Although I think the elephants moving on is the best decision for their welfare I do feel sorry for the staff who have cared for these animals so well over the years. I’m not sure I would say it’s a case of Belfast City Council not having the money to develop the enclosure further but perhaps they don’t feel like it’s a worth while investment as they seem to find funding for all manner of projects across the city.
The decline of Belfasts collection is something I’m surprised goes by so unmentioned at times. In recent years Sumatran tiger, striped hyena, white nosed nosed coati, Temminks golden cat, crowned sifaka, red howler, bearded saki, black lion tamarin, lion tailed macaques, red river hog, Malayan tapir and countless bird species have all left. New additions - Scottish wild cat, alpaca and guinea pigs.
In the meantime large somes of money have been seen developing and ‘improving’ the zoo! Which in most cases has been replacing old fences with new ones and replacing netted enclosures with ugly metal cages. Many thousands spent on the old lion enclosure for new fencing with what must be the world’s only double sided overhang enclosure to now house a single capybara. New developments have included a new lion ‘kingdom’ with some very impressive and expensive glass windows and a replicated habitat with a a large slab of concrete and questionable mural.
Cheetah lookout was specially designed for their captive needs and husbandry but they forgot for the past year it was being advertised for wolves until they realised they would probably dig out.
And areas that’s once held animals have been changed into picnic areas, plastic dinosaurs, left empty and in some cases large areas like the lower avenues have been closed off to public access and left barren just like the previous old zoo site.
I had always hoped that the council would realise they don’t have what it takes to manage a zoo and would allow it to be privatised by some company that has knowledge and experience in the modern zoo world but I now fear of it does happen it will be sold to a local company with little experience just interest in trying to make a few pounds.
I hope I am wrong and the Belfast once again finds its feet and evolves into something special once again!
The decline of Belfasts collection is something I’m surprised goes by so unmentioned at times. In recent years Sumatran tiger, striped hyena, white nosed nosed coati, Temminks golden cat, crowned sifaka, red howler, bearded saki, black lion tamarin, lion tailed macaques, red river hog, Malayan tapir and countless bird species have all left. New additions - Scottish wild cat, alpaca and guinea pigs.
In the meantime large somes of money have been seen developing and ‘improving’ the zoo! Which in most cases has been replacing old fences with new ones and replacing netted enclosures with ugly metal cages. Many thousands spent on the old lion enclosure for new fencing with what must be the world’s only double sided overhang enclosure to now house a single capybara. New developments have included a new lion ‘kingdom’ with some very impressive and expensive glass windows and a replicated habitat with a a large slab of concrete and questionable mural.
Cheetah lookout was specially designed for their captive needs and husbandry but they forgot for the past year it was being advertised for wolves until they realised they would probably dig out.
And areas that’s once held animals have been changed into picnic areas, plastic dinosaurs, left empty and in some cases large areas like the lower avenues have been closed off to public access and left barren just like the previous old zoo site.
I had always hoped that the council would realise they don’t have what it takes to manage a zoo and would allow it to be privatised by some company that has knowledge and experience in the modern zoo world but I now fear of it does happen it will be sold to a local company with little experience just interest in trying to make a few pounds.
I hope I am wrong and the Belfast once again finds its feet and evolves into something special once again!
