Paignton Zoo Orangutan behaviour
- Thread starter kkkp
- Start date
the gay duchess
Member
In the wild of course these are solitary animals so they would naturally part after mating.
It has been observed in captivity that females become completely disinterested in sex after becoming pregnant, sometimes lasting for up to four years before they are interested again.
Without putting too fine a point on it, I observed the male back away as if disgusted after having a sniff of a female the other day. Maybe he is not too keen now either?
It has been observed in captivity that females become completely disinterested in sex after becoming pregnant, sometimes lasting for up to four years before they are interested again.
Without putting too fine a point on it, I observed the male back away as if disgusted after having a sniff of a female the other day. Maybe he is not too keen now either?
Hello the Gay Duchess,
The reason I was asking was Quite the contrary........Last week I observed Demo was extremely intrested in Gambira ..He mated with her on Weds Thurs dont know about friday But Saturday I counted five times and Chinta and Mali were facsinated they were looking over the top of the walls and couldnt take their eyes of them.
So this begs the next Question is Gambira Pregnant?I wouldnt like to put a bet on it........Watch this space.............
The reason I was asking was Quite the contrary........Last week I observed Demo was extremely intrested in Gambira ..He mated with her on Weds Thurs dont know about friday But Saturday I counted five times and Chinta and Mali were facsinated they were looking over the top of the walls and couldnt take their eyes of them.
So this begs the next Question is Gambira Pregnant?I wouldnt like to put a bet on it........Watch this space.............
the gay duchess
Member
Your observations are interesting, perhaps as always the exception proves the rule?
However, I am most certain that the zoo publicity machine would not have announced such news unless all three pregnancies had been confirmed by urine/blood or faeces sample first.
However, I am most certain that the zoo publicity machine would not have announced such news unless all three pregnancies had been confirmed by urine/blood or faeces sample first.
I seem to be the one person that spends hours observing in the ape house.Not only observing the actual Orangutangs and gorillas but also the keepers and the hard work they have to do not only there but looking after all the others in there care. I dont think it would be possible for any of the samples to be taken from the orangs even a human prgnancy test would be nigh on immpossible let alone who did what when and how also they would have to knock the orangs out to take blood so it may have been determined by behaviour alone Also the Zoo publicity machine could have made a mistake and dont we all at some time or other.Nobody is perfect and would it be the end of the world if they were wrong me thinks not .But would be fantastic if it happened. Lets hope Mali produces a lovely baby and she and baby are healthy.
Allso my observations are not interesting but factual.
Allso my observations are not interesting but factual.
taun
Well-Known Member
Am rather confused by that?
Are you saying that you couldn't get an orangutan to pee on a stick or in a cup? (to put it bluntly)
There is many zoos that have trained there great apes to pee when asked too (nature permitting). A urine sample is the usually method of testing great apes for pregnancy due to there genes being close to ours. Also I have heard of other zoos, training animals to present body parts of command so zoo keepers can check them over (and even pregnancy).
It is said with orangutans, they get to little swellings on there back side with is an indication of then being pregnant (but its not 100%).
I also wouldn't read too much into mating during pregnancy, I expect it probably happens alot more in great apes in captivity then we know.
taun
Well-Known Member
1) You say it would be near impossible to take samples, which is not the case, there is several ways in which they could test them without knocking them out.
2) You say the
I don't think any zoo would just let the "Zoo publicity machine" to randomly put out stories, did you mean the keepers?
3) A lot seems to be pure speculation, have you approached a keeper regarding your curiosity? in most cases they are very helpful and will answer your questions.
Yes all zoos do things differently, but most have a common approach to each species.
taun
Well-Known Member
1) I asked did you mean the keepers may have made a mistake? Not they are publicity machines.
2) Taking blood is not the only way in which you can test if an animal is pregnant.
3)
Yet you claimed in another thread that they were all pregnant??
Wich is pure speculation, as they could be tested without the need of a blood sample.
Your guessing what the zoo may have done, without asking the question, (you seem to be there quite alot, so I would of at least asked them about it before guessing)
Taun Just read what i Actually said then you may see where this is leading
The question i asked has been answered.What am I guessing at?As far as i know i never made any claims I asked the question are they pregnant and the zoo replied with the Mail newspaper story that they were all pregnant. I didnt write the story .
The question i asked has been answered.What am I guessing at?As far as i know i never made any claims I asked the question are they pregnant and the zoo replied with the Mail newspaper story that they were all pregnant. I didnt write the story .
taun
Well-Known Member
You know what, am not even going to bother to conitue this with you, you make it quite clear that you are unable to handle a discussion that questions what you have wrote on these boards.
So who cant handle a disscusion?
mating and pregnancies.
Mating in Apes, at least in captivity, can occur while females are pregnant. In Gorillas, females sometimes continue to show signs of oestrus during the early months of pregnancy, and continued mating activity. Possibly Orangutans are similar. Mating certainly isn't proof a female isn't pregnant.
Females during pregnancy..;Do they continue to mate?Or does the light go out in that department untill after the birth.?
Mating in Apes, at least in captivity, can occur while females are pregnant. In Gorillas, females sometimes continue to show signs of oestrus during the early months of pregnancy, and continued mating activity. Possibly Orangutans are similar. Mating certainly isn't proof a female isn't pregnant.
Mating in Apes, at least in captivity, can occur while females are pregnant. In Gorillas, females sometimes continue to show signs of oestrus during the early months of pregnancy, and continued mating activity. Possibly Orangutans are similar. Mating certainly isn't proof a female isn't pregnant.[/QUOTE
Thank you Pertinax
From all the confusion and conflicting information ; I will conclude the following;;Only time will tell.........
Isnt it a pity that a study by university students wasn't carried out during this time as it would have been extremely intresting.And may have shed some light on this particular groups behaviour.and outcomes.