Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre 2009 #1

Status
Not open for further replies.
Though releasing them back into the wild would be great, it'd be almost as good if they sent some of the youngsters to other zoos to join breeding progs once they're old enough, since I think a lot of MW's orangs are wild born, thus unrepresented in the captive population.
 
That also makes good sense. However many zoos are at full carrying capacity nowadays so too many young may be hard to find places for in other zoos. And would Monkeyworld be prepared to transfer them?
 
It's academic now, but I did once ask what would eventually happen to Aris, as the only Sumatran there, and was told he would stay at Monkey World. I had the feeling I was speaking to the wrong person. I'd have thought the MW nursery was only a temporary home for youngsters placed there from other zoos.
They've said Gordon has a home there for life, but they've got some valuable genes in their rescued orangs. But there are limited places in zoos for orangs (eg nobody seems to want Tiga at Twycross), and the rehabilitation centres in Borneo and Sumatra are running out of safe places. It's a huge dilemma.
 
Seems like the only sensible and likley option then is for MW to keep the orangs they've got (although Lingga might be sent back), forming a fourth group or adding to Gordon's.

Than again, they always send someone to Colchester keep Rajang company :)
 
It's academic now, but I did once ask what would eventually happen to Aris, as the only Sumatran there, and was told he would stay at Monkey World. I had the feeling I was speaking to the wrong person. I'd have thought the MW nursery was only a temporary home for youngsters placed there from other zoos.

I think Aris woud have stayed at Monkeyworld unless it was decided he should be transferred elsewhere. As he was born at Basel(or Zurich?) they or the EEP would certainly have retained the final say as to where he should go. Same would apply to other youngsters transferred from zoos.

Their other Orangs have different 'ownerships' too- depending on where they came from. I imagine all the ones sent there are under the ownwership of the Indonesian government(or whoever). Amy & Gordon are presumably either Jeremy Keeling's or Monkeyworld's, depending on what arrangement they have.
 
It's academic now, but I did once ask what would eventually happen to Aris, as the only Sumatran there, and was told he would stay at Monkey World. I had the feeling I was speaking to the wrong person. I'd have thought the MW nursery was only a temporary home for youngsters placed there from other zoos.
They've said Gordon has a home there for life, but they've got some valuable genes in their rescued orangs. But there are limited places in zoos for orangs (eg nobody seems to want Tiga at Twycross), and the rehabilitation centres in Borneo and Sumatra are running out of safe places. It's a huge dilemma.

i thought i remembered jim saying on one of the dvds that aris would only be there untill a a suitable group of Sumatrans could be found however long that took as mw acknowledged that ideally he needed to be with other Sumatrans
 
What do they propose to do with the Orangutans they breed? In most zoos breeding is controlled nowadays but when it occurs it is chiefly to provide the next generation for the zoos to exhibit.

In MonkeyWorld's case is there some other stated plan?

There was talk on building a new exhibit for adult orangs but i havent heard anymore on that. I think returning them to the wild is a option as they are already planning to release the golden cheeked gibbons too, could be done as a joint project?
 
There was talk on building a new exhibit for adult orangs but i havent heard anymore on that. I think returning them to the wild is a option as they are already planning to release the golden cheeked gibbons too, could be done as a joint project?

I remember hearing that some time ago too, with the keeper pointing over to the area near the playground.
Aren't the gibbons being released in Vietnam? The orangs would have to go to Borneo.
 
Aren't the gibbons being released in Vietnam? The orangs would have to go to Borneo.

Yes, so it wouldn't work as a joint release.

These Orangutan clearly would be very usefully in the breeding program but because they are probably owned by the governments were they were imported from this is very unlikely to happen.
 
These Orangutan clearly would be very usefully in the breeding program but because they are probably owned by the governments were they were imported from this is very unlikely to happen.

These Orangutans(the wildcaught ones) must be the only new ones to enter the captive population for a long time. I reckon the chance of any of them feeding into the mainstream zoo population is perhaps unlikely though might happen.
 
I get really annoyed when I hear people spouting on about releasing their zoo bred apes into the wild. Many have tried, none have succeeded to keep them alive for more than a few months.
 
Yes, so it wouldn't work as a joint release.

These Orangutan clearly would be very usefully in the breeding program but because they are probably owned by the governments were they were imported from this is very unlikely to happen.

They came from Taiwan from the rescue centre there where they were taken as unwanted pets.
 
they urgently need to build a new orang building as tuan and gordon cant carry on taking turns to go outside each day
 
;)
I get really annoyed when I hear people spouting on about releasing their zoo bred apes into the wild. Many have tried, none have succeeded to keep them alive for more than a few months.

It is certainly a long ,painstaking and difficult process. I believe Howletts have managed it with some of their young Gorillas, though initially some of theirs died too. For Apes born in foreign countries such as the UK there are additional problems and even greater expense- cost of repatriation flights, and adjusting to totally alien climate, surroundings, diet and diseases.

I am still rather in the dark as to why Monkeyworld received those Orangutans from Taiwan-was it primarily a rescue exercise? If so, what is the aim in allowing- or actively encouraging, them to breed? Vague references to ' it would be nice to return them to the wild' is not a definite policy.

I think they would be valuable genetically in the EEP Zoo population but will any of them be allowed to contribute to that? It seems unlikely.
 
;)
I am still rather in the dark as to why Monkeyworld received those Orangutans from Taiwan-was it primarily a rescue exercise? If so, what is the aim in allowing- or actively encouraging, them to breed?


I only know what I've seen on Monkey Business.

Jim Cronin said that they were taking them because the Taiwanese rescue centre was full but they also talk about the importance of them to the captive breeding programme. Jim never appears to intend them to go anywhere else though. He said (on a MB episode I watched recently) that they would be able to provide homes for them for at least the next two generations.

He also talked about bringing more from Taiwan but that doesn't appear to have happened.

They do seem determined to breed them but not intend that they should go anywhere else to breed at least in the short to medium term. They certainly would be genetically valuable since only Gordon/Amy are from the captive population.
 
I get really annoyed when I hear people spouting on about releasing their zoo bred apes into the wild. Many have tried, none have succeeded to keep them alive for more than a few months.
Perth Zoo successfully released a female, Temara to the wild and I believe she's still doing well.

I think it would be best if at least some of the orangs at Monkey World went to zoos elsewhere to contribute to the breeding program
 
They do seem determined to breed them but not intend that they should go anywhere else to breed at least in the short to medium term. They certainly would be genetically valuable since only Gordon/Amy are from the captive population.

That is what I expected to hear....:confused:
 
It is a strange situation. Realistically, I can't see them going back to the wild. As far as I know, MW haven't got their own rehabilitation centre in Borneo. The centres already there are struggling to rehabilitate and release young orphans. They'd have a much harder job with adults, or their offspring, from a British zoo. In the long run, if they carry on breeding, they'll have several more youngsters fathered by Tuan (one male and two females so far) so, logistically, it will become more difficult to house them all. The logical and sensible solution would be to 'share' them, for the good of the captive population. Unsurprisingly, they are all near the top of the Mean Kinship lists in the studbook.
 
It is a strange situation. . The logical and sensible solution would be to 'share' them, for the good of the captive population. Unsurprisingly, they are all near the top of the Mean Kinship lists in the studbook.

Its called 'Stockpiling' ...;) I've seen it before- Bristol Okapis and White tigers were examples in the past. This is where the gulf in outlook between Monkeyworld and mainstream zoos could have an adverse effect. MW may still be reluctant in the future for any of these 'rescue' Orangutans to go elsewhere(into zoos that is) despite the fact that they have now received 'orphans' on loan from EEP zoos. Hopefully this will foster a two- way working relationship. Let's hope so for the benefit of the animals.:)
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top