PHOTOS: National Zoo welcomes Moti and Abshalom

Late last year the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG) received two male chimps from the Ramat Gan Zoo in Tel Aviv and the Tisch Family Zoo in Jerusalem, Israel. 

NGZ said the two adapted well to their new environment at the zoo’s animal hospital’s quarantine facility, as well as to each other - they did not know each other at all due to being from different zoos.

The two male chimps, Moti and Abshalom, were placed at the NZG by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). The chimps form part of EAZA’s studbook and were listed as surplus by the respective zoos.

The National Zoo said it has been in negotiations with the international zoo community in attempts to obtain chimps for its zoo. 

The zoo had not had chimps for a number of years and has heeded the requests from its visitors to once again home these primates. 

NGZ said it is standard practice for zoos to exchange animals in order to sustain their populations. This practice ensures that animals are not collected from the wild, population genetics are maintained and that surplus animals are placed with institutions that are able to optimally house them. 

The quarantine restrictions were lifted late last year allowing NGZ to move the chimps into their permanent home

Visitors to the zoo will not be able to view Moti or Abshalom for a while, but will be able to monitor the introduction process on CCTV cameras that have been installed in the enclosure. 

Moti safe and sound in his new night quarters at the chimp enclosure

Moti is moved, under sedation, from the quarantine facility at the zoo's animal hospital

Chest x-rays were taken to determine if all is well

Moti's chest x-ray shows that his chest is clear

Vets and conservation staff move the chimp quickly from the animal hospital to the chimp enclosure

Moti is carefully placed on some bedding material and allowed to wake up slowly

(Photos: National Zoo of SA)