ZSL London Zoo New Western Lowland Male Gorilla

Climbing Mjukku

I was passing by today, on the way to seeing Harry Potter at the Odeon Camden, and I saw Mjukku climbing the wall with baby holding on to mum whilst she used both hands. This is the first time, I have seen anyone using the modular climbing holes screwed onto the wall. To tell you the truth, I didn't really notice them before.

Harry Potter film was a disappointment as oppose to Mjukku which had the WOW FACTOR!
 
Kesho's move from Dublin.

Watching the ITV programme on 'ZSL' London Zoo the other day I was struck at how relaxed and gentle 'Kesho' was with strangers, when the ZSL staff first visited him at Dublin, and in the presence of a film crew too. Of course most Gorillas in the captive population nowadays are born in zoos, including Kesho and his whole Dublin family, and all three females at ZSL. So unlike some of the earlier wildcaught ones it may be because they have only ever known good experiences with people.

I'm sure he'll make an ideal group leader at London.
 
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AFAIK I don't think he has been introduced to Mjuku and her baby yet. It could still be months away, I don't know. Maybe a ZSL regular could clarify.

He does spend some of his time with the middle female 'Effie' though.
 
when i was at london zoo three weeks ago, he still hadn't been introduced to mjuku and the baby. he spent most of the day with effie and they seemed to be getting on ok.
 
i went to london zoo yesterday and mujukuu and her baby seem to be getting on fine.couldn't find a keeper to see if the baby has been given a name.
 
how are introductions between kesho and the ladies going? i was at london zoo yesterday and i noticed that the ladies were separated from kesho all day.
 
There's no further developments in that area. Kesho is meeting them one at a time. He spends plenty of time with Effie and has been mating with her; he has also now met Zaire face to face and she seems to be coming to terms with him. He has yet to actually meet Mjukuu and baby (although they can see each other). It will happen, but the keepers will certainly not announce it and will close the entire gorilla area to the public when it does, to ensure privacy and tranquillity.
 
Kesho has been very close to Mjukuu and the baby but through mesh and apparently he saw the birth which is considered to be helpful when it comes to making the introduction.

I was told this by a volunteer.
 
that's good news. i was worried that introductions weren't going well when i saw they were separated all day. i did notice that kesho and mjukuu had contact through the mesh and they both seemed very relaxed with it, so hopefully when they meet face to face it will all go well.
 
Don't worry. And you may not know that behind the scenes I believe there is a small day room and a "bedroom" or two where meetings can happen away from the public gaze. So what you see is not necessarily the whole picture!
 
i just saw this too. I noticed they say she has 'preferred' to stay indoors up till now, whereas I think for most of the time she has been shut inside in the dayroom so that Kesho can have access outdoors and be visible too. Correct?

I am still intrugued as to why they haven't given the baby a formal name yet.

They exort you to Get tickets to 'Come see Tiny' another Americanism:rolleyes: what's wrong with our own English Language!:mad:
 
@mumzagoatHAHAHAHA

@Pertinax I agree with you that that is really pathetic. London zoo really does seem to have problems with marketing itself in such a stupid way especially for their gorillas! Not forgeting the marketing of "Gorilla Kingdom".:rolleyes:
 
UrMumzAGoat said:
Well gorillas are meant to have the smallest penises of any animal compared to their body size :D
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They may do when adult, but you could clearly see that 'Tiny' was a male from his very earliest days whenever Mjukuu held him up or away from her.

She is a perfect mother by the way, but I was quite certain she would be as she used to carry her younger siblings around at Chessington. The joys of proper group rearing!
 
Pertinax said:
They may do when adult, but you could clearly see that 'Tiny' was a male from his very earliest days whenever Mjukuu held him up or away from her.

She is a perfect mother by the way, but I was quite certain she would be as she used to carry her younger siblings around at Chessington. The joys of proper group rearing!
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Is there a reason that they haven't given him an official name yet? The latest birth at Taronga was given a name within the first 10 days (of public knowledge) or possibly even less.

In addition, are there any plans to maybe bring more gorillas into the group?
 
Frankfurt had a male baby born just before Christmas and he too was named (Quembo) before his first pictures appeared in the press.

I don't know at London if the staff can't decide on a suitable name, or if he's been earmarked for a 'naming' competition which as you know is a common way of getting extra publicity nowadays. But nothing has been advertised that I know of. (anybody?)

I can't see them adding any more animals at least until after they have got Kesho(the male) in with all three females+ baby. However I think it would be nice if eventually they were able to add one more young female to round the group out. The inside accomodation isn't enormous and wouldn't be able to house more than(say) five adults.
 
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