The direction change of collection is simply down to a change in zoo manager. One focused on keeping new species, developing husbandry and being involved in the wider zoo community and one more focused on the politics, health and safety and individual animals that he is interested in.
The zoo unfortunately is always going to be in a difficult situation. Can’t really say money is the issue as the zoo has received more money from the council in recent years than it has previously. But at times this has been misspent. Money to completely re fence the old lion enclosure to build a brand new enclosure a few years later. Boasting that its state of the art with it big massive windows but in reality it’s just slightly bigger and not really fit for purpose in the long run.
Areas that once housed black lion tamarins replaced by tacky dinosaurs. Alpaca, guinea pigs, emu and Bennett’s wallabies all species that your average farm park keeps, its personally not my taste but do the visitors notice I’m not sure!
Regarding the gorillas it’s hard to know. Gugas had previously been checked and his fertility had been put into question but all three females had concieved so it’s hard to know why it hasn’t happened again but then again the are complex and animals. I hadn’t realised Olivia was nearly three, so sad for all involved and especially Namoki.
