Seen without incident, November 1st.
Might as well be a unicorn if no one apparently sees them!
Marwell Wildlife Marwell Zoo news 2025
- Thread starter Nisha
- Start date
Seen without incident, November 1st.
Might as well be a unicorn if no one apparently sees them!
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
Arabian Oryx are out grazing and very visible although I think dillotest0’s photography skills trump mine 
Excellent, thankyou.
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
First visit to Marwell today was really good. This zoo is a must visit for anyone who has not yet yet been!
. I managed to see all of the birds in the tropical house, including Blue-grey Tanager and Purple Honeycreeper. They are no longer holding Turquoise Tanager.
. I was excited to see Texan Leafcutter Ants signed but unfortunately they were not showing.
. I also really enjoyed some of the creative cohabitations, specifically seeing Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana and Aquatic Caecilian!
. I managed to see all of the rarities mentioned by NMM aside from Lesser Kudu. Bad luck on those maybe?
. Thriving Through Nature is an exceptional exhibit, even though I only managed to see Sudan Plated Lizard, Spur-thighed Tortoise and Rock Hyrax (Leptein’s Spiny-tailed Lizard was semi-offshow in the “Reptile Science” building however)
. The Green Toad, Ocellated Skink and Egyptian Tortoise cohab was really cool and I wish more zoos would display Herps from this habitat type/region!
. A few Green Woodpeckers around the zoo were nice to see.
. I managed to see all of the birds in the tropical house, including Blue-grey Tanager and Purple Honeycreeper. They are no longer holding Turquoise Tanager.
. I was excited to see Texan Leafcutter Ants signed but unfortunately they were not showing.
. I also really enjoyed some of the creative cohabitations, specifically seeing Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana and Aquatic Caecilian!
. I managed to see all of the rarities mentioned by NMM aside from Lesser Kudu. Bad luck on those maybe?
. Thriving Through Nature is an exceptional exhibit, even though I only managed to see Sudan Plated Lizard, Spur-thighed Tortoise and Rock Hyrax (Leptein’s Spiny-tailed Lizard was semi-offshow in the “Reptile Science” building however)
. The Green Toad, Ocellated Skink and Egyptian Tortoise cohab was really cool and I wish more zoos would display Herps from this habitat type/region!
. A few Green Woodpeckers around the zoo were nice to see.
HelloCrossy67
Well-Known Member
I've not seen these in the last 4 years, so you just have the same luck as me haha. Glad you enjoyed your trip, it's nice to see perspectives from a non-regular!
Excellent news.
Regarding the kudu, I wonder if time of day makes a difference. I usually go round the zoo backwards to avoid crowds if it is busy. That means I see the kudu towards the end as I am gradually making my way towards the exit. I don't think they go far from their housing anyway as they are usually in that corner of the paddock.
Regarding the kudu, I wonder if time of day makes a difference. I usually go round the zoo backwards to avoid crowds if it is busy. That means I see the kudu towards the end as I am gradually making my way towards the exit. I don't think they go far from their housing anyway as they are usually in that corner of the paddock.
They do not like the cold, as regards Lesser Kudu, 1.2. non breeding all related I hope Marwell carry on with them but I have my doubts, likewise the Beisa Oryx who arrived from YWP over two years ago,at the time Marwell said they were looking at bringing females in but it has not happened and I do not think it will..
HelloCrossy67
Well-Known Member
Marwell was once famous for its antelope collection as was Whipsnade shame both have scaled back both collections
I went today as it was the first of the new talks for members they have introduced this year. It was about their conservation work for Grevy's zebra in Kenya. The talk lasted for just over an hour. What they do towards their in situ work is fantastic. There were things they do with working with local communities to aid conservation that I was not aware of before. I think they need to blow their own trumpet and do more to publicise what they do.
The talk was part of a zebra themed weekend (yesterday was international zebra day) and there were various zebra themed activities around the zoo.
Other notes
The talk was part of a zebra themed weekend (yesterday was international zebra day) and there were various zebra themed activities around the zoo.
Other notes
- It did seem busy today. Maybe we might see other themed weekends if it attracts visitors.
- The former enclosure next to where they are working on the crayfish exhibit is being brought back into use. This hasn't been used for some time but I remember it holding silvery marmosets and before that chipmunks. Lining for a pool is being installed and a lot of sand has been added. Maybe this is going to become the sand lizard exhibit.
- There has been a lot of progress with preparing half the yellow mongoose enclosure for the cusimanses.
- Work has also started on the current cusimanse enclosure and the top end of the binturongs. The cusimances are still here at the moment.
- It is funny how different parts of the zoo can be busy on different visits. I went to the okapi house twice and on both occasions it was very quiet despite the signs about the calf still being present. On the other hand both the tropical house and Cold Blooded Corner were very busy today.
- The sloth was very active in the tropical house today. He was also using the pipes at the top of the building to move around as opposed to the branches, which made him very visible.
- The clouded leopards had been given some cardboard boxes for enrichment.
Apologies I must have missed this. Where is the crayfish exhibit going?
Happy to hear about the redevelopment of the mongoose house to include cusimanse. I think ever since Cretney era development for just the yellow mongoose it has felt empty. And given how many species Life Among the Trees has it won't be much of a loss to that area.
Makes things a bit less sparse!
Makes things a bit less sparse!
A new infrastructure announcement from Marwell.
Introducing The Keeper's Kitchen - no zoo ticket needed! - Marwell Zoo
A new 100 seater venue; to act as a cafe, terrace, special events location, and a place to bring the dog [what is this, an American commercial?]; 'The Keeper's Kitchen', which can be attended free of charge, is to open at Marwell.
And where will this new venue open, might you ask?
...well... the venue is set to serve also as the new entrance of Marwell Zoo and will open close to where Penguin Cove is.
As a result, the original admissions buildings, largely unchanged since opening, will be demolished; and the entrance area will be redeveloped in the years to come; with landscaping, new admissions gates, and a community garden all in the plans.
This new venue will open in May.
I have little opinion of my own about this... other than it being a swath of difference from Cretney's idea of keeping every bush and plant at Marwell as part of the attraction; to be left undisturbed!
Introducing The Keeper's Kitchen - no zoo ticket needed! - Marwell Zoo
A new 100 seater venue; to act as a cafe, terrace, special events location, and a place to bring the dog [what is this, an American commercial?]; 'The Keeper's Kitchen', which can be attended free of charge, is to open at Marwell.
And where will this new venue open, might you ask?
...well... the venue is set to serve also as the new entrance of Marwell Zoo and will open close to where Penguin Cove is.
As a result, the original admissions buildings, largely unchanged since opening, will be demolished; and the entrance area will be redeveloped in the years to come; with landscaping, new admissions gates, and a community garden all in the plans.
This new venue will open in May.
I have little opinion of my own about this... other than it being a swath of difference from Cretney's idea of keeping every bush and plant at Marwell as part of the attraction; to be left undisturbed!
This is a really exciting update, I’ve always felt Marwell’s entrance was a bit naff as a first impression for visitors. The new entrance plaza will create a nice first impression and hopefully as you enter the zoo you will now be greeted by penguins and not a tarmac road past a disused pond enclosure.
Hopefully they don’t cover the new buildings in googly eyed animals that will soon get outdated as the collection changes, and go for a more natural/modern look.
Creating a space that can be accessed without a zoo ticket is a really good idea it reminds me of Jersey Zoos Cafe and charity shop or Yorkshire Wildlife parks craft village. Fantastic way to get more income from the locals especially if the cafe is open in the evening even after the zoo has closed for the day.
Hopefully they don’t cover the new buildings in googly eyed animals that will soon get outdated as the collection changes, and go for a more natural/modern look.
Creating a space that can be accessed without a zoo ticket is a really good idea it reminds me of Jersey Zoos Cafe and charity shop or Yorkshire Wildlife parks craft village. Fantastic way to get more income from the locals especially if the cafe is open in the evening even after the zoo has closed for the day.
I am really happy that this new big infrastructure project is now being communicated. Don't get me wrong I love(d) the place for its big exclosures and large mammal / hoofstock presentation (even if now very diminished to the Knowles era), but in the Cretney age it seemed that the idea of a state of the art wildlife park was generally lost.
Marwell Zoo needs to reconnect with its illustrious past and reputation for large hoofstock / mammal park and come into the 21st Century with new presentation and a more representative animal collection, presentation of its wide open spaces, nature areas and wonderful wild plant habitat ...
Allowed to Dream: A new herptile/iinsect house-expanding the domed Rainforest accomodation and other new themed zoogeographic areas - and a new entry complex with an inside as well as outside opening hours available entry area is just what Marwell Zoo needs! And the old entry complex was just beyond the pale naff....and fairly grim and unwelcoming for the avid zoo visitor.
Are the plans and landsgaping already online or available with local authorities!???
I think it is a good move. They do need to do something to give a better first impression to visitors. Also there is quite a lot of unused space at the entrance. After you have entered the zoo it is still 2 or 3 minutes walk until you get to the first exhibit (penguin cove).
The idea of being open to people not visiting the zoo did initially seem odd to me, but there are people who drive to garden centres just to go to the cafe, so maybe there is a market for such a thing. Some may then decide to go to the zoo anyway.
It says it is scheduled to open in May and that work starts on Monday. That is quite quick for a new building.
**Edit - I did try to see if I could find any plans but Winchester Council's planning portal is unavailable today for maintenance.
The idea of being open to people not visiting the zoo did initially seem odd to me, but there are people who drive to garden centres just to go to the cafe, so maybe there is a market for such a thing. Some may then decide to go to the zoo anyway.
It says it is scheduled to open in May and that work starts on Monday. That is quite quick for a new building.
**Edit - I did try to see if I could find any plans but Winchester Council's planning portal is unavailable today for maintenance.
I had a look to see what people were saying on social media. The main criticism was people preferring the money be spent new/improved exhibits instead. Several people were asking if it will still be possible to go round the zoo anti-clockwise to avoid the crowds (I do this).
Marwell have responded to them. They confirmed it will still be possible to go round anti-clockwise. More interestingly they said that "another animal habitat development" (their words) is planned for later in 2025.
When people are commenting about zoos, I find it funny when they refer to species the zoo has never held. One of those saying it would be better spent on new animals was complaining that they never replaced the gorillas when they left.
Marwell have responded to them. They confirmed it will still be possible to go round anti-clockwise. More interestingly they said that "another animal habitat development" (their words) is planned for later in 2025.
When people are commenting about zoos, I find it funny when they refer to species the zoo has never held. One of those saying it would be better spent on new animals was complaining that they never replaced the gorillas when they left.