For what it's worth, I think both places (currently) have a major, similar, weakness -the lack of anything much to do or anywhere to shelter should the weather be inclement or even just a little showery. I've been around both places in poor (and very poor weather) and it's not much fun. For a non-enthusiast it could be enough to prevent future visits in all but the best weather or could provide such a poor experience they never go back. A large tropical house (regardless of our opinions) goes a considerable way to address this issue and may improve future visitor levels as a result. I hope the Marwell's good and I hope Yorkshire do a big indoor enclosure before too long (whilst I love the place I always think a zoo should make some efforts to show the variety of life -i.e. not so mammal-centric).
Yorkshire Wildlife Park Yorkshire Wildlife Park News 2017
- Thread starter kiang
- Start date
For what it's worth, I think both places (currently) have a major, similar, weakness -the lack of anything much to do or anywhere to shelter should the weather be inclement or even just a little showery. I've been around both places in poor (and very poor weather) and it's not much fun. For a non-enthusiast it could be enough to prevent future visits in all but the best weather or could provide such a poor experience they never go back. A large tropical house (regardless of our opinions) goes a considerable way to address this issue and may improve future visitor levels as a result. I hope the Marwell's good and I hope Yorkshire do a big indoor enclosure before too long (whilst I love the place I always think a zoo should make some efforts to show the variety of life -i.e. not so mammal-centric).
I agree with you that the enclosures at Yorkshire Wildlife Park are very good. (I especially like the polar bear accommodation. It’s lovely to see polar bears with a large deep pool and a spacious land area with lots of natural vegetation; so much nicer that the sterile concrete pits of years ago.)
However, whilst you’re obviously entitled to your own opinion, I find it hard to understand how anybody can describe Marwell’s Amur leopard enclosure as inadequate. More importantly, your comment that “There is NO signage at all" (at Marwel) is simply untrue. I have been visiting Marwell regularly for forty years and I don’t recall ever seeing an unlabelled exhibit.
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littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
Anyone nearby able to update the snow situation please 
I daftly began to venture out earlier, then saw sense after three miles crawling at 20mph and turned back ... no idea how long the rest of the 90 mile trip would have taken.
I daftly began to venture out earlier, then saw sense after three miles crawling at 20mph and turned back ... no idea how long the rest of the 90 mile trip would have taken.
littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
I'm hoping they will have a decent layer of snow for the bears and tigers that will stick for a visit tomorrow.
I would say I find / found the leopard and tiger areas at YWP rather mundane compared to the exhibits at Marwell for both species.
Yes, if space were the only criterion on which to base an opinion YWP wins hands down with acres of extra space, but hey ... it is how you then make that space work for both animals and visitors alike. In my humble opinion that leaves something to be desired.
BTW: I did like the YWP overall but only in retrospect of it being the only zoo destination in the area.
In defence of YWP (which I will probably never visit owing to where it is) it is still only in its youth. Usually a new zoo starts with fairly simplistic enclosures and then graduates to more complex designs as time goes by. Marwell in its early days had very simple Leopard and Tiger enclosures- 45 or so years later and with several refurbishments, these same enclosures look very different now. Obviously Yorkshire won't change their designs for some years to come though.
Dear Pertinax, you do not need to explain to me the whys and where-fores.
Just if and when another poster seems to think everything at YWP is hunky dory ..., while at Marwell it is a sorry sad state .... it ain't. Certainly if set against the somewhat diminished Marwell Zoo, YWP remains somewhat lacking in the design / exhibitry department. I am sure that over time they will be more demanding on what they are able to build and to what quality specification level.
Just if and when another poster seems to think everything at YWP is hunky dory ..., while at Marwell it is a sorry sad state .... it ain't. Certainly if set against the somewhat diminished Marwell Zoo, YWP remains somewhat lacking in the design / exhibitry department. I am sure that over time they will be more demanding on what they are able to build and to what quality specification level.
I think YWP is way ahead of most zoos of its size and age in both exhibit design and build quality, to be honest. Areas like the lions, baboons and anteaters all show much more 'design and engineering' than they would need to.
I'd be interested to know why you feel Marwell's tiger exhibit is better - I've never thought Marwell's to be very special and Yorkshire's is at least more visually interesting.
Hard to compare the leopard exhibits as they're so different but Marwell's definitely gives a more reliable view!
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but in mine, a zoo which has lost half its mammal collection in less than 10 years can hardly be in a good way, regardless of the standard of its enclosures? This isn't really an argument for this thread though.
I don't think any of the enclosures at either zoo are particularly bad!
Here is an article from Mexico regarding Yupik's transfer. For those of you who don't read Spanish or have a translate function in your browser, the article notes that the zoo is working with Zoocheck towards the transfer of Yupik (aka Yupi as we lovingly call her in Canada) to Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Zoocheck is working with the zoo in Morelia, Yorkshire Wildlife Park and several scientists and wildlife veterinarians in Mexico and the UK to get the necessary documents for the permits.
In the meantime we will begin training the bear for transport to ensure she is comfortable and not stressed by her journey to Yorkshire.
The article also notes that this very positive decision by the Morelia Zoo was made with input from local citizens who requested the bear be moved to a facility that can accommodate the needs of polar bears.
https://www.contramuro.com/proximos-dias-se-define-traslad…/
Source - Zoocheck
In the meantime we will begin training the bear for transport to ensure she is comfortable and not stressed by her journey to Yorkshire.
The article also notes that this very positive decision by the Morelia Zoo was made with input from local citizens who requested the bear be moved to a facility that can accommodate the needs of polar bears.
https://www.contramuro.com/proximos-dias-se-define-traslad…/
Source - Zoocheck
I visited on Boxing Day and the place was pretty busy all things considered.
It occurred to me as I walked around that although this was my first visit in around two years very few new species had been added -Black Rhino and Visayan Warty Pigs (a straight swap for Red River Hogs. In addition they seem to have gone out of a few birds and Skunk (aviaries behind Warty Pigs gone). Overall, whilst all impressively displayed, the place doesn't really have that many species. From a zoo-nerd perspective, if you took away the Polar Bears and Baboons there wouldn't be a great incentive to visit (against other places).
These are more idle thoughts than criticism as there had been impressive infrastructure developments since my last visit -third Polar Bear enclosure completed, development of "Africa Plains exhibit, new Camel enclosure (get your car keys now
) and new visitor facilities (coffee house, toilets, (another) children's play area). Additionally, I stand by my previous opinions that I've never seen a new collection develop so well and so quickly and the enclosures are all good to very good, with a number being the best, or close to the best, for their species in the UK. A further point is that their catering is among the very best (food quality and speed of service) in UK zoos.
Ultimately, I think the best thing the owners did was choosing their location, in a "zoo desert" -without this I wonder how well the visitor numbers would have stood up? Then again four Polar Bears are always going to impress (and bring me back) and upon leaving I, again, looked forward with some excitement to what they're going to do next (just that I might not "need" to visit for a while).
It occurred to me as I walked around that although this was my first visit in around two years very few new species had been added -Black Rhino and Visayan Warty Pigs (a straight swap for Red River Hogs. In addition they seem to have gone out of a few birds and Skunk (aviaries behind Warty Pigs gone). Overall, whilst all impressively displayed, the place doesn't really have that many species. From a zoo-nerd perspective, if you took away the Polar Bears and Baboons there wouldn't be a great incentive to visit (against other places).
These are more idle thoughts than criticism as there had been impressive infrastructure developments since my last visit -third Polar Bear enclosure completed, development of "Africa Plains exhibit, new Camel enclosure (get your car keys now
) and new visitor facilities (coffee house, toilets, (another) children's play area). Additionally, I stand by my previous opinions that I've never seen a new collection develop so well and so quickly and the enclosures are all good to very good, with a number being the best, or close to the best, for their species in the UK. A further point is that their catering is among the very best (food quality and speed of service) in UK zoos.Ultimately, I think the best thing the owners did was choosing their location, in a "zoo desert" -without this I wonder how well the visitor numbers would have stood up? Then again four Polar Bears are always going to impress (and bring me back) and upon leaving I, again, looked forward with some excitement to what they're going to do next (just that I might not "need" to visit for a while).
It is almost certain that a female bear will never come to YWP unless they build a new enclosure as part of the extension plan. They would be unable to house a female next door to 4 males! The presence of a female in close proximity would create problems with the males fighting for her attention. YWP have always stated that they are purely a 'refuge' for male bears who are not yet required within the breeding programme.