Zoo Duisburg Duisburg Zoo news

That's really sad. I saw both Amazon river dolphins in 1985 in a visit that also included the only beluga and the only Commerson's dolphin I've ever seen.
 
So so so sad :(
Does anyone know if the other two last captive individuals in South America are still alive?
According to Wikipedia there is one in Acuario de Valencia in Venezuela and one in Zoologico de Guistochoca in Peru.
 
The bad things just don't seem to stop in the absolute dumpster fire of a year that is 2020. Just so 2020 to keep piling up the crap.

Very sad news to lose this unique species from European zoos, though admittedly the species was never became established in European zoos as few animals did well, and Baby was just the last leftover from limited imports in rather different times in terms of zoo ethics.

I had hoped to one day be able to see Baby again once the Covid-19 pandemic ends or improves, but unfortunately that will not be happening anymore. Just one more disappointment in 2020.

I suspect that Duisburg Zoo might look into replacing river dolphins with manatees.

From what I heard and read manatees have been the plan for the Rio Negro building post-river dolphins from the beginning. There have been some manatee births in recent years, so perhaps some of those individuals might be moving to the Duisburg Zoo at some point.

I like manatees just fine and that species can use a few more holders to maintain them in Europe, but river dolphins are admittedly even more unique. But there is very little chance a large mammal wild collection and import would happen these days.

That's really sad. I saw both Amazon river dolphins in 1985 in a visit that also included the only beluga and the only Commerson's dolphin I've ever seen.

I visited Duisburg in the late '90s when the beluga and Commerson's dolphins were also still present - and that was the one and only time I ever saw those species, and probably ever will. I remember really liking the Commerson's dolphin.

I'm not really a fan of cetacean captivity, but if there were two species I wish were still around it would be the Commerson's and the river dolphin.
 
Sad I didn't manage to get to Duisburg before its death. Was hoping to do so 2 months ago but the house where it was exhibited was closed due to Covid.
The zoo lost its big highlight.
 
Yeah, those are some hard news, though it was better than letting him suffer. I'm glad that I got to see him and that he did after all have the privilege of living such a long life.

That being said, of all the things 2020 could throw at us, this is among the things that weren't truly unexpected. His death is very sad indeed, but with 46 years we knew he wouldn't be around forever. I'll admit that during the last couple of years, every time someone posted in this thread, I clicked nervously, fearing the inevitable had happened.

Rest in peace, Baby.
 
Very sad news, I wish that I had gone to Duisburg before the pandemic happend, only to see Baby for the first and also last time...
 
I visited Duisburg in the late '90s when the beluga and Commerson's dolphins were also still present - and that was the one and only time I ever saw those species, and probably ever will. I remember really liking the Commerson's dolphin.

Well, for the former species Valencia is still an option :)

On the bright side.....

a) At least it happened this year, when things were already a raging fire of awful.
b) We can now read the Duisburg thread without the automatic feeling of heart-in-stomach every time we see an update ;)
 
Batto's initial link to the Duisburg website broke, so I have repaired it :)
 
2020 has done it again: from what I've heard, "Baby", the last Amazon River Dolphin at Zoo Duisburg (and Europe), is no more.
I have been scared to read this during years, was an expected new, but that don´t make it less sad. I saw him two times, last one, eight years ago, and I didn´t thought he still would live for so long. Will be deeply missed.
 
In other news: the zoo now has Long-nosed Potoroo, Bush Stone-curlew, Australasian Shoveler and Laughing Kookaburras.
I suppose that these are all housed in the empty former bald ibis enclosure? This sounds great, Duisburg develops a really amazing Australian collection, having in mind that the tree kangaroos are getting a new outdoor enclosure at the moment, so they will come back in the future

With the new australian aviary under construction, this leaves the snowy owls as the only remaining species which doesn't fit into the Australian focus of this part of the zoo. So I am pretty sure that these will leave sooner or later
 
Nice to know the tree kangaroo are getting a new exhibit?
Any plans available for that?
In september I saw constructions going on in the red-necked wallaby and wombat enclosure. They have separated the enclose by a provisional fence and I asked an employee what they build there. She said that they construct an outdoor exhibit for the tree kangaroos (which had only an indoor enclosure) which will serve as well as a third wombat enclosure, enabling them to show all of their three wombats outside at the same time. The red-necked wallaby/wombat enclosure is however enlarged since the emus moved to a pen next to the snowy owls and now the wallabys can use this pen as well. I am curious if the wombat will have access to the new exhibit when the tree kangaroos are outside.

Please note that my last visit was on 1st of november before the zoo closed. I recall that there was a post on facebook regarding the construction works but there were no images how it will look like...
 
Back
Top