Mountain gorillas
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reptile1517
Well-Known Member
I remember seeing a pair at Chester many years ago and I am not sure what happened to them. I expect they passed away. Since then I do not recall knowing of any in UK Zoos.
This question has been answered quite recently here on this forum, if only i could find where...
In short though: No, there are none in captivity anywhere in the world these days, and yes there have been in the past, allthough many of these are now probably considered to be of "graueri" subspecies... Only a handful of real mountain gorilla's have ever been in captivity.
In short though: No, there are none in captivity anywhere in the world these days, and yes there have been in the past, allthough many of these are now probably considered to be of "graueri" subspecies... Only a handful of real mountain gorilla's have ever been in captivity.
There have been a few genuine mountain gorillas (beringei) kept in zoos. The last two were Coco and Pucker at Cologne in the late sixties and early seventies. There is a thread where Pertinax and I compare our memories of them.
Victoria at Antwerp is the only captive bred graueri and they have another female of debatable race. There are photos in the Gallery, including my favourite shot of Mukisi, the male of the Chester graueri pair who eventually went to Antwerp, but died quite a while ago.
Alan
Victoria at Antwerp is the only captive bred graueri and they have another female of debatable race. There are photos in the Gallery, including my favourite shot of Mukisi, the male of the Chester graueri pair who eventually went to Antwerp, but died quite a while ago.
Alan
Not quite...Antwerp have one female Eastern Lowland(Graueri)'Victoria' who was born there and another female 'Amohoro' of unknown provenance from the wild but who is very possibly a 'true' Mountain Gorilla.
The previous true (beringeii) Mountain gorillas held in captivity were the two females at Cologne Zoo in the 1970/80's
Chester's pair of Eastern Lowlands died at Chester(female) and Antwerp(male) respectively
Apart from Amahoro in antwerp who may be a true Bwindi-Gorilla, there are about 4 mountain gorilla orphans of the "beringi" subspecies which are living in a rescue center run by the mountain gorilla project. I`m not sure where it is located, in Ruanda or Congo, but you can find more information via google if you`re interested in more details. There are also a number of graueri-orphans there.
That is what I think she is too...
I have heard the 'Bwindi' gorillas show a mix of characteristics of both 'volcanoes' Beringei and Graueri. 'Amohoro' does not have the thick shaggy hair of a true 'beringei', but nor does she have the longer face of 'graueri' (like Victoria)
Affirmative, I think the graueri (eastern lowland gorilla) orphanage was in eastern Congo (nr. Goma) and the beringei (mountain gorilla) orphanage in Rwanda. These have been amalgamated into 1 facility built in Rwanda thanks to a generous grant from Busch Gardens and as of March 2007 housed 1.1 berengei (inside Rwanda, the second probably ex W.Vriungas in Congo) and 1.1.4 graueri (from E.Congo, the first confiscated from inside Rwanda).
In eastern Congo, the ICCN is operating a rescue facility and currently houses 0.2 berengei and 0.1 graueri orphans. At some point, these will all be integrated into the rehab facility in Rwanda. Plans also exist for a rehab facility inside the Republic of Congo - there is a definite need for such a facility - and perhaps the current Year of the Gorilla may take this forward.
The rehab gorillas in Rwanda have been fully socialised and the first 0.1 berengei is being trained and groomed for re-release to an unrelated berengei gorilla troupe. It is hoped a similar alternative may be devised for the other gorillas in this orphanage group.
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Zebraduiker
Well-Known Member
@Reptile1517. Chester never kept mountain gorillas. The only european zoo who did was cologne. They kept two females between 1969 and 1978, both died within a month.
There may only ever have been 4 true (Berengei) mountain Gorillas ever to have left Africa - Miss Congo @ Bronx Zoo NY.1920's Reuben London Zoo 1960, Coco & Pucker as mentioned above at Cologne.
The others in zoos, of which there have been a slightly larger number, have been Eastern Lowlands.(graueri)
The others in zoos, of which there have been a slightly larger number, have been Eastern Lowlands.(graueri)
Zebraduiker
Well-Known Member
San Diego has kept also mountain gorillas, I have a few pictures of them in my collection.
reptile1517
Well-Known Member
I may have to stand corrected but I beieve they had a pair around 1967. They were housed in the Tropical House. I saw them and although it is over 40 years ago, I do believe I'm right. But as I say, the mind can play tricks so we will see.
As others have said in this thread, they were Eastern Lowland Gorillas, not Mountain.
(although you are correct they were kept in the tropical realm)
Zebraduiker
Well-Known Member
Dian Fossey wrote in her book,"Cocco" and"Pucker"were the only mountain gorillas, which have been send to a zoo during the time, she has lived in ruanda,almost 20 years until she was killed in 1985, and I belive her.
But I have more than that to say, that cologne was the only european zoo who has kept mountain gorillas.
Antwerp Zoo thought a long time to have mountain gorillas, until they found out to have eastern lowlands.
But I have more than that to say, that cologne was the only european zoo who has kept mountain gorillas.
Antwerp Zoo thought a long time to have mountain gorillas, until they found out to have eastern lowlands.
NO. The two males M'bongo & Ngagi who were captured by Martin & Osa Johnson were Eastern Lowland but referred to as 'Mountain' throughout their captive lives. Apart from them, San Diego have not had any other except Western Lowlands.
That was the two females; Coco & Pucker. They have not had any others. Your date might be out by a couple of years though.
Except for London Zoo in circa 1960 who received a young male 'Reuben' He was found near the body of a dead silverback male (in the Virungas) and had become seperated from his group.He was named after the tracker who found him. Reuben did not live long at London, but for a very short while they had on display juveniles of both Mountain,and Eastern Lowland, as well as the adult Western Lowland male 'Guy.'
