It has become known to which zoos the lions will be moving. They will go to Zoo de La Palmyre.
Artis Royal Zoo Artis News 2021
- Thread starter JurassicMax
- Start date
Knowing how outdated that zoo is I do hope that they are well equipped for the lions.
English article about the lions :
Amsterdam's zoo is broke, lions to be moved to south of France - DutchNews.nl
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
The lions will stay at Artis! The board of directors of the French zoo have decided that their lion enclosure is not available for the lions from Amsterdam. Does someone know why the board made this decision so suddenly?
Source:
Leeuwen blijven voorlopig in ARTIS
Source:
Leeuwen blijven voorlopig in ARTIS
Last edited:
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
I received the zoo magazine today which contained some interesting information!
Animal news:
- A female Linnaeus' two-toed sloth arrived, hopefully she will mate with the present male.
- Quite a few African penguins have been born the last months.
- 4 Horn sharks hatched before the aquarium was closed (for the renovation), the adults have already been send to a different zoo.
- A Tokay gecko hatched.
Metzelaarskas/greenhouse:
The renovation of the former Metzelaarsgreenhouse has been completed, the greenhouse nowadays is called "Tropenkas" or Tropicalgreenhouse.
Since December crested partridges, Nicobar pigeons and Chinese water dragons are free roaming in the greenhouse.
Also an oil palm can be found in the greenhouse, which will be used to inform visitors about the effect of palm oil plantations.
Furthermore, the article hints that more species can be found in the greenhouse, the Malaysian painted river turtles are one of these.
Hopefully more species can be found in the greenhouse, because all the above mentioned species can already be found elsewhere in the zoo. I assume that the Malaysian painted river turtles will be housed in the pond underneath the bridge (at the main entrance). A while back I heard that the radiated tortoises will also be housed in the greenhouse, but I have not seen any confirmation of this yet.
The restaurant "De Twee Cheetahs" (the Two Cheetahs) has been renamed to "De Waterkant van Artis". So in English that would be something like "The Waterside of Artis", refering to the water surrounding the restaurant. The inside and the menu will be changed, they will be selling "underwater-burgers" which are hamburgers made of seaweed.
I find it a bit strange to refurbish the restaurant while Artis doesn't seem to have enough money to build a new lion enclosure...
Animal news:
- A female Linnaeus' two-toed sloth arrived, hopefully she will mate with the present male.
- Quite a few African penguins have been born the last months.
- 4 Horn sharks hatched before the aquarium was closed (for the renovation), the adults have already been send to a different zoo.
- A Tokay gecko hatched.
Metzelaarskas/greenhouse:
The renovation of the former Metzelaarsgreenhouse has been completed, the greenhouse nowadays is called "Tropenkas" or Tropicalgreenhouse.
Since December crested partridges, Nicobar pigeons and Chinese water dragons are free roaming in the greenhouse.
Also an oil palm can be found in the greenhouse, which will be used to inform visitors about the effect of palm oil plantations.
Furthermore, the article hints that more species can be found in the greenhouse, the Malaysian painted river turtles are one of these.
Hopefully more species can be found in the greenhouse, because all the above mentioned species can already be found elsewhere in the zoo. I assume that the Malaysian painted river turtles will be housed in the pond underneath the bridge (at the main entrance). A while back I heard that the radiated tortoises will also be housed in the greenhouse, but I have not seen any confirmation of this yet.
The restaurant "De Twee Cheetahs" (the Two Cheetahs) has been renamed to "De Waterkant van Artis". So in English that would be something like "The Waterside of Artis", refering to the water surrounding the restaurant. The inside and the menu will be changed, they will be selling "underwater-burgers" which are hamburgers made of seaweed.
I find it a bit strange to refurbish the restaurant while Artis doesn't seem to have enough money to build a new lion enclosure...
When was the refurbishment happen?
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
According to the magazine, its being refurbished at this moment (so during the corona crisis).
Agreed, in times of financial crisis the money should be used to upgrade the animal enclosures, not the restaurant.
A bit of a cheap dig is it not?
FYI somewhat of a reality check here (and I am being realistic without any bad feeling nor saying you are not entitled to your own opinions, mind you): last and this year new exhibits being built on the bare budget: new gibbon island and indoor house, new tropical hall - Metzelaarkas, the Primate House going empty, the Small Mammal House updated, new historical bridges renovated, new footpaths and a few other minor refurbs. Yes, the lion enclosure got postponed (which I personally do not find a priority anyway).
Further, big projects on the go: new natural history museum - Groote Museum (planned 2022?), Aquarium (now going empty for renovation over 2-3+ years). Both investments over the 20-25mio mark.
All this on a shoe string budget with significant layoffs on staff, savings on resources and a net operating loss of over 18mio.
Mind you this is true or all zoos: where they are closed, no cash flow coming in and central government and municipalities seriously lacking in a credible response for their cultural and educational facilities. It is CoVid all over, big support for big industry and employers, little for employees nor the general NGO and societal health needs and standards. Not even to start on crisis like climate, biodiversity and habitat loss and we keep on burning this Planet Earth up.
I agree, Kifaru Bwana
Many zoos have massive financial problems due to Covid-19. They have to work out what to do to invest in the future. Artis can make more money from restaurants than from a new lion enclosure.
There are lions in Amersfoort, Anna Paulowna, Arnhem, Blijdorp, Emmen, Hilvarenbeek, Kerkrede, Landgraaf, Mierlo, Overloon and Rhenen. It shouldn't be that difficult for someone to travel from Amsterdam to see a lion.
Many zoos have massive financial problems due to Covid-19. They have to work out what to do to invest in the future. Artis can make more money from restaurants than from a new lion enclosure.
There are lions in Amersfoort, Anna Paulowna, Arnhem, Blijdorp, Emmen, Hilvarenbeek, Kerkrede, Landgraaf, Mierlo, Overloon and Rhenen. It shouldn't be that difficult for someone to travel from Amsterdam to see a lion.
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
I agree with you Kifaru Bwana that Artis has finished a lot of projects recently. However, I find it funny that Artis still has money to refurbish one of their restaurants but not for building a new lion enclosure. I am not saying that the refurbishment would cost the same as a new lion enclosure, I also think that at this time a new lion enclosure isn't a priority. However this is the message that Artis shows in the media, that due to the corona crisis projects have been postponed and funds are limited. Today I read an article that they cut costs by no longer cleaning the windows of animal enclosures.
I might be wrong, but didn't Artis get municipal or goverment funding for te renovation of the aquarium, should be around 10 mio if I am not mistaken.
Artis does make a lot of money with their restaurants etc, but they have already invested in a new restaurant near the penguins and one in the new gibbon enclosure. So refurbishing the large restaurant isn't such a high priority for me.
Yes, there are other zoos with lions relatively nearby but it's also about the historical "importance" of lions in Artis. They have been in the zoo for almost its entire existence, so a lot of people value this.
Several zoos have links with species they no longer keep. For example, London Zoo's Arabian oryx, Caroline, joined the captive herd at Phoenix Zoo, which effectively saved the species. It is also a long time since London Zoo kept ravens, another iconic species.
All the other visitor services locations are outlets all weather within the park, this is the only big indoor service restaurant and it has been in existence for a good 2 decades. The current layout and all mod cons for the visiting public so requires a restaurant being up-to-date and going with the times. TBH: at the very moment that is not the case.
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
That's true, the interieur of the restaurant hasn't changed much in the last years for so far I know. I agree that a refurbishment was necessary at some point, but the timing of this isn't so great.
In case people are interested, here is an interview with the director of Artis.
Disclaimer it's in Dutch:
Directeur: ‘Ik moet heel Artis redden, niet alleen de leeuwen’
Given the current zoonotic time frame timing has never been the best for any zoological facility global. People might talk about biodiversity conservation, climate change measures and turning to a green sustainable and fossil fuel free economy, but as of date it ain't happening from our political and public administrations in a manner giving some hope and conviction we are turning a corner into a new and better global arena.
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
Artis has also taken in a few bird species from the damaged aviary of Gaiazoo.
The European thick-knees (Burhinus oedicnemus oedicnemus) can be found in the birdhouse (vogelhuis). The Lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni) and the Pied avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) can be found in the Hollandse Polder (Dutch polder landscape aviary). According to the instagram post, Artis now has around 40 Pied avocets.
Source:
Instagram of Artis Zoo (16/03/2021) Login • Instagram
The European thick-knees (Burhinus oedicnemus oedicnemus) can be found in the birdhouse (vogelhuis). The Lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni) and the Pied avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) can be found in the Hollandse Polder (Dutch polder landscape aviary). According to the instagram post, Artis now has around 40 Pied avocets.
Source:
Instagram of Artis Zoo (16/03/2021) Login • Instagram
The aviary represents the Dutch polder landscape. In those Dutch polders you can encounter both the kestrels (the common kestrel, not the lesser kestrel) and the avocets, so it is actually not very unusual.
