Lowland gorillas in Europe 2011

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Tinkywinky said:
How is the group divided?

Group I: Oumbie, Asante, Ozala and Baby?
Group II: Boulas, Bongo and Biddy?
Click to expand...

'Asante' was transferred some months ago into the other group because she was stressed by Oumbie's presence and lost a lot of weight. She is now in the other (Boulas) group because Boulas is a calmer male and she seems able to tolerate him better. (Asante is a desocialised adult female who relates to people more than other Gorillas.)
 
Its possible they might transfer her over in the future but I don't think any decision has been made on that so far.
 
Contraception in European Gorilla Groups.

Does anyone out there know what the situation is regarding contraception among female Gorillas in European Gorilla groups?

Roughly what percentage(%) are on contraceptives? Are many females routinely on contraception while only certain animals are recommended for breeding by the studbook keepers? Or are contraceptives used only rarely? In the UK most of Chessington's breeding-age females have been on contraception due largely to previous limitations of space but I think this is fairly unusual and doesn't apply in other UK groups, apart from possibly the odd animal such as aged female 'Delilah'(?) at Belfast whom they don't want to breed anymore.

So, any information, and/or examples of places/groups/individuals where contraception is(or isn't) being used would be welcome.
 
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It's to be hoped that more than the two oldest male gorillas at Romagne are allowed to breed.
 
German zoo's:

Berlin: 3 potential breeding females (Mpenzi, Bibi & Djambala), but infertile male.

Duisburg: 2 breeding females (Safiri & Vizuri) + 1 potential breeding females (Momo).

Frankfurt: 2 breeding females (Rebecca & Dian) + 1 old female, who gets no more children (Jule).

Hannover: 3 breeding females (Kathi, Zazie & Melima) + 1 birth control female (Josy).

Heidelberg: 2 breeding females (Zsazsa & N'Gambe) + 1 birth control female (Doba).

Cologne: 1 breeding female (Gina) + 1 old female (Kibi) + 1 birth control female (N'Datwa).

Krefeld: 2 potential breeding females (Oya & Muna) + 2 old females (Boma & Tuma), but infertile male.

Leipzig: 2 breeding females (Bebe & Viringika).

Munich: 2 breeding females (Bagira & Sonja) + 1 old female (Ellen) + 1 birth control female (Neema).

Münster: 1 breeding female (Changa) + 1 old female (Fatima).

Nürnberg: 1 potential breeding female (Hankuna) + 2 old females (Bianka & Lena), but infertile male.

Saarbrücken: 2 potential breeding females (Ruya & Dura), but infertile? male.

Stuttgart: 2 breeding females (Mutasi & Kolo) + 2 old females (Mimi & Undi).

Wuppertal: 1 breeding female (Ukiwa) + potential breeding female (Grace) + 2 old females (Lomela & Roseli).


Conclusion:
-18 breeding females
-10 potential breeding females
-12 old females
- 4 birth control
 
Netherlands zoo's:

Apeldoorn: 6 breeding females (Lobo, Mintha, Mandji, Kisiwa, Nemsi & Gyasi), interim birth control 2009 & 2010 (Kisiwa).

Kerkrade: 2 breeding females (Dalila & Sangha).

Arnhem: 3 breeding females (N'Gayla, Shatilla & Nimba).

Amsterdam: 3 breeding females (Shindy, Dafina & Binti)

Rotterdam: 2 breeding females (Tamani & Aya) + 1 old female (Annette)


Conclusion:
-16 breeding females
- 1 old females
- 0 birth control
 
Cologne: 1 breeding female (Gina) + 1 old female (Kibi) + 1 birth control female (N'Datwa).

Why should N'Datwa be on birth control?
 
Tinkywinky said:
Conclusion:
-18 breeding females
-10 potential breeding females
-12 old females
- 4 birth control
Click to expand...

Thanks for the breakdown. So there are just a very few females in European groups on birth control. Infertile males are also a 'contraceptive' in a way.

AFAIK in the UK only the Chessington group contains some females on birth control- now only Shani and Shangha (also Kumili? lives with father Kumba) while Asali was recently taken off contraception with the intention of breeding again. There is also the old female 'Baffia'(no breeding.)

UK Gorillas;

Chessington. 2 breeding females(Buu, Asili) 2 or 3 birth control( Shani, Shangha, Kumili) 1 old/nonreproductive (Baffia).

London. 1 breeding female(Mjuku) 1 potential Breeder(Effie*) one old/potential breeder(Zaire*).

Blackpool; 1 breeding female(Miliki) 2 potential breeders( Njema, Kena*)

Bristol; 2 breeding females(Romina, Salome) one potential breeder(Kera).

Twycross; one breeding female (Ozala) two (humanised)nonbreeders(Asante/Bongo) one potential breeder(Biddy*) One male probably infertile(Boulas)

Dublin. One breeding female(Lena) one potential breeder(Mayani)

Belfast. two potential breeding females(Kwanza, Kamilah*) one old/birth control?(Delilah)

Jersey. three potential breeding females (Kishka*, Hallali Kahili*, Bahasha) or four if Sakina still there. Infertile male?

Howletts/Port Lympne. I believe all adult females in all the groups are either breeders or potential breeders-with the exception of three old(founder) females (Mouila, Juju, Baby Doll).

(Note; some of the 'potentials' have bred previously- marked with a *)
 
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Do you know the reasons for the other three females in German zoos on birth control, apart from N'datwa?
 
Josie/Hannover and Doba/Heidelberg had problems raising their young. Josie lost 2 infants and while Doba`s daugther Kiki survived, she had to be handraised. I think Doba later lost another infant (stillbirth or death on the first day after the birth). I guess both are given more time to grow up and learn proper maternal behavoir from the other mothers in their groups. I don`t know about Neema in Munich, though.
 
I heard recently a male has already been selected from a group somewhere in Europe to tke over the Taronga Park/Sydney group in Australia when they make changes with males in 2013.

Anyone know which male this is?
 
I don't know which male they have choosen.
But I would not be surprised if Kibali from Romagne would be the candidate.
 
A so far un-sexed gorilla was born at Vallee des singes on Monday (6/11), to a 40 year old female (i couldn't find her name).
 
Either Virunga(41) or Gaja(39). Probably Virunga?

Both these females started breeding for the first time at quite a late age when the Vallee de Singes group was set up. Virunga is also mother of the male that is going to Jersey.
 
Gorillababys born:

in Amsterdam 31.May (Akili x Binti)

in Heidelberg 4.June (Bobo x NGambe)

and in la Vallee 6.June (Yaounde x Virunga)
 
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