Bonobo group move
Past projects >> Bonobo group move
Moving 8 bonobos
In 2019 eight bonobos were due to be transfrered between two
facilities in Europe and the UK. Four of the Bonobos (a mother and
her three sons) were being moved from Plankendael, Belgium to
Twycross Zoo in the UK and four others (two mothers and their two
sons) were being moved from Twycross Zoo back to Plankendael. This
straight swap was due to take place within one day and so required an
immense amount of planning and preperation as well as teamwork to
complete.
The four bonobos from Belgium arrived at Twycross Zoo early in the morning where the great ape and vet teams were waiting to receive them. However, before the animals could be unloaded, the other four animals were asked to come into the beds on the other side of the building and seperate for training so that vocalisations from unfamiliar animals wouldn't deter them from moving where they needed to be. The remainder of the bonobo group was shut in the outside enclosure to minimise stress.
The mother and three sons from Belgium were unloaded one at a time and checked over by a vet before being moved into the empty day area. The ape team then hand injected the first two bonobos to health check and crate as this was a mother and two year old son. Then the second young male was sedated followed by his mother, both received a health check and were crated separately. The bonobos were loaded onto the truck and checked before they left, the existing group of bonobos were let into one side of the enclosure but remained separate from the newcomers for several days to allow them to settle and explore their surroundings.
The new group were given access outside and also rotated around the building to allow them to explore and memorise escape routes and furnishings in preperation for the introduction to new animals. The group met some of the younger, more subordinant females first who were then swapped for the older, more confident females and their young followed lastly by the breeding male and his mother. It is important when introducing adult male bonobos to new females that where possible the male be accompanied by his mother or familiar female as males are considered particularly low ranking and may be subject to redirected aggressive interactions if the females become stressed.
All the bonobos had met each other several times, but it was decided to use a fission fusion management system and rotate animals round two groups rather than have them all in one group. Swapping animals in and out of different groups simulates the bonobos natural social system in the wild and reduces stress. It also reaffirms alliances and encourages affiliative behaviours. Although it is important to be sure to rotate all animals so they can all spend time with each other at some point on a rotation basis.
The four bonobos from Belgium arrived at Twycross Zoo early in the morning where the great ape and vet teams were waiting to receive them. However, before the animals could be unloaded, the other four animals were asked to come into the beds on the other side of the building and seperate for training so that vocalisations from unfamiliar animals wouldn't deter them from moving where they needed to be. The remainder of the bonobo group was shut in the outside enclosure to minimise stress.
The mother and three sons from Belgium were unloaded one at a time and checked over by a vet before being moved into the empty day area. The ape team then hand injected the first two bonobos to health check and crate as this was a mother and two year old son. Then the second young male was sedated followed by his mother, both received a health check and were crated separately. The bonobos were loaded onto the truck and checked before they left, the existing group of bonobos were let into one side of the enclosure but remained separate from the newcomers for several days to allow them to settle and explore their surroundings.
The new group were given access outside and also rotated around the building to allow them to explore and memorise escape routes and furnishings in preperation for the introduction to new animals. The group met some of the younger, more subordinant females first who were then swapped for the older, more confident females and their young followed lastly by the breeding male and his mother. It is important when introducing adult male bonobos to new females that where possible the male be accompanied by his mother or familiar female as males are considered particularly low ranking and may be subject to redirected aggressive interactions if the females become stressed.
All the bonobos had met each other several times, but it was decided to use a fission fusion management system and rotate animals round two groups rather than have them all in one group. Swapping animals in and out of different groups simulates the bonobos natural social system in the wild and reduces stress. It also reaffirms alliances and encourages affiliative behaviours. Although it is important to be sure to rotate all animals so they can all spend time with each other at some point on a rotation basis.
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