Marwell Wildlife Marwell Zoo News 2021

Maybe we should wait for the zoo to confirm any new arrivals. They're usually quite good at updating their website.
 
Agreed. Shame someone jumped the gun on this one but pleased if it comes to pass. They are mighty beasts.
 
Male Lowland Tapir named ‘Inti’ has arrived from Chester Zoo, and is settling in with female ‘Quito’. Does anyone know how long Inti was at Chester, and what the names of the current Lowland Tapirs at Chester are? thanks :)
 
Just had my first visit since the pandemic. It is the first time in a long while where my feelings afterwards are not negative. There is still a lot to do to get back to the standard Marwell used to be but I am seeing steps in the right direction.

Notes and thoughts.
  • The old Sitatunga enclosure in the corner of the park has wooden barriers cutting off about a quarter of the old enclosure and their old house. There is a sign that new animals are currently settling in before they go on show. I couldn't see anything but I could hear something shuffling around.
  • There was some timber construction work going on around the aviaries next to the Wallaby walkthrough.
  • Great to see several new species. I know a number of them are replacements for other species that the zoo has gone out of, but seeing a replacement species instead of more empty enclosures is a very welcome sign. Examples I thought were new since my last visit.
    • Red River Hogs where their used to be Peccaries and before that Giant Anteaters.
    • Visayan Warty Pigs where the Anoa used to be next to Life in the Trees.
    • Bokiboky in Life in the Trees
    • Potoroo near the Wallaby walkthrough and Cold Blooded Corner.
    • Himalayan Monal in the aviaries next to the previous Red Panda enclosure.
    • Banteng in the paddock next to the African Wild Ass. Can someone remind me what was there before please as I cannot remember?
  • The former South American paddock which now, according to the signs hold Sitatunga and Nyala, might be empty. I didn't see either species both on my way in or out.
  • Several current species have moved since my last visit.
    • Anoa are now in the former Nyala paddock next to the Tigers and the former Blesbok paddock next to the Tropical House. The latter is now very overgrown so would be difficult to see them.
    • Ostriches are now where the camels used to be.
    • Grevy's Zebra in the former Roan Antelope paddock. Is this a temporary arrangement as there didn't appear to be any signs for them?
    • Crowned Lemur are now in the Lemur walkthrough. Last time they were in Life in the Trees. The walkthrough was shut though.
    • Roan Antelope, Blesbok and Plains Zebra were now in the Giraffe paddock. The Giraffes were shut out of the main paddock area, where they did appear to be some work going on. The Zebras, Blesboks and Roan Antelope were in the main paddock area though
  • The former African Valley now has signs for Przewalksi's Horse and Grevy's Zebra but there didn't appear to be anything in the valley today.
  • The main paddock for Wild Explores was shut today. The animals only had access to their indoor quarters and immediate yard area. There didn't appear to be any work going on.
  • The former Cheetah enclosure has been rebranded for Servals (there is still Cheetah branding in places if you look though). The lower of the two former Cheetah enclosures has now been added to the Giraffe paddock.
  • The former owl aviaries near the Snow Leopards have a sign next to them saying that the area will no longer hold animals.
  • The enclosure next to the lawn that sometimes holds Meerkats or Mongooses has an odd sign in it. The sign says that it was built in 1983 originally for holding Red Pandas and sites itself as an example as to how enclosures have improved and evolved when you compare it to the current Red Panda exhibit. The sign does say the enclosure may occasionally be used as a temporary enclosure.
  • The area behind the Penguins that was the Mara enclosure before it became a playground was fenced off and there did appear to be some work going on.
  • Finally regarding Elandgate. The guide book and maps around the park does list them as being somewhere near the Giraffes.

Lastly I think the zoo had done a huge amount to be Covid safe. Hand sanitiser available all over the park. Signs about face coverings and maintaining social distancing on entry to all indoor areas. Shame about the minority who completely disregard them and see a 2 metre gap as something for them to step into.
 
NMM said:
Just had my first visit since the pandemic. It is the first time in a long while where my feelings afterwards are not negative. There is still a lot to do to get back to the standard Marwell used to be but I am seeing steps in the right direction.

Notes and thoughts.
  • The old Sitatunga enclosure in the corner of the park has wooden barriers cutting off about a quarter of the old enclosure and their old house. There is a sign that new animals are currently settling in before they go on show. I couldn't see anything but I could hear something shuffling around.
  • There was some timber construction work going on around the aviaries next to the Wallaby walkthrough.
  • Great to see several new species. I know a number of them are replacements for other species that the zoo has gone out of, but seeing a replacement species instead of more empty enclosures is a very welcome sign. Examples I thought were new since my last visit.
    • Red River Hogs where their used to be Peccaries and before that Giant Anteaters.
    • Visayan Warty Pigs where the Anoa used to be next to Life in the Trees.
    • Bokiboky in Life in the Trees
    • Potoroo near the Wallaby walkthrough and Cold Blooded Corner.
    • Himalayan Monal in the aviaries next to the previous Red Panda enclosure.
    • Banteng in the paddock next to the African Wild Ass. Can someone remind me what was there before please as I cannot remember?
  • The former South American paddock which now, according to the signs hold Sitatunga and Nyala, might be empty. I didn't see either species both on my way in or out.
  • Several current species have moved since my last visit.
    • Anoa are now in the former Nyala paddock next to the Tigers and the former Blesbok paddock next to the Tropical House. The latter is now very overgrown so would be difficult to see them.
    • Ostriches are now where the camels used to be.
    • Grevy's Zebra in the former Roan Antelope paddock. Is this a temporary arrangement as there didn't appear to be any signs for them?
    • Crowned Lemur are now in the Lemur walkthrough. Last time they were in Life in the Trees. The walkthrough was shut though.
    • Roan Antelope, Blesbok and Plains Zebra were now in the Giraffe paddock. The Giraffes were shut out of the main paddock area, where they did appear to be some work going on. The Zebras, Blesboks and Roan Antelope were in the main paddock area though
  • The former African Valley now has signs for Przewalksi's Horse and Grevy's Zebra but there didn't appear to be anything in the valley today.
  • The main paddock for Wild Explores was shut today. The animals only had access to their indoor quarters and immediate yard area. There didn't appear to be any work going on.
  • The former Cheetah enclosure has been rebranded for Servals (there is still Cheetah branding in places if you look though). The lower of the two former Cheetah enclosures has now been added to the Giraffe paddock.
  • The former owl aviaries near the Snow Leopards have a sign next to them saying that the area will no longer hold animals.
  • The enclosure next to the lawn that sometimes holds Meerkats or Mongooses has an odd sign in it. The sign says that it was built in 1983 originally for holding Red Pandas and sites itself as an example as to how enclosures have improved and evolved when you compare it to the current Red Panda exhibit. The sign does say the enclosure may occasionally be used as a temporary enclosure.
  • The area behind the Penguins that was the Mara enclosure before it became a playground was fenced off and there did appear to be some work going on.
  • Finally regarding Elandgate. The guide book and maps around the park does list them as being somewhere near the Giraffes.

Lastly I think the zoo had done a huge amount to be Covid safe. Hand sanitiser available all over the park. Signs about face coverings and maintaining social distancing on entry to all indoor areas. Shame about the minority who completely disregard them and see a 2 metre gap as something for them to step into.
Click to expand...
Just to reply to some of your points,the old Sitatunga area has Nile Lechwe in there,Sable Antelope used to be in the now Banteng area,the former Roan area has Hartmann Zebra there,not Grevys,yes there are Nyala one that is plus three Sitatunga in the former South American area,as regarding Eland I dont think that will now happen.
 
Thanks for the replies Okapis. Another new species with Nile Lechwe, even better news. Shame if Elands don't happen, that would have been a nice addition.
 
Good news. Separately, does anyone know how the EEP is looking for Okapi? Are there surplus animals, enough genetic variation in Europe? Are there collections waiting to hold them, a ‘waiting list’ of sorts?
I’ve always thought Paigntons B Rhino house could be refurbished to make an excellent Okapi exhibit if the Rhino were ever to move to the ex-Elephant paddock . I often visit the Okapi at Wild Place - there is something so unique in how I feel when observing them - they bring a sense of calm. Stunning animals.
 
Okapi are beautiful. Very elegant. Understandably perhaps, I believe there is quite a long waiting list for them though. I agree they would look good in the Paignton rhino house and enclosure which I've always thought was rather small for the rhinos, at least the outside enclosures. But if they aren't on the waiting list, its a pipe dream I'm afraid.
 
TriUK said:
Good news. Separately, does anyone know how the EEP is looking for Okapi? Are there surplus animals, enough genetic variation in Europe? Are there collections waiting to hold them, a ‘waiting list’ of sorts?
I’ve always thought Paigntons B Rhino house could be refurbished to make an excellent Okapi exhibit if the Rhino were ever to move to the ex-Elephant paddock . I often visit the Okapi at Wild Place - there is something so unique in how I feel when observing them - they bring a sense of calm. Stunning animals.
Click to expand...
see above, was meant to be a response....
 
A Grevy’s zebra foal has been born:

Endangered Grevy's zebra foal born in front of visitors to Marwell Zoo

The endangered Grevy’s zebra gave birth to a healthy foal at the zoo’s Wild Explorers paddock opposite Marwell’s Grade I listed hall in front of amazed onlookers.

Keepers carefully monitored the zebra from a distance and answered questions from guests, while first-time mother Ellen gave birth in just 30 minutes.

The latest arrival increases Marwell’s total numbers of Grevy’s zebra to six.
 
Excellent news

Marwell do appear to have a successful Grevy breeding programme and long may it continue.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top