Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo news 2012 #1

Collections do not have to do a press release for every animal that arrives, departs, is born or dies. It's not any form of cover up, and as said there is always a good reason.

Collections have to be very careful who they share information with, if it gets to the wrong people then it can mean a backlash, even when unavoidable. Would a member of CAPs or Born Free believe the zoo's word, or would they add their own spin to it for their own ends for example! The person that asked for information could easily have been a member of one of these organisations, at the zoo in search of bad press.
 
Well, if a zoo wants to prevent bad press from AR groups, silence and keepers not answering questions but just going away is the worst way. It`s just not possible to hide the death/diaappearing of a large mammal in a public zoo. It`s something you can see as a normal visitor if you go more then once and look closely/take notes.
My opinion is that open information about sad events as much as about births is the best way because it avoids the impression that the zoo tries to hide something and keeps speculation at bay (see this thread!!). This doesn`t always need to be a press release, a note at the enclosure so that the regular visitors know what has happened would be enough in most cases.
 
OrangePerson said:
I don't think 'everyone' is reading a lot into it, it's become a more general discussion about releasing info or not!
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In some ways, but some posters seem to be implying that not releasing information automatically means something is wrong. There's a hoarde of reasons not to release information, most of them not the slightest bit sinister.
 
Zoos by their nature are controversial places - animals in captivity. Animals dropping dead can add to this and if it happens too often, even zoo lovers may question their suitability. The best way to combat this is to do what happens now in so many walks of modern life (politics, policing, management, annual reporting, freedom of information acts etc etc), that is: TRANSPARENCY. Explanations as to why things happen, why animals need to move, why they die, why problems have arisen etc can dispell speculation and rumours and make the establishment appear more trustworthy by being open and honest. Its really not any of our business what happens to twycross's stock, and they have to right to refuse to comment, but it really will not do them any favours by being secretive and elusive of difficult topics.

On an unrelated note, will asante potentially have to be moved on if this group thing with ozala and oumbie doesn't work out? What will happen then, will biddy join them with more females or will they just persevere with the current 3 some?
 
I'm afraid I can't think of too many transparent politicians! I agree in an ideal world all deaths would be reported, but very few zoos do report them unless it is a very high profile or popular individual. Although people on this forum may be interested as to the details, sometimes it isn't necessary to court bad publicity and as for the earlier discussion over the keeper declining to release details, I don't think thats their responsibility to do so,if they choose to or not to then thats up to them. Not that I am suggesting the zoo has anything to hide in this case!
 
leiclad20 said:
On an unrelated note, will asante potentially have to be moved on if this group thing with ozala and oumbie doesn't work out? What will happen then, will biddy join them with more females or will they just persevere with the current 3 some?
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Asante is a real 'problem' animal. There is virtually nothing to be gained from housing her somewhere else, as it would be an unfamiliar situation for her and the stress-related problems would no doubt quickly surface again with fresh animals. At least where she is she is comfortable with Ozala and the Housing/staff etc.

I have never been able to come up with a hypothetical satisfactory solution for her. I believe Biddy will be added to this group(and Boulas will leave) which may take some of the pressure off Asante's poor relationship with Oumbie. Its definately not his fault, its her upbringing. They might like to add more females but its not easy to obtain them and the House isn't that big- my guess is for now they will stay with the 1.3 they will then have. and maybe add one more female at some future date if they can get one.
 
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pipaluk said:
Although people on this forum may be interested as to the details, sometimes it isn't necessary to court bad publicity and as for the earlier discussion over the keeper declining to release details, I don't think thats their responsibility to do so,if they choose to or not to then thats up to them. Not that I am suggesting the zoo has anything to hide in this case!
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I think you'll find the Giraffe death was simply airbrushed out- an example of a death they didn't have to publicise. The keeper's reluctance to confirm/explain it is understandable too- they may have been unsure whether this was supposed to be confidential or not.
 
I saw Asante on Sunday and she's the happiest I've seen her for a while, though when I saw her both oumbie and ozala were fast asleep!
 
Regarding the relationship between oumbie and asante, does anyone know more of asante's history. A keeper told me she'd been at Bristol Zoo. Also how long has asante been housed together with oumbie and okanda's mum.
 
Yes Asante went to Bristol Zoo for a few months back in 1994 for a hope to breed, and she returned just before Christmas 1994.

Asante has lived with Ozala for a long time now as they are sisters, she lived with her and Sekondi, and Matadi (when he was born). Oumbie arrived in 2010 so not very long with him.
 
History of Asante.

mazfc said:
Asante was definitely hand reared, but I'm pretty sure biddy raised ozala herself.
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Asante was the first Gorilla born at Twycross. She had to be handraised and unfortunately did not see another Gorilla for several years, hence her resulting humanised behaviour. Nowadays this wouldn't happen- she would be sent to a nursery like Okanda has been, to reduce imprinting on humans and to benefit from other Gorillas' company.

Ozala is her younger half-sister- they have different mothers(Asante- Eva, Ozala- Biddy). Ozala was Biddy's second baby and the first Gorilla mother-raised at Twycross. Eva had no other(surviving) offspring, only Asante. Asante and Ozala have lived togther since Ozala was transferred over from her natal group, then aged about 7, to join Asante and Sekondi, so about 11 years now. Oumbie came in September 2009 and joined the two females soon after.

After handrearing Asante has been kept in the following combinations;

1. with younger males Mambi (her halfbrother) and Sekondi.

2. With Sekondi & Ozala + Matadi- and after Sekondi's death, just Ozala & Matadi.

3. With Ozala & Oumbie (and very briefly, Matadi).

4. Temporary transfer to the other group(with Boulas, Bongo & Biddy).

5. Back to No 3. (+ briefly baby Okanda)

Its correct she was also sent to Bristol in 1994 for a few months, along with her mother Eva, in an attempt to get her mated. Eva did eventually become pregnant, though the baby was premature and died. Asante did not- she was too terrified of the Bristol male to let him come anywhere near her-again her humanised background failed her.
 
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Many Thanks for the information. I visited the zoo twice this week. The 2 girls seemed to be getting along better than I'd seen them in the recent past and Asanti had no new bite marks apparent. She still clings to humans tho, doesn't eat much and is terrified of Oumbie. Do you think that the zoo will move her again? is there a solution? I really hate to see her distress. On Thursday I sat quietly sketching the Gorillas. A crowd of people were there and Asanti came up 2 the glass, got a piece of cardboard on the floor and picked up a tiny bit of something (couldn't see what it was in her big hands and started to make scribbling motions on the cardboard. I was amazed. (I swear it's true and the other people saw her do it too-) She seemed disgusted when no marks appeared on the cardboard and threw it aside. When I was rummaging in my bag to find the moby she got really excited and hand signalled like crazy, also clapping her hands alot. Was she taught that by some one? Or did I just have a really weird visit!
 
She has had a humanised upbringing it is no surprise that she has leant to copy human actions. She is going to be a nightmare to place by all accounts given her background, and the placing of her in a group with a male she is terrified of is very sad and must cause her a lot of distress. They really need to sort this gorilla group situation out - can't they just bring biddy into the group to take focus off her?
 
leiclad20 said:
can't they just bring biddy into the group to take focus off her?
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This is a very possible move,but not until they have moved Boulas to another collection,which I believe is more than possible as I believe the zoo has now placed him on the surplus list,so its a case of waiting for home to be found for him!
 
For a collection specialising in primates, Twycross' record with gorillas has been pretty mediocre, far poorer than might have been anticipated.

Given the huge job they are going to have to undertake in bringing their Chimpanzee groups up to an acceptable standard for the current era, the scarcity in the UK of orangs, and the importance of their Bonobos, I really wonder if it wouldn't be an idea to go out of Western Gorillas in the medium term.
 
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