How the gorillas reacted to the changes in the enclosures. 2/₂
Chiba Zoo 202410 d3
https://note.com/z4conservation/n/n0f...
Previous: • Until the day we meet again in a place wit...
The zoo planted various kinds of plants and trees in the gorilla enclosures on October 23, 2024 while the zoo was closed. The following day was the gorillas’ first time seeing their newly changed environment, and I visited the zoo feeling very excited.
When the zoo opened, both Monta and Rola were already outside. Monta was vigilantly patrolling the moat, while Rola was taking a nap as if nothing had changed at all. However, as time went by, I began to notice that Monta was behaving differently. He spent more time than usual in front of the visitors, almost as if he was avoiding facing the changes.
About Western Lowland Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla gorilla
Habitat: The most widespread gorilla subspecies, and can be found across more than 700,000 km2 of central and West Africa.
Lifespan: 35 yrs in the wild (upto 60 yrs in captivity)
IUCN Red List : Critically Endangered
It is the smallest of the four gorilla subspecies, which also include the Cross River gorillas, Grauer’s gorillas, and mountain gorillas. It has shorter black-brown hair, longer arms, and a more prominent ridge along their brow. The adult males called silverbacks have silvery-grey hair on their backs and thighs. Their heads are large and pointed, with a sagittal crest forming the back of the top head. Its population has been decreasing due to poaching and disease. The estimated population in 2013 was almost 362,000 individuals (IUCNredlist.org). Fewer than 150,000 western lowland gorillas remain in the wild (gorillas.org).
MONTA
male western lowland gorilla
DOB: Sept 25,1984 in Spain or 1986 in Africa?
POB: Spain or Africa?
Parents: Unknown
Rearing: Unknown
• In 1987, Monta and Momoko were transferred from Spain to Japan. (age 1 or 3?)
They were kept at Aritake Chojuten Co. Ltd, the animal dealer until they moved to Chiba Zoo in 1993.
• In March 1993, he and Momoko were transferred to Chiba Zoological Park.
NB: The credibility of his birth info is uncertain.
Monta and Momoko grew up together. They were infants when they arrived in Japan. However, due to the allegation of illegal trade, they spent a few years at the animal dealer's place until the allegation was cleared. He desperately needs a companion to live as his kind. He's been living alone most of his adult life. From 2009 until 2010, the zoo tried pairing up Monta and Rola several times. It didn't go well. Since then, he has been all alone. His abnormal behavior of plucking hair has been greatly reduced since the change of his keeper. I hope the zoo will not change the keeper in a short period of time.
🎥1️⃣ How Monta & Momoko came to Japan 👉 • How Gorillas Nice (Monta) & Merry (Momoko)...
🎥2️⃣ When Monta & Momoko were at Chiba Zoo 👉 • The Story of Momoko, Monta & Goro at Chiba...
🎥3️⃣ When Momoko & Momotaro were at Chiba Zoo 👉 • The Story of Monta, Momoko & Momotaro at C...
ROLA
female western lowland gorilla
DOB: Sept 21,1977
POB: Beppu Cable Rakutenchi, Japan
Sire: Gonta | Dam: Rirako
Rearing: Hand-reared
• In Sept 1977, Rola was born and was being hand reared in a vet house. No trial to return her to Rirako. But her case gave a lesson for zoos and keepers in Japan that a gorilla should be raised by its own kind.
• In Nov 1980, she was transferred to Tobu Zoo
Basically she was living alone but her keeper used to play with her.
• In Oct 1993, she was transferred to Ueno Zoo, and lived with her mother, Rirako, and other gorillas.
• In Dec 2008, she and Kenta were transferred to Chiba Zoo and lived with him until he passed away in 2016.
Rola has difficulty in communicating with other gorillas. Especially when she is put with a silverback, she becomes ill except with an individual like Kenta who had no interest in gorillas. She loves sunbathing. She occasionally exhibits abnormal behaviors such as coprophagy, licking urine, regurgitation and reingestion. Rola always searches for earthworms as her companions. But they have a short life-span, plus they disappear in cold weather. I hope the zoo will consider the option of Rola living with other small animals. It may help solve her abnormal behaviors and loneliness. It seems her R/R has been greatly reduced since the change of her keeper.
🎥 When the zoo tried pairing up Monta with Rola 👉 • Monta and Rola: A Pairing Story at Chiba Zoo
🎥 Video focusing on "Regurgitation and Reingestion" by Rola 👉 • Regurgitation & Reingestion by female gori...
Rola's untreated cavities（９:３８〜）► • Health care of the gorillas is a worry. Ch...
References:
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/p...
https://gorillas.org/about-gorillas/w...
#wildlifeconservation #zoosforconservation #endangeredspecies