All the adult males at port Lympne are very handsome and in the peak of condition. A female sitting next to him is a good sign too-sounds as if she has taken to him immediately.
Twycross Zoo Twycross zoo
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All the adult males at port Lympne are very handsome and in the peak of condition. A female sitting next to him is a good sign too-sounds as if she has taken to him immediately.
I have a feeling that H/PL may want to keep them for that reason- one of them could be earmarked to take over Kijo's group in future?
I doubt if they will keep Djumbah (or Jaja) for breeding as they already have Djanghou doing a good job and so keeping one of his half-brothers might be too much of a good thing. The problem is that Djala has produced many more sons than daughters.
Alan
9 sons, 5 daugthers according to the gorilla studbook from J.R. Davis.
Djanghou is the best genetically because him mom is wildborn too, the mothers of his half-brothers are all Howletts-born and related to at least some of the females. However, Djala is not represented outside Howletts/Port Lympne, they could easily send one or two of the males to a zoo, the EEP would welcome them with open arms.
Djanghou is the best genetically because him mom is wildborn too, the mothers of his half-brothers are all Howletts-born and related to at least some of the females. However, Djala is not represented outside Howletts/Port Lympne, they could easily send one or two of the males to a zoo, the EEP would welcome them with open arms.
New silverbacks name:
I was at Twycross yesturday and can confirm that the new male IS Oumbi. The house was still closed and the group observed constantly by keepers but through two lots of glass I could see the big fellow (and he looked huge) lying down with a Female sitting next to him (Asante I think) . Ozala was sitting by the glass observing the keepers observing them and Matadi outside. His wounds are healing well.
Noorjahans elephant calf has been named Ganesh but is called V J by the keepers. He looked stronger and had filled out a bit. Whilst watching, we observed some odd behaviour though. Tonzi (one of the older cows, no longer reproductive) persistantly sidled up to the calf, raised a leg and kicked the baby who squeeled and scuttled out of the way causing the rest of the herd to rush up and surround him with a protective sea of legs. Tonzi's actions seemed to be premeditated because as soon as the guard was down and a semblance of normality resumed, she went on the offensive again. Any suggestions why this behaviour occurred?
I was at Twycross yesturday and can confirm that the new male IS Oumbi. The house was still closed and the group observed constantly by keepers but through two lots of glass I could see the big fellow (and he looked huge) lying down with a Female sitting next to him (Asante I think) . Ozala was sitting by the glass observing the keepers observing them and Matadi outside. His wounds are healing well.
Noorjahans elephant calf has been named Ganesh but is called V J by the keepers. He looked stronger and had filled out a bit. Whilst watching, we observed some odd behaviour though. Tonzi (one of the older cows, no longer reproductive) persistantly sidled up to the calf, raised a leg and kicked the baby who squeeled and scuttled out of the way causing the rest of the herd to rush up and surround him with a protective sea of legs. Tonzi's actions seemed to be premeditated because as soon as the guard was down and a semblance of normality resumed, she went on the offensive again. Any suggestions why this behaviour occurred?
Some details on Oumbi.
Oumbi was born at Howletts in 1992, so he is now 17 years old. Parents; Bitam x Mouila. Mouila was a slack mother and several of her infants were taken for handraising but Oumbi, one of the younger ones, was mother raised. He has 2 brothers in the Port Lympne groups(Timbou, Boumi, both handraised) and another, Boulas, at Belfast who is soon also going to Twycross.
Oumbi went to Port Lympne in 1997 and has lived in recent years in the simple woodland Pavilion next to the new large monkey enclosure, first in a group of 4 or 5 with Boulas as the original top male,followed after his departure by Kishum, and later with just one other male(Ujiji). Despite being mother-raised, Oumbi hasn't seen a female or lived in a true social group since leaving Howletts when he was only five, so I hope he has not forgotten what they are. (Its unlikely I think
It sounds as if things are going along fine at present, though Matadi is obviously keeping out of his way.
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Perhaps Tonzi is jealous of the new baby? Norjahan is not related to her so although they live as a family, this calf is not actually her 'kin.'
It is bad Tonzi is now considered non-reproductive, most likely because she has only been bred from once and because they have no bull themselves, her repro system has atrophied and her breeding potential has been wasted.
Great that the new silverback is Oumbi, a mother-reared silverback is more likely to reproduce. I`m really happy to hear that they didn`t take one of his hand-reared brothers who have never seen a female in their whole life.. He`s not too bad genetically, neither, not related to the overrepresented european lines (Matze, Massa, Ernst, Jambo, Bongo).
I`m glad to hear that the new elephant calf is doing better too. I`m not too fond of the name "Ganesh", though. But as long as he`s ok, the name doesn`t matter.
I`m glad to hear that the new elephant calf is doing better too. I`m not too fond of the name "Ganesh", though. But as long as he`s ok, the name doesn`t matter.
'Ganesh' is a bit ugly and not very original is it...yet I really like his mother's name(Noorjahan- sounds very exotic).
Noorjahan's calfs name.
The name ' Ganesh' of course, comes from the Hindu elephant god and means 'new beginning'. This was the name chosen by a member of the public in the naming competition but the keepers are calling him 'Vijay'. In a mail from a friend in India, I'm told that this is a sanskrit word meaning 'victory'. It sort of suits him as he appears to be a fighter and was certainly stronger and fatter than when I saw him soon after his illness.
The name ' Ganesh' of course, comes from the Hindu elephant god and means 'new beginning'. This was the name chosen by a member of the public in the naming competition but the keepers are calling him 'Vijay'. In a mail from a friend in India, I'm told that this is a sanskrit word meaning 'victory'. It sort of suits him as he appears to be a fighter and was certainly stronger and fatter than when I saw him soon after his illness.
'Vijay' sounds nicer- more character to it- I hope he continues to do well.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Thats right they are busy sourcing the birds to go into right now,they are going to be putting large numbers of some of the species in,so they are making sure that they can get the numbers they want,so that they can be in fromthe opening day.