Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoo News 2021

Some recent lemur moves:
  • 0.3 black-and-white ruffed lemurs have moved to Hanwell Zoo, London.
  • 1.0 black-and-white ruffed lemur has moved to Woburn Safari Park.
  • 1.0 three-year-old black lemur named Jimmy, who was born at Dudley, has moved to a collection in West Sussex where he will join a female.
Dudley Zoo - Home | Facebook
 
I'm planning my first visit here for next month, and I would like to know the following:

How photogenic are the lesser siren, naked mole rat, collared lemur & peccary and where are they in the zoo?

Any particularly rare or interesting species in the collection?

Any species of fish?

Any species that are very hard to get a photograph of?

Thanks
 
Fantastic news! The derelict eyesore that is the Dudley Hippodrome is set to be demolished.

Even though the building is nothing to do with the zoo, it sits right outside the zoo's entrance and massively affects the zoo's image. The rear of the building, with its graffiti, broken glass, barbed wire, huge oppressive brick walls and rusted metal is particularly damaging to a visitor's first impressions of the zoo as soon as they get out the car, as it faces directly onto the zoo's car park.

The building was constructed in 1938 (a year after the zoo opened). The last time it functioned as a theatre was in 1964. From 1964 to 2009 (45 years!) it functioned as a bingo hall and casino. It has been left abandoned and derelict since 2009.

The neighbouring former skating rink/ nightclub/ martial arts centre will also be knocked down.

The space will become a £25million modern university campus specialising in nursing and healthcare courses.

Dudley Hippodrome to be replaced by university centre - BBC News

Dudley Hippodrome set to be knocked down and replaced and it's 'shameful' - Birmingham Live (birminghammail.co.uk)
 
Prochilodus246 said:
How photogenic are the lesser siren, naked mole rat, collared lemur & peccary and where are they in the zoo?
Click to expand...

The lesser siren can be found in one of the many vivariums (possibly the furthest one on the right) in the farm barn (opening times 12.00pm-12.45pm and 2.15pm-3.30pm) by the camels. They are very photogenic but how easily photographable they are depends on if they are hiding or not.

The naked mole rats can be found in the chimp indoor viewing area. Again whether they are seen depends on if they are hiding in their nest.

The collard lemurs are in the lemur walkthrough. Each of the different lemur species in the walkthrough have their own separate house. The collard lemur house it the first one that you pass on the left and they don't ever seem to stray too far away from it. However, visiting in December will likely mean that they will be curled up inside the house, although you may still be able to see them through the viewing window.

The peccary, which I think are still the only ones in the UK, are located between the reindeer and the orang house. They are easily seen if they are outside.

Prochilodus246 said:
Any particularly rare or interesting species in the collection?
Click to expand...

  • Geladas.
  • Patagonian sea lions.
  • Arctic foxes.
  • Lesser siren.
  • Carpathian lynx.
  • Binturong.
  • Asian palm civet.
  • Southern cassowary.
  • Barbary sheep.
  • Yellow-breasted capuchin.
  • Sulawesi crested macaque.
  • Sumatran tiger.
  • Giant anteater.
  • Linne’s Two-Toed sloth.
  • Black lemur.
  • Bornean orangutan.
  • Snowy owl.
  • White-lipped Peccary
Prochilodus246 said:
Any species of fish?
Click to expand...

Koi carp and goldfish in large ponds in the lemur and lorikeet walkthroughs.

Prochilodus246 said:
Any species that are very hard to get a photograph of?
Click to expand...

The Asian palm civet (I haven't even seen it yet!), sloths (sleepy things), and macaws (thanks to the mesh on their aviary).

Hope that helps. Enjoy your visit.
 
Benosaurus said:
Fantastic news! The derelict eyesore that is the Dudley Hippodrome is set to be demolished.
Click to expand...

I confess to having mixed feelings about this. I don't dispute that, in it's current state, it is an eye sore that detracts from first impressions of the Zoo. I do feel that it is (or was) an iconic building and I'm sad that it has been allowed to deteriorate into this state. Nor do I have much confidence in Dudley Council's ability to replace it with something better.
 
Prochilodus246 said:
I'm planning my first visit here for next month, and I would like to know the following:

How photogenic are the lesser siren, naked mole rat, collared lemur & peccary and where are they in the zoo?

Any particularly rare or interesting species in the collection?

Any species of fish?

Any species that are very hard to get a photograph of?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I was just about to post a lengthy reply to your query when I realised that Benosaurus had beaten me to it! Hope you enjoy your visit.
 
Benosaurus said:
The lesser siren can be found in one of the many vivariums (possibly the furthest one on the right) in the farm barn (opening times 12.00pm-12.45pm and 2.15pm-3.30pm) by the camels. They are very photogenic but how easily photographable they are depends on if they are hiding or not.

The naked mole rats can be found in the chimp indoor viewing area. Again whether they are seen depends on if they are hiding in their nest.

The collard lemurs are in the lemur walkthrough. Each of the different lemur species in the walkthrough have their own separate house. The collard lemur house it the first one that you pass on the left and they don't ever seem to stray too far away from it. However, visiting in December will likely mean that they will be curled up inside the house, although you may still be able to see them through the viewing window.

The peccary, which I think are still the only ones in the UK, are located between the reindeer and the orang house. They are easily seen if they are outside.



  • Geladas.
  • Patagonian sea lions.
  • Arctic foxes.
  • Lesser siren.
  • Carpathian lynx.
  • Binturong.
  • Asian palm civet.
  • Southern cassowary.
  • Barbary sheep.
  • Yellow-breasted capuchin.
  • Sulawesi crested macaque.
  • Sumatran tiger.
  • Giant anteater.
  • Linne’s Two-Toed sloth.
  • Black lemur.
  • Bornean orangutan.
  • Snowy owl.
  • White-lipped Peccary


Koi carp and goldfish in large ponds in the lemur and lorikeet walkthroughs.



The Asian palm civet (I haven't even seen it yet!), sloths (sleepy things), and macaws (thanks to the mesh on their aviary).

Hope that helps. Enjoy your visit.
Click to expand...

Just to add to the species that are difficult to photograph i think it would be fair to include the Asiatic lions. Their enclosure is fantastic but there are very limited glass viewing areas. Depending on where abouts in the enclosure they are. It could be really easy or really difficult. Also the chimps could be difficult given the huge size of their enclosure. They spend most of their time indoors in the colder months but the lighting isn't great.
 
Angel said:
I confess to having mixed feelings about this. I don't dispute that, in it's current state, it is an eye sore that detracts from first impressions of the Zoo. I do feel that it is (or was) an iconic building and I'm sad that it has been allowed to deteriorate into this state. Nor do I have much confidence in Dudley Council's ability to replace it with something better.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean, it is sad to see an old theatre go. However, it hasn't functioned as a theatre since the 1960s and it seems that none of its many owners in the decades between then and now have thought turning it back into a theatre as being a viable or sustainable business (even when the building was in good condition).

In addition, it is also one of the ugliest buildings I've ever seen. I think that to give it a facelift and repair the years of decay on the exterior and interior of the building would cost an astronomical amount, which would likely not be recouped from it working as a theatre/cinema. Sad to say but the building is a write-off.

Gallery – Dudley Hippodrome (dudley-hippodrome.co.uk)
 
Not really news but I've just gone to book myself a ticket for this afternoon and it turns out last entry is 2pm!!! What sort of time is that? I'm sure it used to be 3pm in the winter season.

That's put a spanner in the works and then some...
 
Brum said:
Not really news but I've just gone to book myself a ticket for this afternoon and it turns out last entry is 2pm!!! What sort of time is that? I'm sure it used to be 3pm in the winter season.

That's put a spanner in the works and then some...
Click to expand...

Strange. Could it be a precaution due to the imminent storm Arwen?
 
Brum said:
Don't think so as it's actually on the Opening Times page as their operating hours.
Click to expand...

The site closes at approx 4.30pm, so I guess that maybe because on average people usually take at least 2 hours to go around the zoo, they may have decided that they didn't want people who entered at 3pm to still be nowhere near the exit by the time they want to close up at half-four.

Just a guess but that's all I can think of.
 
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