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How do you get gorillas to mate? | How do you get gorillas to mate? |
(about 7 hours later) | |
"His role is to not let the females fight. He has to control the group and hopefully mate with them all." | "His role is to not let the females fight. He has to control the group and hopefully mate with them all." |
In other words - according to zoologist Sharon Redrobe - getting gorillas to breed in captivity is challenging, not least for the chosen male. | In other words - according to zoologist Sharon Redrobe - getting gorillas to breed in captivity is challenging, not least for the chosen male. |
In 2009, a silverback named Oumbi arrived at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire. | In 2009, a silverback named Oumbi arrived at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire. |
The stakes were high. Populations of western lowland gorillas have declined by 60% in 20 years - making them critically endangered. | The stakes were high. Populations of western lowland gorillas have declined by 60% in 20 years - making them critically endangered. |
So how did the zoo know they had the right ape for the job? | So how did the zoo know they had the right ape for the job? |
Oumbi was chosen as a potential mate for three females - Ozala, Asante and Biddi. | Oumbi was chosen as a potential mate for three females - Ozala, Asante and Biddi. |
Nothing had been left to chance. The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) selected the 20-year-old male with the help of its digital "stud book". | Nothing had been left to chance. The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) selected the 20-year-old male with the help of its digital "stud book". |
The database is designed to "match make" compatible gorillas, and rule out the possibility of inbreeding. | The database is designed to "match make" compatible gorillas, and rule out the possibility of inbreeding. |
Zak Showell, a zoologist at Twycross, said: "Each individual [animal] has these complex and huge family trees which if you drew them out would be on fields of paper. | Zak Showell, a zoologist at Twycross, said: "Each individual [animal] has these complex and huge family trees which if you drew them out would be on fields of paper. |
"If Oumbi was very related [to the zoo's female gorillas] it would be recommended to move him on." | "If Oumbi was very related [to the zoo's female gorillas] it would be recommended to move him on." |
First-hand knowledge of the apes is also essential. | First-hand knowledge of the apes is also essential. |
"It's online dating, and it's blind dating to some extent," according to Sharon Redrobe, zoological director at Twycross. | |
"We know their personalities and we have a lot of expertise to say, 'that's such a quiet gorilla, I don't think he'll do well with that female'. | "We know their personalities and we have a lot of expertise to say, 'that's such a quiet gorilla, I don't think he'll do well with that female'. |
"It's normal for one silverback to be in charge of a group of females and his role is to stop them fighting. | "It's normal for one silverback to be in charge of a group of females and his role is to stop them fighting. |
"A good silverback should actually take charge and slap females down." | "A good silverback should actually take charge and slap females down." |
Even after a male gorilla has been carefully selected, there are still no guarantees. | Even after a male gorilla has been carefully selected, there are still no guarantees. |
The environment has to be just right, which means having structures for them to climb on to exhibit natural behaviour. | The environment has to be just right, which means having structures for them to climb on to exhibit natural behaviour. |
Their diet also has to be as faithful as possible. In the wild gorillas eat between 200 and 300 different plant species. | Their diet also has to be as faithful as possible. In the wild gorillas eat between 200 and 300 different plant species. |
It worked for Oumbi and his chosen mate - Ozala. | It worked for Oumbi and his chosen mate - Ozala. |
In June 2012, staff at the zoo found out the 18-year-old was a month pregnant. | In June 2012, staff at the zoo found out the 18-year-old was a month pregnant. |
But how do you spot the signs so early in a 20-stone gorilla? | But how do you spot the signs so early in a 20-stone gorilla? |
"We get them to pee on a stick" said Ms Redrobe. "They're so closely related to us we use the same pregnancy tests." | "We get them to pee on a stick" said Ms Redrobe. "They're so closely related to us we use the same pregnancy tests." |
Coaxing a huge ape to do this would be difficult, so the keepers wait for the gorilla to urinate before collecting the liquid with a syringe. | Coaxing a huge ape to do this would be difficult, so the keepers wait for the gorilla to urinate before collecting the liquid with a syringe. |
Gestation takes a similar length of time to humans, giving zoo staff a rough idea when to expect the birth. | Gestation takes a similar length of time to humans, giving zoo staff a rough idea when to expect the birth. |
Also, like expectant humans, the shape of the bump changes and the breasts swell up as the date approaches. | Also, like expectant humans, the shape of the bump changes and the breasts swell up as the date approaches. |
"The mother is usually uncomfortable during that day," said Ms Redrobe. "She stretches, doesn't eat and doesn't lie down as much. | "The mother is usually uncomfortable during that day," said Ms Redrobe. "She stretches, doesn't eat and doesn't lie down as much. |
"Gorilla births are often in the early hours of the morning so we see this [behaviour] during the afternoon." | "Gorilla births are often in the early hours of the morning so we see this [behaviour] during the afternoon." |
Oumbi and Ozala's baby - named Lope - was born on the morning of 3 January. | Oumbi and Ozala's baby - named Lope - was born on the morning of 3 January. |
Six months on, Lope has started to leave his mother's side but he is being monitored closely, and so far he is fine and well. | Six months on, Lope has started to leave his mother's side but he is being monitored closely, and so far he is fine and well. |
Ozala had been knuckle walking with one hand while holding him in the other, but Oumbi's role was to simply keep out of the way. | Ozala had been knuckle walking with one hand while holding him in the other, but Oumbi's role was to simply keep out of the way. |
The silverback will now take his turn to look after the youngster. | The silverback will now take his turn to look after the youngster. |
"He'll get more playful [with Lope] up until he's about five and that's when they'll be quite rough and tumble," said Ms Redrobe. | "He'll get more playful [with Lope] up until he's about five and that's when they'll be quite rough and tumble," said Ms Redrobe. |
But it won't be fun and games forever. Oumbi will only tolerate his son for so long. | But it won't be fun and games forever. Oumbi will only tolerate his son for so long. |
"Just like any adolescent Lope will probably start arguing with dad," said Mr Showell. | "Just like any adolescent Lope will probably start arguing with dad," said Mr Showell. |
In the wild, male gorillas move off into their own territory when they become old enough, and this is replicated in captivity. | In the wild, male gorillas move off into their own territory when they become old enough, and this is replicated in captivity. |
Ms Redrobe said it was a "judgement call" for how long the zoo waits before this happens. | Ms Redrobe said it was a "judgement call" for how long the zoo waits before this happens. |
"You don't want to wait for fights to break out," she said. | "You don't want to wait for fights to break out," she said. |
"[But] if you wait long enough for the young male to see baby rearing he will become a good father." | "[But] if you wait long enough for the young male to see baby rearing he will become a good father." |
Lope will be about 15-years-old when he is ready to start a family of his own and able to leave Twycross. | Lope will be about 15-years-old when he is ready to start a family of his own and able to leave Twycross. |
But he will not go straight into an enclosure with a set of females - he has a few things to learn first. | But he will not go straight into an enclosure with a set of females - he has a few things to learn first. |
"They need to learn etiquette, strange as it sounds," said Mr Showell. | "They need to learn etiquette, strange as it sounds," said Mr Showell. |
"[Males] go to things like bachelor groups. Young gorillas will join an older one that will teach them how to be big male gorillas." | "[Males] go to things like bachelor groups. Young gorillas will join an older one that will teach them how to be big male gorillas." |
Again, judgement is required from the experts to protect the youngsters, as Sharon Redrobe explains. | Again, judgement is required from the experts to protect the youngsters, as Sharon Redrobe explains. |
"If a male is put in with strange adults in a bachelor group at too young an age he will get frightened and, or, beaten up. | "If a male is put in with strange adults in a bachelor group at too young an age he will get frightened and, or, beaten up. |
"There is no set formula but years of experience and good animal teams at modern zoos [can only help]." | "There is no set formula but years of experience and good animal teams at modern zoos [can only help]." |
By the time Lope reaches sexual maturity, gorillas, as well as the other great apes - orang-utans, bonobos and chimpanzees - could be all but gone in the wild. | By the time Lope reaches sexual maturity, gorillas, as well as the other great apes - orang-utans, bonobos and chimpanzees - could be all but gone in the wild. |
There are around 500 gorillas in captivity in the European zoo community. | There are around 500 gorillas in captivity in the European zoo community. |
But Ms Redrobe disagrees that the apes should be released back to their African homeland. | But Ms Redrobe disagrees that the apes should be released back to their African homeland. |
"The wild isn't a safe place," said the zoologist, who has seen how apes are hunted in the forests of Cameroon. | "The wild isn't a safe place," said the zoologist, who has seen how apes are hunted in the forests of Cameroon. |
"It's a sticking plaster [solution] just to chuck some zoo animals out into the wild. At the moment, we need to work on keeping their wild cousins safe." | "It's a sticking plaster [solution] just to chuck some zoo animals out into the wild. At the moment, we need to work on keeping their wild cousins safe." |
The breeding programme will continue until it is safe to release captive apes back into the wild, she added. | The breeding programme will continue until it is safe to release captive apes back into the wild, she added. |
With this in mind there could be a very small chance that one day Lope will live in the land his ancestors once dominated. | With this in mind there could be a very small chance that one day Lope will live in the land his ancestors once dominated. |
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