ZooParc de Beauval Zooparc de Beauval News 2020
- Thread starter Sneeuwpanter
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They aren't the only ones here at the moment! The only zoo to have them in Europe since 2000 was Cologne , until 2016 when Chleby in the Czech Republic received a group that are now breeding regularly. Cologne's last animal died last year, so Beauval is now one of two zoos in Europe with the species.
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I believe with Beauval entering the douc langur program, it would seem reasonable to assume that some more zoos in Europe would re-enter and take an interest in douc langur and leaf eating OW Colobine primates.
In the past I have seen them at Cologne, Basel and even London!
Yes, maybe another turn of the 'cycle' is coming. I remember when Doucs and Proboscis were 'almost' common for a period in European Zoos during circa the 1960's-70's. At least you could see them at several zoos anyway.
Koeln, Basel, Stuttgart.
It might be. But I do not know if it is desirable.
The last Zooquaria issue includes an interview of the Old World Monkey Tag Chair that explicitly denunciate imports of new species from other regions while they struggle with space and already existing populations. Like everyone, I find douc langur really magnificient and beautiful, much more than a lion-tailed macaque for example but if Thai zoos manage to breed douc langurs, shouldn't they stay in Asia and be managed between Singapour, Thailand, maybe Indonesia or Japan or even Australian institutions ? There is so many other endangered species in Europe whose populations are sliding slowly towards extinction because of a lack of space. Some will say it is because of the new geographical organization of the zoos and the increase in space requirments to comply with new standards but focusing on existing and important populations should be the priority.
The main problem with keeping douc langurs and proboscis monkeys in Europe now is logistics: cheaply importing tree leaves in winter.
In the past, zoos used deep-frozen leaves or mixes of vegetables and biscuits, which never worked really well. Nowadays, one can purchase diverse tropical fruit in every supermarket for few euros per kg. Importing tree leaves this way should be also possible to arrange.
In the past, zoos used deep-frozen leaves or mixes of vegetables and biscuits, which never worked really well. Nowadays, one can purchase diverse tropical fruit in every supermarket for few euros per kg. Importing tree leaves this way should be also possible to arrange.
Doucs are not as sensitive as Proboscis monkeys I believe. Doucs live in the wild up to 1800m high, while Proboscis monkeys are not used to colder conditions are their maximum altitude is 300m.
I am not so sure about that...Chleby have apparently lot of problems placing their offspring, sending them back to Thailand isn't entirely off the cards as I heard.
Well Chleby as non-EAZA won't really care about that...I wonder if they possibly try to spread them outside of EAZA, more to the EARAZA's realm (even though these two do overlap partly)
As Chleby's director mentioned in an interview, they handle our native plants (bramble, rose,...) well so the need to import isn't that big...but they do buy fruits and vegetables from the Vietnamese market in Prague.
Not to mention if a zoo has enough money (i.e. Pairi Daiza) they could just make farms for specific browse such as bamboo.
I am not quite confident that sugary fruits are the best diet for folivorous Colobine primates. Much in terms of plant leaf matter is bitter and made to be none too tasty and the mainstay of langur diet is ....
No big investments in the zoo over the next 2 years. Only small jobs and redevelopment.
On the other hand we learn that a new hotel will open its doors in St Aignan in 2023 !
Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher Dôme de Beauval : en coulisses, en attendant la réouverture - Le Petit Solognot
On the other hand we learn that a new hotel will open its doors in St Aignan in 2023 !
Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher Dôme de Beauval : en coulisses, en attendant la réouverture - Le Petit Solognot
Unfortunately not sure of it as the refurbishment of the old part need some important expansion to transfer some animals. I think we must wait the future giant walkthrough aviary before we see this arrived.
