Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoo News 2022

amanda224 said:
Does anyone know how they're going to extend the tiger enclosure?
Click to expand...

Planning documents on the council's website from a few years ago (I'd recommend reading through them if you're interested) showed they had something like this in mind (the blue line represents the planned extension to the perimeter up the rear bank)...

upload_2022-2-12_12-15-20.png

and perhaps extending it further along the wooded bank to the left (behind/above the house) as well.

Possible outline of future tiger extension? - ZooChat

However, keep in mind that planning for the tiger project occurred several years ago and since then plans may have been redrawn. Basically watch this space as the zoo will likely let us know by the end of the year.

---

Hopefully one day the zoo will be able to carry out a much more large scale improvement to the tiger outdoor area; maybe even creating two separate paddocks which can be merged. Personally, I've always hoped for something like this (completely ignoring any planning restrictions and increased cost btw)...

upload_2022-2-12_12-39-58.png

or

upload_2022-2-12_12-40-33.png


Trudie said:
I wondered if they knock down the enclosure to the left which is behind the fence and maybe up at the back dunno
Click to expand...

The structure immediately to the left of the tiger enclosure is in fact the tiger house. However, the original plans for the tiger project did include demolishing the house in order to build a new larger one in its place, which would also include indoor viewing.
 

Attachments

  • upload_2022-2-12_12-15-20.png
    upload_2022-2-12_12-15-20.png
    33.3 KB · Views: 51
  • upload_2022-2-12_12-39-58.png
    upload_2022-2-12_12-39-58.png
    558.6 KB · Views: 52
  • upload_2022-2-12_12-40-33.png
    upload_2022-2-12_12-40-33.png
    382.2 KB · Views: 56
Benosaurus said:
Planning documents on the council's website from a few years ago (I'd recommend reading through them if you're interested) showed they had something like this in mind (the blue line represents the planned extension to the perimeter up the rear bank)...

View attachment 531414

and perhaps extending it further along the wooded bank to the left (behind/above the house) as well.

Possible outline of future tiger extension? - ZooChat

However, keep in mind that planning for the tiger project occurred several years ago and since then plans may have been redrawn. Basically watch this space as the zoo will likely let us know by the end of the year.

---

Hopefully one day the zoo will be able to carry out a much more large scale improvement to the tiger outdoor area; maybe even creating two separate paddocks which can be merged. Personally, I've always hoped for something like this (completely ignoring any planning restrictions and increased cost btw)...

View attachment 531415

or

View attachment 531416




The structure immediately to the left of the tiger enclosure is in fact the tiger house. However, the original plans for the tiger project did include demolishing the house in order to build a new larger one in its place, which would also include indoor viewing.
Click to expand...
That tiger indoor is hardly fine accomodation for the tigers.
 
Benosaurus said:
Making a judgement based on a heavily cropped image that barely even shows the entrance to the existing tiger house isn't the wisest decision.
Click to expand...
Dear @Benosaurus, I am not making a judgement on the mere basis of a cropped image, it is from several zoo visits and experiencing the whole concept of the enclosure and tiger indoor housing down below. I do find that part of the Dudley Zoo structurally somewhat unappealing (to put it diplomatically). All well and good that the Tecton buildings represent an architectural cultural heritage value, but ... just as state of the art animal accomodation fit for the day the carnivore housing is surely not.

Consequently, I really really do hope that after the orang outdoor (a must admittedly and welcome positive change), the giraffe house expansion (still unhappy with the continual breeding of hybrid/crossbreed calves in stead of managing phase out and changing over to fully pure-bred Rothschildt's giraffe stock able to breed and having a conservation value), that the tiger project will be next (come 2022/2023 some time this autumn as I reckon CoVid is a bit on the wane ...).
 
Last edited:
Benosaurus said:
Thanks for the updates.

The fact the howler monkeys have moved and they've ripped out the huge climbing structure in their old exhibit is a really interesting development. I wonder what they've got planned for that enclosure. Would the Arctic foxes work better in there I wonder?
Click to expand...
visited zoo again in half term noticed they have built quite a large pool with steps in the howler monkey enclosure
 
amanda224 said:
visited zoo again in half term noticed they have built quite a large pool with steps in the howler monkey enclosure
Click to expand...
Any ideas on what species it's going to be for? The zoo seem to be acting very secretive about it so I doubt it would be anything too major but given the reasonable size of the enclosure, a lot of different species could potentially be housed there and the unique landscape and inclusion of a pool will make it a very interesting enclosure indeed. My guesses are most likely a primate or small canine. But I understand that speculation isn't very popular on here so I'll leave it there.
 
amanda224 said:
visited zoo again in half term noticed they have built quite a large pool with steps in the howler monkey enclosure
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm really intrigued as to what will go in there - a large enclosure that is very steep and rocky in places that now contains a large pool but has had all its old climbing structures removed (which means the external house is no longer attached).

If I were to make one wild guess... Baloo the young Asiatic black bear from Wingham???
 
Benosaurus said:
Thanks. I'm really intrigued as to what will go in there - a large enclosure that is very steep and rocky in places that now contains a large pool but has had all its old climbing structures removed (which means the external house is no longer attached).

If I were to make one wild guess... Baloo the young Asiatic black bear from Wingham???
Click to expand...
It would be beyond brilliant to see an Asiatic black bear at Dudley again. Inca was definitely one of my favourites and always the highlight whenever she would choose to grace the world with her presence, the zoo has never felt the same since her passing. Does anyone know what the indoor area of that enclosure is like? I'm assuming that it's very similar to that of the current Arctic fox enclosure (correct me if I'm wrong) which comfortably housed an elderly Inca but would this be suitable for a younger, more active bear? If not then I'm not sure how plausible it would be to construct another indoor area given the listed status and unique features of the enclosure.
 
GiraffeJack10 said:
Does anyone know what the indoor area of that enclosure is like? I'm assuming that it's very similar to that of the current Arctic fox enclosure (correct me if I'm wrong) which comfortably housed an elderly Inca but would this be suitable for a younger, more active bear? If not then I'm not sure how plausible it would be to construct another indoor area given the listed status and unique features of the enclosure.
Click to expand...

The original dens for that Tecton enclosure have held multiple adult bears at the same time in the past, so size-wise it should be ok.
BLACK BEARS 1980'S - ZooChat

But lets not get ahead of ourselves. We've no idea what's going in there. Time will tell.
 
Benosaurus said:
@amanda224 how is the new orangutan enclosure looking? Can't be long now until it's finished.
Click to expand...
its looking amazing i really think there not that far off finishing it looks like just the fence n windows around the enclosure need doing i was told about easter, were going saturday so will give up date then ( my 5 yr old grandaughter loves the zoo so its our 2nd home ha )
 
Last edited:
Celebrating 85 years! – Dudley Zoo and Castle

The zoo detail some of their upcoming developments including the tiger and giraffe enclosures (even if they did confuse Kira with her half-brother Kito, who left Dudley a while ago and currently lives at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm).

They also said that the orang extension is planned to open at Whitsun. A bit later that I expected but I'm sure it's going to be worth the wait for both us and the orangs.

They mentioned the animal that will be living in the former howler monkey enclosure is going to be a brand new species for the zoo. Whether it's new to the current collection or a new species in the zoo's 85 year history I'm not sure. They also make it sound like it's going to be one individual making me feel like it's going to be something big. (Sun bear or wolverine are what I'm hoping for).

The zoo have also confirmed, on their social media, that a pair of red-tailed green rat snakes have hatched. Another first for the zoo. They've been named Noodle and Ramen and are currently being housed off-show.

To my knowledge, no more official information has been released about the penguin colony since the zoo's statement in January. I really hope that they can re-establish a large breeding colony as it's always been a brilliant part of the zoo.

The penguin situation aside, 2022 is shaping up to be a great year for the zoo.
 
Last edited:
GiraffeJack10 said:
Celebrating 85 years! – Dudley Zoo and Castle

The zoo detail some of their upcoming developments including the tiger and giraffe enclosures (even if they did confuse Kira with her half-brother Kito, who left Dudley a while ago and currently lives at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm).

They also said that the orang extension is planned to open at Whitsun. A bit later that I expected but I'm sure it's going to be worth the wait for both us and the orangs.

They mentioned the animal that will be living in the former howler monkey enclosure is going to be a brand new species for the zoo. Whether it's new to the current collection or a new species in the zoo's 85 year history I'm not sure. They also make it sound like it's going to be one individual making me feel like it's going to be something big. (Sun bear or wolverine are what I'm hoping for).

The zoo have also confirmed, on their social media, that a pair of red-tailed green rat snakes have hatched. Another first for the zoo. They've been named Noodle and Ramen and are currently being housed off-show.

To my knowledge, no more official information has been released about the penguin colony since the zoo's statement in January. I really hope that they can re-establish a large breeding colony as it's always been a brilliant part of the zoo.

The penguin situation aside, 2022 is shaping up to be a great year for the zoo.
Click to expand...
This is all good to hear, and by the sound of it they'll have the new species and completed the extension on the orangutan house by the time I'm planning to visit in August.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top