I did notice the other day that satellite imagery on Google Earth has been updated over Twycross Zoo.
Tommy got bullied by the females, particularly Victoria because the females didn’t like how much attention Tommy was receiving from Jambo. Originally it was just Jomar and Tommy separated but Kibali was kicking off not being with Jomar. The zoo keeps 8 individuals: Jambo, Flynn, Tommy, Kibali, Jomar, Victoria, Tuli and Josie.Are there tensions between Jambo and Kibali? Would that be the reasoning for the separation? How many chimps do they have in total now? I haven't been for a little while ( not like me) so looking forward to going soon.
Interesting. Thanks for that. I wonder if they will every breed them? I guess with many of them being hybrids, they can't at the moment?Tommy got bullied by the females, particularly Victoria because the females didn’t like how much attention Tommy was receiving from Jambo. Originally it was just Jomar and Tommy separated but Kibali was kicking off not being with Jomar. The zoo keeps 8 individuals: Jambo, Flynn, Tommy, Kibali, Jomar, Victoria, Tuli and Josie.
There are plans to breed p.t verus chimpanzees in the future but because Tommy was pushed out by the females it means the zoo has two troops of chimpanzees again which makes things difficult when they come to introduce new p.t verus chimpanzees.Interesting. Thanks for that. I wonder if they will every breed them? I guess with many of them being hybrids, they can't at the moment?
There are two indoor habitats with 5 bedrooms and there is a single large outdoor exhibit. Access to the outdoor enclosure is rotated during the day to give both troops the chance to be outside.I’m not that familiar with Twycross’ current chimp facility. How do they run two troops? Do they have multiple indoor and outdoor enclosures or do they alternate access to inside/outside?
They do hope to integrate the boys back in with the main troop eventually. Tommy seems to be a lot more confident now and has built strong friendships with Jomar and Kibali which will help him when he goes back in with the females.Thanks. Do they plan to get back to one troop eventually? I believe the new zoo standards released earlier this year state that great apes should have 24hr access to all indoor, outdoor and offshow spaces of their enclosure, so Twycross will have to meet this eventually.
Can confirm all zoos are jumping on the native species bandwagon at a very fast rate!The zoo announced earlier today that their Hazel dormice (located on-show in a purpose built facility in the Gruffalo area) have left the collection and have been reintroduced locally. Although, this means a loss of an animal in the collection that could be considered a “rarity”, they were only supposed to be there temporarily and is excellent news with Leicestershire being one of several counties where Hazel dormice had become locally extinct. This in conjunction with the zoo recently engaging with the BioBlitz in their nature reserve, strengthens their credentials for rewilding/conservation at home, so all in all, brilliant news!
Very true, hope this leads to greater public engagement re the conservation and re-establishing of native species! I know of some excellent non-zoo rewilding projects taking place in the Midlands with Kedllestone Hall hoping to release dormice into a, large woodland enclosure alongside an ancient domestic pig breed (serving as a wild boar proxy) and afaik, the nature reverse in Willington seeking to introduce elk alongside their resident beavers in order to restore natural wetland processes. Won’t dwell on it too much as obviously need to keep this thread Twycross related but all very exciting stuff!Can confirm all zoos are jumping on the native species bandwagon at a very fast rate!