Melbourne Zoo Rigo the gorilla #2

[Pertinax]

This must be just about the longest thread on the whole Zoochat site, so I'm helping to keep it alive

Its a long thread because its a long story and still ongoing. There has been very little news lately though. Rigo is presumably still living in the group quite happily but with no breeding activity and Motaba and the two boys still living seperately.

I believe AI from Rigo is being contemplated. I rather hope for his sake they don't do it- they will have to knock him out and then probably find the sample is 'poor quality' etc. As Rigo is now represented in the population through his grandson Mapema in Europe there really is no need to put an elderly male(and the females) through this invasive procedure which has a very small chance of success anyway. I think the zoo should accept now that they won't be able to get more offspring from him.

Motaba has three offspring(rather than 'many')- so perhaps they should put him back into the group if they want more babies.

 

[Yassa]

Hasn`t Motaba 5 offspring? The 3 in Melbourne, Buzandi in Hannover (who has already sired 5 surviving infants, and a sister in Jersey (Bahasha?) who is unfortunately not breeding with their male, Ya Kwanza. I don`t think that`s too much, but on the other hands, Motaba is a son of Jambo, and has certainly more then enough relatives from his father`s line. Melbourne`s females are genetically very valueable, and I`d like the idea to bring in a new male who is not related to any of the main European blood lines for future breeding. Motaba and his sons could stay in a bachelor group, but for Rigo`s sake I wouldn`t want a new male to arrive as long as he is still alive.

 

[Pertinax]

Hasn`t Motaba 5 offspring? The 3 in Melbourne, Buzandi in Hannover (who has already sired 5 surviving infants, and a sister in Jersey (Bahasha?) Motaba is a son of Jambo, and has certainly more then enough relatives from his father`s line. Melbourne`s females are genetically very valueable, and I`d like the idea to bring in a new male who is not related to any of the main European blood lines for future breeding. Motaba and his sons could stay in a bachelor group, but for Rigo`s sake I wouldn`t want a new male to arrive as long as he is still alive.

oops- forgot about them!!.. Yes, obviously Motaba is from a well represented line and its really the two females G.Anne & Julia(and Yuska to a lesser extent) who are the most genetically valuable animals there and need to breed again. I can't see them bringing in a new male though while they have the existing animals and accomodation- I don't really know what they might do in this situation...