Challenges of Aging in Gorilla Troops

Oumbi charges at Ozala and pushes her out of the way. Biddy moves away, and as she does, Shufai (7), her grandson, grabs her from the platform. Biddy (50) screams at him, and Shufai does a runner. Asante sits on the pole, her favourite spot. She can watch but not get involved in all the drama. Watch out at the back. Shufai is annoying Grandma again, and Biddy climbs down quickly to go after him. She really does get some exercise lately with Shufai being so annoying to her. What gets me is that everybody seems to want a go at dear old Biddy. Oumbi charges at her as well. I do feel so sorry for her right now.
Looking at what happened at Prague Zoo with Kamba (51) getting Unprovoked wrath of Duni with her baby in her arms and the silverback (📢Video is available now to the members! More info below) Kamba and Biddy should move in together and have a peaceful time. Have you watched any other gorilla troops where the older gorillas seemed to get pushed away? I know Fatu in Berlin had to be moved as she got harassed by the troop. She's now the oldest gorilla at 67 years old, living on her own.
Biddy has a look around back at Oumbi, giving him evils and making sure he stays where he is.
Oumbi did follow Biddy, but then sat down in the back. A close-up of Biddy. Even with everything happening she does actually look quite well at the moment. Shame we can't ask her if she's OK and what she thinks of the atmosphere there at the moment.
I did see Oumbi still wrestling with Shufai, unfortunately in the wrong place to be able to film, but at least he's taking some of his son's energy away.
⚠️The member's video ( • Unprovoked Wrath ), also comes with a warning that it might be upsetting to some viewers. Viewers' discretion is advised!
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Due to background noise from human activity, the original audio has been mixed with natural bird songs for a more peaceful viewing experience. Where possible, I will keep the natural sound intact.

[@SloggerVlogger]

📢 Not this video, but the member's video mentioned in the description of this video, comes with a warning that it might be upsetting to some viewers! Viewers' discretion is advised! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqKnZ6pvaNd0iJY

[@marlamitchell4348]

Aww poor sweet beautiful Biddy! 😥I pray things get better for her! 💗

[@tonya8652]

Awe😢 Biddy you are beautiful

[@pamelakern2849]

Getting old is NO PICNIC!! Bless the old girl's heart ❤️ It must be a natural process, in gorilla troops, to have some aggression, toward the elderly members . 😒😪

[@lilliankeane5731]

Well there is a lot to be said for living by yourself! Geeez if this is how the family treat you, move on Biddy!

[@laurenurban3942]

They have an elderly female gorilla in Germany who has her own enclosure because her troop was mean to her….bullying her.

[@kathycunningham6677]

Shufai needs someone younger to play with and get his extra energy under wraps so Grandma Biddy can be at peace, lol! God bless her she still can give him a go back. Thanks for sharing your camera work with us. Always the best.😊

[@SloggerVlogger]

Thank you Kathy 🤗.

[@KathyPrendergast-cu5ci]

It would be nice if Asante had a baby, but apparently she and Oumbi aren't at all into each other. 😂Maybe the zoo doesn't want this troop to increase its numbers, anyway.

[@marlamitchell4348]

@@KathyPrendergast-cu5ci oh he has been interested in her. She is just shy.

[@flaviablanco8245]

Thank you SV

[@KathyPrendergast-cu5ci]

It may look rough and chaotic to us, and sometimes even cruel in the way they seem to pick on Biddy, but this is just normal gorilla social life. Maybe they just don't understand that she's too old to play a game of chase anymore, and just wants to be left alone. But despite being annoyed with them, Biddy would probably not be at all happy to be separated from the family troop she knows, and taken from the home she knows, to live with an unknown companion. And the troop would be very upset if she suddenly disappeared, too. Gorillas are creatures of habit and thrive on familiarity.

[@SloggerVlogger]

You know, looking at Biddy now compared to a year ago, it's like she's got a whole new spark. Maybe Shufai's antics have given her a bit of a boost! It's hard to say what's best for her though. Take Fatou over in Berlin, for instance. After what she went through with her troop, she's happy living solo next door to her old troop. Reminds me of grandparents with grandkids. They love the energy they bring, but also cherish the quiet moments when they can recharge.

[@teijaflink2226]

And we just see small clips of their day, perhaps she's left alone to rest most of the time, getting to move little bit I don't think is anything negative. Though it would be different is someone is bothering her almost any time she tries to rest and if she was not able to tell them off.

[@pamcunningham9608]

Nene in Japan is being harassed by her granddaughter Annie and other members of the troop pretty regularly. I think it's just the ape way, the oldest will fall down the ladder of social standing until they become fair game for all the higher rankers to demonstrate their higher positions.

[@SloggerVlogger]

It's a reminder of how complex social dynamics can be in the animal kingdom.

[@justbreathe_]

Nene definitely gets harassed by everyone but Ai. It’s a lot and I feel that she always seems anxious. She’s feisty but after Kiyomasa leaves, she may be happier elsewhere. Outside of that family dynamic, I don’t think she’d be a troublemaker or hard to get along with. Biddy and Asante would be great roommates for her. If only it was easy to move them around and then change if it wasn’t working out.

[@whistlerwade]

I joke but Annie is just getting revenge.

[@MySkinnydip]

I wish all these wonderful older girls could have a sanctuary where they can eat,sleep and no worries!

[@teijaflink2226]

Probably could be specially other lower ranking members showing off they are over in rank now, like Shufai and Annie bothering their grandmothers now that they have become teenagers. Though Shufai seems more bored to me and just trying to play, propably he doesn't dare to try with the others.

[@A.L.Gardner]

Oh wow, that first bit was from the 8th of April wasn't it? I was there filming it from the other side! Just checked my footage in case I was going mad. I loved how Biddy cursed him out, I couldn't see that from where I was 😅 I think a retirement home for gorillas is a great idea ❤

[@SloggerVlogger]

😁

[@petermoody6147]

To: @A.L.Gardner - Ha, ha! A retirement home might not be a bad idea. I seem to recall a zoo in America that had three elderly females housed together. Two were rolling about on the floor slapping their chests and playing with each other as children would. Has it not been said that sometimes being elderly can be like having a second childhood

[@A.L.Gardner]

@petermoody6147 they probably sit together comparing ailments and complaining about the younger generation too 😁

[@SloggerVlogger]

@A.L.Gardner 🤣😂👍

[@phylliswood6361]

Poor Biddy! Some zoos have a separate section for their geriatric gorillas. They have a calmer, safer environment-condusive to the special care that they need. Ozala has always taken her boys' sides. I remember one time Biddy corrected Lope when he was bothering her. Ozala went after Biddy, and Oumbi had to break up the fight. I think that Biddy and Kamba would be great friends.

[@SloggerVlogger]

Biddy and Kamba seem like mirror images. Both are dealing with boisterous youngsters and both react the same way.

[@phylliswood6361]

@@SloggerVlogger Yes. Biddy and Kamba are very similar. 💖 Shufai and Aja are definitely boisterous! 😄

[@MySkinnydip]

I watched a video this morning where the gorilla Nene was desperately trying to get away from her son. She was even trying to stay close to Shabani in hopes he would leave her alone. She’s feisty like Biddy but riddled with arthritis. I think at some time a separation is needed.😔😢

[@SloggerVlogger]

@A.L.Gardner said it would be good if there could be a retirement home. They should be treated like queens. I wonder what they would make of it or if they would miss the youngsters. Despite it seeming tough on Biddy, she's looking quite good and healthy lately. Maybe all of Shufai's energy has given her a new lease of life.

[@MySkinnydip]

@@SloggerVlogger Biddy is the OG of the naughty rascal survivors club! She can teach these gals a few things!😉🙋🏽

[@SloggerVlogger]

She sure would 😂

[@flaviablanco8245]

Hi beautiful grandma Biddy sorry for bothering you , we love you ok , Lope say hi and send kisses ok Be happy enjoy Shufai 🦍❤️🦍💙😃👊🏻🙏👍🏻🌹

[@dmoore2732]

I hope they move Biddy and Asante to Lope's old quarters. I can't stand to see this.

[@sherryw.1466]

Poor Biddy🥺 She might like a retirement home about now.

[@justbreathe_]

Aw poor Biddy. She seems relaxed afterwards though. Hopefully, the boys were just teasing and don’t make it a habit of doing it all the time. Ozala will certainly reprimand Shufai. Probably Oumbi too. 😂

[@SloggerVlogger]

Ozala always sticks up for her son, even though he is the one bothering Biddy.

[@theawidmer1113]

O, ik heb echt medelijden met Biddy, dit is teveel voor haar💓💝‼️ Shufai heeft een jonger danwel een nieuw mannetje/vriendje nodig. Hij mist Lope met wie hij kon sparren, jammer 💓💖🥰‼️ Dank voor deze opname 👍🏻👍🏻🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️ 0:53

[@SloggerVlogger]

I agree, Shufai really does need a playmate. Especially as they were always so full on when Lope was still there. He must miss that time terribly.

[@theawidmer1113]

@@SloggerVlogger hartelijk dank voor uw antwoord 🌹‼️

[@laurenurban3942]

I love grandma Biddy. She is one of my favorite gorillas…..Genki is my other sweetheart. These old gals and guys deserve a retirement area for themselves. Look at the old silverback, Winston, I believe they had to remove both his sons because they were getting big and mean. Another old female gorilla in Germany has her own enclosure so she can live and eat in peace. Apparently her own troop was bullying her and preventing her from properly eating and getting nutrition. So, gorillas mistreat and disregard their elderly family members. Very interesting and no doubt that’s a survival tactic. I just hope zoos recognize the abuse of elderly gorillas by troop members and get them out of there. I wonder if chimps treat their elderly members the same and I don’t know about monkeys.

[@SloggerVlogger]

Yes Fatou has been living on her own in Berlin for quite a while now. I was able to get a glimpse of her when she was 62, but she is 67 now and still going strong. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3WnZ4ibmNqMa6c I think chimpanzees are more respectful to their eldest, but as I'm only watching the Twycross Zoo chimpanzees closely, I'm not too sure if that was because Coco was the bosses' mother. 😊

[@teijaflink2226]

In Twycross zoo arn't most of the chimps elderly and middle aged too. I could imagine elderly gorillias getting better along compared with maybe several younger and one very old.

[@SloggerVlogger]

@teijaflink2226 Yes maybe it that as well in Chimpanzees , that there isn't that much age difference between them now.

[@ningmixayboua6452]

Oumbi is a mean silverback I am not a fan of his he even treated his sons badly