ZSL London Zoo New Western Lowland Male Gorilla

In the context of the article, Ian Redmond is right. I would hope ZSL would counter this, as should Bristol, by identifying the welfare issue of supporting their female gorillas to be able to raise offspring in small family groups. While in many ways I wish London did not keep gorillas, it is IMO entirely the right thing to do for Zaire, a long-standing resident who has certainly 'earned' the right (if we are willing to entertain that concept for a second) to be given a stable grouping within good accommodation after so many years of this not being the case.

Continued funding of in situ gorilla conservation may indeed not be reliant on western zoos holding captive stocks; however we have the legacy of many decades of gorilla imports and attempts to establish this species in captivity, and the least we can do is create the most socially-functional units possible with the animals we have, which is exactly what is happening.
 
Kesho's arrival.

It appears Kesho has now arrived from Dublin.

'Bubbles' has been the first to photo him in the 'My first visit to ZSL' thread, though he is obviously the one alone indoors, and the other three outside were the females.

Because of the urgent circumstances, they've managed to replace Yeboah in just over four and half months, instead of nearly the year it took the previous time. My guess is they will also start the introductions a.s.a.p to get him into the group very quickly because of Mjuku's pregnancy..
 
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Well, fancy that... my first ever visit to London Zoo and I go and photograph the new (grumpy looking) arrival. :D
Debbie
 
Well done indeed!
I was at Regents Park today and they closed off the centre of the gorilla display for a time, so that Kesho and Effie could have a little private time together in the gym. Zaire and M'jukuu were locked outside (and distinctly curious about what was going on).
I waited at the barrier, earwigging what a keeper was saying to another staff member and to the public who were asking questions - I didn't need to ask any myself.
I only caught a glimpse of Kesho in the corner of the gym for a moment, so I can't say much about him. There were no worrying sounds (barking, screaming or breaking glass :eek:) so I didn't wait very long. After a visit to the Bird House, all three females were outside again and everything seemed fine - but I couldn't find a keeper to ask about how they reacted to each other.
The quick summary is that he's been there about a week and they have done a few short 1 on 1 introductions, apparently without real problems so far.

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
The quick summary is that he's been there about a week and they have done a few short 1 on 1 introductions, apparently without real problems so far.
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They certainly aren't hanging about this time(for obvious reasons). I believe 'Effie' is regarded as the topranking female so perhaps they are getting her used to him first.

I don't foresee any problems since he's come directly from his own (parental) family group, with no bachelor years or other artificial management situation to mess him up!
 
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Pertinax said:
They certainly aren't hanging about this time(for obvious reasons). I believe 'Effie' is regarded as the topranking female so perhaps they are getting her used to him first.

I don't foresee any problems since he's come directly from his own (parental) family group, with no bachelor years or other artificial management situation to mess him up!
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From what I overheard yesterday, it was more random than that. Effie was the first female to go into the Gym, so they locked the others out. The keeper also implied that Zaire had been leading the group.
I did notice that Zaire has not been plucking her head as she did after Bobby's death - is she less stressed because it's not a new situation or it hasn't gone on as long? An interesting question, but I don't suppose it's answerable.

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
Effie was the first female to go into the Gym, so they locked the others out. The keeper also implied that Zaire had been leading the group.
I did notice that Zaire has not been plucking her head as she did after Bobby's death - is she less stressed because it's not a new situation or it hasn't gone on as long? An interesting question, but I don't suppose it's answerable.
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Yes, I've also heard in the past that 'Zaire' becomes 'group' leader in the absence of a male, but alternatively that 'Effie' is the dominant female, so I don't really know which to believe (if either!);)

Regarding Zaire- her hair plucking started after the death of 'Jomie' when her arms, shoulders and head , except for the 'mohican' were bare. It completely stopped again after Jock arrived, but then restarted during the time she & Bobby were shut in the hospital during the building of the Gorilla Kingdom. She was still plucked when it opened (even with Bobby as the male present) and continued doing it up until around the time Mjuku arrived, which seemed to stop it as she again had a perfect coat for a while. I think this time because it hasn't gone on so long its been minimal and now maybe Kesho's arrival will relax her completely again.
 
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Whereas I do see the in situ conservation ethic as vital and integral to any conservation ethic, I am more flabbergasted than most re. Redmond's media outburst. I find these unhelpful in the context of raising awareness for conservation at large.

I BLOODY WELL KNOW in situ conservation is far more cost effective than anything else, but hey ... it is equally arm-chair logic and does not bring secure conservation environments for gorillas or any other Congo basin rainforest species any closer.

I am between both zoo and wildlife biologists and I am sick and tired of this constant jingoistic behaviour. :mad:
 
Back on the real topic: I do feel for animal welfare reasons ZSL/London Zoo is doing the right thing in providing Kesho and other gorillas at London with a stimulating social environment.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I am between both zoo and wildlife biologists and I am sick and tired of this constant jingoistic behaviour. :mad:
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One or two statements I thought rather dubious, particularly that as captive Gorillas have no choice of partners as they do in the wild breeding in captivity is compromised as a result.

In fact very few normally raised zoo Gorillas refuse to breed with each other- the non-breeding situations usually only arise where one or other of the partners have problems arising from their earlier zoo backgrounds, such as handraising, infertility etc.
 
I was at the zoo a couple of days ago. The females were in the gym. Kesho had access outside but was mostly sitting in the bridge/tunnel. He did make his way outside briefly: I think I heard a few jokes about him being scared of the females (to get out he had to through a narrow exit with mesh open to the gym). He went back in pretty quick. He did look a bit silver on the back, but don't quote me on that! One of the volunteers told me he'd been in with, and mated with, Effie.
 
RowanGreen said:
I think I heard a few jokes about him being scared of the females (to get out he had to through a narrow exit with mesh open to the gym). He went back in pretty quick. One of the volunteers told me he'd been in with, and mated with, Effie.
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I think you'll find its not that he's scared of the females, but that he wants to be near/with them, hence coming back inside where they are.
 
I'm not sure if he was in view of them where he was sitting most of the time. He certainly moved through the section where he could have had contact pretty quickly, and could have sat closer. Apparently Effie was trying to get his attention (I couldn't see at that point), so maybe he was playing hard to get then!
 
He probably sits in the place where he's most comfortable and he knows they are nearby even if he's not sitting at the closest point. Gorillas are extremely aware of what's going on around them and what their neighbours are doing, even if they appear to show no interest. Its a bit like a human family sharing a house, not everyone is in close contact all the time. People can be in different rooms but aware what others are doing. Coming from his good background and at the age and size he is, he certainly won't be scared of them.

Moving through the closest section quickly was because he was focused on moving from A to B, not because of the females. Even if he was afraid,(he isn't..) he's fully aware the barriers mean they can't reach each other anyway.
 
I'm just pointing out the reality so you're not tempted to read this behaviour the wrong way..:)
 
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As before I have every confidence in Kesho's personal skills with leading a group and doing what a male silverback would do in the wild. Good sign he has been in it with Effie ....

Fingers crossed for Mjukuu *** (suprise us Kesho with good parental skills). :D
 
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