest Gorillas they have ever seen. Despite still being breastfed by mother Kriba, her favourite treats are mung beans.

8. The new arrival
Born 8 December 2007
The newest addition to Kibabu's family, a little boy is Frala's sixth offspring. The yet to be named male is doing well and getting a lot of attention from the rest of the group, particularly the juveniles, including his/her big brother Fataki. Only very young at this stage he will be under the constant and curious observation of keepers as they ensure he is healthy and happy. Keepers say it will be interesting to see his personality develop over the next year or two and wonder if he'll become as precocious as his older brother.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Thanx kelvin,

For enlightening us on the Taronga troupe. It is encouraging that Kibabu has been able to make this a very stable and happily reproducing gorilla group.

I guess it is only little time before Mouila will have another infant gorilla (given the 4 year birth interval as with female Frala).

 

[MARK]

Yes Jelle Kibabu was born at the Howletts zoo

 

[Coquinguy]

taronga's gorilla troop

Taronga opened its gorilla exhibit in the mid 1990s....converting an exhibit which had been used to display a pair of giant pandas in 1988. the giant pandas came as a bicentenary gift on behalf of the People's Republic of China. after Syndey they left for a stint in Melbourne then Auckland.
the transportation of the Taronga troop is believed to be the single biggest movement of gorillas ever, with 10 animals transported in all. they arrived in Decmber of 1995/1996 (i cant remember anymore) and quickly settled in.
at the time Shabani was the youngest animal in the group at just a few months old. Now, none of the original babies are left in Australia. the two eldest females were sent to European zoos (Czech Republic and Duisburg?), followed by another two girls to zoos in Portugal and another European zoo (they left via Adelaide Zoo). the last two to leave were the males sent to Japan.
at this point in time Taronga is quickly approaching Melbourne Zoos record for breeding gorillas. there were early setbacks with Frala losing her first (and maybe second offspring) but now things seem to be going well.
Taronga and Melbourne form part of the global breeding program for Western Lowland Gorillas and are managed under the auspices of the EEP. Melbourne in particular has imported/exported animals to Jersey, as well as sending an Australian bred male to Hannover Zoo (Buzandi).
to date Taronga has not added any new animals to its troop, and despite exporting 6 animals to overseas, the breeding program has seen a large troop of gorillas at Taronga remain a constant feature.

 

[NZ Jeremy]

Thank you Glyn...

I thought Taronga may have been close (and built an exhibit) to signing an agreement for permanent Giant Panda and it fell through...

I didn't realise that exhibit has been there 20 years (It didn't look like it when I visited)...

 

[Pertinax]

Did the zoo always have Gorillas (if so where were they previously kept)..? Or did they get them when the Pandas (?) fell through and converted the exhibit..?

Taronga was the first zoo in Australia to have Gorillas, in the 1950's and 60's. About seven animals in all, mostly young pairs which didn't live very long- they are listed in the 'Betsi has died' thread as the very longlived old female Betsi at Melbourne was one of those animals. They lived( I believe) in some atrocious old concrete and mesh cages which later housed the Orangutans before finally being demolished. The last two, Buluman and Betsi were sent to Melbourne in the early 1980's and then Taronga had no gorillas for several years until the current group arrived from Europe.

Taronga's current Gorillas are nothing to do with those former ones. They were imported as a complete group from Apenheul Primate Park in the Netherlands, where they had formed a second breeding group headed by the male Kibabu who came originally from Howletts. 'Mouila' is one of the original eight animals(2.6) imported from the wild to Apenheul when they formed their first group. The others were either boirn at Apenheul- or more recently, Taronga Park.

 

[Pertinax]

the two eldest females were sent to European zoos (Czech Republic and Duisburg?), followed by another two girls to zoos in Portugal and another European zoo (they left via Adelaide Zoo).
at this point in time... despite exporting 6 animals to overseas

Only two females have left Taronga- Safiri to Duisburg, Germany, and Anguka to Lisbon, Portugal- these two went via Adelaide together. So only 4 animals(includes the two later males) have left the group.

 

[Pertinax]

I'm not sure about my statement above- was it six or four that have left?. If ten arrived from Apenheul (which I'm pretty sure is right), either two more left or a couple died at Taronga....

I know when they travelled from Holland, they all (excepting Mouila with her son 'Shabani') had separate crates but they were either unsedated, or only lightly so, in order that they could keep contact with each other during the long air journey, to reduce stress. It was an entirely successful transportation too.

 

[Pertinax]

. Now, none of the original babies are left in Australia. the two eldest females were sent to European zoos (Czech Republic and Duisburg?), followed by another two girls to zoos in Portugal and another European zoo (they left via Adelaide Zoo). the last two to leave were the males sent to Japan.

You're right indeed... Two other females (before Anguka and Safiri) did leave the group and go back to Europe- in 2003. They were 'Shinda' and 'Kijivi' and they went together to Prague Zoo. At least one of them has since bred.

'Frala' at Taronga also had two unsuccessful (DNS) births before she managed to rear one.

 

[Yassa]

It`s Kijvu who has 2 offspring, female Moja who is about 4 and 1-year-old male Tatu. Father is Richard from Frankfurt (son of famous Matze). The second female Shinda has no children yet; both females had a permanent pill implanted when they arrived from Taronga to prevent inbreeding with her father, and the one from Shinda could not be found when she was sedated to remove it. Tests have shown that it has stopped working by now and she is mating regalarly with Richard, but no pregnancy so far. No one knows why.

 

[Pertinax]

It`s Kijvu who has 2 offspring, female Moja who is about 4 and 1-year-old male Tatu. Father is Richard from Frankfurt (son of famous Matze). The second female Shinda has no children yet; both females had a permanent pill implanted when they arrived from Taronga to prevent inbreeding with her father, and the one from Shinda could not be found when she was sedated to remove it. Tests have shown that it has stopped working by now and she is mating regalarly with Richard, but no pregnancy so far. No one knows why.

That's very interesting. I'm wondering if Shinda's failure to breed so far is because the residue of the 'lost' pill is still working on her as a sort of semi-contraceptive, at least sufficient to prevent a pregnancy?

I saw Richard several times at Paignton Zoo(UK) until he left for Prague as a young silverback. He's also the full brother of Akili at Artis and Damisi who is soon to join the Chessington group, also from Paignton.

I think it would be good for the Australian gorillas generally if one or two of the homebred females were exchanged between the Taronga and Melbourne groups- or used to start another group, rather than coming to Europe.

 

[Pertinax]

'Mouila' is one of the original eight animals(2.6) imported from the wild to Apenheul when they formed their first group.

Sorry, I think Apenheul actually imported 2.4. It was in 1975. They were Bongo and Balu(males) and Mouila, Mandji, Mintha & Lobo (females). The two males are dead but I think all four original females are still alive, Mouila at Taronga and the other three at Apenheul- Mandji had her 8th baby(male) there in October... the first fathered by Apenheul's new male 'Jambo'.

 

[Yassa]

Apenheul had 2 more female gorillas, Dalilah who is still alive and Tsimi who died some years ago. I am not sure if they were part of the orinigal group of imported animals but both were wild-caught too.

I don`t really understand why Tarongs sent all these females to Europe neither - isn`t there another australian zoo interested in building up a third breeding group of gorillas in Australia? I do understand why they weren`t exchanged between Melbourne and Taronga, though. Both zoos have well-established social groups with 3 breeding females each and I don`t see the need to have more. Especially if you consider that Kibabu and Motaba have both sired a number of offspring and are genetically well-represented which will it make more and more difficult in the future to place male offspring. More breeding females - more male offspring... Rigo is certainly not over-represented, but adding a new female to the group could bring a lot of problems between the females and this is the last thing Rigo needs.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

In this case it is the EEP Species Coordinator who decides where the surplus gorillas will go to. The Taronga and Melbourne Zoos are part of the EEP western lowland gorilla and subject to regulations and transfer recommendations put forward by the EEP Coordinator.

Secondly, a third zoo in Oz can technically become a participant in the Gorilla EEP, but must first put its case before the EEP Coordinator before being accepted. Only, when accepted and facilities meet the minimum requirements for a breeding group are met can gorillas be sent out on loan to a third zoo in Oz. Perhaps Adelaide Zoo may serve as a third component to the Australian participation in the Gorilla EEP. They have already provided a transfer house for surplus female gorillas recommended for transfer to new European destinations.

Thirdly, there may be a need in the coming years to set up a bachelor group in Oz for the growing teenager male gorilla in Taronga and Melbourne (in stead of sending them out to Japanese zoos ...).

Was the loan out to Japan part of a wider initiative to provide socialised breeding males to the JAZGA Gorilla programme (which is more or less in its infancy - most Japanese zoos are municipal and still ruled by financial dealings through municipalities that prevent a free flow of species and individuals for breeding purposes in Japanese zoos)? Questions, questions .... can someone clarify this latter point to me?

 

[Yassa]

Well in theory I agree Jelle that the EEP decides where the Aussie gorillas go. But in reality, the gorillas are owned by Taronga and Melbourne, and NOTHING within an EEP goes without the "ok" of the owner. The EEP recommendations are nothing but "recommendations" and the wishes of the owners are taken into consideration all the time. The EEP has no juridical power to enforce its "recommendation" - and the EEPs/the EAZA has proven in the past to be very lukewarm on kicking zoos out of the EEP or cancel the EAZA membership for lack of cooperating (see the problems with Twycross elephants and gorillas...). One case I know where the EEP decided against the will of a zoo was when the gorilla baby Makua was sent to Stuttgart although the zoo Berlin where she was born wanted to raise her themselves, and later female Effie was sent from Berlin to Leipzig and later to London. But the important detail is that neither Makua nor Effie were owned by Berlin - Makua for example is property of Frankfurt (because her father Derrick was a Frankfurt gorilla).

I have no doubt that Adelaide would get the OK from the EEP to start a new group with Taronga and Melbourne born gorillas if Taronga and Melbourne want that.

 

[Zoo_Boy]

Test......