Guess we will just have to take some photos and take better looks next visit then
Burgers' Zoo Burgers' Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter PicanBird
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Guess we will just have to take some photos and take better looks next visit then
I had a very eventful visit to Burgers' zoo today, and a surprising amount of news to report
I'll start off with the most exciting news: While I was finally heading toward Livingstone bridge to take a look at the new ant enclosure for the first time, I was greeted with the sight of the owner of the zoo (!!!) Alex van Hooff. He was showing what I assume to be an investor or a rich friend around and asked one of the keepers if he had the keys with him. I used the opportunity to try to take a peek into the indoor holding but Alex just straight-up invited me to have a look after he saw me peeking.
The zookeeper explained a little bit about the ants and how they fed their (very impressive) fungus growth with the leaf cuttings and how there are certain ants who cut and other ants who chew, etc, as well as how there was a special bowl of water near the entrance to prevent escapes. He then went on to explain that they were planning on making a second area of terrariums on the other side of the room, as well as a fruit fly display on decomposition.
A little sketch I made of the inside of the Cola building:
The three dashed areas are the new areas they mentioned. This would be a public area, and the electricity box would be covered in wood. Currently the area where the new ant terrariums is just full of junk (I wasn't allowed to take photo's specifically because it was a mess).
This wasn't the only news, of course.
A follow-up questions round with the zookeeper (Alex and the investor had left) revealed that there was a new bird species in the Bush: the Paradise tanager! The keeper specifically said that he wasn't sure about the subspecies, as there are multiple subspecies going around in the zoo world (Nominate ssp and Paradise ssp, both with two holders. And non-ssp with three holders).
After that, I had a lovely talk with one of the guides in the Desert. (Side note: since recently, there is now a guide in the Desert too! Though there's only one at a time). She mentioned that the Victoria crowned pigeon egg had hatched and the chick is ready to leave the nest any day now. She had a really good photo of it, but sadly I wasn't able to see it.
A visit to the Mangrove also revealed why the reptile signs had dissapeared: another new species! New signage for the Bay-headed tanager (Tangara gyrola). The reptile signage has actually moved to the Butterfly signage (new signs without maps or extra information were made).
New signage was also added to the aquarium in the Pheasantry
I'll start off with the most exciting news: While I was finally heading toward Livingstone bridge to take a look at the new ant enclosure for the first time, I was greeted with the sight of the owner of the zoo (!!!) Alex van Hooff. He was showing what I assume to be an investor or a rich friend around and asked one of the keepers if he had the keys with him. I used the opportunity to try to take a peek into the indoor holding but Alex just straight-up invited me to have a look after he saw me peeking.
The zookeeper explained a little bit about the ants and how they fed their (very impressive) fungus growth with the leaf cuttings and how there are certain ants who cut and other ants who chew, etc, as well as how there was a special bowl of water near the entrance to prevent escapes. He then went on to explain that they were planning on making a second area of terrariums on the other side of the room, as well as a fruit fly display on decomposition.
A little sketch I made of the inside of the Cola building:
The three dashed areas are the new areas they mentioned. This would be a public area, and the electricity box would be covered in wood. Currently the area where the new ant terrariums is just full of junk (I wasn't allowed to take photo's specifically because it was a mess).
This wasn't the only news, of course.
A follow-up questions round with the zookeeper (Alex and the investor had left) revealed that there was a new bird species in the Bush: the Paradise tanager! The keeper specifically said that he wasn't sure about the subspecies, as there are multiple subspecies going around in the zoo world (Nominate ssp and Paradise ssp, both with two holders. And non-ssp with three holders).
After that, I had a lovely talk with one of the guides in the Desert. (Side note: since recently, there is now a guide in the Desert too! Though there's only one at a time). She mentioned that the Victoria crowned pigeon egg had hatched and the chick is ready to leave the nest any day now. She had a really good photo of it, but sadly I wasn't able to see it.
A visit to the Mangrove also revealed why the reptile signs had dissapeared: another new species! New signage for the Bay-headed tanager (Tangara gyrola). The reptile signage has actually moved to the Butterfly signage (new signs without maps or extra information were made).
New signage was also added to the aquarium in the Pheasantry
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Aaaaand a second post with less important news bc I can't upload all the pictures in one message:
The signage about the Desert in general had been updated, it now no longer includes scaled quail and prairie dogs were added.
The porcupines have gotten some new logs with feeding trays on top (which were out of sight of the visitors until he knocked it off). They are much more visible now!
Some strange foliage updates:
The roadrunner exhibit has fully grown in with strange flowers that can be found all over the Desert. Some new bushes (and a large, dead bush) have also been added
A lot of Mangroves on the left side of the viewing bridge have been removed
On the other hand, however. One bush has completely grown over the fence and blocked the view (it's a lot bigger than the photo shows)
and the adventure path has been completely overgrown, you can't even see the start of the stream anymore (which means the Basilisks will probably be harder to spot)
The gorilla island has lost all it's grass for some reason
The signage about the Desert in general had been updated, it now no longer includes scaled quail and prairie dogs were added.
The porcupines have gotten some new logs with feeding trays on top (which were out of sight of the visitors until he knocked it off). They are much more visible now!
Some strange foliage updates:
The roadrunner exhibit has fully grown in with strange flowers that can be found all over the Desert. Some new bushes (and a large, dead bush) have also been added
A lot of Mangroves on the left side of the viewing bridge have been removed
On the other hand, however. One bush has completely grown over the fence and blocked the view (it's a lot bigger than the photo shows)
and the adventure path has been completely overgrown, you can't even see the start of the stream anymore (which means the Basilisks will probably be harder to spot)
The gorilla island has lost all it's grass for some reason
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I feel like, most of this isn't really a update as it's just plants flowering and growing.
The mangrove tree one is a update I guess if it means that they are succeeding in growing out mangrove trees.
The grass at the gorillas possibly all died during the drought from past weeks
Yeah, plants just keep growing and flowering year round, especially in the ecodomes!
This year has been extremely sunny and dry by Dutch standards and as the plant growth in the ecodisplays are not rainfal limited (as opposed to the dried out grasses in the gorilla island), but sunlight limited, this year will have seen some impressive plant growth. You can still spot the basilisks though, but that is more easy anyways from the main path in my opinion.
Nice to see two new tanager species added. Paradise tanager had long been on my prediction/wish list for the Bush. I also had a tanager species on my prediction list for Mangrove, but I had the blue-grey tanager instead, which is a species that also occurs in Belize, which the bay-headed tanager does not. With bay-headed tanager (and the crested bobwhites earlier) they add a more generic C-American bird species, instead of a native Belizean species. Treating the Mangrove as Central American still makes enough sense from a biogeographical point of view and leaves quite a few more options open
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So, either someone from ZTL visited today and had a LOT of luck with both of these species. Or someone among us has an account. Either way, the Paradise tanagers are not signed and neither were seen
(edit: it's been changed so I know it's one 'a yas! Ahm watching you...)
Side note: someone mentioned the Speckled mousebirds being gone, but the signage is either still there or was returned, as the keeper mentioned that some of them were "rediscovered"
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The crowned pigeon chick has left the nest. It was visible with both parents in a tree near the former capybara beach. I also spotted a recently fledged Montserrat oriole and what looked like a painted bunting chick. No luck with the new tanagers yet, but I had company so had no time for loads of searching. I did spot 2 Allison's anoles near the butterfly ID sign in Mangrove again, they really are getting more easy to find.
With the updated signage in the Ocean, taxonomy was also updated. The single Himantura uarnak stingray in the tunnel tank has been re-identified as Himantura australis, a recently described species that is not yet listed on ZTL.
Unfortunately the zoo's last Lawrence goldfinch passed away. Signage was removed and this death was confirmed by a keeper. This means this species is now gone from European zoos. In 2013 Burgers' received 7 males from a confiscation, but never sourced extra animals. This means the last animals of this species reached a very high age.
Recent breeding success in the Desert is another clutch of northern cardinals. I also saw some begging behaviour of some red-rumped caciques, so this species might very well have bred too this year. Their nests are located above the manatee bridge.
Recent breeding success in the Desert is another clutch of northern cardinals. I also saw some begging behaviour of some red-rumped caciques, so this species might very well have bred too this year. Their nests are located above the manatee bridge.
Sad news indeed, their signage was already removed last week, but I failed to report it among the other news. Hopefully we'll get some new passerines in Desert at some point
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I intend to visit Burguers soon and after writing to the zoo's Facebook, they have confirmed that they do not have Dusky langur in the collection.
And a question. The old facility in the desert of the California bighorn sheep, is still currently empty?? Thanks.
And a question. The old facility in the desert of the California bighorn sheep, is still currently empty?? Thanks.
It's been completely rebuilt to house North American Porcupines and Black-tailed prairie dogs. Not the most exciting new species, but the enclosure certainly looks better than it did before!
are the caimans acctually back in the exhibit ?
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I really appreciate how Burgers' always tries to keep their signage up-to-date. That's not something every zoo/aquarium does.
The signage in the Oceanium in Rotterdam Zoo for example is very outdated in some places (North Sea, the mangrove tank, kelp forests...)
The signage in the Oceanium in Rotterdam Zoo for example is very outdated in some places (North Sea, the mangrove tank, kelp forests...)
Agreed, Burgers' Zoo certainly has a lot better signage than most zoos (something I especially noticed in Beauval). But I do think it could be better. There's still other areas in Bush without signage, like the Asian leaf turtles, Nile tilapia, Baringo yellowfish, Redtail catfish, and a few others. I'm very glad that they got new signage for the caiman creek, but mentioning the fish species in the other rivers would be nice
The Ocean is also pretty outdated and, for obvious reasons, doesn't even come close to mentioning all the species held. I visited La Rochelle this summer and saw that they had display screens where the signage would change every once in a while, it would be really awesome if BZ got something similar for ocean.
Please no, not those digital screens. I don't wanna have to stare at a screen for over a minute just to find out what species are in a tank one species at the time. It's one of the most annoying things ever.
Sea Life Centres also do this and I hate it, especially since even then the signage is still off a lot of the time.
Also, keeping aquarium signage 100% up-to-date is pretty much impossible, especially for a huge place like the Ocean.
Still think Burgers' does well here, compared to most other zoos
Sea Life Centres also do this and I hate it, especially since even then the signage is still off a lot of the time.
Also, keeping aquarium signage 100% up-to-date is pretty much impossible, especially for a huge place like the Ocean.
Still think Burgers' does well here, compared to most other zoos
Also screens can and regularly do malfunction, and probably even more so in hot and/or moist environments. This bothered me quite a bit in the aquarium and reptile house at Pairi Daiza recently.
Personally I think easily changeable signage, like something with stickers that can be relatively quickly made and changed, would be preferable for aquatic exhibits. They just have to find the right placement for these.