ZOO Antwerpen Zoo Antwerpen News 2025

This update seems to become a weekly thing with all the recent new things:
  • Apparently one of the maras from planckendael was pregnant and therefore we now have a little mara running around in the alpaca enclosure.
  • I also noticed a Congo Peafowl on show in the Africa aviary. We now know why the Vulturine guineafowl moved in with the Hornbills.
 
According to a recent post at the Laafsekikkers the Chilean flamingos at Zoo Antwerpen have again been exchanged for American flamingos, I noticed last Sunday that the American flamingo group has left Planckendael again, so presumably they are back at Antwerp.
 
A little update from my sunny visit today:
  • One of the (3) Emperor Tamarins was separated from the other group and stayed in one of the enclosures of the Golden-headed Lion Tamarins.
  • The climbing structures for the Chimpanzees are finished and the apes seemed to already like them, because they stayed outside for a large portion of the day.
  • There appear to be two couples of Okapi, with two of the 3 enclosures being inhabited by (1.1) and (1.1).
  • There seemed to be some works in the hippo building and a handful of male storks are now living with the pelicans in the hippo outdoor area, they came from a polish rescue center. (These are all injured European white storks).
  • There was also another Lilac-breasted Roller in the European aviary (I’m guessing it is temporary).
  • The former exhibit of the Ocellated Lizards is also finished for its next inhabitants.
 
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Two Vietnam pheasants hatched at Zoo Antwerpen will soon move to a breeding center in Vietnam, where they will be used in a breeding program to provide animals for reintroduction.

3.5K views · 163 reactions | De vietnamfazant vliegt terug naar huis met de hulp van ZOO Antwerpen! Ken jij de vietnamfazant al? Deze bijzondere vogel is al 25 jaar niet meer... | By ZOO Antwerpen | Facebook


Some updates from last Sunday (March 16th, 2025):
  • The swift parrot and blue-faced honeyeater aviary was partially redone.
  • The non-flighted white storks now live with the American flamingos in the exhibit between the entrance and exit.
  • The Dalmatian pelicans have returned to the original pelican exhibit in the wetland area.
  • The former hippopotamus exhibit was fully drained. I saw some construction materials next to the Hyacinthine macaw aviary and the off-show area for the hippo house aviary. The hippo house aviary was closed and screen off, as was the upper viewing area. It seems they might be starting construction work inside the former hippo house to repurpose this area for pygmy hippos.
  • One of the recently arrived green oropendolas (replacing the crested oropendola in the mixed outdoor American aviary next to the bird house) spends a lot of time on the mesh or on the base stones on the visitor side.
  • The mixed Mediterranean European aviary next to the bird house now also houses collared pratincoles.
  • They are doing a big spring cleaning inside the bird house, which has the inside closed most of the time currently. Aside from the Australian aviary all of the indoor aviaries were empty, with most of the substrate as well as some plants and rocks removed. There were also dozens of roach traps around, so it seems they also have a roach infestation issue in there. There were a container for waste and bags of gravel next to the bird house, and also some piles of dark soil near the lion exhibit, which might be connected to the cleaning in the bird house or other exhibit renovations.
  • The Australian indoor aviary has a nest placed in front of the window, according to signage for the introduction of new birds. I did not spot any species that weren't previously there though.
  • The previously present three or four large adult silver arowanas have been replaced by six juvenile silver arowanas, about 25 to 30 centimeters in length.
  • The pinniped exhibit was also empty, the fencing for the recently moved or euthanized California sea lions was being removed. This exhibit should house harbor seals again in the hopefully not too distant future.
  • The mixed African desert terrarium in the reptile house now also houses Yellow fan-fingered gecko (Ptyodactylus hasselquistii) and Ornate mastigure, a species that has gone back on show.
  • The terrarium for Standing's day geckos, Zoutpansberg girdled lizards and Panther chameleons has been redone.
  • The radiated tortoises now share their terrarium with Madagascar tree boas and Greater Madagascar day geckos.
  • Sun beetles (Pachnoda marginata) were added to the terrarium for Brazilian rainbow boas.
  • The Ocellated lizards have moved into the terrarium that previously housed the Motagua spiny-tailed iguanas, the terrarium they previously lived in was being redone and has not yet received new inhabitants.
  • The Motagua spiny-tailed iguanas moved into the last of the large terrariums before the winter garden area, opposite the Komodo dragon exhibit, which they share with Rhinoceros iguana, Green basilisk, Cane toad and Greater Madagascar day gecko.
  • In the winter garden of the reptile house I saw what I think is a female Sudan golden sparrow, with very overgrown nails as I noticed later on the photos. This area also houses star finches (unsigned), Peking robins, Gouldian finches and Ultramarine grosbeaks, with the last three species being signed.
  • Still no progress on the jubilee complex, unfortunately. It would be nice if they did some kind of communication on why nothing is moving here.
  • There was a chestnut-backed ground thrush in a cage in the indoor exhibit, probably an introduction of a new individual.
I hope to post some images in the gallery later this week.
 
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Thx for the update KevinB.
I was planning to go to Antwerp this Friday, but with the Birdhouse closing, I better refrain from doing so.

Aren't some of the terrariums at the Reptile House a bit overcrowded?
 
Philipine eagle said:
Thx for the update KevinB.
I was planning to go to Antwerp this Friday, but with the Birdhouse closing, I better refrain from doing so.

Aren't some of the terrariums at the Reptile House a bit overcrowded?
Click to expand...

To me it seems the radiated tortoises have lost a bit too much space in their move. The mixed terrariums don't seem overcrowded to me, but I'm by no means a reptile expert.

I forgot to mention in my previous post that the yellow-billed storks in the savanna aviary were nesting, and that the blue-faced honeyeaters also seemed to be starting to nest.
 
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To be real Antwerp does have certain overcrowding issues but in general is very ahead on reptile welfare. You have to know that their also is a shortage of space for many species.
 
KevinB said:
Two Vietnam pheasants hatched at Zoo Antwerpen will soon move to a breeding center in Vietnam, where they will be used in a breeding program to provide animals for reintroduction.

3.5K views · 163 reactions | De vietnamfazant vliegt terug naar huis met de hulp van ZOO Antwerpen! Ken jij de vietnamfazant al? Deze bijzondere vogel is al 25 jaar niet meer... | By ZOO Antwerpen | Facebook


Some updates from last Sunday (March 16th, 2025):
  • The swift parrot and blue-faced honeyeater aviary was partially redone.
  • The non-flighted white storks now live with the American flamingos in the exhibit between the entrance and exit.
  • The Dalmatian pelicans have returned to the original pelican exhibit in the wetland area.
  • The former hippopotamus exhibit was fully drained. I saw some construction materials next to the Hyacinthine macaw aviary and the off-show area for the hippo house aviary. The hippo house aviary was closed and screen off, as was the upper viewing area. It seems they might be starting construction work inside the former hippo house to repurpose this area for pygmy hippos.
  • One of the recently arrived green oropendolas (replacing the crested oropendola in the mixed outdoor American aviary next to the bird house) spends a lot of time on the mesh or on the base stones on the visitor side.
  • The mixed Mediterranean European aviary next to the bird house now also houses collared pratincoles.
  • They are doing a big spring cleaning inside the bird house, which has the inside closed most of the time currently. Aside from the Australian aviary all of the indoor aviaries were empty, with most of the substrate as well as some plants and rocks removed. There were also dozens of roach traps around, so it seems they also have a roach infestation issue in there. There were a container for waste and bags of gravel next to the bird house, and also some piles of dark soil near the lion exhibit, which might be connected to the cleaning in the bird house or other exhibit renovations.
  • The Australian indoor aviary has a nest placed in front of the window, according to signage for the introduction of new birds. I did not spot any species that weren't previously there though.
  • The previously present three or four large adult silver arowanas have been replaced by six juvenile silver arowanas, about 25 to 30 centimeters in length.
  • The pinniped exhibit was also empty, the fencing for the recently moved or euthanized California sea lions was being removed. This exhibit should house harbor seals again in the hopefully not too distant future.
  • The mixed African desert terrarium in the reptile house now also houses Yellow fan-fingered gecko (Ptyodactylus hasselquistii) and Ornate mastigure, a species that has gone back on show.
  • The terrarium for Standing's day geckos, Zoutpansberg girdled lizards and Panther chameleons has been redone.
  • The radiated tortoises now share their terrarium with Madagascar tree boas and Greater Madagascar day geckos.
  • Sun beetles (Pachnoda marginata) were added to the terrarium for Brazilian rainbow boas.
  • The Ocellated lizards have moved into the terrarium that previously housed the Motagua spiny-tailed iguanas, the terrarium they previously lived in was being redone and has not yet received new inhabitants.
  • The Motagua spiny-tailed iguanas moved into the last of the large terrariums before the winter garden area, opposite the Komodo dragon exhibit, which they share with Rhinoceros iguana, Green basilisk, Cane toad and Greater Madagascar day gecko.
  • In the winter garden of the reptile house I saw what I think is a female Sudan golden sparrow, with very overgrown nails as I noticed later on the photos. This area also houses star finches (unsigned), Peking robins, Gouldian finches and Ultramarine grosbeaks, with the last three species being signed.
  • Still no progress on the jubilee complex, unfortunately. It would be nice if they did some kind of communication on why nothing is moving here.
  • There was a chestnut-backed ground thrush in a cage in the indoor exhibit, probably an introduction of a new individual.
I hope to post some images in the gallery later this week.
Click to expand...
I can add a few things to the list in my visit today as it has been a pretty busy week in Antwerp:
  • The Okapi 'viewable' indoor area has recieved some bushes and a new layer of ground.
  • The two Asian Elephants 'Max' and 'Sam' were seperated, I did not see a transport box so I assume this has something to do with musth.
  • The former ocellated lizard has its new inhabitant, a pretty large Gaboon Viper (it is not yet signed).
  • I saw two Madagascar day geckos in the Rhinoceros Iguana enclosure (it is not yet signed).
  • The Tapirs and Nutrias have been given a new layer of ground.
 
KevinB said:
In the winter garden of the reptile house I saw what I think is a female Sudan golden sparrow, with very overgrown nails as I noticed later on the photos. This area also houses star finches (unsigned), Peking robins, Gouldian finches and Ultramarine grosbeaks, with the last three species being signed.
Click to expand...


I have since found out that the bird I saw in the winter garden of the reptile house was not a Sudan golden sparrow but a female Yellow-crowned bishop (Euplectes afer).
 
Philipine eagle said:
There were Estrildidae in that enclosure about 10 years ago, probably Zebra finches, I noted 3 specimen. My last visit at Antwerp dates from 2019 but I don't remember seeing them anymore.
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It is possible. It's been about 10 years since I started to visit the Zoo on a more regular basis, so I can't rule out that there have been kept birds before that.
 
I have some information about the future plans in Antwerp:
  • The Savannah is going to be worked on soon, meaning that the Zebras and/or Rhinos (not sure) will be able to go to the Giraffe enclosure and the Warthogs might also be able to interchange. I have no news about a potential arrival of antelope, but seeing as the empty stalls in egyptian temple have been worked on, there is a possibility.
  • The Jubileum Complex is still expected to be done in 2027 at the, earliest but has been put on hold for now.
 
Père Damian's Deer said:
I have some information about the future plans in Antwerp:
  • The Savannah is going to be worked on soon, meaning that the Zebras and/or Rhinos (not sure) will be able to go to the Giraffe enclosure and the Warthogs might also be able to interchange. I have no news about a potential arrival of antelope, but seeing as the empty stalls in egyptian temple have been worked on, there is a possibility.
  • The Jubileum Complex is still expected to be done in 2027 at the, earliest but has been put on hold for now.
Click to expand...
I don't think there Is space for another antelope species, for now at least. The enclosure on the left side of the Egyptian temple is certainly too small for almost any antelope species, and if the savannahs would become one big exhibit it would also get too crowded with the antelope added. I do see a smaller species ( maybe red river hog, aardvark...) inhabiting that enclosure though.
 
I have some updates from my lovely sunny visit today:
  • The Mandrills were in their smaller enclosure and their main big enclosure had been given to the Spider Monkeys, this makes me think that the departure of the mandrills might be imminent.
  • I only saw 2 North-american Porcupines, so I assume that the son has moved to a different zoo.
  • I did not see the female Eider Duck and the sign has been removed so only the Scaly-sided Mergansers inhabit the enclosure with the sturgeons.
  • I saw the Marabous, Comb Ducks and African Ibises from a far so all the work in the hippo aviary is done and it will soon open again.
  • The frontfence of the Flamingos and Storks has been removed, like it used to look a while back.
  • The transport box in the Komodo Dragon is actually a training box and they explain this in new signage.
  • Signage in the buffalo aviary has been updated with a lot more info added. This trend of renewing the signs is also seen in a lot of places throughout the zoo.
  • The Barbary Striped Grass Mouse enclosure is empty for now.
  • The bird house is not yet open.
 
Has anyone else also seen the most recent episode of het echte leven in de zoo?

I was shocked to see that exactly what I and several other members on here worried, the gorillas attacked the owl faced guenons, a species thats not just endagered in the wild (vu) but also extremely rare in captivity. Do they still keep them together? Personaly do I realy hope they either find another place within the zoo or give them to a better suited facility.

Generaly would I have to say that several scenes from this season felt off.

From the portayal of a roach in the dart frog tank, that according to their claims got hunted down by a vampire crab to in my perception presenting the situation with the bongo calf as lost two the impossibility to pick neither extremes of the spectrum.

Vampire crabs can and would hurt the frogs, if one can believe keepers accounts from the internet, but personaly does it make sense, if they can pinch a roach that hard they would not shy away from the frogs. The images looked staged to me, my issue with that is that such a false portrayal could lead to people believing, that they could be kept together, what does not seem to be a viable option.

The presentation, the cuts and interviews made the impression that they more or less let the bongo calv starve, maybe not entirely but for a prolonged time. Maybe I misunderstood something, but I read their wording as if they were saying they would have only two options, either let the calf die or hand read. But did not several zoos show other options, like guiding the calf to the mothers udders (not sure if bongos would be too aggressive) and if that would fail leaving the calf with the mother, but offering bottles through the gutter disguised so that the animal would still maintain the relative illusion of the mothers present being one source.

They also fed the southern bald ibis chicks without any disguise for some time,and only after a few days or so added printed pictures, but is not it common practice to build a puppet that vaguely resembles the species?

Its not that I think the zoo would be entirely bad, but that criticism must be allowed to always achieve the best standard possible. Its human to make mistakes both on their side and on mine.
 
The owl-faced monkeys are still housed with the gorillas. The introduction process took months but seems to have worked out pretty well in the end, besides from some possible teasing by the younger gorillas there is no more negative or violent interaction.

I don't think the vampire crabs are still housed with the dart frogs, they are not and to my knowledge have never been signed. I have never seen any.
 
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