Marwell Wildlife Marwell Zoo News 2018

I'm afraid the first news from Marwell is the usual 'every silver lining has a cloud ' story!

A binturong has arrived from Rostock - replacing the female fossa which has gone to the Czech Republic.

2 female Blesbok arrived from Chessington.

The Sulawezi Macaque are all going to Tayto Park in February. Future plans for island to be announced ( probably something common I fear!)

Info from Marwell January newsletter.

Shame it couldn't all have been positive - for once!!
So, two interesting species of conservation concern out, one pretty good hoofstock species and one 'query' in.
 
Just checked the current inventory for Marwell on Zootierliste and it states that they now have a Linnaeus' two-toed sloth (which is currently off-show, but will be moving into the Tropical house soon) :)
 
Visited Marwell for the first time this year and have to say it was probably the most disappointing zoo day out I've had in a long time (I know weather hasn't been great). We walked the 'wrong' way round to avoid the crowds so we had half of the zoo to ourselves for the first hour or so. However it soon became apparent that this wasn't going to be the most successful of days animal wise! Old tropical house pretty much empty (fair enough since the new one is nearly ready). Macaque Island now empty but housing Black & White Lemurs indoors. All the small primate enclosures at the rear of the park all empty. Handful of wallabies in the walkthrough, few birds in the walkthrough avairy. Most of the paddocks at the rear of the park seemed empty or only housing one or two of the species. Had brilliant close encounters with the Snow Leopards, tigers and leopards so was a highlight. The Valley was empty, lemur loop was closed (only open 10:30-12:30 daily) but to be fair it must be the smallest Lemur Walkthrough in history although the signage and indoor housing did look smart. Counted 7 Giraffe indoors due to the weather. Counted less than 10 Penguins all huddled up by the path. Wild Explorers could see the Zebra and Scimitar Horned Oryx but the White Rhino were all indoors and hard to see due to those stupid twigs in the viewing area. Saw 2 Pygmy Hippo and 1 Tapir in the Hippo house. The old lemur enclosures were mainly empty. Old fossa enclosures empty apart from one with the new Bintarong. Did see the 5 otters from Chester and 2 Siamangs. Many visitors we overheard complaining about the lack of animals and how Marwell used to be a great day out and hoping the new Tropical House is the start of improvements at Marwell however seems the rest of the park is being striped to put animals in there! Having visited Chester Zoo the week before maybe I was spoiled for quality and quantity of the animals there but Marwell definately feels like it's losing its way!
 
but Marwell definately feels like it's losing its way!

Sadly it started to lose its way around 10 years ago and apart from a couple of interesting arrivals, the vast majority of news has been about departures.

As I've said before, the new tropical house won't make up for the years of decline.

Thanks for the realistic, if depressing report though.
 
One of the new species in the Tropical House is Javan Chevrotain

Marwell Wildlife
 
Marwell keep referring to them as Javan...i'm assuming they're the same generic lesser chevrotains from elsewhere in Europe, and not a fresh import of Tragulus javanicus sensu stricto?
Are the Saki monkeys free-range or part of a walk-through at Marwell ?
 
Are the Saki monkeys free-range or part of a walk-through at Marwell ?
No not free range they are in part of the former Lemur area mixed in with Silvery Marmosets,just under a week to go before the Tropical House is opened.
 
Marwell have released some photos of the birds that have gone into the tropical house, hopefully there are more than this (can't have too many birds). These may be new acquisitions or transfers from elsewhere in the zoo, I don't know it well enough to comment.

Sclater`s crowned-pigeon, Goura sclateri
Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica
Fischer's turaco, Tauraco fischeri
Asian glossy starling, Aplonis panayensis

Might have got the IDs wrong there, let me know if so.

ZTL has Marwell down as holding the first two species, but not the second two. Either way, all four are really nice species that I'd be happy to see in the new house.
 
Marwell have released some photos of the birds that have gone into the tropical house, hopefully there are more than this (can't have too many birds). These may be new acquisitions or transfers from elsewhere in the zoo, I don't know it well enough to comment.

Sclater`s crowned-pigeon, Goura sclateri
Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica
Fischer's turaco, Tauraco fischeri
Asian glossy starling, Aplonis panayensis

Might have got the IDs wrong there, let me know if so.

ZTL has Marwell down as holding the first two species, but not the second two. Either way, all four are really nice species that I'd be happy to see in the new house.
All have come in from elsewhere,with other new species of birds to come in as well.
 
All have come in from elsewhere,with other new species of birds to come in as well.

That's good then, I'm definitely not complaining. Though none of them are of conservation concern they're interesting for zoo geeks, Sclater's and the starlings in particular.
 
Here's a species list for the Tropical House based on signage;
Mammals
Linne’s Two-toed Sloth
Pygmy Marmoset
Javan Mouse Deer
Birds
Sclater's Crowned-Pigeon
Nicobar Pigeon
Fischer's Turaco
Asian Glossy Starling
Brazilian Tanager
White-naped Pheasant-pigeon
Roul Roul Partridge
Superb Fruit Dove
Java Sparrow
Reptiles
Asian Brown Turtle
Salvadori’s Monitor Lizard
Amphibians
Trinidad Stream Frog
Strawberry Poison Frog
Fishes
False Penguin Tetra
Pearl Gourami
Striped Panchax
Silver Shark
Tambraparini Barb
Scissortail Rasbora
Inverts
Leaf-cutter Ants
Lesser Goliath Beetle
Assassin Snail

I'll upload some photos of the Tropical House later
 
Golden lion tamarins have arrived and are housed in the old pygmy marmoset enclosure in World of Lemurs
 
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