Paignton Zoo orangutan bulu
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'Bulu' is the oldest Orangutan in the UK. She was born at London Zoo in 1961. Her parents were 'Charlie'(a male donated by David Attenborough from one of his earliest TV safaris to Borneo) and 'Toli'. 'Bulu' was the first Orangutan to be raised successfully in the UK. (Her parents had two more offspring but neither survived)
Throughout her life at London 'Bulu' had a number of offspring and has several descendants.
She was sent to Paignton along with several other orangutans when London stopped keeping this species. One of them was her youngest son 'Nakal'. At Paignton, the very young 'Nakal'(the only male there) aged about 6, mated with his mother and she produced an incestous daughter 'Gambira' Nakal was quickly seperated from Bulu to prevent any more undesirable mating. He has more recently been sent abroad.
'Bulu' is still living at Paignton along with her last offspring 'Gambira' and another female 'Chinta'
Throughout her life at London 'Bulu' had a number of offspring and has several descendants.
She was sent to Paignton along with several other orangutans when London stopped keeping this species. One of them was her youngest son 'Nakal'. At Paignton, the very young 'Nakal'(the only male there) aged about 6, mated with his mother and she produced an incestous daughter 'Gambira' Nakal was quickly seperated from Bulu to prevent any more undesirable mating. He has more recently been sent abroad.
'Bulu' is still living at Paignton along with her last offspring 'Gambira' and another female 'Chinta'
Do you know if Paignton is actually in the business of acquiring a new breeding male. It seems such a waste of good orangs to breed from!
Yes supposedly, but its been going on a long time now...
Nakal left a year or two back, after living on his own into adulthood as he was related to (i think) all three females, (including Chinta) He was paired briefly with an unrelated female 'Gigit' from Twycross, but she died. Since then they said 1. they weren't going to get another male for a while or 2. a new male would be arriving last spring- but I don't think one has done so.
Paignton's orangutans aren't much of a success really. They're a poor display- they rarely go outside or become active. I would actually like to see them rehoused- either in another zoo or in smaller housing at Paignton- they could then use their house and island for a BREEDING group of Gorillas instead.. (The Batchelor gorillas and orangutan indoor enclosures are identical sized and the outdoor islands equally suitable for both species.)
i think thats the right desion when i went i spent all day at the ape house and the whole day all 3 of them were inside the only one that went outside was beacause she was seprated for about half an hour - from the rest of the grop i think she must have been doing some sort of target traning - a breeding group of gorillas would be more valuable , or they could make another bachlor pad !
Yes, that would work too.
I suspect Paignton would really like to be in the business of breeding gorillas though...
They nearly always are, often they're hiding under the woodwool bedding too.
I've noticed that indoors people scarcely look at them, while at the same time, the Gorillas' side is so packed with people they're standing 3 deep at the glass window.
grantsmb,
The reason that people look more at the gorillas has more to do with presentation. Their exhibit is a damn sight better than the orangs'.
I do suspect from the comments that a male Bornean was to enter in late 2006 that they intend to retain the orangs and start to breed from them. I hope that in the long run they get a more imaginative exhibit. It would provide better viewing of the animals and also improve their breeding prospects.
Does anyone know the course of action with Paignton's masterplan?
The reason that people look more at the gorillas has more to do with presentation. Their exhibit is a damn sight better than the orangs'.
I do suspect from the comments that a male Bornean was to enter in late 2006 that they intend to retain the orangs and start to breed from them. I hope that in the long run they get a more imaginative exhibit. It would provide better viewing of the animals and also improve their breeding prospects.
Does anyone know the course of action with Paignton's masterplan?
At Paignton Zoo, the indoor exhibit areas for Gorillas and Orangutans are 'twinned' i.e. they are identical in size and (virtually) cage equipment. So presentation here is exactly the same for both species.
Paignton's Orangutan exhibit is fine- particularly the outdoor island with its tall grove of trees- the problem is the female Orangs currently there just don't make a very active exhibit, being very lethargic(excusable in Bulu's case as she's now 46..) Bornean(as opposed to Sumatran) orangutans are fairly lethargic in captivity anyway.
I'm pretty certain they DO intend to add a new male for breeding, but its taking a long time..
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Hi! I came upon this forum by chance and was amazed to see my favourite primate at Paignton Zoo being discussed. I can give you some more information about her. I believe she had 11 offspring only 2 of whom survive - Nakal and Gambira. The last one to die was a son in France. Chinta is her granddaughter, offspring of her daughter, Senja, and Kadim (Bulu's son?). Senja came from London with her but sadly died in 2000. Nakal became a father again last year in Fuengirola. Gambira is actually higher up the mean kinship list than Chinta and therefore considered more suitable for breeding. Bulu's family tree would make fascinating reading!
I wish Paignton would get a move on with the promised new male as the 3 orangutans do make a sorry sight. The male's island is being revamped so maybe it'll be sooner rather than later. Because Chinta was trying to become the dominant female, they have had to separate them. So Chinta can be found alone in the show den while Bulu and Gambira are outside, and vice versa. While the outdoor area is possibly second to none, I think the show den, while large, provides little to interest them. The only time I have seen it being used fully from top to bottom, was when Gigit was there. There is a real need for more enrichment such as you find at other zoos, notably Monkey World. Who wouldn't look bored given the same situation every day?
I have wondered myself whether they would ever just concentrate on the gorillas. I sincerely hope not. While the gorillas are immediately 'interesting', you can never make the same connection with them that patience brings you with an orangutan such as Bulu.
I wish Paignton would get a move on with the promised new male as the 3 orangutans do make a sorry sight. The male's island is being revamped so maybe it'll be sooner rather than later. Because Chinta was trying to become the dominant female, they have had to separate them. So Chinta can be found alone in the show den while Bulu and Gambira are outside, and vice versa. While the outdoor area is possibly second to none, I think the show den, while large, provides little to interest them. The only time I have seen it being used fully from top to bottom, was when Gigit was there. There is a real need for more enrichment such as you find at other zoos, notably Monkey World. Who wouldn't look bored given the same situation every day?
I have wondered myself whether they would ever just concentrate on the gorillas. I sincerely hope not. While the gorillas are immediately 'interesting', you can never make the same connection with them that patience brings you with an orangutan such as Bulu.
I think the accomodation is actually more suited to Gorillas- as the two show dens are identical. They fell into the 'trap' in the design of having two species in identical housing- and it doesn't work well for the Orangutans.
I would prefer to see the Mary Le Fevre Ape House given over exclusively to Gorillas, one Batchelor Group, One Breeding Group. The Orangutans should stay at Paignton but a more 'Orangutan' friendly design should be made for them.
Bulu- yes she had many offspring most of which are dead. But I think she's well represented in the population somehow. She has begun to look like a very old lady the last couple of times that I visited.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
A very good point about the design of the accommodation. You get the impression that the orangs are an afterthought to the gorillas. Maybe they could adapt the present housing in some way, or at least give as much thought to the orangs' enrichment as they do to the gorillas'. The contrast is so glaring.
Bulu does look old now but she still seems interested in what's going on outside her den. Hopefully now that she's not being hassled by Chinta, she'll enjoy a good few more years of life.
Bulu does look old now but she still seems interested in what's going on outside her den. Hopefully now that she's not being hassled by Chinta, she'll enjoy a good few more years of life.
1.I really think its more to do with the behaviour of the two species. The Gorillas are active and impressive. The Bornean Orangs are lethargic and dull(at least in this situation) I think having the two species side by side highlights this.
2. I'd rather see the Orangutans exhibited in a seperate building. Having an impressive adult male and some babies/young animals in the group would improve things further too.
3. How often(if ever) have you seen any of the Orangutans go near or climb the tall trees furthest away from the House? I never have... Its a waste of a very good enclosure.
4. Sumatran orangs (in my opinion) make a much better exhibit, in captivity they are far more active than Borneans. Compare the two species at Chester for example- the Sumatran group is really interesting to watch, while the Borneans just sit and do nothing. Its a pity Paignton have Borneans.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Sumatran orangs (in my opinion) make a much better exhibit, in captivity they are far more active than Borneans. Compare the two species at Chester for example- the Sumatran group is really interesting to watch, while the Borneans just sit and do nothing. Its a pity Paignton have Borneans.
Obviously because of my strong attachment to Bulu and her family I can't agree with your last comment! I haven't seen enough Sumatrans to compare them. The Twycross orangs seem more active than Paignton's and when Gigit came from there, she really stirred things up. Even Bulu climbed up to the high platforms indoors. I saw Chinta and Gigit up trees and Gambira used to climb up on one of the outside platforms. Nakal used to climb up a tree and strip the bark. They have actually snapped some of the thinner trees. So maybe they'd be more active if they had an example other than Bulu to follow.
But is it fair to expect them to entertain us? And shouldn't they be given things to stimulate their minds as well as their bodies in view of their contemplative natures?
Obviously because of my strong attachment to Bulu and her family I can't agree with your last comment! I haven't seen enough Sumatrans to compare them. The Twycross orangs seem more active than Paignton's and when Gigit came from there, she really stirred things up. Even Bulu climbed up to the high platforms indoors. I saw Chinta and Gigit up trees and Gambira used to climb up on one of the outside platforms. Nakal used to climb up a tree and strip the bark. They have actually snapped some of the thinner trees. So maybe they'd be more active if they had an example other than Bulu to follow.
But is it fair to expect them to entertain us? And shouldn't they be given things to stimulate their minds as well as their bodies in view of their contemplative natures?