I believe years ago London zoo gave Howletts a lot of flack about the way they kept their Gorillas but the boots on the other foot now I believe H/PL have bred over 130 young and London zoo ?
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Port Lympne Wild Animal Park news 2020
- Thread starter Embu
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What would happen if there was a replacement at the helm for DA?
Though this is very unlikely due to the will his father left behind, who from what I understand said that he HAD to run the zoos to be able to continue to access the family’s fund, I would assume that when he does finally die/retire that one of his daughters will take over. And since they appear to be very similar to him in rhetoric, I can’t imagine there would be much of a change.
I believe it’s nearly 150 born (successfully?) at the Aspinall parks now throughout their history, whereas there have been a total of five successful births at London in the past 35 or so years.
Quite right I knew by now it would be higher than the number I quoted they have shown the way for others to follow. London zoo should of had a better record than what they have even Chessington have done a good job with them I believe they based their housing and care done at Howletts!
Not just gorillas I believe but also tigers.
Let’s not forget ZSL haven’t helped themselves over the years. It wasn’t just John Aspinall they had beef with but also Gerald Durrell, particularly on the idea on what a “zoo” should be.
Do you know if the gorilla groups are mainly contracepted nowadays? I can remember the days when females in each group were all having babies at regular intervals, these days births are far rarer there.
If you’re referring to Howletts (which I assume you are as almost all of the groups at Port Lympne are bachelors), then no, they’re not. Sammi, Ebeki and Djanghou all have free range with the females, and to be honest so does Kifu, but it’s different than it was before. Ebeki and Kifu both have far older girls in with them now, so are less likely to be successful. Djanghou and Sammi have young enough females, but it’s about birth intervals. Fingers crossed we see some babies born in Sammi’s group soon enough.
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
Pertinax as far as I know the female Gorillas within the European continent are not on contraception. In London’s instance I think the lack of breeding is down to Gorilla Kingdom being more dramatic and eventful than Coronation Street. As your probably aware London has had five Silverbacks within the last two decades.
1. Jock moved to Bristol during 2003. Jock didn’t produce any progeny with the female that resided in the capital at the time. Jock has since fatherd four Offspring and has become a grandad to a further three surviving grandchildren.
2. Jock’s successor Bobby (Bongo Jr) who moved from London died in 2008 due to a sudden heart attack in one of the outdoor dens. He had deformed legs and was wild born.
3. Bobby’s replacement Yebboah who arrived from a bachelor group in France. Yebboah tragically passed away under aneaseptic while being treated for Diabetes. While at London Zoo Yebboah and Majukku copulated and parented Tiny the baby Gorilla who was tragically murderd by the then new infertile Silverback Kesho.
4. Kesho who was born to Harry and Lena at Dublin. Kesho arrived in 2012. He was Yabboughs successor. Kescho was the infertile Silverback that murdered Tiny the 8 month old first born offspring of Majkuu and the only posthoumous offspring of the late Gorilla Yebboah.
The last Silverback was Kumbuka who was relocated due to being aggressive in his bachelor group at Paington Zoo. Kumbuka was born at Belfast Zoo to Kamilli the daughter of the now diseased long term London Zoo resident Zaira. Sadly Kumbuka was euthanized due to a widespread serious infection. Kumbuka leaves behind his daughter Alika and son Gernot.
Pipaluk has posted a few new photos from his visit the other day. Interestingly they seem to be the first ones in about four years from there...
First visit in around 3 years I think.
Things that appeared to have changed in that time:
Owston's Civet gone or no longer on show at least, Fishing Cat signed there.
The row of small cat cages on left hand side of path past the cafe (margay & fishing Cat last time) have been demolished. One of the fishing Cat cages on the other side of the path is undergoing renovation/extension.
Temporary looking Meerkat just beyond the Pallas's cats.
Cage that previously held Ocelot (opposite side of road to Lynx) was closed off, presumably because it is a dead end with narrow path.
New Lion enclosure at the top of park where previously wolves/hunting dogs/ cheetah were, opposite amur tigers looks impressive, I only saw one sleeping lion though.
Other observations - only saw 2 Bush dogs and 1 fossa
7 Roan antelope
Could only see 4 Blackbuck, including 3 juvenile males, I assume the main herd was on the drive through.
Couldn't see much in the drive through behind
apart from 2 Bactrian camels and a few deer (Sambar?).
Saw one very young gorilla and another probably 1-2 years old.
The round gorilla house is still open and there are now red river hog along the path from there (previously warty pigs)
New open top drill enclosure just at start of truck ride looked good.
No shows Diana monkey (only signed at back of cage), binturong, Pallas's cats, rusty spotted cats and needless to say in that massive enclosure - Scottish wildcats
They do still have Owston’s civet - they’ve just been moved offshow.
:From what I've seen the ony blackbuck at PL now are five, maybe now four(?) castrated males. Howletts have a larger, but females only, group of (about less) than 20. I don't think there is a larger group in the Port Lympne drive through anymore but if anyone knows differently do please post.
Surprised that Kingut's death hasn't elicited more comment on this or other zoo-related sites. He was quite an iconic animal for them given his longevity, but there's perhaps not a lot else one can say in the event.
Longevity wise it is testament to their good management of the species. It is sad to have to acknowledge he did not have descendants (as did some of the Indonesian imports).
How many Malayan tapir are left at Port Lympne now?
Any info on further breeding?
Elsewhere: not a lot of (relevant) news items coming out on Zoochat lately ....!
Themonkeyguy1
Well-Known Member
1.2 left, Nias, Tengui and Queenie from Belfast Zoo.
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
According to the GorillaLand websitem Mambi one of the Female Gorillas from Kouillou’s group was transferred to Port Lymes sister Zoo Howeletts a couple of days ago on the 8th of September 2020.
Do any of my fellow Zoochatter’s know if there are any plans to move any of other the Gorilla’s or bring any in from external European animal facilities?
Why have Joshi,Ikebe,Nkoumo and Jouki from Howeletts not joined the newly formed bachelor group at Port Lyme?
@Pertinax do you think that Evindi the adolescent troublesome Gorilla at Longleat Safari Park could join the new bachelor group? Personally I think that this new bachelor group is the ideal place for Evindi.
I hope you are all well and happy
Kind regards The Hedgehog
Do any of my fellow Zoochatter’s know if there are any plans to move any of other the Gorilla’s or bring any in from external European animal facilities?
Why have Joshi,Ikebe,Nkoumo and Jouki from Howeletts not joined the newly formed bachelor group at Port Lyme?
@Pertinax do you think that Evindi the adolescent troublesome Gorilla at Longleat Safari Park could join the new bachelor group? Personally I think that this new bachelor group is the ideal place for Evindi.
I hope you are all well and happy
Kind regards The Hedgehog