Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo Gorillas.
- Thread starter Pertinax
- Start date
Doesn't mean the rumour may not be true longterm.
But two more males coming in soon means the existing male group will continue as is for now. I wonder if one of these will be the twin brother of the 4years old female(Kera) that has joined the Bristol group?the gay duchess
Member
It seems very unlikely that Paignton would start breeding gorillas as they are playing a very valuable part in the breeding programme by having a batchelor group. By keeping all excess males until a family unit can be established, they have a role that is just as important to the breeding programme as if they were actually breeding them on site.
I don't know where this rumour came from but I think it must be just a rumour.
I don't know where this rumour came from but I think it must be just a rumour.
taun
Well-Known Member
Exactly what I pointed out. The only way I can see them start breeding Gorilla if room was made for a Breeding group along side the Batchelor group.
I'd say with the number of young Gorillas being produced in Europe, the bachelor group holders in fact play almost a MORE important role...
New Youngsters.
The two new young males coming from Stuttgart must(presumably) be;
'Kiri'. born 26.08.04 & 'N'Dowe' born 10.11.03. They're the only two males of relevant age in the current nursery groups.
They are (full) brothers born just nine months apart at Barcelona Zoo to Xebo & Kena. 'Kiri' is the twin brother of female 'Kera' that recently went to Bristol. 'N'Dowe' has been returned from another bachelor group at La Boisierre, France so maybe he was too small to fit in there. The mother of these, 'Kena' is now at Blackpool Zoo. She is a daughter of the white Gorilla 'Snowflake' so they are his grandsons.
The two new young males coming from Stuttgart must(presumably) be;
'Kiri'. born 26.08.04 & 'N'Dowe' born 10.11.03. They're the only two males of relevant age in the current nursery groups.
They are (full) brothers born just nine months apart at Barcelona Zoo to Xebo & Kena. 'Kiri' is the twin brother of female 'Kera' that recently went to Bristol. 'N'Dowe' has been returned from another bachelor group at La Boisierre, France so maybe he was too small to fit in there. The mother of these, 'Kena' is now at Blackpool Zoo. She is a daughter of the white Gorilla 'Snowflake' so they are his grandsons.
I have a feeling you are right
Has to be them- the only other male in the Stuttgart nursery at present is a little baby...
You are right. Lengai & Meru. It could be them(or one of them) instead.
You are right. Lengai & Meru. It could them(or one of them) instead.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
I've uploaded a photo of Kumbuka (see Paignton gorilla) on the island. A keeper he's bonded with was throwing sticks across the water to him and he threw some back. He also pulled up clumps of roots from the water's edge, squeezed out the water and threw them across. Unfortunately, most fell short. He looks quite impressive now - until you see him next to Pertinax! The photo was taken from the 'cul de sac' path between the orangutan and gorilla islands.
I discovered why the slightly older one 'Ndowe' (they are full brothers with only a 9 months age gap) failed to stay in the La Boisierre bachelor group. The other Stuttgart youngster he was sent with died (may have been attacked?) there so they took Ndowe back at Stuttgart temporarily. Hopefully these two will do better at Paignton though.
N'Dowe & Kiri
Some more information about N'Dowe:
I don't know exactly what happened in France, but when N'Dowe was brought back to Stuttgart Wilhelma, he was closer to death than to live. He had lost a lot of weight, lots of injuries on him and worst of all he wouldn't eat. At last they consulted a children psychologist and with his help N'Dowe was slowly draged into live again.
Sounds a bit dramatic, but I saw N'Dowe in early June when the worst was over. He then looked like an old man and moved only slowly. His fur was ragged and he showed only little interest in his keepers, food or playthings. I felt so sorry for him because I remembered him before he left Wilhelma - a young gorilla full of joy, power and health.
In late Summer I learned that he had recovered much faster than the keepers had dared to hope. I found a happy and playful gorilla boy in excellent shape. I also learned that he and Kiri would leave for Paignton in November, one of the best places there is for young male gorillas.
My thoughts are with him and I keep all my fingers crossed that everything goes well with the other gorillas.
Please, please keep an extra eye on N'Dowe and report!
Greetings from Stuttgart
Some more information about N'Dowe:
I don't know exactly what happened in France, but when N'Dowe was brought back to Stuttgart Wilhelma, he was closer to death than to live. He had lost a lot of weight, lots of injuries on him and worst of all he wouldn't eat. At last they consulted a children psychologist and with his help N'Dowe was slowly draged into live again.
Sounds a bit dramatic, but I saw N'Dowe in early June when the worst was over. He then looked like an old man and moved only slowly. His fur was ragged and he showed only little interest in his keepers, food or playthings. I felt so sorry for him because I remembered him before he left Wilhelma - a young gorilla full of joy, power and health.
In late Summer I learned that he had recovered much faster than the keepers had dared to hope. I found a happy and playful gorilla boy in excellent shape. I also learned that he and Kiri would leave for Paignton in November, one of the best places there is for young male gorillas.
My thoughts are with him and I keep all my fingers crossed that everything goes well with the other gorillas.
Please, please keep an extra eye on N'Dowe and report!
Greetings from Stuttgart