Rotterdam Zoo Blijdorp Zoo News 2025

Yunha said:
Feline news: a fishing cat (kitten :) ) was born about three weeks ago. Blijdorp Zoo shares this news on their instagram. According to their response on a comment, the kitten is female.

I'd consider this an interesting birth, as the parents Abu Abu and Esmee were only coupled at the end of january. And when looking for a good source for this news item (I saw something come by shared by Hart van Nederland at first) I saw the news message from Zoo Flits from february 5th sharing the opinions on this enclosure by the Blijdorp director (which we discussed here before, but I didn't realise it to be this recent).

Either way: a healthy kitten was born :)
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The kitten is a female.
Diergaarde Blijdorp - Rotterdam Zoo on Instagram: "De vissende kat kitten is een vrouwtje. Ze verkent steeds vaker het binnen- en buitenverblijf. Daardoor kun je steeds vaker een glimp van haar opvangen. Ze heeft veel pit, kan al aardig klimmen en ook van zich af blazen. Dit alles onder toeziend oog van moeder Esmee, die haar ook nog regelmatig verplaatst. Je vindt de vissende katten in de Maleise Bosrand. Bezoeker Jolanda Berkelmans maakte deze foto's."
 
Effective September 1st, 2025 Erik Zevenbergen will step down as director of Diergaarde Blijdorp.

A clear reason is not given, although the Zooflits article does refer to the dropping visitor numbers and criticism of the zoo's recent future plants and decisions.

Blijdorp-directeur gaat weg na dalende bezoekersaantallen en koerswijziging

Na acht fascinerende jaren bij Diergaarde Blijdorp - Rotterdam Zoo is het… | Erik Zevenbergen | 23 comments

Erik Zevenbergen stopt als directeur van Diergaarde Blijdorp

I do hope that a new director will take a hard and honest look at some of the recent decisions and future plans.
 
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This is gonna sound way more rude than how I'm intending it but...

Good riddance! This is the guy mostly blamed for Blijdorp's decline, both species-wise and financially. I'll allow partial blame on the covid crisis on Blijdorp's constantly changing masterplan, but it's definitely partially Erik's fault. He's also said that he doesn't think zoos (should) have a future as "the only good thing they do is conservation" and "it should be a thing of the past", something a zoo director absolutely should not say.

Even though Blijdorp has recently gone all-in on their new masterplan, changing their website, map, and all. But I lowkey kind of hope they'll decide to go in a new direction again, and stop removing so many species for the sake of a few that likely might not have a future
 
Mr Gharial said:
He's also said that he doesn't think zoos (should) have a future as "the only good thing they do is conservation" and "it should be a thing of the past", something a zoo director absolutely should not say.
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I am sorry if this sounds off topic but anyone who says things like that should be kept as far away from zoos as possible and just stick with in situ conservation. If they already are within a zoo management then they should be dealt with accordingly. Hell, they may as well work for Born Free, PETA, or their ilk.
 
 
PossumRoach said:
I am sorry if this sounds off topic but anyone who says things like that should be kept as far away from zoos as possible and just stick with in situ conservation. If they already are within a zoo management then they should be dealt with accordingly. Hell, they may as well work for Born Free, PETA, or their ilk.
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It is indeed a strange attitude for a Zoo director to hold. Like a football manager saying he hates football.
 
 
 
Haliaeetus said:
LEO the Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis darwini, a CR species) passed away.
Diergaarde Blijdorp - Rotterdam Zoo on Instagram: "We hebben afscheid genomen van Galapagosreuzenschildpad Leo. Hij was onze oudste bewoner en was al enige tijd ziek. De doodsoorzaak wordt nog onderzocht, na de sectie keren zijn schild en skelet terug. Leo kwam ooit als wild dier van de Galapagoseilanden. DNA-onderzoek wees uit dat hij een echte Chelonoidis darwini was, een ernstig bedreigde soort die alleen voorkomt op het eiland Santiago. Als abonnementhouder lees je het hele verhaal in Mijn Blijdorp."
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Quite a bit sad about his non legacy.

This and other tortoises of this species should have gone back to CDRS center on Santa Cruz to assist with recovery of their species. These giants came from the island of Santiago and this population has been particularly affected by genetic drift and lack of sufficient breeding animals and mostly males..... to boot. Not too long ago 1 of 3 known C. darwini in an US collection also passed on....

Well, all this is my frustration....with the status quo current state of affairs with the lack of effort to get these giants to breed effectively.
 
KevinB said:
Effective September 1st, 2025 Erik Zevenbergen will step down as director of Diergaarde Blijdorp.

A clear reason is not given, although the Zooflits article does refer to the dropping visitor numbers and criticism of the zoo's recent future plants and decisions.

Blijdorp-directeur gaat weg na dalende bezoekersaantallen en koerswijziging

Na acht fascinerende jaren bij Diergaarde Blijdorp - Rotterdam Zoo is het… | Erik Zevenbergen | 23 comments

Erik Zevenbergen stopt als directeur van Diergaarde Blijdorp

I do hope that a new director will take a hard and honest look at some of the recent decisions and future plans.
Click to expand...

Erik Zevenbergen has left earlier than expected, he left May 1st.

Ron Voskuilen, former manager of Rotterdam Partners city marketing, who was brought in as an external advisor, is now director ad interim and has made it a goal to bring more stability to Blijdorp's revenue and find a balance between conservation and appeal to visitors. He will also be overseeing the search for a permanent new director.

Directeur Diergaarde Blijdorp is al vervangen, maanden eerder dan aangekondigd
 
Blijdorp had a financial loss of 5.43 million euros in 2024...mostly because of investments in upkeep en improvements. For now there seem to be enough reserves but the investments for 2025-2029 will be reviewed (again) Source : Loopings.nl
 
Mr Gharial said:
This is gonna sound way more rude than how I'm intending it but...

Good riddance! This is the guy mostly blamed for Blijdorp's decline, both species-wise and financially. I'll allow partial blame on the covid crisis on Blijdorp's constantly changing masterplan, but it's definitely partially Erik's fault. He's also said that he doesn't think zoos (should) have a future as "the only good thing they do is conservation" and "it should be a thing of the past", something a zoo director absolutely should not say.

Even though Blijdorp has recently gone all-in on their new masterplan, changing their website, map, and all. But I lowkey kind of hope they'll decide to go in a new direction again, and stop removing so many species for the sake of a few that likely might not have a future
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I would remain afar from any public personal rebuttals of any individual in the zoo community ..., but I agree and from having had engagement with him ... from Day Zero I absolutely detested the guy - like his whole manner and way he presented himself both the Blijdorp zoo fans, ... but also his own staff and how he publicly denounced his predecessor and decried the lack of financial robustness of the situation.

Mind you: He more or less went into a "cost-cutting" exercise that saw a good portion of the quality and quantity of high level trained zoo staff sacked or put into early retirement. Well, his tenure has been nigh on impressive and under his reign the good standing of Blijdorp Zoo highly respected and regarded within sometimes even jealousy ... clambered down fast downhill. He was responsible for eating through 2+ Masterplans - often left me wondering what the **** they were about other than managing a zoo like a department store and sent popular species in the animal collection like the gorillas and other high value animals off and pretty much dismantled even the zoogeographical design of the zoo and tore down exhibits like the Asian Swamp/Wetlands and the Amazonia drama ... at back.

All in all what a great legacy the Man achieved.....

TBH: I would go beyond "Good riddance" because that is just too lenient on the man. After all a public school manager aint in the right place at the helm of a zoo....! How anyone in their sane mind could ever have selected him from all applicants or candidates unbeknownest ... is yet a complete mystery to me.
 
KevinB said:
Erik Zevenbergen has left earlier than expected, he left May 1st.

Ron Voskuilen, former manager of Rotterdam Partners city marketing, who was brought in as an external advisor, is now director ad interim and has made it a goal to bring more stability to Blijdorp's revenue and find a balance between conservation and appeal to visitors. He will also be overseeing the search for a permanent new director.

Directeur Diergaarde Blijdorp is al vervangen, maanden eerder dan aangekondigd
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My gut reaction: Why the hell bring in another financial manager ..., these have an McKinsey style accountancy background and a flashy marketing/PR mindset only and they are the least able to present a zoo vision where the one at the helm - he/she - should take the zoo into long term by the very nature that a state of the art zoo aint your general plug and play Disneyland.

Sneeuwpanter said:
Blijdorp had a financial loss of 5.43 million euros in 2024...mostly because of investments in upkeep en improvements. For now there seem to be enough reserves but the investments for 2025-2029 will be reviewed (again) Source : Loopings.nl
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I would love to see the recent financial statements and full general reports for the zoo for the financial years 2022-2024. Period!

Anyone have any suggestions where I can find these for Rotterdam - Blijdorp Zoo?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I would love to see the recent financial statements and full general reports for the zoo for the financial years 2022-2024. Period!

Anyone have any suggestions where I can find these for Rotterdam - Blijdorp Zoo?
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I think this is a good place to start: Organisatie | Diergaarde Blijdorp
If you download the ANBI reports it shows a general financial overview. The Jaarverslagen have some financial statements as well.
 
Cobi said:
I have to say I am very relieved he has gone. Blijdorp is one of my most visited zoos and one I feel very close to. I was feeling very concerned about the direction it has taken.
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I agree with you Cobi, I hope the unique things that made Blijdorp Blijdorp will return again. Blijdorp used to be a real treat for me to visit, but I've been holding off a visit because of the changes.
 
Yunha said:
I think this is a good place to start: Organisatie | Diergaarde Blijdorp
If you download the ANBI reports it shows a general financial overview. The Jaarverslagen have some financial statements as well.
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I found this page eventually, but it did take some digging....! You might wonder that it is not in the regular listings under Menu when a public service organisation should have its financial report available direct from their website....!
SOURCE: Organisatie | Diergaarde Blijdorp


Also, the current ANBI declarations they give us are not an audit report by an accountant... I do wonder how there is no Annual Report ... safe for the one they previously published in their zoo magazine (but that practice got scrapped also by the Mr. Z reign.



NOTA BENE/BTW: Over financial year 2024 the loss increased significantly... Just have a look! Yes, Mr. Z. prided himself that he would get the zoo back in the BLACK...! Well, he should get a total flop medal for having brought the Zoo Rotterdam - Blijdorp where it is now......
 
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