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Pertinax · 31-03-2007, 08:46 PM

London's silverback gorilla's real name is Bongo. He has an interesting history, being rescued from a circus as a baby and then lived in Rome Italy zoo for many years with a female Romina in a really bad barred cage. In 2001 both went to Bristol zoo and then in 2003 Bongo was exchanged with London's male Jock(frm France) as Bongo wasn't interested in his two females at Bristol, while Jock was proving aggressive to his at London.

Jock has since fathered young to both females(Romina & Salome) at Bristol and they're a really settled group. Bobby/Bongo hasn't done anything so far at London.

Photos can be very misleading- Bongo/Bobby, now 23, is actually the SMALLEST silverback I have ever seen- he's no bigger than a very large female- possibly because of malnutrition as a baby and therefore is stunted. But he's a wildcaught male with no offspring so valuable genetically- they still hope he'll breed with a new younger female 'Effi' who has recently come from Leipzig zoo to coincide with the opening of the 'Kingdom'. Provided Bobby/Bongo is stunted(rather than just genetically small) there's no reason any offspring would be the same. The main worry is whether he's too humanised for breeding.....

The Gorilla Kingdom looks good and Colobus should go well with the Gorillas.

31-03-2007, 08:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: england Posts: 4,619	London's silverback gorilla's real name is Bongo. He has an interesting history, being rescued from a circus as a baby and then lived in Rome Italy zoo for many years with a female Romina in a really bad barred cage. In 2001 both went to Bristol zoo and then in 2003 Bongo was exchanged with London's male Jock(frm France) as Bongo wasn't interested in his two females at Bristol, while Jock was proving aggressive to his at London. Jock has since fathered young to both females(Romina & Salome) at Bristol and they're a really settled group. Bobby/Bongo hasn't done anything so far at London. Photos can be very misleading- Bongo/Bobby, now 23, is actually the SMALLEST silverback I have ever seen- he's no bigger than a very large female- possibly because of malnutrition as a baby and therefore is stunted. But he's a wildcaught male with no offspring so valuable genetically- they still hope he'll breed with a new younger female 'Effi' who has recently come from Leipzig zoo to coincide with the opening of the 'Kingdom'. Provided Bobby/Bongo is stunted(rather than just genetically small) there's no reason any offspring would be the same. The main worry is whether he's too humanised for breeding..... The Gorilla Kingdom looks good and Colobus should go well with the Gorillas.