Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2022

[Benosaurus]

A quote from Twycross zoo:

"This 4 acre immersive experience takes you through the entire story of the much loved 'The Gruffalo'. You can meet characters from the much loved story, you can meet real-life animals including a snake and our great-grey owls, and of course we have 'Butterfly Paradise' which you can explore and meet some fascinating creatures. In addition to all of the animals here we also have some stage shows so you can get involved with the 'woodland wiggle' and even meet the Gruffalo.

One of the amazing things about this new land here is that we're aiming this at 0 to 7 year-olds as a way to introduce them to nature and the natural world through the eyes of the mouse, the smallest creature, we're showing that even the smallest people can have a massive impact.

Here at Twycross zoo we are always introducing lots of new animals to conservation projects internationally. The great-grey owl and our Jamaican boas who will be joining us here at Gruffalo Discovery Land soon are part of international breeding programmes to ensure that these species continue to survive in the wild and that's incredibly important to us here. We hope that when young people are introduced to these animals they will go home and learn and research and find out how they too can support conservation and the natural world in their own everyday lives, because even small things can make a big difference."

Inside UK's first Gruffalo Discovery Land that's about to open at Twycross Zoo - Leicestershire Live (leicestermercury.co.uk)


All fanciful tripe in my opinion.

 

[Trudie]

Judging by the few photos that can be seen on social media, I find it really difficult to find where all of the money invested into the Gruffalo area has actually gone. All of the species that I have seen appear to be existing species at the zoo. While I understand why the zoo have done this, I really don't think that it was the best investment. There were already a lot of areas designed for children in the zoo, more than most zoos in my opinion. I think that a simple renovation of the existing explorer zone would have been both cheaper and more enjoyable for visitors of all ages. I don't want to complain too much before seeing it but I can't help but think about the orangutans and amur leopards' living conditions.

Totally agree think they had plenty of stuff for children would rather they improved the enclosures and replace the animals that left

 

[haydn]

Judging by the few photos that can be seen on social media, I find it really difficult to find where all of the money invested into the Gruffalo area has actually gone. All of the species that I have seen appear to be existing species at the zoo. While I understand why the zoo have done this, I really don't think that it was the best investment. There were already a lot of areas designed for children in the zoo, more than most zoos in my opinion. I think that a simple renovation of the existing explorer zone would have been both cheaper and more enjoyable for visitors of all ages. I don't want to complain too much before seeing it but I can't help but think about the orangutans and amur leopards' living conditions.

I'd agree somewhat. I think the approach is fine (adding extra kids attractions) as it will draw in more visitors, which in turn will help fund even more future developments. The bits I've seen look to be done really well, good quality scenic elements, etc but there does appear to be a lot of open landscaping (could just be miss-leading photographs).

I'm sure this will look better in a couple of years once the planting has taken hold but I can't help but think some of this space could have been used to re-home some of the existing smaller species, in addition to the owls. Like perhaps some of the small monkeys, or even some more of the waterfoul/birds which could easily be worked into the discovery trail concept.

Luckily, the Orang-utans don't need to wait too much longer. Roll on 2024!

 

[J C]

Little bit of news on the web site about the new area opening all of which has been covered here The Gruffalo Discovery Land is OPEN! - Twycross Zoo the on thing I did pick up on is they say Twycross now is a 100 acres site, news to me it’s always been listed as 80 acres not sure if this is just a slip of the tongue or if they have acquired more land

 

[Freya]

Snow leopard has definitely moved the big cat sanctuary have released a video of the actual move but this is typical of twycross they don’t give out much information

While they still haven't announced Khumbu's arrival we caught sight of him yesterday thanks to a Twycross worker pointing him out to us on the path out of Gruffaloland.

 

[The Hedgehog]

I wonder what this Gruffalo area at Twycross Zoo, means for the Gruffalo attractions at Chessington World Of Adventures?

 

[GaryA]

I wonder what this Gruffalo area at Twycross Zoo, means for the Gruffalo attractions at Chessington World Of Adventures?

Nothing whatsoever. One doesn't preclude the other.

 

[Freya]

I wonder what this Gruffalo area at Twycross Zoo, means for the Gruffalo attractions at Chessington World Of Adventures?

A quote from Twycross zoo:

"This 4 acre immersive experience takes you through the entire story of the much loved 'The Gruffalo'. You can meet characters from the much loved story, you can meet real-life animals including a snake and our great-grey owls, and of course we have 'Butterfly Paradise' which you can explore and meet some fascinating creatures. In addition to all of the animals here we also have some stage shows so you can get involved with the 'woodland wiggle' and even meet the Gruffalo.

One of the amazing things about this new land here is that we're aiming this at 0 to 7 year-olds as a way to introduce them to nature and the natural world through the eyes of the mouse, the smallest creature, we're showing that even the smallest people can have a massive impact.

Here at Twycross zoo we are always introducing lots of new animals to conservation projects internationally. The great-grey owl and our Jamaican boas who will be joining us here at Gruffalo Discovery Land soon are part of international breeding programmes to ensure that these species continue to survive in the wild and that's incredibly important to us here. We hope that when young people are introduced to these animals they will go home and learn and research and find out how they too can support conservation and the natural world in their own everyday lives, because even small things can make a big difference."

Inside UK's first Gruffalo Discovery Land that's about to open at Twycross Zoo - Leicestershire Live (leicestermercury.co.uk)


All fanciful tripe in my opinion.

In my opinion it's more geared towards kiddos up to about 4 or 5 (3 year old nephew loved it nearly 7 year old niece was bored by it). I won't even talk about the vastly overpriced Gruffalo shop. The boa has a larger tank (thankfully) and there is another empty tank next to it. I'm no expert but I'm not sure how much, if anything, children are going to learn here.

 

[hjkr]

In my opinion it's more geared towards kiddos up to about 4 or 5 (3 year old nephew loved it nearly 7 year old niece was bored by it). I won't even talk about the vastly overpriced Gruffalo shop. The boa has a larger tank (thankfully) and there is another empty tank next to it. I'm no expert but I'm not sure how much, if anything, children are going to learn here.

Hi, are there any other animals in the Gruffalo area? I know there's the butterfly house, Great Grey Owls, goats and boa. Is that all? Are all of the 'pets corner' animals gone? Like the ferrets, guinea pigs, donkeys etc?

 

[Benosaurus]

I'm no expert but I'm not sure how much, if anything, children are going to learn here.

I think this quote from them explains it...

"We hope that when young people are introduced to these animals they will go home and learn and research and find out how they too can support conservation..."

I've questioned Twycross before about using conservation as a veneer or justification tool for developments like this.

 

[Freya]

Hi, are there any other animals in the Gruffalo area? I know there's the butterfly house, Great Grey Owls, goats and boa. Is that all? Are all of the 'pets corner' animals gone? Like the ferrets, guinea pigs, donkeys etc?

Unfortunately, all the pets corner animals have gone. You can walk around in the goats enclosure but that's as interactive as it gets.

 

[Freya]

I think this quote from them explains it...

"We hope that when young people are introduced to these animals they will go home and learn and research and find out how they too can support conservation..."

I've questioned Twycross before about using conservation as a veneer or justification tool for developments like this.

I got the impression that the animals feel like an afterthought in the Gruffalo area and it sounds harsh but I really don't see how they can mention conservation and this area in the same sentence.

 

[jamie779]

I haven't seen it yet, so can't really judge but if it gets families in and more revenue, then surely that it is a positive. " Childrens zone" was always the next thing on the plans. Like everyone though, I wish they'd have done the orangs before this.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Is there anything else going except for Graffulos?

 

[James Barber]

From a couple of vlogs I have watched, I think the old petting buildings have been turned into a Gruffalo walkthrough. There are Great Grey Owls, Goats and a Boa Constrictor in the Gruffalo area, as well as the current Butterfly House and a few other birds part of it too.

 

[jamie779]

In other news, does anyone know if they managed to integrate chimpanzee Samantha into Jambo's group for breeding, as they said they were aiming to?

 

[J C]

Will be doing first visit tommorow after the gruffalo opening so will try to give an objective view of the development tommorow night, also have whipsnade booked for Sunday. In other news it’s a shame Twycross went out of elephants and put the rhinos in there house given Belfast are moving there’s out as I think they would have been I great place for retirement cows from many collections this avoiding the need for a bull, perhaps they could revert back to this in the future given there enclosure is still pretty much unchanged or at least easily convertible back for elephants and build a new area for rhinos on phase two for rhino in there master plan

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Will be doing first visit tommorow after the gruffalo opening so will try to give an objective view of the development tommorow night, also have whipsnade booked for Sunday. In other news it’s a shame Twycross went out of elephants and put the rhinos in there house given Belfast are moving there’s out as I think they would have been I great place for retirement cows from many collections this avoiding the need for a bull, perhaps they could revert back to this in the future given there enclosure is still pretty much unchanged or at least easily convertible back for elephants and build a new area for rhinos on phase two for rhino in there master plan

The old elephant building was unfit for future purpose. It was basically a 60's / 50's-ish slab building. Changing the holding to rhinos - that required less space .... - was a game changer along with bringing back giraffe for the general public and Joe and Sam Average zoo visiting public.

Your suggestion for elephant retirement home think Longleat or something ..., would be better served there. Aside, sufficient locations for a good number of elephant herds alreadly available, whereas for rhinos spaces are desperately needed, certainly for the Indian GOHR or the African black rhinos.

On the last lap: it seems from recent future masterplanning drawings that Belfast might just yet find space for new modern elephant exhibit.

 

[J C]

The old elephant building was unfit for future purpose. It was basically a 60's / 50's-ish slab building. Changing the holding to rhinos - that required less space .... - was a game changer along with bringing back giraffe for the general public and Joe and Sam Average zoo visiting public.

Your suggestion for elephant retirement home think Longleat or something ..., would be better served there. Aside, sufficient locations for a good number of elephant herds alreadly available, whereas for rhinos spaces are desperately needed, certainly for the Indian GOHR or the African black rhinos.

On the last lap: it seems from recent future masterplanning drawings that Belfast might just yet find space for new modern elephant exhibit.

I’m not saying get rid of rhinos at all they are a great addition and am sure Twycross are great fully they received an ageing cow and infant bull, they could easily build a new rhino area behind the tigers white out effecting the mew development and as for the previous elephant area it was built in the nighties and was quite sutible to hold a few cows as was. The outside was almost as big as chesters and ok the house was smaller but held five until just before the move to blackpool so could have held three or four today

 

[haydn]

The elephant house wasn’t from the 60s? It was built in the 90s right? Though yes, still no longer fit for purpose.

Once the zoo have realised their redevelopment plans for the existing footprint, I can see a future where elephants return - on the land marked for future expansion below behind the Gibbons.