Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoo news 2025

pendraig_milnerae

pendraig_milnerae

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Dudley Zoo has officially confirmed that the new enclosure they’re building on the site of the old reindeer and peccary paddocks will be for painted dogs (Lycoan pictus). This was on a social media post about an award of £1,000 received from a benefactor group being put towards the completion of the new enclosure.

https://www.instagram.com/dudley.zoo?igsh=MWIwOGUzcTUza3ljdw==
 
pendraig_milnerae said:
Dudley Zoo has officially confirmed that the new enclosure they’re building on the site of the old reindeer and peccary paddocks will be for painted dogs (Lycoan pictus). This was on a social media post about an award of £1,000 received from a benefactor group being put towards the completion of the new enclosure.

https://www.instagram.com/dudley.zoo?igsh=MWIwOGUzcTUza3ljdw==
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Including a photo of the exterior of the new enclosure...

benefact-painted-dogs-1200x675.jpg
 
polarbear said:
I thought I’d read on here that the plan was to go out of giraffe at some point so unlikely that they’d extend the herd?
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As sad as that would be to see the Giraffes go... I think I would have had the fencing modified and the stalls split into two so they could house Black rhinoceros in there.

Probably won't be the case but that's just my personal take.
What else could really go in that enclosure?
 
polarbear said:
I thought I’d read on here that the plan was to go out of giraffe at some point so unlikely that they’d extend the herd?
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One of my earliest memories at the zoo is seeing Kira as a newborn, why are they ending the program? They recently extended their paddock
 
Orca obsessed said:
One of my earliest memories at the zoo is seeing Kira as a newborn, why are they ending the program? They recently extended their paddock
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We don't know for sure if they are going out of Giraffes... but the enclosure isn't big enough to support a breeding herd. Maybe a pair, but no more than that.

I always thought the Giraffes could go where the Chimpanzees are, but they've recently had new climbing frames installed so I can't see that happening at the moment.
 
Animallover1998 said:
We don't know for sure if they are going out of Giraffes... but the enclosure isn't big enough to support a breeding herd. Maybe a pair, but no more than that.

I always thought the Giraffes could go where the Chimpanzees are, but they've recently had new climbing frames installed so I can't see that happening at the moment.
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Couldn’t they extend the paddock into the forest? That would double the size!
 
Animallover1998 said:
As sad as that would be to see the Giraffes go... I think I would have had the fencing modified and the stalls split into two so they could house Black rhinoceros in there.

Probably won't be the case but that's just my personal take.
What else could really go in that enclosure?
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I would think almost any hoof stock could go in there as tends to be the case as a collection goes out of giraffes, Twycross went to zebra, Chester currently have camels in there old house. If fact they might well move there heard over there to allow development on that side of the zoo
 
J C said:
I would think almost any hoof stock could go in there as tends to be the case as a collection goes out of giraffes, Twycross went to zebra, Chester currently have camels in there old house. If fact they might well move there heard over there to allow development on that side of the zoo
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You know, it wouldn't surprise me if that were to be the case. Their camel enclosure is already very small.

The only other animals I could see moving in there (if the camels moved up) would be the tapirs. Unless they bring in donkeys or alpaca as it is closer to the farm area.
 
J C said:
I would think almost any hoof stock could go in there
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Way back in the day I remember seeing a small number, (2 or 3) of zebra actually mixed in with the giraffes. I don't think it became a "zebra exhibit" as such, more an overspill from the main herd in the "paddock range soon to be Wild Dog enclosure" between the chairlift and what was then the ape, (now orangutan), house. Perhaps the individuals involved were a few colts getting big enough to fall foul of the breeding stallion?

There was still, the last time I went, a "shed" in the original giraffe paddock, up against the main house, that was used as the stabling for the smaller species. (I think there may have been some kind of antelope in there at some point, as well, not at the same time as the zebra).
 
GreatApe said:
Way back in the day I remember seeing a small number, (2 or 3) of zebra actually mixed in with the giraffes. I don't think it became a "zebra exhibit" as such, more an overspill from the main herd in the "paddock range soon to be Wild Dog enclosure" between the chairlift and what was then the ape, (now orangutan), house. Perhaps the individuals involved were a few colts getting big enough to fall foul of the breeding stallion?

There was still, the last time I went, a "shed" in the original giraffe paddock, up against the main house, that was used as the stabling for the smaller species. (I think there may have been some kind of antelope in there at some point, as well, not at the same time as the zebra).
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I can't remember if I ever saw them as a child, but Dudley did use to keep Arabian gazelles in with the giraffes at one point. Even now I often thought they could add Blesbok to the area since they seem to be mixed with giraffes at other zoos.
 
Animallover1998 said:
You know, it wouldn't surprise me if that were to be the case. Their camel enclosure is already very small.

The only other animals I could see moving in there (if the camels moved up) would be the tapirs. Unless they bring in donkeys or alpaca as it is closer to the farm area.
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If the camels did move up there, I could see the farm area going as well I’m not sure how popular it is as I only tend to go in the winter and early spring when it is pretty desolate. However farm areas in major zoos seam to be disappearing probably due to the increasing number of actual farm parks and smaller collections doing a good job at catering for them. The main building there could be retained as housing for most hoof stock and use the farm yard area and the camels current paddock as one large paddock or two separate enclosures with shared housing depending on the species
 
Sorry, but where is the evidence that the zoo plans to go out of giraffe, because I've seen nothing?

Nonetheless, I wouldn't be against the idea. Even after recently extending the outdoor space to its maximum potential, it's still one of the smallest giraffe exhibits in the UK and therefore not future-proof. In addition, I think the individuals they have left are hybrids and the house could do with being replaced/ heavily refurbished in the coming years.

Some other thoughts...
  • The space is too small for rhino or zebra etc..
  • The camels are fine where they are (although their enclosure could do with being extended further into the old children's playground).
  • Ungulate-wise, I think something like okapi would suit the giraffe enclosure (once modified to meet their needs of course). I was also going to suggest pygmy hippo, but I think they'd work better in the sea lion enclosure after they are eventually phased out, with two large ready-made pools.
  • It would also be nice to see the giraffe space turned into a purpose-built tiger exhibit, with housing in the middle and two separate outdoor areas.
  • The chimpanzee outdoor area is one of the best in the country. It is also arguably the zoo's best / most impressive exhibit. Changing it would be an extremely bad idea.
  • I agree that the farmyard is a waste of space (as they are in every zoo). If bears ever return to the bear ravine in the far future, then I think the space occupied by the farmyard should be utilised for a large indoor area and linked to the bear ravine under the visitor path.
 
Benosaurus said:
Sorry, but where is the evidence that the zoo plans to go out of giraffe, because I've seen nothing?

Nonetheless, I wouldn't be against the idea. Even after recently extending the outdoor space to its maximum potential, it's still one of the smallest giraffe exhibits in the UK and therefore not future-proof. In addition, I think the individuals they have left are hybrids and the house could do with being replaced/ heavily refurbished in the coming years.

Some other thoughts...
  • The space is too small for rhino or zebra etc..
  • The camels are fine where they are (although their enclosure could do with being extended further into the old children's playground).
  • Ungulate-wise, I think something like okapi would suit the giraffe enclosure (once modified to meet their needs of course). I was also going to suggest pygmy hippo, but I think they'd work better in the sea lion enclosure after they are eventually phased out, with two large ready-made pools.
  • It would also be nice to see the giraffe space turned into a purpose-built tiger exhibit, with housing in the middle and two separate outdoor areas.
  • The chimpanzee outdoor area is one of the best in the country. It is also arguably the zoo's best / most impressive exhibit. Changing it would be an extremely bad idea.
  • I agree that the farmyard is a waste of space (as they are in every zoo). If bears ever return to the bear ravine in the far future, then I think the space occupied by the farmyard should be utilised for a large indoor area and linked to the bear ravine under the visitor path.
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As far as giraffe is concerned Dudley Zoo never changed over completely to pure-bred giraffe when they had the chance and then proceeded breeding from hybrid giraffe - thus perpetuating the hybrid - no conservation value - issue with giraffe in the UK and Europe (to a lesser degree).

The current exhibit is hardly future proof ..., really too tiny and small by any modern standards. Giraffe and African savannah hoofstock need a flat area of some expanse and the only space that would suit fine is the current chimpanzee area and part parking lot.....! Now, I suppose Dudley Zoo management is not looking to do this and hence giraffe are on the way out (whether you or any regulars like it or not ...)!
 
Animallover1998 said:
I can't remember if I ever saw them as a child, but Dudley did use to keep Arabian gazelles in with the giraffes at one point. Even now I often thought they could add Blesbok to the area since they seem to be mixed with giraffes at other zoos.
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When did you see Arabian Gazelle in with Giraffes? I was at Dudley during the early 1990s and the Gazelle were still in their old enclosure, next to the Barbary sheep. Just after this time the two remaining Gazelle died out.I do remember two Zebra in with the Giraffes before they were moved to where the hunting dogs are going now.
 
Strathmorezoo said:
When did you see Arabian Gazelle in with Giraffes? I was at Dudley during the early 1990s and the Gazelle were still in their old enclosure, next to the Barbary sheep. Just after this time the two remaining Gazelle died out.I do remember two Zebra in with the Giraffes before they were moved to where the hunting dogs are going now.
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It was later in the 1990s - e.g. Giraffe and Arabian Gazelle 5th April 1998 - ZooChat :)

Note the specifically gazelle-sized door added to the stable in the paddock, which can be seen more clearly in this later photo: Giraffe exhibit at Dudley, 02/11/13 - ZooChat
 
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