ZOO Antwerpen Zoo Antwerpen news 2023

[Perseus6]

Small update. They were working on the concession stand outside the great ape building. And they were working on the inside of the elephant enclosure welding more on top for safety reasons because Assam could reach over. Assam is adapting well to the start up of the training for the move this time. The crate was already placed.
Chita the central Chimpanzee is fertile some semen was collected that was discharged on the wall outside the enclosure. Still no pregnancies, the breeding recommendation is apparently due to rejuvenation in the group. Sadly didn't have time to see everything in my last few visits.

 

[Perseus6]

Small updates. Works finished in the Egyptian temple raising the bars of the elephant enclosure.
The tapirs are attempting to breed. The Dik dik died due to it being the first birth of the mother so the birth-channel was to narrow as in a lot of other mammals. I heard a rumor they're looking to place Wisker and Xesar in a bachelor group or create one containing them, no news on when or or where just a rumor. The gorilla group still doesn't have a leader, I observed Mambele interacting more with male visitors and lot's of posturing from both Amahoro and Mayani. I heard the process is slow but no intense fights have been had.

 

[Mr Gharial]

On Laafsekikkers (the Dutch-speaking zoo forum website) that the former Harbour seal enclosure in Vriesland has gotten new inhabitants: A group of large sturgeons! Netting is also being placed on top of the enclosure, so there's a large chance of seabirds or diving ducks like Eiders being added

 

[Iris]

You might be interested to hear of an earlier event in Matadi's life that was pretty traumatic for him too, though only in the short term I guess. At Twycross when his father Sekondi died, Matadi was still a juvenile around five or six years old, living in the group. They then brought in new silverback Oumbi from Port Lympne where he'd been a long term resident in one of the male groups. He was pretty confused and aggressive to start with and rough with the other group members. EEP advised them to leave Matadi with him though but Oumbi then attacked him and bit him badly, opening up a nasty long gash on his rump. (I'm sure he carried the scar on his skin till his death). Matadi was understandably then really frightened of Oumbie. So they removed him and placed him with his grandmother Biddy until he was transferred to Paignton's male group. There he appeared rather sullen and withdrawn but he was the only mother-raised gorilla among several handraised ones so was bound to show different behaviours. Just a bit of his earlier history for you.

Thanks for that bit of background info! Do you know of any plans to bring in a new Silverback or is it too soon?

 

[Perseus6]

Thanks for that bit of background info! Do you know of any plans to bring in a new Silverback or is it too soon?

Way to soon it will be a couple years. Right now you have Thandie and Vizazi who are 5 and 3 years old. Once they grow up and can be placed in a new group or stay in the group at the age of around 6-8 years old a silverback could join as to not risk infanticide.

 

[Mr Gharial]

On Laafsekikkers (the Dutch-speaking zoo forum website) that the former Harbour seal enclosure in Vriesland has gotten new inhabitants: A group of large sturgeons! Netting is also being placed on top of the enclosure, so there's a large chance of seabirds or diving ducks like Eiders being added

New signage has been added. The new species are:

Siberian sturgeon
Russian sturgeon
Beluga sturgeon (not held anywhere else in Belgium or the Netherlands) (at least, not in zoos)
Scaly-sided Merganser
European eider

 

[Perseus6]

So I guess to end the thread I'll post some pictures of my visit today of the newly refurbished old sea otter enclosure with educational displays. Part 1.

 

[Perseus6]

Last of the educational displays. Happy new year everyone! Part 2.