Tombe and Tumba Move Out

Colchester Zoo's long term male chimpanzee residents, Tombe and Tumba, will be heading to a new home at Belfast Zoo in Northern Ireland on Thursday 23 January 2025.

Chimpanzees are currently listed as an Endangered species and face a number of threats in the wild. Therefore, EEP (Ex Situ Programmes) Breeding Programmes are incredibly important for the overall conservation of these animals. In order for Colchester Zoo to create a breeding group, they need a new male chimpanzee. Which is why their male residents are moving to a new home.

Tombe and Tumba are firm favourites amongst staff and visitors alike, making this a sad but necessary departure and a difficult farewell for all. However, for the conservation of this species, it is an important move for the Zoo to make as chimpanzees are currently listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This species is currently under threat due to habitat loss from deforestation as well as being hunted for bushmeat. Therefore, the EEP Breeding Programme is a critical part to the future survival of this species.

Both Tombe and Tumba were born at Colchester Zoo. Therefore, saying goodbye will be tough for the Animal Care Team and their visitors that have come to watch and know them over many years. Tombe is Colchester Zoo’s dominant male chimpanzee and, since his birth in 1996, has sired a single female, Talia! Talia was born in 2009 and can still be seen at Chimpanzee Lookout with the Zoo’s other two female chimpanzees, Tara and Kora. Although Tombe is the dominant male within the group, he has been seen to have a softer side, playing games with the younger chimpanzees.

Tumba was born at Colchester Zoo in 2004 and is the son of Tekita who sadly passed away in December 2020. He is easily identified within the group and from the other male, Tombe, due to his brown colouration which is a natural variant. Tumba is a mischievous chimpanzee and over the years, has liked to challenge the Animal Care Team!

“Tombe and Tumba are both big characters who are much loved by our Primate Team, some of whom have been working with them since they were born. We are excited for their new chapter in life where they we be joining a group of 5 females who we are sure will enjoy their company, their playful and caring personalities as well as the energy that they will bring to the group. Although they will be sorely missed, we are confident that they will integrate well and bring as much joy to their keepers and the guests at Belfast Zoo as they have here at Colchester Zoo.” – Lucas Atkinson, Colchester Zoo’s Primate Team Leader

Colchester Zoo are excited to announce that they will be welcoming a new male chimpanzee into the troop as part of an EEP recommendation. Arriving from across international waters, Napoleon, a male chimpanzee aged 27 (not the world famous French military officer) will be joining Colchester Zoo’s chimpanzee troop in the early part of 2025. From Bioparc Fuengirola, Spain, it is hoped that chimpanzee Napoleon, also known as Napo, will bond with their resident females and help towards the conservation of their species.

This transfer comes as part of a breeding EEP recommendation. Each EEP has a coordinator who is assisted by a species committee. The coordinator collects information on the species in all EAZA zoos and aquaria, produces a studbook, carries out demographical and genetical analyses, and produces a plan for the future management of the species.

International transfers can take time to process especially since Brexit with additional processes in place however, it is planned that Tombe and Tumba, accompanied by two members of the Animal Care Team, will depart to their new home on Thursday 23rd January 2025 where they will join a troop of Chimpanzees at Belfast Zoo. Tombe and Tumba will be greatly missed by Colchester Zoo’s Animal Care Team who have helped to care for them both over the years.