November 29, 2005
By Rose Setshoge
WHEN Makoko and his wife Lisa emerged from their house to eat a leisurely breakfast alfresco, they were surprised by applause from his new parents. Lisa in particular seemed somewhat nonplussed by the in-laws.
Makoko and Lisa are gorillas at Joburg Zoo, and Makoko has been officially adopted by running club Rocky Road Runners, for R10 000. The club, joined by members of the public, met their new "child" on 26 November.
The money paid for the adoption will be used to help disadvantaged schools with transport to and from the zoo and for the entrance fee, as well as for educational programmes.
"We are happy to be adopting Makoko because it is for a good cause and underprivileged children will have an opportunity to see him, here at the zoo, for free," said Bram Katz, the chairman of Rocky Road Runners.
"Whoever adopts an animal offers suggestions for what should be done with the money," said Teresa Slacke, a zoo educationist.
The running club also gave bursaries to two students, both under 21, to further their studies. They are worth R10 000 each. The two recipients had won a 21km marathon run at the zoo on 18 September.
Makoko has been officially adopted by running club Rocky Road Runners
"I am grateful with the sponsorship because I was not expecting it and I intend studying at Wits," said Chantelle Wehmeyer, one of the winners.
The club also gave R7 500 to Pathways, a charity organisation in Roodepoort, which assists disabled kids. The organisation operates from a church and relies mainly on donations and fundraising.
"We will save the money and part of it will help to buy medication, learning tools, pay our staff salaries as well as other equipment that we need," said Julie Botha, one of the Pathways co-ordinators.
Makoko was born on 9 July 1985 at Stuttgart Zoo in Germany. Zoo staff fetched him from Munster Zoo, also in Germany, on 26 November 2004. He met the South African public on 14 February.
Makoko's partner, Lisa, came from Moscow in 1991. From 1971, when she was just six months old, she had been in an indoor zoo. Female gorillas reach maturity at about eight years and breed every five years. One baby is born at a time. The young are weaned at two-and-a-half to three.
Gorillas are the largest living primates. Males weigh 140 kilograms to 180 kilograms and females average about 90 kilograms. They form fairly stable groups of five to 10, although some troupes number up to 30.
One male adult keeps the group together because of the bonds formed between him and each female. Gorillas eat leaves, herbs, shrubs and stems.
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