Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoo News 2021
- Thread starter Benosaurus
- Start date
On Google earth it appeared to be 0.21 acres (not including the house) if I remember correctly, similar size to London's paddock. Google earth isn't entirely accurate so it could be a little bit bigger or smaller.
I wonder if the zoo will actually do some pruning and clearing out of the scrub and weeds in the Waterfowl exhibit as it was on my last visit very poor for a exhibit that a few years ago was very popular with children.
Here's a thought why not put the small flock of Flamingo's back in there this would be a very nice look out from the new discovery centre cafe (again a walk back in time).
If money was no problem then here's a thought how about switching the Giraffe's and the Chimps around.
Here's a thought why not put the small flock of Flamingo's back in there this would be a very nice look out from the new discovery centre cafe (again a walk back in time).
If money was no problem then here's a thought how about switching the Giraffe's and the Chimps around.
I think the giraffe moving into the chimp enclosure would be the only way for the zoo to keep the giraffe. The flamingo flock isn't very small any more, I believe they have 26 (I could be wrong), they have mostly Chilean flamingo but there's a few Caribbean/American flamingo.
Some recent news:
- Bactrian camel born on 14th Feb. It is a male and has been named Valentino.
- A male reindeer, called Kenny, has joined Dudley's herd from the Wildwood Trust.
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
@GiraffeJack10 how could the Giraffes move into the Chimp enclosure? As you know Giraffes are a lot taller than Chimps. Due to this factor I very much doubt that the Giraffes would fit into the Chimp enclosure.
Kind regards @The Hedgehog
The chimpanzee outdoor enclosure is very big and would provide plenty of space for a small group of giraffes. The indoor part to the chimp enclosure would most likely need to be demolished to make room for a purpose built house. After a zookeeper for a day experience in early 2020 i was told that the zoo have no plans to breed chimpanzees due to them supposedly not being pure, Dudley have plenty of primates including Bornean orangutans so I don't think that rehoming the chimps would have any negative impacts with visitor numbers. The giraffe are much more popular with the visitors than the chimps are. I think this is most likely due where the chimps enclosure is located. The planned European brown bear enclosure (whether that goes ahead now or not I don't know) and a big naturalistic giraffe enclosure would sure bring in more visitors and have a huge Impact on the lower area of the zoo site. This is just my fantasy though and I think it's unlikely for Dudley to rehome the chimps or build a new giraffe enclosure any time soon. The planned extension to the current giraffe paddock would be a nice addition to the zoo but again I'm not sure whether this will go ahead either.
cliffxdavis
Well-Known Member
Where did the Gelada bachelor group go?
Riga, according to a post at the start of the 2020 thread
cliffxdavis
Well-Known Member
Thanks I did not realise it was so long ago and had not gone far enough back in time searching. Time for a Dudley visit with Brum soon (I have put 12th April in the diary, here's hoping).
TBH even if Dudley were to phase out of Chimpanzees (which they probably will do in the future) I can't see the Giraffes moving into that space.
IMO the only other species I can see being housed here besides the Chimps would be Rhinoceroses (doesn't matter what kind), the house could be revamped to house stalls and the outdoor paddock would provide a lot of grazing space for the animals.
Not saying this has to happen though (just my fantasy overall) but this is just how I see it.
I agree. I think after the current chimp group is phased out the next occupants of that enclosure would need to be fairly suited to the existing house.
My personal number 1 choice however would be for the tigers to move in there; I think it would be perfect and very impressive. I think extending the current tiger outdoor area by little bits here and there, albeit a small improvement, doesn't achieve that much, unless they think much bigger and give the tigers the current giraffe paddock as well for example (which would be quite complicated).
My other preferences would be for the chimp enclosure to remain as an enclosure for great apes, but instead for it to house gorillas (possibly a bachelor group) or even a family group of non-hybrid chimps (as long as they upgraded the outdoor perimeter fence).
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What a wonderful summary!
The baby is a female and has been named Ivy.
Ring-tailed lemur born. This brings Dudley's ring-tailed lemur numbers up to 18.
8 bats have been born according to the zoo's social media (they rarely post any news on their website anymore). No idea if they are the Seba's bats or the Egyptian fruit bats though.
2.1 Barbary sheep born.
1.0 eight-year-old Nile monitor has joined Dudley's reptile house from Wingham Wildlife Park.
0.1 Gelada born. The youngster has been named Mekelle.
Source: Zoo social media.
I really think the zoo will need to increase the size of their Gelada indoor accommodation fairly soon, given their previous success with them and the likelihood that this won't be the only Gelada birth this year. I imagine they will need to build something the size of the farm barn on the site of the fairground, at the base of their enclosure.
Source: Zoo social media.
I really think the zoo will need to increase the size of their Gelada indoor accommodation fairly soon, given their previous success with them and the likelihood that this won't be the only Gelada birth this year. I imagine they will need to build something the size of the farm barn on the site of the fairground, at the base of their enclosure.