How come that gelada have not done well here? @Charles signalled they may go for mandril ..., any truth and validity to that speculative assertion?
Bristol Zoo Project Bristol zoo project news 2024
- Thread starter Charles
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
They are a group of non breeding animals who are related and some were older. When you say ‘not done well here’ depends on the definition of well I suppose.
This study conducted on the group in 2022 gives their names, ages origins etc as well as interesting data on their activity in the study period.
https://www.jzar.org/jzar/article/download/580/424
This study conducted on the group in 2022 gives their names, ages origins etc as well as interesting data on their activity in the study period.
https://www.jzar.org/jzar/article/download/580/424
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
I believe the geladas here have always been in a bachelor setting, perhaps old age is the reason. Their is certainly validity to the potential of mandrill coming to BZP- Bristol have stated multiple times that they are a planned addition along with okapi to the central African forest area in its' second stage of development if I recall correctly.
This is a map of the original park plan:
https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/hollywood-towers.3721/full
Geldas are/were indeed a bachelor group, I think initially there were 4 (I haven't had time to read the PDF yet) and yes, they have probably reduced due to age-related deaths. I couldn't quite understand why Wild Place have continued with bachelor Geladas while the Zoo site got rid of their breeding Drills before it closed- they would have been a valuable addition at the new Zoo- more endangered though not as showy as Mandrills.
Are they still going to aim for this in the distant future? I see that the Congo forest is going to be built in the same area specified on that map, as is bear wood on the ancient british forest. I dearly hope so because Central American swamp and british wetlands sound exciting, as does Nepal riverine forest!
Are they still going to aim for this in the distant future? I see that the Congo forest is going to be built in the same area specified on that map, as is bear wood on the ancient british forest. I dearly hope so because Central American swamp and british wetlands sound exciting, as does Nepal riverine forest!
Unfortunately, I think quite a bit of the old plan has now been scrapped. Certainly the Costa Rica swamp house and the Comoros reef and rainforest house are no longer going to happen.
It’s a shame. The old plan was ambitious but certainly welcome, we could do with another Zoo in Britain that ‘competes’ with Chester.
The Costa Rica swamp house was heavily rumoured to contain manatees. Depressingly I’ve given up hope of that species ever being held in Britain
The Costa Rica swamp house was heavily rumoured to contain manatees. Depressingly I’ve given up hope of that species ever being held in Britain
Paignton have aspirations that may make your wish come true?It’s a shame. The old plan was ambitious but certainly welcome, we could do with another Zoo in Britain that ‘competes’ with Chester.
The Costa Rica swamp house was heavily rumoured to contain manatees. Depressingly I’ve given up hope of that species ever being held in Britain
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
For manatees? Are these plans confirmed or just rumours, as manatees in the UK has been a dream of mine for quite some time as well!
No, not for Manatees, sorry, just to have new indoor spaces that may rival Chester one day?
I agree!
Even the buildings and new exhibits they do have planned are going to take some long time to come to fruition. But overall despite the size of the estate, I don't think the 'zoo project' will be on a scale to ever rival Chester, but there's always room for manoevre.
As someone with childhood memories of London Zoo’s last manatees, the return of manatees to the UK has long been a dream of mine too. Unfortunately it seems extremely unlikey.....
I clearly remember them at London too. I saw one at Artis some years ago. And Dugongs from a plane over the Australian coast... I'd love to see them in UK again too but like you think its never going to happen.
IMO the only 'World class' zoo in the UK is Chester. London (or London + Whipsnade combined) used to be and still teeters on the edge rather, while Colchester also has a fine collection but somehow doesn't rank there either.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Ah, sorry for the confusion, that makes sense, although (having not seen the plans that you refer to) I cannot help but doubt that Paignton will ever be comparable to Chester again.
The fact that manatees have been becoming more common on the continent, even at zoos that are considerably smaller in both footprint and budget than some of the top British zoos (such as Randers, Faunia or Vincennes) only makes the lack of manatees in the country more painful, but I too cannot imagine this changing any time soon.
Maybe the best chance of manatees returning to UK would be one of those surprisingly good private places that pop up? I’m thinking the likes of Johnson’s of Old Hurst, or Crocodiles of the World