The Return of the Tahr

Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank-wouters/2106538902/

The Return of the Tahr

Many years ago a couple of Himalayan Tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus  escaped from the old Cape Town Zoo in South Africa. The animals made their way to the highest ground up to and including Table Mountain and there they flourished till by 2003 they were estimated to number in the several hundreds.

The animals became a popular tourist attraction and 'Tahr spotting' was an exciting aside for those who took the walking trail to the top. The Tahrs though were the wrong animals in the wrong place and though seemingly suited to the alien environment they were causing irreparable damage to the local flora and by default, the fauna too.

Back in 2004 the sensible decision was made to eradicate the Tahr from Table Mountain. The decision was unpopular with some and their was a great deal of protest both at home and abroad. The cull took place in any case and on completion was stated to have been 100% sucessful.

It would seem however that not all was as it seemed because six years after the completion of the cull several animals have been spotted and filmed on the Platteklip Gorge path.

Gorillas From Zurich To The National Zoo in Pretoria, South Africa

Below is the translated press statement from Zoo Zurich - Peter

Zoo Zurich

Zürichbergstrasse 221
CH-8044 Zurich, Switzerland
Phone: +41 44 254 25 00 Fax: +41 44 254 25 10
E-mail: zoo@zoo.ch



Press Release No. 468

Photo By: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arcticpuppy/3059127796/

Transfer of two gorillas



Two members of the 10-strong group of the Zurich Zoo gorilla to stay in the National Zoo of South Africa in Pretoria. This exchange takes place within the framework of the European conservation breeding program (EEP) for this species.

The Zurich Zoo maintains a successful breeding group of Western Lowland gorillas g. (Gorilla gorilla), consisting of one silverback, 3 breeding females and 6 between 2001 and 2007-born pups. The two eldest offspring, the males and BONSENGA Binga, have now reached the age to leave the group. Gorillas live in Harem groups, an adult male with several females and their Juveniles. Thus, not all young males have a chance equal to their own family . establish Therefore, with the zoo-born males, as well as outdoors
can be observed, formed part of bachelor groups. This bachelor groups meet within the coordinated breeding program for gorillas (within Europe as Led European Endangered Species Program EEP on which the Zoo in Pretoria involved) is an important function. On the one hand allow for a social housing of males who have to leave their families and also constitute a reservoir for future breeding males.

At the last annual meeting of the EAZA, the European Zoos, in September 2009 in Copenhagen, it was decided chic 4 males for the construction of a bachelor group in Pretoria.

Two of these males are BONSENGA and Binga from Zurich. You will be in Pretoria two slightly younger males from Israel combined. On a flight from Switzerland to South Africa was for BONSENGA Binga and provided a special transport box in which are the two animals on the road in mutual contact.

The Zurich Zoo is pleased with the National Zoo in Pretoria, a suitable place for his have found two animals. They fly on 19 January with the Swiss and supported by the
Neighbors of the zoo, FIFA, to Johannesburg. Be BONSENGA and Binga, as in other zoos also help there as ambassadors of their way for more understanding and respect
to advertise to these animals and ultimately for a much-needed protection of wild gorillas.

For further information please contact available:

Dr. Alex Rübel, director of the Zurich Zoo, 044 254 25 00

medien@zoo.ch , www.zoo.ch/media