By KIM KUMMER
Tino, a Western lowland gorilla, arrived at Utah's Hogle Zoo on June 2 to be introduced to Muke, the female gorilla zoo officials hope he will mate with, in a conservation effort to propagate the endangered species.
According to a Hogle Zoo press release, Tino resided at Hogle Zoo from 1986 until 1995 on a breeding loan as part of the Gorilla Species Survival Plan. In 1995 he was transferred to the Bronx Zoo, where there were five females of his species. He was moved back to Hogle Zoo by the SSP in hopes that more compatible breeding would occur. As part of the SSP reorganization Hogle Zoo's male Western lowland gorilla, Dan, was sent to the Bronx Zoo at the same time.
The SSP is a program that zoos contribute to for the breeding of endangered species, said Andrew Wallace, marketing and development director for Hogle Zoo.
The representatives of SSP take recommendations of zoos and decide appropriate distribution of animals to keep purity in bloodlines. SSP desires to reintroduce the endangered species back into the wild.
'Very few habitats (in the wild) are left for many of the endangered species,' Wallace said.
The gorillas are tranquilized before transportation to eliminate trauma during the examination process and blood work that needs to be done to insure the animal transferred is healthy, said Bob Pratt, primate supervisor for Hogle Zoo.
Pratt traveled to the Bronx Zoo to help both animals adjust to the transfer. He flew to New York and spent several days with Tino. Information about the gorillas' individual personalities and behaviors was exchanged between primate keepers, Pratt said.
The gorillas are touched through the bars of their cage on rare occasion by primate keepers. Touch can be used for reassurance and when the animal is given medication by spoon. But keepers consider gorillas wild animals and do not attempt to make pets out of them, Pratt said.
The gorillas will come to the bars on demand for physical inspection. Eyes can be observed and the gorillas will open their mouths so gums and teeth can be viewed.
A medical quarantine is imposed on all transferred primates, Pratt said. The Hogle Zoo is unique because the animal is able to be displayed during the quarantine period. Tino is behind 1-5/8 inch thick glass.
When Tino's quarantine period is over he will be slowly introduced to Muke. First they will be allowed to smell each other then touching will gradually be allowed, Pratt said. Hopefully a breeding compatibility will be created.
Some female gorillas must be trained in mothering skills by primate keepers, with the use of a doll. The doll is handed back and forth between cage bars to teach the gorilla to hold the baby right-side up, to hold it to their breast and not to ignore or abuse the infant. A female gorilla can also learn mothering skills by being placed with a successful mother gorilla. Muke is a fertile female and a successful mother of three.
A third gorilla exists at Hogle Zoo. Her name is Gorgeous and at age 48 she is the oldest gorilla in captivity. She came to Hogle Zoo from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado. She was blinded with cataracts and a detached retina. In 1990 University of Utah ophthalmologist Dr. Alan Crandall performed eye-surgery on Gorgeous. He placed an ocular implant (a contact lens) in one eye, but was unable to restore vision to the other eye.
'It enhanced her life immensely,' Wallace said.
Prior to the surgery Gorgeous was hand-fed and inactive. After the surgery her eyes became light-sensitive and she spends her days indoors.