Whilst this makes some sense, based on what the zoo previously shared - the location they’d move too doesn’t as it’s in an area they’d need to redevelop in order to bring the new ape enclosures to reality. But based on that, the Bonobo move also made no sense!
Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2021
Whilst this makes some sense, based on what the zoo previously shared - the location they’d move too doesn’t as it’s in an area they’d need to redevelop in order to bring the new ape enclosures to reality. But based on that, the Bonobo move also made no sense!
Of course non of this makes no sense, but they what does. I can’t decide which ape exhibit is better for the orangutans today given there future move to a new exhibit both have pros and cons. Whilst I think the indoor house is slightly better currently for the apes than the old bonobos for the visitor it would be nice to also veiw them inside the warmth and see them all rather than some tucked away in there current enclosure round the back as I rarely see batu. The out side of the former bonbons is slightly larger also I think and from a visitor veiw in better shape, all the glass is still there whilst some of the current orangutans is boarded up to cover the cracks. Let’s not forget also the bonobos is a lot newer than the orangutans, I think it’s was rebuilt / repurposed from the elephants in 1992 only six years before the gorillas in 1998 where as the orangutans have been there almost from the start at least in the seventies. This might if it where to happen only be a short term thing but I can’t see the bonobos moving again for at least a few years given the work on the new house ( will post some pics ). Possibly at best orangs 2023 bonobos 2024 / 2025 given they tend to do one new build in a year
- Local MP asks simple question to a Secretary of State:
"When can we find out the results of the first round of bids for the Levelling Up Fund?" (of which most of the things discussed in the posts above rely upon)
- Secretary of State:
*completely fails to listen to or answer the question*
- Local MP:
*smiles, says nothing and thinks; "This is gonna look great on my YouTube channel later" *
Parliament is such a joke in this country.
"
"When can we find out the results of the first round of bids for the Levelling Up Fund?" (of which most of the things discussed in the posts above rely upon)
- Secretary of State:
*completely fails to listen to or answer the question*
- Local MP:
*smiles, says nothing and thinks; "This is gonna look great on my YouTube channel later" *
Parliament is such a joke in this country.
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I visited today and I think I saw I Kayan! Not an expert, but she looked contented. Batu was on the patio earlier on in the day and the indoors is still closed off. Bonobos look good, but as others have commented, not so different to what they were in before.
This is huge news! Despite how immoral and deceitful their campaign to win the funds was, congrats to them. It will massively change the future of Twycross Zoo as, after zero effort, the zoo can suddenly afford multiple new million-pound enclosures, which they've desperately needed for decades, that will be incorporated into this NSCC and the suits can give each other a hearty pat on the back. However, sadly it won't do anything to change the planet.
Here is some more information: Budget 2021: A zoo, a park and a pool - who got levelling up cash?
Yes this is and not just for twycross but all zoo’s as they actually got money out of the government for once and given the past two years I couldn’t give a monkeys how they did it. This should set a precedent though for other collections to go for the cash as I didn’t think the government would invest in animal collection as it wouldn’t be see as to politically correct for them to do so.
Yes... well possibly. It's not been made entirely clear if they were seeking funding for just the research center, or that and three major new exhibits for the remaining great ape species. The brochure (originally published for to get private sector funding) references the exhibits but focuses mostly on the research centre. So I guess we won't really know for sure until work starts.
The said brochure can be found here Welcome to the Future of Twycross Zoo - Twycross Zoo
Twycross would never arbitrarily tack on a huge, potential white elephant vanity structure ostensibly for local benefit in order to be able to secure access to public funding for a new Snow Leop... sorry, ape enclosure. Just wouldn't happen. 
(Fair play to them I say, but still..!)
(Fair play to them I say, but still..!)
Unfortunately this is most likely a one-off, because the government would never give any money away if Twycross asked them for a grant just for some new enclosures.
The government only wants to be seen giving money to projects they think will help solve aspects of the global crisis, i.e. global warming/ climate change/ pollution/ declining wildlife populations/ deforestation/ poaching etc. What zoos do is conserve and breed captive populations of wild animals as well as contributing to research and in-situ conservation projects. In addition zoos can educate us about these aspects of the global crisis but in reality they cannot solve them.
So Twycross came up with the pseudo-solution idea that is the NSCC to get the money. They misleadingly sold the NSCC (with the help of some copy-and-paste quotes from Attenborough, Thunberg, and Goodall) as something that will help solve the global crisis, when in reality it is just more education and more research - two things that zoos all over the world have already been doing for half a century. A smart dupe it must be said, even though sadly the NSCC won't do anything to impact the global crisis... that is something that governments should be doing.
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Sure, but to be honest I would lose any sleep over how they worded there case for the money, just that they got it I agree if they just went for enclosure money they wouldn’t most likely receive any but looking at the other recipients of the pot so far I would argue the zoo would put the money to the best use in animal welfare as most of the rest looks to be doing up high streets
Twycross would never arbitrarily tack on a huge, potential white elephant vanity structure ostensibly for local benefit in order to be able to secure access to public funding for a new Snow Leop... sorry, ape enclosure. Just wouldn't happen.
(Fair play to them I say, but still..!)
Hmmmm, whilst obviously Himalaya was a complete and utter waste of money considering what really needed attention at the time (and even now) I think this new addition has a bit more potential.
The zoo already has strong connections with several local and national education centres, so the facilities will get used. And if it doesn’t pan out entirely as hoped, looking at some of the creative, they could quite easily be repurposed as conference/events space - which is an ever growing market too.
And… unlike Himalaya, at least 3/4 of this will be significantly improved animal facilities, and not just one huge gift shop.
Oh, I wouldn't dispute any of this (although I'm not sure how much the current event space in Himalaya is actually used as it is) - it just amuses me to see the same game being played by the current management as the old one (albeit in an apparently less frivolous form!).
Oh, I wouldn't dispute any of this (although I'm not sure how much the current event space in Himalaya is actually used as it is) - it just amuses me to see the same game being played by the current management as the old one (albeit in an apparently less frivolous form!).
I don’t think that’s exclusive to Twycross, it’s a British thing I think. Towns and cities across the country are full of vanity projects sold as some dream development that will fix a dozen local social issues but rarely make a scratch on the surface. They come in all shapes and sizes, from community centres that never open to the legendary millennium dome.
Why has the windows on the wild aviary just been left? It’s such a waste of space, and it would make a lovely walkthrough like it used to be.
If their links to universities and colleges are legit then great. If they can set up a UK version of Durrell conservation training (without taking business from Jersey) then great for the Hinckley & Bosworth local economy. If the Apes get better accommodations sooner, then great.
I completely agree. If it helps TZ's profile and leads to improved animal welfare etc. then surely this is a only a good thing.If it means they finally get to build better homes for all the other Apes earlier than expected, I'm all for it, no matter how they got the funding.