they could also move his half sister
She would however be another breeding female for N'Yuki,whether that will be productive is another matter.
Moving Bangui on makes more sense if a batchelor space could be found.
Surprising news: According to "Gorillafan Cindy" on Facebook, MATADI (ex-Paignton, ex-Howletts) has arrived at the Antwerp Zoo today. And according to this article (in Dutch) they also want to introduce a new breeding female and rejoin the international breeding programme.
MATADI was supposed to head a new group at Howletts but apparently that didn't work out.
I wonder why it did not work out at Howletts though … for Matadi?!
Rumours have it that little Vana will move from Wilhelma-Kindergarden in Stuttgart to Dublin.
Any news where Tebogo will go to?
To Dublin as well. Two weeks ago keepers from Dublin were already in Stuttgart to get to know them. (Info courtesy of H. Vollmer.)
Any word as to who is the sire of the new baby at La Palmyre yet?
Antwerp - female, Kiki has had her right arm amputated below the elbow today. Unfortunately she suffered a seizure on 28th March in the enclosure next to male, Matadi and he grabbed her arm through the bars before severely biting her, leaving the arm broken. Despite initial surgery, complications have resulted in the arm sadly having to be amputated
Gorilla Kiki van de Zoo van Antwerpen verliest haar onderarm - HLN.be
How sad. The continuing saga of Matadi goes from bad to worse![]()
Things do often get better with age. Silverback 'Yaounde' now the breeding male at Vallee de Singes (and father of new female Touni at Bristol) underwent about six moves around Europe in his earlier years- each time he could not settle and caused problems- he gradually acquired a reputation as a hopeless case. But after his final transfer to Vallee de Singes he settled down and became a model father and group leader. He isn't the only example either and it often proves the problem is not with the individual gorilla, but the situation it is put into. One of the overall problems is that males of twelve years or younger aren't ideal subjects to add to females, they are really not mature enough. Matadi isn't even in with these females yet, but I hope he is spared any of those problems.What bad news. Neither Kiki nor Matadi have had much luck in life so far. They both deserve a change in fortune.
Alan