Marwell Wildlife Marwell Zoo news 2025

Cat-Man said:
I'm not even convinced it's a good spot for the red pandas given the high footfall through the area.

And agreed on the cat front, it's incredibly sad that they've seemed to almost collapse in recent years with no plans for replacement. The Cheetah enclosure is now sitting there empty, with no plans on sourcing replacements or opening a new habitat. It's so sad.

I expect that if they do indeed demolish and rebuild that it might be due to structural issues. If the leopard lookout was unable to be opened it does ponder the question whether the same wear and tear occurred at in the actual enclosure. It's been there for almost 30 years, after all.
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The window areas on both sides will remain as far as I know with around an eight foot height fence with overhang,all the way round the trees are being cut back, the two Red Pandas at Marwell do not get on as they are kept in separate areas, and only one is due to move to the former Leopard enclosure so for a time there will be two areas with Red Pandas at Marwell.
 
okapis said:
The window areas on both sides will remain as far as I know with around an eight foot height fence with overhang,all the way round the trees are being cut back, the two Red Pandas at Marwell do not get on as they are kept in separate areas, and only one is due to move to the former Leopard enclosure so for a time there will be two areas with Red Pandas at Marwell.
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Doesn’t sound an ideal red panda exhibit with eight foot high fences and overhang, in terms of visitor viewing. The best are where there’s no fence to view through. Maybe, as it’s temporary, they have future plans for the area
 
Cat-Man said:
And agreed on the cat front, it's incredibly sad that they've seemed to almost collapse in recent years with no plans for replacement. The Cheetah enclosure is now sitting there empty, with no plans on sourcing replacements or opening a new habitat. It's so sad.
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From what I understand the cheetah area is now part of the serval area?
Though I will say in regards to all this that the Big Cat Sanctuary run by Hertfordshire Zoo, which Marwell is in good company with, didn't exist at the time of Marwell's opening. And I think you could make the point that the decline of Marwell's cat collection coincided with the expansion of the cat collection at Hertfordshire; now that there was a place dedicated to keeping them more than was Marwell. Which coincidentally holds nine of the ten species Marwell held in the year 2000; ocelot being the only exception. Makes sense in my head anyways.
And saying that I think it's possible that if the red panda area is being reconstructed we may get some more exhibits in the area as well.
 
dillotest0 said:
From what I understand the cheetah area is now part of the serval area?
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The upper half of the cheetah enclosure is now the serval exhibit.
The lower half was for a while incorporated into the giraffe paddock, but access from the paddock has since been blocked off.
 
okapis said:
The window areas on both sides will remain as far as I know with around an eight foot height fence with overhang,all the way round the trees are being cut back, the two Red Pandas at Marwell do not get on as they are kept in separate areas, and only one is due to move to the former Leopard enclosure so for a time there will be two areas with Red Pandas at Marwell.
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I question if the old red panda exhibit which has been vacant for quite some time would be better to use... but I guess if the exhibits are further apart then it becomes less obvious there are 2 exhibits! I'm confused with these plans, but as I said I'm holding faith!
 
Notes from a visit.
  • This is becoming a recurring theme but it was very busy again. It will be interesting to see how visitor numbers compare. They do seem to be putting on more activities to attract visitors.
  • Avian flu precautions are in place. There are mats to walk across when entering and exiting the zoo.
    • The flamingos only have access to a small part of their enclosure which has been covered over.
    • The walkthrough aviary at the bottom of the wallaby walkthrough has been closed. The one at the top and the tropical house remain open though.
  • I think we have been too hasty with our comments about the clouded leopard enclosure being converted for red panda. It certainly looks like a conversion rather than a demolish and rebuild. The roof and the fencing and structure of the back of the enclosure has been removed. The vast majority of it including both the viewing windows remain in place though.
  • Status of the big cat enclosures following the new arrivals.
    • With the tigers access has been restored to the viewing windows on Pasha's side of the exhibit. Indoor viewing is still screened off.
    • The side of the old part of the snow leopard exhibit (where Zaya the new female is) is still blocked off. I could still see Zaya though lying on a ledge.
  • I did see all the recently announced young, sitatunga, banteng and cotton-topped tamarin.
  • Viewing for the cotton-topped tamarins indoor section has been blocked off.
  • The penguins are still in the temporary enclosure.
  • The old warthog exhibit is being brought back into use and the Visayan warty pigs will be moving there. What will happen with their current enclosure?
  • The signs for the golden lion tamarins have gone. I didn''t see them. I only saw the white faced sakis in that enclosure. Have they left?
  • There were signs on the golden headed lion tamarin/emperor tamarin/pygmy marmoset/Brazilian guinea pig enclosure about animals being monitored by a vet.
  • Both roan antelopes were outside. I can't remember the last time I saw both of them.
  • I only noticed today that juvenile okapis have a horse like mane.

Thoughts on Native Species.
  • I like the concept.of it. It really is about getting the message across that there are endangered species and habitats on your doorstep. I think chalk streams is a great example for getting this across. Signage is in the form of short snappy facts. Things like "85% of chalk streams are in the UK" and "There is a chalk stream 2 miles from Marwell" does make it relatable.
  • The choice of white clawed crayfish as the headline species is a very unusual one, but makes perfect sense with the messaging. Are exhibits driven by the message or story Marwell wants to tell something we should expect in the Laura Read era? It could lead to interesting and unexpected species.
  • The sand lizards are in the enclosure that was last used for silvery marmosets.
  • The Native Species theme has taken over that whole courtyard. It does make the swift parrot enclosure and Cold Blooded Corner seem out of place. I do wonder what the longer term future for them might be.
  • A thought I had. This is only phase 1 for Native Species. Could this be the perfect excuse for bringing the far end of the South Road back into use. It is woodland, it could therefore be the perfect habitat for some species.
 
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NMM said:
  • The old warthog exhibit is being brought back into use and the Visayan warty pigs will be moving there. What will happen with their current enclosure?
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It will be interesting to see what they have planned for the current Warty Pig exhibit... maybe another Asian hoofstock to fit the theming...
 
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Max Blundell said:
It will be interesting to see what they have planned for the current Warty Pig exhibit... maybe another Asian hoofstock to fit the theming...
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Maybe.... even... a member of the pig family with little hair at all, big tusks and a weak snout.... may...haps? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

I think this is largely in response to guest complaints about empty enclosures, which I think the old warthog area certainly qualifies as at the moment. But will be interesting to see what goes in the current VWP exhibit!
 
Would love to see babirusa back.

I don't think it is in response to comments about empty enclosures. The warthog exhibit wasn't one of the prominent ones. I thought they did a good job of hiding it. Besides, moving animals doesn't solve that problem, it just creates a different empty enclosure unless there are other plans.

To me, the move only makes sense if they have plans for the current enclosure.
 
NMM said:
Would love to see babirusa back.

I don't think it is in response to comments about empty enclosures. The warthog exhibit wasn't one of the prominent ones. I thought they did a good job of hiding it. Besides, moving animals doesn't solve that problem, it just creates a different empty enclosure unless there are other plans.

To me, the move only makes sense if they have plans for the current enclosure.
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When was the enclosure last inhabited by warthogs?
 
I'm all for old enclosures being renovated and used, but they'll be a tad out of place against the African animals! I guess Marwell's not been zoned for some time though so that probably doesn't matter... No doubt it'll be an Asian animal, could be the Anoa moving down again from its current exhibit though! No matter what it'll be interesting to see the future developments.

Your points on the Native Species Zone are sensible NMM, I can't see why Boar, Red Deer, Lynx etc. Couldn't work in the area at the end of the South Road, but that may be too hasty to start speculating on my part!!
 
HelloCrossy67 said:
I'm all for old enclosures being renovated and used, but they'll be a tad out of place against the African animals! I guess Marwell's not been zoned for some time though so that probably doesn't matter... No doubt it'll be an Asian animal, could be the Anoa moving down again from its current exhibit though! No matter what it'll be interesting to see the future developments.

Your points on the Native Species Zone are sensible NMM, I can't see why Boar, Red Deer, Lynx etc. Couldn't work in the area at the end of the South Road, but that may be too hasty to start speculating on my part!!
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Those species on the end of the south road would be lovely, maybe even wolves, or dare I dream of bear? Red deer and European bison in the em zebra exhibit?

Sadly, as has been discussed in this forum, Marwell is firm that they aren’t going to use the sourh road for anything but the snow leopards from now on. It’s a shame, given how much space there is, but I understand the decision even if disappointing.
 
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NMM said:
There has been a change of management since the decision not to use the South Road was made. It is entirely possible that could be reversed.
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And I'm pretty sure the South Road decision was before the snow leopard extension... so you could say that development overturned things. Anything's possible!
 
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