Curator Fabian Schmidt has told in TV that only 26 owl-faced monkey are living in the european population, only 3 breeding braces:
Leipzig: 3,4
Edinburgh: 2,2
Mulhouse: 2,1
Valencia: 1,1
Twycross: 1,1
La Palmyr: 1,1
I was wrong about Twycross- ISIS lists them with only 1.0 now- however I am unclear whether this is correct or not? The female was there last year but maybe not now...
I would like to see these Monkeys consolidated at one or two Zoos that have good enclosures and successful breeding records with them. Not in just pairs or definately not mixed exhibits as in Valencia. I do think they will disappear in Europe soon as breeding is so poor.
I do not know whether ISIS is correct or not. Maybe the young female at Valencia is "Thea" from Twycross.....
Come to Leipzig in 2011, one breeding group of owl-faced monkeys will share an enclosure with pygmy-hippos, one breeding group will stay at the old monkey-house....
Leipzig and Edinburgh lost their adult owl-faced monkey males in June, very sad news....
I was always sure that Africa Alive had housed this species, however I've just remembered my source, which could itself be incorrect. Maybe this was the same group that was housed at Banham? Did Banham send off its thriving group to Suffolk only for the group to not do well there?
BjoernN;344793 It is possible that "Gus" at Twycross is "Zeus" said:Thankyou for all those details.
Its very possible Gus and Zeus are one and the same animal- the name may have been 'anglicised' by English keepers(such partial name changing is quite common I'm sure you know). If so they are related but not full siblings. I know I was told they were 'brother & sister.'
I believe Edinburgh must now have a female and two offspring(one male, one female).
I think the Twycross pair should be split up and sent to other groups as they are achieving nothing where they are.
I just checked my notes and you are off course right, it was L'hoests I was thinking off!
3.3 L'Hoest's are coming to Edinburgh from San Diego to do quarantine before moving out to other European collections.
One female will remain to be paired up with the single young male, Kizizi. This should happen around September and is very significant for the future of the current population in Europe.
There are currently 0.2 Hamlyns at Edinburgh - 1.0 offspring left for Artis last year.
Thankyou for this information.
Re the Hamlyn's- this leaves the UK with just four animals- 1.3, at present.