Artis Royal Zoo Artis News 2021
- Thread starter JurassicMax
- Start date
Is it true that the lions are being transferred to France bc of Covid lockdowns? If so which zoo?
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Yes. As far as I can see the lions are going to France in the near future. In order to keep lions in a modern way they have to build a new enclosure for lions. The old enclosure doesnot fit with the new standards. Due to Covid there is a lack of money to realise in the short term this new enclosure. There is not excluded that in the long term some lions will return.
Sure, another species leaves Artis, sadly nothing new in recent times...
Due to covid-closings my last visit was one year ago and since then Artis got rid of dwarf mongoose, red river hog, Thomson gazelle, Alpine marmot, North American porcupine, squirrel monkey, Komodo dragon and now lion, and that's only the mammals (and one lizard) and I might have forgotten some species (not sure where all species of the Ape House are at this time).
Due to covid-closings my last visit was one year ago and since then Artis got rid of dwarf mongoose, red river hog, Thomson gazelle, Alpine marmot, North American porcupine, squirrel monkey, Komodo dragon and now lion, and that's only the mammals (and one lizard) and I might have forgotten some species (not sure where all species of the Ape House are at this time).
In fact, so acute that it is on the back burner for probably the medium term. In fairness, I am glad that the project did not come to pass as it would have been at the expense of a critically endangered species and location.
I just got today's newspaper with on the front page: Geld is op, leeuwen moeten weg (No money, lions have to go). Some info from the article: lions have been in Artis since 1839, the second year of the zoo's existence, and twohunderd lions have been kept over the years. A new enclosure will cost 4 million euros, but Artis doesn't have the money, as the debt over 2020 was nearly 10 million euros. The lion and two lionesses will move to southern France medio February. Something a bit positive, the renovation of the Aquarium is still possible with a 15 million euro aid of the city council (that's interesting, but I will leave my political opinions to myself).
So sad to hear that Artis is going the "London-Zoo-way". In the 1980s, both institutions belonged to my favourite zoos. I hope at least for Artis, that this is "only" because of the corona crisis and not the general intention to reduce the number of species down to that of a small roadside zoo...
(And - before some might counter: Yes, zoos also have a responsibility for animal welfare what includes looking for adequate space. But we can everything exaggerate, can't we?)
(And - before some might counter: Yes, zoos also have a responsibility for animal welfare what includes looking for adequate space. But we can everything exaggerate, can't we?)
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
Totally agreed! They were planning on building the new lion enclosure at the current Scimitar oryx enclosure right?
Artis has also put up a Q&A in Dutch on their website about the lions.
They mentioned that the Kerbertterrras will probably house an endangered species, but again I don't see this happening in the near future...
Link to the Q&A (Dutch):
Veelgestelde vragen over het vertrek van de leeuwen
According to ZTL, Amsterdam's lions are of 'no subspecific status'. They are therefore not suitable for reintroduction and, as 254 ZTL zoos are said to hold this type of lion, does it really matter if lions leave Artis? The area occupied by the current lion enclosure could be used to hold a few smaller species.
I am opting for birds and reptiles (close to the Reptilarium).
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
That's true, however they are a major crowd pleaser as they are one of the "ABC" zoo animals...
If I remember correctly, the plan was once to build a new enclosure for lions (and orangutans and hippos) on the area of the carpark. It seems a very good plan to sent to the city council for funding; replacing the carpark by a large enclosure is good for animal welfare and is good for reducing cars in Amsterdam, so that will please mayor Halsema and her buddies for sure!
No, seriously, I think I would have chosen to let the elephants leave. The money and area spend on their new enclosure could have been used for good enclosures for multiple other species, including the lions.
No, seriously, I think I would have chosen to let the elephants leave. The money and area spend on their new enclosure could have been used for good enclosures for multiple other species, including the lions.
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
This was part of the "old' masterplan, but I am not sure whether this will be part of the new 2030 masterplan.
What exactly do you mean, that birds will inhabit the Kerbertterras and reptiles the recently renovated side building?
I know.
You could make a serre of the Kerbertterras for Komodo dragons, but wait, they are gone.
@JurassicMax: That's exactly the point. If you have less and less "crowd-pleaser-animals", it makes it more and more difficult to keep and protect endangered, but less popular species. As former US-President Bill Clinton said: "It's all about the economics". Sad, but true.
By the way: Nobody said that Artis MUST return to or should have kept their "zoomix-lions" and was not allowed to change them with Asian Lions - an endangered AND popular subspecies!!!! (Or the vulnerable/threatened Angola Lion, if it should fit to the African exhibits nearby)
By the way: Nobody said that Artis MUST return to or should have kept their "zoomix-lions" and was not allowed to change them with Asian Lions - an endangered AND popular subspecies!!!! (Or the vulnerable/threatened Angola Lion, if it should fit to the African exhibits nearby)
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
That would be a good action. To please the crowds, it won't make a difference if they see a zoomixie or an Asian or an Angolan lion, but it makes a huge difference for ex situ conservation and gives additional educational opportunies about an endangered subspecies.
The Metzelaarskas is a curious case. Why was it closed anyway? I really liked it, certainly in the period with the caimans, ringtailed lemurs and tropical birds.
Nope, it would be a nice idea next to Herpetarium.