Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoo news 2025

Maguari said:
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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Thanks for this, every days a school day. Do you know where the Arabian Gazelle came from? only when the two that I knew,were getting old, I was told by the Head keeper that the chances of getting anymore were remote
 
Strathmorezoo said:
Thanks for this, every days a school day. Do you know where the Arabian Gazelle came from? only when the two that I knew,were getting old, I was told by the Head keeper that the chances of getting anymore were remote
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Not sure off the top of my head where the original source was - they were at quite a few places in the UK at various times around that period (including Chester, Blackpool, Marwell, London, and Bristol among others) but finally dwindled and the last animal died at Blackpool the same year I took this photo: Europe's Last Arabian (Mountain) Gazelle at Blackpool, 25/07/15 - ZooChat
 
Maguari said:
Not sure off the top of my head where the original source was - they were at quite a few places in the UK at various times around that period (including Chester, Blackpool, Marwell, London, and Bristol among others) but finally dwindled and the last animal died at Blackpool the same year I took this photo: Europe's Last Arabian (Mountain) Gazelle at Blackpool, 25/07/15 - ZooChat
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I still can't believe that I have no recollection of Arabian Gazelle being in with the Giraffes. I do know that Dudley were stud book holders for Arabian Gazelle unfortunately long ago archived
 
Maguari said:
Not sure off the top of my head where the original source was - they were at quite a few places in the UK at various times around that period (including Chester, Blackpool, Marwell, London, and Bristol among others) but finally dwindled and the last animal died at Blackpool the same year I took this photo: Europe's Last Arabian (Mountain) Gazelle at Blackpool, 25/07/15 - ZooChat
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All correct...., the real shoot in the foot was that the species was managed to extinction while the individuals of this mountain gazelle species ALL originated from Yemen and were - when BIAZA species management had already packed it in - later confirmed to be valid and pure-bred and with their founders having been imported in at least 2 separate lineages from Yemen. As a ASG specialist (IUCN) ...., even today ... and even owning personal copies of the studbook print outs for the species ... I find their eventual - managed - demise in the UK/GB very hard to comprehend or digest.
 
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Orca obsessed said:
He was very sick when I saw him not moving much and staying in the same spot, his fur was very matted and his tongue was out like he was hyperventilating. Still say news, wonder if they’ll get a new male?
Obo the sea lion is sick

Obo the sea lion is sick

OBO the male sealion who lives at Dudley zoo is sick. I’m not sure what it is but he had scruffy...
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How many females are there and do you know how old they are ? Could this be the beginning of the end for sealions at Dudley. I can remember Boris another male being euthanised about 1992 and attending his PM,he had peritonitis. It was very interesting.
 
Strathmorezoo said:
How many females are there and do you know how old they are ? Could this be the beginning of the end for sealions at Dudley. I can remember Boris another male being euthanised about 1992 and attending his PM,he had peritonitis. It was very interesting.
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This is the beginning of the end for sealions at Dudley; the zoo has said that they are going out of them once all current animals have passed away.

From a visit last year, I think there’s now just one female left?
 
polarbear said:
This is the beginning of the end for sealions at Dudley; the zoo has said that they are going out of them once all current animals have passed away.

From a visit last year, I think there’s now just one female left?
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That's not a complete surprise, if I'm honest, a shame non the less. I suppose the next question, what would they replace them with
 
That's sad news and must be hard for the keepers after all this time. An unusual animal to see here in the UK, glad to have had the opportunity.

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Bit of a sad sealion / end of an era moment this week for these big males in UK collections, with ex Whipsnade Dominic the Californian Sealion dying at YWP and now Oba.
 

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Visited Dudley today. Lovely bright sunny cloudless day only updates are that the African painted do g enclosure is coming along nicley I could notice that there was a little theming mainly the mud walls a litle African styled hut veiwing are a little pool and a termite mound. Other updates I saw are the new play area in the former wallaby walkthrough looks better than I was expecting and Oba's enclosure was empty for obvious reasons:(.
 
Forgot to mention that the lorikeet walkthrough was closed due to maintenance and I can't remember if Castle creatures had ambient sounds or if it's new. Another thing is that the first bat enclosure that you see was empty but the second one was full of them and quick question does anyone know if Dudley even still house Seba's short tailed fruit bat or did they die off?
 
Hi everyone,

I am a Canadian and looking to visit a few Zoos in the UK in 2026, and Dudley Zoo is one of the ones I'm looking to visit.
The main draw to Dudley for me is the Bush Dogs, so I was wondering if anyone has seen them with the pups recently? How is the habitat for viewing?
I guess I'd also like to know which animals are the hardest to spot at the Zoo, and any tips and tricks for the Zoo in general.

Thanks in advance!
 
LTigert said:
Hi everyone,

I am a Canadian and looking to visit a few Zoos in the UK in 2026, and Dudley Zoo is one of the ones I'm looking to visit.
The main draw to Dudley for me is the Bush Dogs, so I was wondering if anyone has seen them with the pups recently? How is the habitat for viewing?
I guess I'd also like to know which animals are the hardest to spot at the Zoo, and any tips and tricks for the Zoo in general.

Thanks in advance!
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Hi LTigert,

The bush dogs and their pups are usually pretty easy to spot as they’re generally quite active. The house has indoor viewing, but as the days are getting warmer you should be able to see them outside. Likewise, the outdoor enclosure has a number of viewing windows surrounding it, including the world’s only underwater viewing window for bush dogs.

As for the zoo more generally, I’d recommend heading left up towards the castle when you arrive (unless the chair lift is operational) as there’s more to see that way and it’s a more gentle slope up to the top. Likewise, the area to the right of the entrance is often good to come to later in the day as it’s usually pretty quiet by then. The whole layout is essentially a few connected loops so it’s pretty easy to navigate.

The hardest animal to spot is probably the Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) that cohabitates with the Binturong, I’ve been going for years and never seen it. Aside from that, everything is pretty viewable. Hope this helps!
 
A pair of wolverine kits have been born to Helga and Floki, the first in the zoo’s history. They’re around 4 weeks old and have just started going outside.

Dudley Zoo & Castle on Instagram: "Today’s sunshine has brought out our two little secrets – a pair of baby wolverines! The adorable kits are the first offspring of mum, Helga and dad, Floki, but they’re also the first wolverines to be born here in DZC’s history. The babies arrived on February 20 and have been hidden away with mum in an off-show den, but now aged four-weeks, Helga has been spotted carrying them outside. Carnivore Section Leader, Sam Grove, said: “Helga is being a fantastic first-time mum and the kits appear to be thriving. “Over the last few days, she has seemed keen to move them and it was wonderful to see her appear outside in their paddock to show them both off this morning, with dad observing from afar. “It is very exciting news for us and incredible news for the species.” Although not currently an endangered species, the number of wolverines found in the wild is declining, so breeding programmes like the European Endangered Species Programme six-year-old Helga and three-year-old Floki are paired for, continue to be significant to their survival. See more adorable photographs on our website."
 
pendraig_milnerae said:
A pair of wolverine kits have been born to Helga and Floki, the first in the zoo’s history. They’re around 4 weeks old and have just started going outside.

Dudley Zoo & Castle on Instagram: "Today’s sunshine has brought out our two little secrets – a pair of baby wolverines! The adorable kits are the first offspring of mum, Helga and dad, Floki, but they’re also the first wolverines to be born here in DZC’s history. The babies arrived on February 20 and have been hidden away with mum in an off-show den, but now aged four-weeks, Helga has been spotted carrying them outside. Carnivore Section Leader, Sam Grove, said: “Helga is being a fantastic first-time mum and the kits appear to be thriving. “Over the last few days, she has seemed keen to move them and it was wonderful to see her appear outside in their paddock to show them both off this morning, with dad observing from afar. “It is very exciting news for us and incredible news for the species.” Although not currently an endangered species, the number of wolverines found in the wild is declining, so breeding programmes like the European Endangered Species Programme six-year-old Helga and three-year-old Floki are paired for, continue to be significant to their survival. See more adorable photographs on our website."
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Excellent news - another bit of the legacy of Puff from Whipsnade who along with Fi (still there) produced the litter which included Helga. It’s always nice to see her at Dudley with her distinctive paler colours and great news about the new arrivals!
 
Hi all,

I’m planning on going to Dudley Zoo for the first time in over a decade. I’ve kept up to date with what species they hold but know that the website is likely not an exhaustive list. Could someone on here please tell me what species are in the lorikeet house, farm barn and castle? Thank you :)
 
In the castle creatures house they have Egyptian fruit bats, Seba's short-tailed bat, medicinal leech, European house mouse, common house rat, either African giant land or garden snails I think they have a few spiders in there but I can't rembember the species and I don't know if they're still housed there but there are flies. I can't really say or remember what species are housed in the lorrikeet walkthrough as it was under maitenance on my last visit but I can remember in the farm house there are axolotle either garden or African giant land snail, lesse siren some leaf and stick insects and according to Zootierliste there are Guinea pigs, West African pygmy goat, chinchilla, domestic rabbit and Cameroon sheep. Enjoy your visit.
 
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