great views of them when on the chairlift
Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter Benosaurus
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Unique views indeed and good but for longer watching or photography not as easy. Enclosures should be animal focused but something that stuck out a bit more could be a win win.
What other species would fit in that concrete sheep enclosure though?
No idea. However, it doesn't mean they won't ever start a new group in the future.
They probably won't do anything for a while. They've already said they're rotating the geladas across to where the macaques were (which they've done a few times before now) and are going to the leave the geladas' original enclosure empty for now to recover.
Although an increase in space of any quantity for any enclosure is technically an improvement, I think merging the Barbary sheep enclosure with the small space occupied by the Parma wallabies would be negligible. A far more impactful improvement would be to merge the enclosure with the space behind it, i.e. the space between the otters and the back of the Queen Mary restaurant; space that is usually wintered by the Cameroon sheep. The problem with that however would be the familiar issue of getting planning permission for installing the required new fencing (and perhaps toughened glass), since the Queen Mary restaurant is a listed Tecton.
Takin or Barbary sheep would look great in the large, banked enclosures either side of the chairlift. However, if they were to be rotated with the geladas then both enclosures on both sides of the chairlift would need to have large new housing and a new hardstanding area constructed. There would be the space to build this for the right-hand enclosure, on the site of the fairground, but definitely not on the left-hand side. The new housing/stabling would need to be extremely multipurpose to be able to adapt to accommodating both primates and ungulates at different times. Also, you'd have to have a way of transferring the herd across from one side to the other. In addition, the whole point of rotating the geladas from one side to the other is to give the grass in the enclosure they were in a chance to recover, so swapping them with animals that will do just as much damage by grazing on it defeats the whole object.
It's a nice idea but I think realistically the zoo would just be making life difficult for themselves.
Whatever species the zoo brings in to rotate between the two enclosures with the geladas needs to one that is mostly terrestrial, can cope with the steep terrain and exposed hillside, suits the existing housing and fencing, and won't damage the grass.
In a way it's a pity that the zoo also has the bachelor group of geladas, otherwise they might be able to rotate the large breeding group of geladas around 3 different high-quality enclosures, which would be ideal.
Anyway, a wishlist/ideas for the future thread, which was made for lengthy discussions of this nature, can be found here.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
All seems unlikely as you say but the sheep would probably still benefit from a bigger space so hopefully that’s in a plan somewhere.
I thought the bachelor Geladas were sent to somewhere in Europe? Have they started a new one since then?
A four-year-old female cotton-top tamarin has joined DZC from Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park. She has been paired with Dudley's resident thirteen-year-old male as part of the breeding programme.
Dudley Zoo - Meet Ruby, our new Cotton-top tamarin – she’s... | Facebook
Dudley Zoo - Meet Ruby, our new Cotton-top tamarin – she’s... | Facebook
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Put in the gallery progress photos of the giraffe enclosure updates.
The house is reopened with the previous raised flooring gone and fencing halving the previous viewing area length.
Something I didn’t realise was happening is a nice new viewing area into the new part. It looks nice.
Presumably once the fences are up they’ll open the wall on that side, a large door for the giraffes to go through, and an opening on the visitor side for the new viewing room.
The house is reopened with the previous raised flooring gone and fencing halving the previous viewing area length.
Something I didn’t realise was happening is a nice new viewing area into the new part. It looks nice.
Presumably once the fences are up they’ll open the wall on that side, a large door for the giraffes to go through, and an opening on the visitor side for the new viewing room.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Had a lovely day out at Dudley today. The weather was perfect for walking around from opening to closing time and lots of the animals were out and about. Not too many visitors though.
I enjoyed the new snowy owl aviary which had good viewing and a nice modern look. The aviaries opposite the sloths were closed with signs saying they were being refurbished - one looks very near completion. Lots of smartening up.
The Parma wallabies were signed as off show and their enclosure marked as under refurbishment with a lot of the fencing down and work going on. That seems like good news for that plain old space.
There was a sign on the tiger enclosure to say one of the animals was under Veterinary care but nothing specific about which one or for what. They were both out and active.
The lions were also out lounging in the sun which was nice to see as I missed seeing them on my first visit.
Much enjoyed the ruffled lemurs in the walkthrough again - so great to be able to get so close to that species and their walkthrough is very enjoyable. Worth the trip by itself.
Helga the wolverine spent the whole time I was there asleep in a patch of sun - can’t blame her. The arctic fox coat is really turning now, such a good looking animal.
A complete numpty of a visitor was throwing food into the orang enclosure but the positive was the number of people who went to find zoo staff to report it to and who asked him to stop. Good to see the sensible people who care outweigh the idiot. No harm done fortunately. The three orangoutangs were in the new enclosure with the separate male in the house. All three were making good use of the climbing frames with Jazz taking both babies up to the top platform and sitting in the sun. Nice to see.
The cotton tops looked very happy together. The Pygmy marmosets were in and out of their house - does any other collection have quite so many? Counted 9 and haven’t really seen such a big group of the tiny things before.
The snow leopards were having a dramatic falling out through the fence (much hissing) which provided some late excitement for the visitors still there as it got towards closing.
Overall a really good day out.
I enjoyed the new snowy owl aviary which had good viewing and a nice modern look. The aviaries opposite the sloths were closed with signs saying they were being refurbished - one looks very near completion. Lots of smartening up.
The Parma wallabies were signed as off show and their enclosure marked as under refurbishment with a lot of the fencing down and work going on. That seems like good news for that plain old space.
There was a sign on the tiger enclosure to say one of the animals was under Veterinary care but nothing specific about which one or for what. They were both out and active.
The lions were also out lounging in the sun which was nice to see as I missed seeing them on my first visit.
Much enjoyed the ruffled lemurs in the walkthrough again - so great to be able to get so close to that species and their walkthrough is very enjoyable. Worth the trip by itself.
Helga the wolverine spent the whole time I was there asleep in a patch of sun - can’t blame her. The arctic fox coat is really turning now, such a good looking animal.
A complete numpty of a visitor was throwing food into the orang enclosure but the positive was the number of people who went to find zoo staff to report it to and who asked him to stop. Good to see the sensible people who care outweigh the idiot. No harm done fortunately. The three orangoutangs were in the new enclosure with the separate male in the house. All three were making good use of the climbing frames with Jazz taking both babies up to the top platform and sitting in the sun. Nice to see.
The cotton tops looked very happy together. The Pygmy marmosets were in and out of their house - does any other collection have quite so many? Counted 9 and haven’t really seen such a big group of the tiny things before.
The snow leopards were having a dramatic falling out through the fence (much hissing) which provided some late excitement for the visitors still there as it got towards closing.
Overall a really good day out.
You saw 9 but I bet there were a lot more there (if you stand close to the glass and look up you normally see quite a few of them sitting on the inner window frame peering back down at you). In May last year the zoo mentioned that they had 16.
Dudley Zoo News 2021 [Dudley Zoological Gardens]
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Loads! They all seemed to be having a great time. Haven’t seen so many and missed nearly half of them!
They've been really successful with them.
Sadly, the zoo's breeding female, called Pam, passed away in September/October last year. However, in the 8 years since her arrival to Dudley in 2013, she and the breeding male, called Hendrix, produced a total of 28 offspring! Many of these offspring have gone on to establish new groups across the UK.
Dudley Zoo News 2021 [Dudley Zoological Gardens]
Had a super day at Dudley yesterday in lovely autumnal sunshine. The Zoo was very quiet - a few families with very young children but no school parties.
The new aviary for the snowy owl and the aviaries under construction by the Barbary sheep were very impressive - taller, more spacious and plenty of perching posts and branches.
Helga the wolverine was asleep in the sun but obligingly got up, stretched and walked around before going back to sleep. Had my first view of the Arctic fox - such a pretty animal. Both tigers were together - they both looked fine although one was eating a lot of grass. Only saw one snow leopard on one of the high platforms.
Work is progressing at the back of the giraffe house - the giraffes were totally unconcerned by all the construction noise.
Palm civet and binturong family were all fast asleep, as were the sloths, (as usual!) but did see the 'baby' anteater which is now only a few inches shorter than the adult. Saw quite a few mara but no capybara.
Refurbishment of the Parma wallaby enclosure next to the Barbary sheep is still ongoing - the house is virtually demolished. I remember when it used to house Arabian gazelles many years ago and it has been looking shabby for a while now.
Saw 3 penguins in the water - lovely to see them swimming about but sad that there are so few now. Only saw one female sealion.
Nice to see the orang outdoor enclosure fully open but didn't see Jazz or the babies. The yellow breasted capuchins were very active.
Quite a few notices around identifying that animals were under veterinary care although no additional information about which specific animal or why.
I asked one of the keepers about plans to bring back brown bears. It is still the intention although there is no timescale at the moment.
The new aviary for the snowy owl and the aviaries under construction by the Barbary sheep were very impressive - taller, more spacious and plenty of perching posts and branches.
Helga the wolverine was asleep in the sun but obligingly got up, stretched and walked around before going back to sleep. Had my first view of the Arctic fox - such a pretty animal. Both tigers were together - they both looked fine although one was eating a lot of grass. Only saw one snow leopard on one of the high platforms.
Work is progressing at the back of the giraffe house - the giraffes were totally unconcerned by all the construction noise.
Palm civet and binturong family were all fast asleep, as were the sloths, (as usual!) but did see the 'baby' anteater which is now only a few inches shorter than the adult. Saw quite a few mara but no capybara.
Refurbishment of the Parma wallaby enclosure next to the Barbary sheep is still ongoing - the house is virtually demolished. I remember when it used to house Arabian gazelles many years ago and it has been looking shabby for a while now.
Saw 3 penguins in the water - lovely to see them swimming about but sad that there are so few now. Only saw one female sealion.
Nice to see the orang outdoor enclosure fully open but didn't see Jazz or the babies. The yellow breasted capuchins were very active.
Quite a few notices around identifying that animals were under veterinary care although no additional information about which specific animal or why.
I asked one of the keepers about plans to bring back brown bears. It is still the intention although there is no timescale at the moment.
Impressive steel sculpture to be installed at Dudley Zoo highlighting plight of orangutans | Express & Star (expressandstar.com)
"The piece, which has taken around six months to make, features around 100 steel poles of which 97 are cut to knee-height to represent deforestation.
And at the heart of the work is a female Bornean orangutan who is clinging on to two of the remaining poles, trying to reach out to her young child.
The young orangutan is situated on the third pole but is just out of reach to his mother – an emotional message to hammer home the plights they face."
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"The key point we're working on is that 97 per cent of orangutans' habitat has been lost, leaving only three per cent left. I wanted to do 100 poles, 97 of which are cut at around knee-height to resemble a forest to show that.
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"The piece, which will likely be installed later this year, will be installed around the new orangutan enclosure..."
"The piece, which has taken around six months to make, features around 100 steel poles of which 97 are cut to knee-height to represent deforestation.
And at the heart of the work is a female Bornean orangutan who is clinging on to two of the remaining poles, trying to reach out to her young child.
The young orangutan is situated on the third pole but is just out of reach to his mother – an emotional message to hammer home the plights they face."
-
"The key point we're working on is that 97 per cent of orangutans' habitat has been lost, leaving only three per cent left. I wanted to do 100 poles, 97 of which are cut at around knee-height to resemble a forest to show that.
-
"The piece, which will likely be installed later this year, will be installed around the new orangutan enclosure..."
@Lafone @Angel just a quick question. Exactly which of the aviaries did you see under construction/refurbishment on your recent visits?
In reference to the photo below (taken a few months ago in July), was it the aviaries on the far left (seen under construction at the time, next to the purple barrier), the aviaries in the middle (by the orange barrier), or the large aviary on the right? Thanks in advance.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
@Lafone @Angel just a quick question. Exactly which of the aviaries did you see under construction/refurbishment on your recent visits?
In reference to the photo below (taken a few months ago in July), was it the aviaries on the far left (seen under construction at the time, next to the purple barrier), the aviaries in the middle (by the orange barrier), or the large aviary on the right? Thanks in advance.
All of them were empty and construction was underway on the middle one (so what was the orange barrier in that pic) - I took a picture of the sign.
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The aviary on the right was occupied (Waldrapp Ibis and a species of crane from memory). They were working on the middle one which has been increased in height. The one on the left appeared pretty well complete.