Rockhampton Zoo Rockhampton Zoo News

WhistlingKite24 said:
Gandali, the young male chimp has been bitten by a wild venomous snake. He is in a very serious condition and will be receiving overnight veterinary treatment: Log into Facebook | Facebook
Click to expand...

Well that's thoroughly rotten news. Fingers crossed for Gandali and I'm sure he's getting the very best of care. Thinking of the Rockhampton vets and keepers.
 
Update on Gandali

It sounds like Gandali will make a full recovery. Great news!

From socials:

Huge sigh of relief, Gandali received veterinary care overnight and is now back at the zoo being reintroduced to the troop.

Thank you to our veterinary team and Rockhampton Zoo family for nursing Gandali back to good health.

Now to keep the cheeky three year old quiet for a few days!
 
Zoofan15 said:
Samantha acting as surrogate to Gandali:

Since the death of his mother last year, Samantha (who has had two stillbirths herself) has been acting as a surrogate to Gandali.

There’s a touching video of their reunion following Gandali’s removal for anti-venom treatment:

Adorable moment chimp rushes to hug surrogate mum in zoo after brush with death

https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.g...ments/Latest-News/Gandali-makes-full-recovery
Click to expand...

Gandali's recovery is such good news, the video of him and Samantha is so sweet.
 
Abbey said:
Gandali's recovery is such good news, the video of him and Samantha is so sweet.
Click to expand...

It’s great to see the bond he and Samantha have formed. It must be so mutually beneficial to both of them.

It reminds a little of Shona (1987) at Taronga acting as a surrogate to Chimbuka (1995), when he was orphaned at the age of five years. While Shona was younger than Samantha, she was unable to have her own offspring and took over care of the juvenile male at an age where she would have had at least one infant by that age. Had Chimbuka survived, it’d be interesting to see how it would have affected her standing in the community.
 
Viann (1993-2023)

Viann, the female white-cheeked gibbon has died. She came to Rockhampton this year to join her son, following the death of her long term mate, Phillip, at Perth Zoo. It was noted she had pre-existing health issues prior to her arrival at Rockhampton.

Viann was born May 1993 at Melbourne Zoo and transferred to Perth Zoo in 1999. She and mate, Phillip, had several offspring; many of which died in infancy.

Viann is survived in the region by her daughter, Jermei (2002); her son, Nakai (2011); and grandchildren, Tiane (2012), Canh (2015) and Lulani (2019).
 
Zoofan15 said:
Viann (1993-2023)

Viann, the female white-cheeked gibbon has died. She came to Rockhampton this year to join her son, following the death of her long term mate, Phillip, at Perth Zoo. It was noted she had pre-existing health issues prior to her arrival at Rockhampton.

Viann was born May 1993 at Melbourne Zoo and transferred to Perth Zoo in 1999. She and mate, Phillip, had several offspring; many of which died in infancy.

Viann is survived in the region by her daughter, Jermei (2002); her son, Nakai (2011); and grandchildren, Tiane (2012), Canh (2015) and Lulani (2019).
Click to expand...
Tragic news to hear; especially so soon after her arrival and the death of Tuson earlier this year.

My thoughts are with Rockhampton's keepers who've had a very tough year (especially on the primate side).

Hopefully Nakai's doing well and an amiable companion can be found for him as soon as possible.
 
New arrivals at Rockhampton:

Nine new reasons to visit Rockhampton Zoo

In addition to Jerry (chimpanzee), new additions include:

“We have five male frilled-necked lizards and two blotched, blue-tongued lizards who have just joined the zoo family. They are settling in really well and can be found in the enclosure along the boardwalk to the cassowary enclosure.”

"We are also excited to announce the upcoming arrival of a two-year-old, female red kangaroo. Once settled, she will move to the enclosure next door and will reside with the grey kangaroo and emu.”
 
Samantha (1983-2024)

From socials:

It is with much sadness that Rockhampton Regional Council announces the sudden and unexpected passing of Rockhampton Zoo’s female chimpanzee, Samantha, which occurred yesterday afternoon.

Samantha was seen to be enjoying her dinner and acting normally in the night house in the late afternoon and was found unresponsive 20 minutes later.

In 2020, a heart specialist identified that Samantha had early stage heart disease, and due to the suddenness of her passing, it is suspected that Samantha’s cause of death was from a heart attack.
An autopsy has been conducted and the cause of death will be known once these results are received.

In late 2022, Samantha took on the surrogate mother role for Gandali, who lost his mother, Holly. Now four years old, Gandali shares a very close bond with his father Alon who will no doubt provide guidance and comfort to Gandali.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Samantha (1983-2024)

From socials:

It is with much sadness that Rockhampton Regional Council announces the sudden and unexpected passing of Rockhampton Zoo’s female chimpanzee, Samantha, which occurred yesterday afternoon.

Samantha was seen to be enjoying her dinner and acting normally in the night house in the late afternoon and was found unresponsive 20 minutes later.

In 2020, a heart specialist identified that Samantha had early stage heart disease, and due to the suddenness of her passing, it is suspected that Samantha’s cause of death was from a heart attack.
An autopsy has been conducted and the cause of death will be known once these results are received.

In late 2022, Samantha took on the surrogate mother role for Gandali, who lost his mother, Holly. Now four years old, Gandali shares a very close bond with his father Alon who will no doubt provide guidance and comfort to Gandali.
Click to expand...
Very sad news. How many chimps does this leave Rockhampton with now?
 
Osedax said:
Very sad news. How many chimps does this leave Rockhampton with now?
Click to expand...

Samantha’s death leaves Rockhampton with 4.3 chimpanzee:

1.0 Cassius (18/10/1971) Chiko x Mary
1.0n Jerry (04/12/1995) Imported 2019
1.0 Alon (29/01/2008) Imported 2015
1.0 Gandali (03/02/2020) Alon x Holly

0.1 Leakey (30/12/1994) Imported 2015
0.1 Capri (11/02/2018) Alon x Leakey
0.1 Mzuri (08/12/2021) Alon x Leakey
 
Last edited:
Zoofan15 said:
Samantha’s death leaves Rockhampton with 4.3 chimpanzee:

1.0 Cassius (18/10/1971) Chiko x Mary
1.0n Jerry (04/12/1995) Imported 2019
1.0 Alon (29/01/2008) Imported 2015
1.0 Gandali (03/02/2020) Alon x Holly

0.1 Leakey (30/12/1994) Imported 2015
0.1 Capri (11/02/2018) Alon x Leakey
0.1 Mzuri (08/12/2021) Alon x Leakey
Click to expand...
I notice there haven't been any births the last couple of years. Do they plan to breed them further?
 
Osedax said:
I notice there haven't been any births the last couple of years. Do they plan to breed them further?
Click to expand...

That’s because Samantha has had two failed births and the other breeding female (Holly) died. Leakey could well have her third infant in the next year or two. I would anticipate in the meantime, the transfer of at least one female from within the region. Sembe at Taronga is the strongest candidate imo.
 
Osedax said:
I notice there haven't been any births the last couple of years. Do they plan to breed them further?
Click to expand...
They should be; although it's worth noting the lack of breeding in recent years is due to them really only having one breeding female (Leakey) following Holly's death at the end of 2022.

Samantha has been pregnant a few times, but never had success.

We should be expecting an offspring from Leakey soon (assuming she hasn't been placed on contraception).

Acquiring new females should be a priority.
 
Jambo said:
They should be; although it's worth noting the lack of breeding in recent years is due to them really only having one breeding female (Leakey) following Holly's death at the end of 2022.

Samantha has been pregnant a few times, but never had success.

We should be expecting an offspring from Leakey soon (assuming she hasn't been placed on contraception).

Acquiring new females should be a priority.
Click to expand...


Leakey is still breastfeeding Mzuri and will be until at least December, assuming she weans Mzuri at 3 like she did Capri. The earliest there will be another chimp infant in the Rocky group will be late 2025 even if a female import was to occur. A female import is unlikely to occur until Jerry intros are complete which are currently ongoing.
 
Primatologist said:
Leakey is still breastfeeding Mzuri and will be until at least December, assuming she weans Mzuri at 3 like she did Capri. The earliest there will be another chimp infant in the Rocky group will be late 2025 even if a female import was to occur. A female import is unlikely to occur until Jerry intros are complete which are currently ongoing.
Click to expand...
Correct but going off the previous age gap between Leakey's offspring (three years and ten months), it's not unreasonable to assume we could expect an infant from her as early as late this year.
 
Primatologist said:
Leakey is still breastfeeding Mzuri and will be until at least December, assuming she weans Mzuri at 3 like she did Capri. The earliest there will be another chimp infant in the Rocky group will be late 2025 even if a female import was to occur. A female import is unlikely to occur until Jerry intros are complete which are currently ongoing.
Click to expand...
Jambo said:
Correct but going off the previous age gap between Leakey's offspring (three years and ten months), it's not unreasonable to assume we could expect an infant from her as early as late this year.
Click to expand...

These are some of the shortest birth intervals in recent decades (1980’s onwards). I didn’t count the 1960’s and 1970’s, as assisted rearing and hand raising was common, which skewed results.

Spitter - 3 years and 11 months between Sally and Gombe
Lisa - 3 years and 11 months between Lobo and Lubutu
Samantha - 3 years and 11 months between Temba and Keza
Zombi - 3 years and 11 months between Enzi and Zola
Leakey - 3 years and 10 months between Capri and Mzuri
Ficha - 3 years and 8 months between Kuma and Unnamed
Zombi - 3 years and 2 months between Zuri and Enzi

Going off the three years and two months between Zombi’s first two offspring, an infant in the first half of 2025 is certainly possible; but these results suggest the second half of 2025 (just under four years) is more likely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top