Bristol Zoo (Closed) Bristol Zoo news 2017

tetrapod said:
Thought the same thing about a small cat spp. Not sure how much of an outcry there would be. Two male lions in a dark exhibit aren't great. BZ has gotten rid of so many large spp would another be a problem? Feel that with addition of Wildplace BZ needs to continue going down similar route as Jersey and focusing on a small number of large spp (+ plenty of small spp). Suspect pygmy hippos might be another casualty in the future, to give them some larger facilities. Have the tapirs moved yet?
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I don't agree at all. The lion enclosure faces south east, so it is not dark (except for the right hand section). I think that male lions are among the laziest of animals and I am sure that they have plenty of space in that enclosure, although as I wrote previously, I would like to see it remodelled to open out some of the space and amalagamate that right hand section with the main one. I presume that the studbook is happy to have a zoo with two spare male Asian lions: incidentally I don't think the drill studbook keeper would be happy to let a zoo build up a large group of drills - too many eggs in one basket.
It is because Bristol has lost so many large species that losing another would be such a problem. I cannot think of a smaller cat that could replace the lions in terms of their appeal to children, and I think that they form a higher proportion of the visitors at Bristol than at most other zoos. I don't see many parallels between Bristol and Jersey. I think we ought to compare Bristol and Wild Place with Regent's Park and Whipsnade, although they are smaller in scale. The urban zoos both continue to face the problem of a legacy of old-fashioned buildings, which need to be remodelled or replaced to meet modern requirements, while retaining some of their historic characters and still attracting visitors while competing with many other attractions nearby.
 
tetrapod said:
BZ has gotten rid of so many large spp would another be a problem?
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I think if/when the Lions were to be moved to Wildplace, that park would then have 'come of age' as it were- it would then be established as a major collection. If they moved the Hippos too, that would emphasise it even further. (I don't know if the Tapirs have moved yet).The only problem I see is whether Bristol(the city) and environs can support three(Noah's Ark being the third) major animal collections so close together. And would people still want to visit the city zoo site as much....
 
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gentle lemur said:
incidentally I don't think the drill studbook keeper would be happy to let a zoo build up a large group of drills -
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Correct certainly to a degree- some years ago they moved two females from the PL group to start another group in Munich(?) rather than let them form another group, though the PL group currently numbers 8-10 (a new baby was born very recently.) I think how large groups are allowed to grow also depends to an extent on whether there's a waiting list from other Zoos wanting them, and how long it is. But in suitable accomodation Bristol could probably hold a group of up to say, eight, before they were asked to transfer some.

Regarding the Lions- although I agree the housing is perfectly adequate for two indolent males, a lot of their visitors don't see it that way- there are frequent negative comments on their Facebook about the Lion enclosure.
 
Pertinax said:
I think if/when the Lions were to be moved to Wildplace, that park would then have 'come of age' as it were- it would then be established as a major collection. If they moved the Hippos too, that would emphasise it even further. (I don't know if the Tapirs have moved yet).The only problem I see is whether Bristol(the city) and environs can support three(Noah's Ark being the third) major animal collections so close together. And would people still want to visit the city zoo site as much....
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I think they definitely would. It would still be Bristol Zoo, it would still be a convenient family day out, and anyone who thinks for five seconds would know that the lions make up a tiny part of their visit anyway.
When they inevitably leave down the line Bristol could get snow or regular leopard, but they would be better off in a swanky new exhibit.
 
Wow, didn't even know they kept that species.

I spent a little time there at the weekend, saw one of the quolls lolloping around looking fantastic. Fingers crossed they do well. Still disappointed that the southern pudu appear to have been completely replaced by mara now...
 
I suspect it was a journalist error - i.e. the first bred at Bristol Zoo becoming the first bred in the UK. I'd imagine Philippine cockatoos have been bred plenty of times in the UK before.
 
MagpieGoose said:
Can't be a UK first as I'm sure Chester bred them in 2011, see: Keepers Cockahoop About New Baby Cockatoos | Chester Zoo UK
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Chlidonias said:
I suspect it was a journalist error - i.e. the first bred at Bristol Zoo becoming the first bred in the UK. I'd imagine Philippine cockatoos have been bred plenty of times in the UK before.
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The Avicultural Society's "UK First Breeding Records" gives the first UK breeding of this species as happening in 1984.
 
Bristol have experinced several such errors recently- some promoted by themselves e.g.

'Afia' first Gorilla born in UK by caesarian section- they had one themselves in 1980.
Drills- current ones are the first at the Zoo- they used to have them in the 1950's.
 
Don't know how old but looks young, face still pink. It's the third youngster to be born to the group if that helps.
 
Ned said:
Don't know how old but looks young, face still pink. It's the third youngster to be born to the group if that helps.
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Thanks, its a few weeks/months old now, and yes, its the third (live) birth in the group.
 
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