Poor Pertinax the elder statesman of Paignton Zoo has not only been deposed by three rivals, he is now enduring a bad case of constipation. Having been fed lots of fruit and even tinned prunes, the zoo has come up with an innovative way to let nature take its course. The answer is a special keeper’s blend that has been dubbed a zoo-poo shake.
While the nation will be munching on chocolate Easter eggs this weekend, 200kg Pertinax has been guzzling a cocktail mixed from faecal material gathered from the three rival western lowland gorillas who usurped his throne at Paignton Zoo last year.
By mixing the samples with honey and apple and blackcurrant squash, diluted with warm water, the Devon zoo hopes to help Pertinax’s gut flora to blossom into an effective digestive panacea to provide him with inner peace.
Pertinax has long been bugged by constipation but it appears the process known as transfaunation, or faecal transplant, is already having a positive effect.
It is a technique used regularly in dairy cattle, involving the transfer of a range of bacteria, protozoa and archaea from a healthy cow’s rumen, or first stomach, into an animal with digestive problems. Zoologists are studying whether it could also be used as a conservation strategy for koalas. Changing the marsupials’ gut flora will widen the range of plant foods the threatened eucalyptus-munching creatures can consume provide a broader range of habitats.
Paignton Zoo research officer Dr Holly Farmer explained how the transplant is helping 36 year old Pertinax. She said: “Sharing a healthy animal’s gut flora through a faecal transplant can improve physical health and an animal’s temperament. We hope that micro-organisms from the stomach of a healthy gorilla will help sort out Pertinax’s issues.”
One of the ironies of the procedure is the material being used to make Pertinax’s special shakes comes from the zoo’s three boisterous young gorillas, Kiondo, Kivu and N’Dowe.
The trio forced Pertinax – named in honour of a 2nd Century Roman general and emperor – into early retirement last autumn, leaving him to live alone after they had already created global headlines by clambering out of their quarters and ripping up electrical wiring and pulling out water pipes at the zoo. Only when two of the delinquent gorillas were darted and the other bribed with food were keepers able to bring the apes’ destructive japes to an end and begin a clean-up operation.
Throughout the rampage, Pertinax glared disapprovingly, perhaps acknowledging their next target would eventually be his position as alpha male on the gorillas’ Ape Centre island domain.
During his 20 year reign as gorilla boss, Pertinax played a vital role in the conservation of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas by taking on the role of mentor for his three young charges.
By keeping the peace and teaching the youngsters how to be sociable apes, even if it meant delivering the odd cuff round the ear to miscreants, his role has proved vital in helping them mature and, hopefully, will soon see them go on to become dominant males in bachelor or family groups at other animal collections as part of the European gorilla breeding programme.
For Pertinax, life these days is all about sitting back and enjoying his beverages. As keeper Anne Lunt who has the task of mixing the cocktails described: “He drank three or four paper cups – he seemed to like it!”
A zoo spokesman added: “Results can be achieved with one dose, though sometimes more are required. After a few days, keepers have noted very promising improvements. They will continue to monitor Pertinax closely, but the technique does seem to be working.”