Rockhampton Zoo Rockhampton Zoo's New Chimp Exhibit

Apologies phoenix - I was just being cheeky and trying to get a bite - actually I agree with you on this. Everywhere else apes are displayed well without a fully meshed in cage.

(Smaller primates are a different kettle of fish. While it may not be attractive to many of us, the mesh adds an extra dimension to their usable space.)
 
I think mesh is the best option in this case...No space is taken up with moats (wet or dry) and the chimps can still get a view out of their enclosure which wouldn't be possible with a wall or mock-rock.
 
And I really dislike seeing monkeys, those most arboreal of animals, sitting at the bottom of a concrete pit, which was fairly common at Taronga in the past. Taronga's nocturnal house was formerly one of the world's biggest-and deepest- monkey pits, housing a colony of entellus langurs which ungratefully shivered their way to an early death.
 
An extract from the Chimpanzee Annual Report and Recommendations:

During this reporting period the Species Coordinator and Rockhampton Zoo have been advising the Queensland Department of Primary Industries on the welfare and safety implications of a castrated male chimpanzee “Mr Muggins” being held in private hands in Queensland. Discussions remain in progress with the goal being that the private owners relinquish ownership of “Mr Muggins” and allow his integration with the 2 males held at Rockhampton. This integration would be attempted upon completion of the new Rockhampton facilities.
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Mr Muggins is the last chimp held in private hands, isn't he?

:)
 
Don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen. Mugs is perfectly fine where he is.

The Species Coordinator is incredibly naive if she thinks that a teenaged castrated, humanised chimp is going to be integrated with two brothers in their mid 30's. And what would that achieve anyway?

Far better to source some girls for the boys and let her and Rocky Zoo's primate expert use their integration skills more productively for the region.

This ill-advised plan has now lost impetus following the resignation of a certain person from BQ.
 
Regarding the mention in the Newspaper article about the two male Chimps 'smiling and making funny faces' in their new environment. I suspect these are 'fear grins' made due to their extreme nervousness in the unfamiliar surroundings! However, they will get over it.

Do these males have a humanised, or more normal background i.e. are they likely to breed if/when females are acquired? Two or three females would be enough for starters, any more than that and the males could be overwhelmed/dominated.
 
Pertinax said:
Do these males have a humanised, or more normal background i.e. are they likely to breed if/when females are acquired? Two or three females would be enough for starters, any more than that and the males could be overwhelmed/dominated.
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I'm unsure of their background but two female chimps from Taronga Zoo are set to be transferred there soon. In the longer term, some females will be imported from Europe.

:)
 
Are there any updates as to when they will be getting the new females and which 2 females are coming from Taronga?
 
Well, I finally got a chance to see the new chimp enclosure today and, in one word - fantastic!!

Those of you who had concerns that it was a "cage" - forget them. It is a cage but a beauty. In one corner it is at least 1 metre higher than the old cage and in other parts it is much higher than that. At least one of the boys uses the roof mesh to brachiate fearlessly at an impressive height. This is much better than any island or moated enclosure could ever be.

The floor plan of the cage is, more or less, in a Z shape so the boys can be out of sight of each other if they wish. The substrate is woodchips, ground cover vegetation and rotting logs lying on the ground. There are also horizontal logs above ground as well as very solid vertical logs. There is a small pool at one end which overflows into a little stream. Viewing is through 3 large glass window at different spots along the frontage. If the boys don't want to be seen then they have that choice.

Concerns about the vegetation by previous posters are also unnecessary. The vegetation in this cage is profuse. Grasses, bamboos, small trees, shrubs, vines, creepers - even vegetation now growing out through the roof mesh.

And, believe it or not - NO hotwires! Certainly some of the vegetation shows signs of chimpanzee gardening efforts, but not much. In fact, very, very little. The ratio of animals to area is pretty much spot on.

Going forward there will be some obvious changes if/when more animals are added. The vegetation could not be expected to withstand the onslaught of an extra couple of chimps.

And the cost - AUD1.2 million? I definitely think that a privately owned zoo would have got more bang for their buck but, what the heck - I'm happy that part of my taxes have helped to fund this magnificent upgrade to the boy's living conditions.

A belated answer to Pertinax's enquiry - I am not aware of any reason [apart from their age] why these two males could not be eventually successfully integrated with female chimps.
 
I'm always intruged as to whether using methods like videos or smaller primates to help non-mating great Apes like these two males acquire technique by example, ever works successfully or not.

I have a suspicion they don't, though they could still learn by accident during social encounters, though unfortunately old habits(or lack of them;)) die hard.
 
Ockie, one of the males, died yesterday at the age of 38:

(From Facebook)-
"It is with great sadness that we advise that Ockie, one of Rockhampton Zoo's most lovable characters, passed away on Sunday 24 November 2013. Ockie, the chimpanzee, was 38-years-old and a close companion and best mate to Cassie and new chimps, Holly and Samantha. The Rockhampton Zoo will be holding a brief memorial for Ockie tomorrow morning at the Chimp Enclosure from 9am. Everyone is welcome to come along and celebrate Ockie’s wonderful life."
 
Very sad news, it's very unfortunate that Cassie will be the sole male in the group. I don't imagine it would be very easy to introduce more males to the group.
 
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