Twycross Zoo Twycross zoo

[gentle lemur]

If they knock Boulas down to transport him, they can presumably test his fertility at the same time.
Don't forget that almost all the Howletts/Port Lympne gorillas are unrelated to almost all the other gorillas in other zoos around the world as so few transfers have been made between this collection and other zoos. For UK zoos, a transfer like this has the great advantage of avoiding the problem of quarantine.

Alan

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Thanks for your helpful comments (Pertinax and gentlelemur).

Re dysfunctional: relates to Boulas dysfunctionality at Belfast and his possible infertility (I would not attribute that to the females ... we have had similar experiences at home).

Re Howletts/PL gorillas: few exchanges admittedly have taken place, not sure whether that has improved lately.

Re transfer arrangement: unfortunate that owner PL blocked the move to Warsaw ... as he will now occupy a space that would be better suited to a breeding male.

Questionmark: will PL/Howletts send a second more suitable candidate silverback for breeding purposes to Twycross (the group there is now dysfunctional too ... and too long by half)???

 

[taun]

Questionmark: will PL/Howletts send a second more suitable candidate silverback for breeding purposes to Twycross (the group there is now dysfunctional too ... and too long by half)???

It looks doubtful, and I am surprised they are letting Boulas go there unless that is down to him being hand reared.

 

[Pertinax]

Re Howletts/PL gorillas: few exchanges admittedly have taken place, not sure whether that has improved lately.

Questionmark: will PL/Howletts send a second more suitable candidate silverback for breeding purposes to Twycross (the group there is now dysfunctional too ... and too long by half)???

A few Howletts Gorillas(including some related to Boulas) have gone to St Martin La pleine(2.2) & Beauval zoos(0.2) in France, where they are breeding in their own groups. Apart from Boulas no other Howletts-bred gorillas have moved to other UK zoos that I can think of, in recent years.

The idea of a 2nd male from PL was maybe an 'insurance' if Boulas really is infertile- but this plan seems to have fallen through- I know not why....

 

[Pertinax]

It looks doubtful, and I am surprised they are letting Boulas go there unless that is down to him being hand reared.

I believe Boulas was mother-reared too-it depends which data you believe. I'm not sure. I think the main reason they are/were prepared to let him go there is because they know he wouldn't tolerate being back in a male group back at Port Lympne after his years at Belfast being a group leader, so he would simply become another 'loner' using up more cagespace.

 

[Pertinax]

If they knock Boulas down to transport him, they can presumably test his fertility at the same time.
Alan

True enough. He will already be at Twycross before they know the outcome. Or will he be crate-trained I wonder?

 

[RTB1987]

If Boulas was introduced to what was the breeding group how do people think he would react to the young male Matadi? I think his about 5 or 6 now so i wouldn't think he'd be seen as threat. Is there any chance Boulas may accept him as a blackback in the group? Just a wild guess so feel free to shoot me down

Any news on the Leopard situation?

 

[zoogiraffe]

Any news on the Leopard situation?

Still waiting for 1 of the males to move and a female to be recommend as far as i know.

 

[Pertinax]

If Boulas was introduced to what was the breeding group how do people think he would react to the young male Matadi? I think his about 5 or 6 now so i wouldn't think he'd be seen as threat. Is there any chance Boulas may accept him as a blackback in the group?

When Boulas, already fully mature, first arrived at Belfast, their young male Gugas was a similar age to Matadi's now, and Boulas got along fine with him. I see no reason why it shouldn't be the same with Matadi at Twycross though I imagine the staff may be very cautious about it as Matadi is their only youngster and genetically valuable- but i think it would work.

 

[gentle lemur]

I think it will probably do Matadi a lot of good to have a role-model. He will need to learn how to be a silverback if he is to become the successful father and group leader that we all want him to be in 12 or 15 years time.

Alan

 

[Pertinax]

I think it will probably do Matadi a lot of good to have a role-model. n

Good point. He shouldn't grow up never having contact with an older male.

I shall be interested to see whether Twycross try to form a single group once Boulas arrives there and whether the idea of having a 2nd male and still keeping two groups is now dropped.

 

[Malayan Tapir]

Some Gorilla News,

The new male gorilla arrived from port lympne last week and has already been introduced with Asante, Ozala and Matadi in the 'new' house.

Matadi does have some slight injuries from the male showing whos boss.

Apparently, Boulas, when he arrives, will be put in the older house with Biddi and Bongo as Biddi still may be not too old for breeding

 

[taun]

Some Gorilla News,

The new male gorilla arrived from port lympne last week and has already been introduced with Asante, Ozala and Matadi in the 'new' house.

Matadi does have some slight injuries from the male showing whos boss.

Apparently, Boulas, when he arrives, will be put in the older house with Biddi and Bongo as Biddi still may be not too old for breeding

Does the new gorilla have a name?

May have to go for an autumn visit now!

 

[Malayan Tapir]

I personally cant remember but zoogiraffe may remember?

 

[tomzoo123]

wow so theres a new gorilla in the 'new house' with matadi and the rest. Is he a silverback? Also is this gorilla seperate to bolus, therefore Twycross has a new gorilla in with matadi, and bolus going in the 'old house'?

 

[taun]

wow so theres a new gorilla in the 'new house' with matadi and the rest. Is he a silverback? Also is this gorilla seperate to bolus, therefore Twycross has a new gorilla in with matadi, and bolus going in the 'old house'?

Yes Bolus will live with the two older females.

 

[Malayan Tapir]

wow so theres a new gorilla in the 'new house' with matadi and the rest. Is he a silverback? Also is this gorilla seperate to bolus, therefore Twycross has a new gorilla in with matadi, and bolus going in the 'old house'?

He is a silverback, and what we saw of him, quite a good looking one too,

And yep, u've got the idea with the new grouping structures.

 

[taun]

He is a silverback, and what we saw of him, quite a good looking one too,

This is some good news hopefully someone can gives us his name and history would be nice.

 

[Pertinax]

The new male gorilla arrived from port lympne last week and has already been introduced with Asante, Ozala and Matadi in the 'new' house.

Matadi does have some slight injuries from the male showing whos boss.

Apparently, Boulas, when he arrives, will be put in the older house with Biddi and Bongo as Biddi still may be not too old for breeding

Biddi is certainly not too old to breed though having young so infrequently, and being rather overweight these days may affect her ability to concieve now. Also Boulas may(or may not) be infertile. Noone seems to know the answer to that question.

The new male from Port Lympne may be a full brother of Boulas, or an unrelated one. It depends on his name. Good news despite the very long interval with no male.

 

[gentle lemur]

Excellent news - after such a long wait.
We could open a book on which male it might be. I'm sure it will be one of the bachelors; Jaja is the oldest in Djala's group and he's still a blackback. My twopenn'orth is either Djumbah (Jaja's elder brother) or just possibly Djimu who is the only grandson of Mr Aspinall's favourite male Djoum.
There's nothing on the Twycross website yet.

Alan