Before the Dudley Zoo news 2017 thread gets underway I thought I’d do a quick summary, along with some personal ramblings, of some of the major developments at DZG in 2016...
So, all in all a good year for DZG as it continues to improve at an ever increasing rate. Massive well done and thanks to all the staff and volunteers. 2017, the zoo’s 80th year, looks set to be even better...
Things to look out for in 2017:
- The has zoo announced that the proceeds of their 2017 calendar will be going towards an “orangutan enclosure project”. Obviously, it’s highly unlikely that anything will be happening for a few years yet, but any more information from this glimmer of hope would be very nice indeed.
- Any news on the bear ravine Tecton. It has been fully restored and looks great, but it isn’t open to walk along and doesn’t really hold any animals that do it any justice at present (currently a grass paddock for goats, guanacos and rheas). It isn’t currently the impressive flagship exhibit that it was probably intended to be. However, I don’t blame them. There must be so much red tape, expense and so many issues to overcome that, in the end, it probably just isn’t worth it. Get the rest of the zoo done first.
- Will the funfair be staying or going this year? A question that gets asked every year. However, if the zoo is making some money off it, money that then gets put back into improving the rest of the zoo, then I suppose I can turn a blind eye for a little while longer.
- The possibility there could be Sumatran tiger cubs at Dudley this year. This would be huge for the zoo.
- The possibility there could be lion or Patagonian sea lion births this year. These seem a bit more unlikely.
- Any news that the Bactrian camels may be given more room.
The zoo has already confirmed it is spending a total of £295,000 on SIX new projects in 2017:
1. £90,000 will be spent to revamp the farmyard. It will be extended and a much larger barn will be built.
2. £20,000 will be spent on a rebuild of a larger outdoor enclosure for the group of yellow-breasted capuchins.
3. £25,000 will be spent on demolishing Bart’s old enclosure to make way for an extension to the internal den for the Carpathian lynx. It will include new climbing frames and a new viewing area.
4. The triple parrot aviaries next to the otters will be demolished to make way for one large mixed species aviary. This is set to cost £40,000.
5. Now that the new female has arrived and has been successfully introduced to the male, £100,000 will be spent extending the snow leopard enclosure, which should see it double in size and include new viewing areas and platforms.
6. The Queen Mary aviary will get a £20,000 overhaul to see it turn into a breeding facility for the zoo’s rainbow lorikeets.
http://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/anniversary-plans/
http://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2016/12/26/dudley-zoo-set-for-275k-revamp-bringing-visitors-closer-to-animals/
- Firstly, a large naturalistic new enclosure for Sulawesi macaques was built on the steep grassy hillside to the left of the vintage chairlift, incorporating several very large trees that the macaques are free to climb. The former shop building at the base was turned into small basic housing and indoor viewing area. The outdoor area is great, but I do find it very awkward to view. It does give you something else to look at when going up the chairlift (the geladas are to the right), but the problem is that’s the only way you’re able to see the enclosure properly.
- The former Monkey Tails walkthrough was turned into a lorikeet experience (roughly 28 rainbow lorikeets and at least one black-capped and one green-naped). £40,000 went towards a new heating system and pool filtration system for the building’s ponds which now house koi carp, goldfish and terrapins. The white-throated monitor lizard enclosure was given a revamp. Free-roaming roul roul partridges were added and the secondary meerkat enclosure was replaced with a new entrance area where visitors can buy nectar pots to feed the lorikeets. I quite liked Monkey Tails, with its free roaming squirrel monkeys, saki monkeys, Goeldi’s monkeys and titi monkeys. However, I do appreciate that due to the limitations of the building it was very difficult to care for/ manage them. I also can’t deny that the lorikeet walkthrough is extremely popular, much more so than Monkey Tails ever was, and probably making them a little money.
- The flamingo enclosure was given a revamp. The enclosure was generally tidied up, with new turf added and the pool re-done (although not enlarged at all to my eyes as was originally intended). A fancy new fox-proof, wind-proof fence was put up along with a new viewing area. The old garden shed I mean indoor area was removed and the enclosure was extended a little around to the right. A much larger and nicer flamingo house was built that included an indoor pool and two large viewing windows to enable visitors to see the birds when they are inside. The enclosure was also given its very own logo. I think the general consensus is that while the improvements to the enclosure aren’t huge, and were not desperately needed (apart from the house), and quite expensive, they are improvements nonetheless and have smartened up one of the first enclosures visitors see, thus giving them a much better first impression (at least once they’ve got over the horror that is the funfair, which sadly remains). A group of 20 Chilean flamingos then joined DZG’s original group of 8 hybrids.
- The useless sensory garden was completely flattened (including the trees). They tarmacked over it then covered it in a layer of gravel. It’s a big space. I think it’ll eventually become a picnic area or a special area for events. I doubt there’ll ever be any large enclosures built on there; part of the perimeter wall is ‘medieval’ and they can’t build anything too tall because they’re not allowed to block the view of the castle from the road (that’s why the nearby former elephant house Tecton is so low).
- The former cassowary enclosure, which had been empty for a couple of years, was revamped and extended. It then became home to a female giant anteater; a nice new species for Dudley. Recently, the former babirusa enclosure next door has also started to undergo a rather nice makeover to become another giant anteater enclosure! I presume this is for a male that may be arriving soon.
- Inca, the oldest Asiatic black bear in Europe and possibly the world, turned 36. She also became the last of her kind in the UK after a male called Dennis at Heythrop sadly passed away.
- Two-year-old snow leopard Makulu, who was born at DZG, left Dudley for Darjeeling zoo in the Himalayas as part of a global breeding programme. Makulu’s mum Nanga died just before he left, after giving birth to a male cub called Milo. Milo was then being hand-reared but sadly died after 4 weeks. A new female, called Taiga, has now arrived and has been successfully introduced to the zoo’s male Margaash.
- The zoo was awarded gold in the BIAZA 50th Anniversary awards for their conservation project with the Fen raft spider.
- After first trialling the capuchins, the black howler monkeys moved into the right hand Tecton of the triple Tecton complex; formerly home to the Sulawesi Macaques. A large new house was built outside the Tecton and linked by a rope ladder. The enclosure was also given a revamp; with more height, climbing opportunities and foliage added.
- DZG favourite Cleo, the 28-year-old Patagonian sea lion, sadly passed away. The 3 new females and the impressive new male, who all arrived last year from France, were finally introduced to each other.
- The zoo launched a new-look website, which looks fantastic. They also launched a new-look logo, which looks a bit weak, but I'll get used to it.
- The part of the Discovery Centre that was once home to a large array of reptiles and invertebrates has been replaced with some chairs and tables, presumably to accommodate an increase in bookings for school trips and birthday parties. Even though education is important and I want the zoo to make money I find this a bit disappointing. I just hope the animals that have been displaced go back on display in another part of the zoo, although I’m not sure where.
- DZG favourite Bart (Geoffroy’s cat) passed away aged 22, holding the captive lifespan record for his species.
- The zoo continued its success with breeding pygmy marmosets.
- The reptile house continued to improve, with enclosures being repaired and interesting new species being added.
- Finally, 2016 has seen the highest number of visitors in over 30 years.
So, all in all a good year for DZG as it continues to improve at an ever increasing rate. Massive well done and thanks to all the staff and volunteers. 2017, the zoo’s 80th year, looks set to be even better...
Things to look out for in 2017:
- The has zoo announced that the proceeds of their 2017 calendar will be going towards an “orangutan enclosure project”. Obviously, it’s highly unlikely that anything will be happening for a few years yet, but any more information from this glimmer of hope would be very nice indeed.
- Any news on the bear ravine Tecton. It has been fully restored and looks great, but it isn’t open to walk along and doesn’t really hold any animals that do it any justice at present (currently a grass paddock for goats, guanacos and rheas). It isn’t currently the impressive flagship exhibit that it was probably intended to be. However, I don’t blame them. There must be so much red tape, expense and so many issues to overcome that, in the end, it probably just isn’t worth it. Get the rest of the zoo done first.
- Will the funfair be staying or going this year? A question that gets asked every year. However, if the zoo is making some money off it, money that then gets put back into improving the rest of the zoo, then I suppose I can turn a blind eye for a little while longer.
- The possibility there could be Sumatran tiger cubs at Dudley this year. This would be huge for the zoo.
- The possibility there could be lion or Patagonian sea lion births this year. These seem a bit more unlikely.
- Any news that the Bactrian camels may be given more room.
The zoo has already confirmed it is spending a total of £295,000 on SIX new projects in 2017:
1. £90,000 will be spent to revamp the farmyard. It will be extended and a much larger barn will be built.
2. £20,000 will be spent on a rebuild of a larger outdoor enclosure for the group of yellow-breasted capuchins.
3. £25,000 will be spent on demolishing Bart’s old enclosure to make way for an extension to the internal den for the Carpathian lynx. It will include new climbing frames and a new viewing area.
4. The triple parrot aviaries next to the otters will be demolished to make way for one large mixed species aviary. This is set to cost £40,000.
5. Now that the new female has arrived and has been successfully introduced to the male, £100,000 will be spent extending the snow leopard enclosure, which should see it double in size and include new viewing areas and platforms.
6. The Queen Mary aviary will get a £20,000 overhaul to see it turn into a breeding facility for the zoo’s rainbow lorikeets.
http://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/anniversary-plans/
http://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2016/12/26/dudley-zoo-set-for-275k-revamp-bringing-visitors-closer-to-animals/
Regarding other Zoos, YWP are talking about getting Orangs but hopefully they might get Sumatrans( not enough in UK IMO
). Otherwise there is Monkeyworld but they do not have current facilities to house more , let alone two more adult males.