I arrived just after 10AM thinking it might be quieter on a Saturday, even though it was Bank Holiday weekend. There were a fair number of people already there, but it was not packed as yet.
I decided to buy an annual pass as I will be visiting some other zoos on my holiday next week and it will pay for itself.
I already saved some money as I discovered all my camera batteries appeared to be on their last legs so my first visit was to the shop to get some new ones with 10% off.
I visited the Penguin pool first-I didn't see the little fella with the scuba jacket although there were some brown-coated young and a few zipping about in the pool. Not sure yet if any of my photos of them underwater will be any use.
Due to my arthritic hip, I didn't go around the back to the Mara, but continued on. I've said before the Capybara and Rhea enclosures are under-utilised IMO. One Rhea had 4 young including one white one.
The flamingos were hidden from view by overgrown trees and seemed very pale.
The tapirs were laid out in the sun. The baby was well camouflaged against the dry grass and people were passing without seeing it.
One cheetah was laid in full view and the other on the high platform. Sadly neither was easily photographed due to the wire.
The serval in the right hand cage was very active and pacing about-again, the wire prevented a decent picture.
The warthogs were shut in but having a high old time grooming each other.
Two of the congo buffalo had a bit of a scuffle with much shoving and huffing, which I photographed from the viewing platform. The sable antelope were some distance off. I also visited the bongo house-didn't see the potto which was a shame. Got a nice picture of the basking nile monitor.
4 giraffe were in a small field next to the giraffe house. I got some nice pics of the colobus monkeys who were charging about, banging off the glass. The porcupine were being shut in while their cage was cleaned.
The de Brazza's monkey were also very active outside.
First big disappointment-no sign of the Amur Leopards.
Did see the Gemsbok and Dama Gazelle from the raised walkway. I popped into the bat house which reminded me of my late lamented pet rats frrom the smell and squeaking noises.
Next I went into the African exhibit which was new since my last visit. Very impressive but all that were in sight were a few Grevy's Zebra, two Giraffe and 4 Ostrich right in the far distance. I stopped here for a sandwich but was menaced by wasps-one species I wouldn't mind going extinct.
Viewed the Addax and Arabian Gazelle-one inside was very photogenic and stood for ages cocking its head and gazing into my camera lens-very bambi-like.
The sand cats were also a no-show, although the baby tortoises were charging about-and where have the Fennec foxes gone?
Over to the tigers-another letdown. Those on the left were shut way and only one was on the right, although he did huff back when I greeted him. I do feel that enclosure needs updating as apart from the viewing panels it hasn't changed since Marwell opened.
I noticed the old gazelle/gerenuk houses were empty-the first of a number of empty exhibits.
The meerkat enclosure has been remodeled since my last visit when there were smaller pits that also held skunk and another species.
Saw the Nyala-the male was separated from the rest of the herd. The Okapi were in their yards, licking each other's faces.
Next walked up to the Ocelot and got a few pics of 2 outside. Sadly some bratty little girl screamed her head off and the cats fled indoors. The father said "You frightened them indoors" and I muttered "She probably frightened my cats in Bishops Waltham" under my breath. 2 large ladies who wore sensible shoes, to borrow a phrase from Robin Williams were walking around at the same pace as me, and laughed when they heard what I said. I don't know why parents take such young kids out when they can't even understand what they are seeing. Still..
Turned the corner and dropped down past the Somali wild ass who were hidden behind theifr house. The Roan Antelope were now in a pretty small paddock considering the sizeable herd, including several young.
The white-tailed Gnu were on display but again the cage wire stopped me getting a great picture.
The Coati young were very amusing, diving in and out of the netting in thier pit. The Red Panda were as usual high in their tree.
I was surprised that the large field where the Roan used to be was occupied by a very small group of Ankole and their old field was empty.
Took some good reptile pics in the Encounter Village. The Tamarin walk was closed and I didn't bother with the Australian walk as I could not see anything in there.
The Celebes Ape were in their cage, presumably due to the fence jumping incident recently.
The Siamang and Otter enclosures were also new since my last visit and I enjoyed them both, the Siamang were in a big grooming heap, and were pushing their arms through the netting to grab at plants.
Took some pics of the Fossas. I was most amused when one of the Lion Tamarin babies leapt on the cage wire and the skinhead next to me swore as he thought the tiny monkey was going to get him. What a wuss!
The lemurs were also a disappointment-only the red-ruffed and gentle lemurs were on display-where are the ring-tails and black and white ruffed?
I didn't go into the wildlife art exhibition or around the Hall grounds due to time and my hip(!).
Also did not bother with the Tropical House but went on to the Rhinos-only 3 now (my Dad told me later that he has a friend who works in the local slaughterhouse and they had a rhino from Marwell in there last year sometime). Very impressed with the long horns on 2 of them. One was pushing the Greater Kudu herd about.
Didn't see much after that-no Babirusa or Takin, although the Peccaries were all foraging. No sign of any Kangaroo and the Cassowary and Wallabies have now gone. Only one Snow Leopard seen, sleeping on it's back right in front of the viewing window, but someone had put a dead shrub in front of the window, so it was still difficult to get a good shot.
There were a lot of empty enclosures on both sides along this part of the park.
The young Pygmy Hippo was very funny and clambered all over it's mum, ducking her underwater and sitting on her head.
Finally one Giant Anteater was outside and the other fast asleep in a hairy pile. Strange-smelling creatures-vaguely chemical.
After a quick visit to the shop-sadly very tacky nowadays I finally left at 2.30, very footsore after 4 and 1/2 hours.
My final conclusions-it seems much work is either in the works or needed to fill the large number of empty enclosures and I would like to see the cat collection brought back up to strength-how about some African Leopards for the African Zone, bring back the Jaguars, Lynx, Sumatran Tigers and Gir Lions. And what about Bengal Tiger and Chinese Tiger, Scottish Wild Cat, Pallas Cat, Puma or Fishing Cat?
And where have all the deer gone? Once upon a time there were Pere David's, Muntjac and several others.
Next stops will be London Zoo and London Sealife.
I decided to buy an annual pass as I will be visiting some other zoos on my holiday next week and it will pay for itself.
I already saved some money as I discovered all my camera batteries appeared to be on their last legs so my first visit was to the shop to get some new ones with 10% off.
I visited the Penguin pool first-I didn't see the little fella with the scuba jacket although there were some brown-coated young and a few zipping about in the pool. Not sure yet if any of my photos of them underwater will be any use.
Due to my arthritic hip, I didn't go around the back to the Mara, but continued on. I've said before the Capybara and Rhea enclosures are under-utilised IMO. One Rhea had 4 young including one white one.
The flamingos were hidden from view by overgrown trees and seemed very pale.
The tapirs were laid out in the sun. The baby was well camouflaged against the dry grass and people were passing without seeing it.
One cheetah was laid in full view and the other on the high platform. Sadly neither was easily photographed due to the wire.
The serval in the right hand cage was very active and pacing about-again, the wire prevented a decent picture.
The warthogs were shut in but having a high old time grooming each other.
Two of the congo buffalo had a bit of a scuffle with much shoving and huffing, which I photographed from the viewing platform. The sable antelope were some distance off. I also visited the bongo house-didn't see the potto which was a shame. Got a nice picture of the basking nile monitor.
4 giraffe were in a small field next to the giraffe house. I got some nice pics of the colobus monkeys who were charging about, banging off the glass. The porcupine were being shut in while their cage was cleaned.
The de Brazza's monkey were also very active outside.
First big disappointment-no sign of the Amur Leopards.
Did see the Gemsbok and Dama Gazelle from the raised walkway. I popped into the bat house which reminded me of my late lamented pet rats frrom the smell and squeaking noises.
Next I went into the African exhibit which was new since my last visit. Very impressive but all that were in sight were a few Grevy's Zebra, two Giraffe and 4 Ostrich right in the far distance. I stopped here for a sandwich but was menaced by wasps-one species I wouldn't mind going extinct.
Viewed the Addax and Arabian Gazelle-one inside was very photogenic and stood for ages cocking its head and gazing into my camera lens-very bambi-like.
The sand cats were also a no-show, although the baby tortoises were charging about-and where have the Fennec foxes gone?
Over to the tigers-another letdown. Those on the left were shut way and only one was on the right, although he did huff back when I greeted him. I do feel that enclosure needs updating as apart from the viewing panels it hasn't changed since Marwell opened.
I noticed the old gazelle/gerenuk houses were empty-the first of a number of empty exhibits.
The meerkat enclosure has been remodeled since my last visit when there were smaller pits that also held skunk and another species.
Saw the Nyala-the male was separated from the rest of the herd. The Okapi were in their yards, licking each other's faces.
Next walked up to the Ocelot and got a few pics of 2 outside. Sadly some bratty little girl screamed her head off and the cats fled indoors. The father said "You frightened them indoors" and I muttered "She probably frightened my cats in Bishops Waltham" under my breath. 2 large ladies who wore sensible shoes, to borrow a phrase from Robin Williams were walking around at the same pace as me, and laughed when they heard what I said. I don't know why parents take such young kids out when they can't even understand what they are seeing. Still..
Turned the corner and dropped down past the Somali wild ass who were hidden behind theifr house. The Roan Antelope were now in a pretty small paddock considering the sizeable herd, including several young.
The white-tailed Gnu were on display but again the cage wire stopped me getting a great picture.
The Coati young were very amusing, diving in and out of the netting in thier pit. The Red Panda were as usual high in their tree.
I was surprised that the large field where the Roan used to be was occupied by a very small group of Ankole and their old field was empty.
Took some good reptile pics in the Encounter Village. The Tamarin walk was closed and I didn't bother with the Australian walk as I could not see anything in there.
The Celebes Ape were in their cage, presumably due to the fence jumping incident recently.
The Siamang and Otter enclosures were also new since my last visit and I enjoyed them both, the Siamang were in a big grooming heap, and were pushing their arms through the netting to grab at plants.
Took some pics of the Fossas. I was most amused when one of the Lion Tamarin babies leapt on the cage wire and the skinhead next to me swore as he thought the tiny monkey was going to get him. What a wuss!
The lemurs were also a disappointment-only the red-ruffed and gentle lemurs were on display-where are the ring-tails and black and white ruffed?
I didn't go into the wildlife art exhibition or around the Hall grounds due to time and my hip(!).
Also did not bother with the Tropical House but went on to the Rhinos-only 3 now (my Dad told me later that he has a friend who works in the local slaughterhouse and they had a rhino from Marwell in there last year sometime). Very impressed with the long horns on 2 of them. One was pushing the Greater Kudu herd about.
Didn't see much after that-no Babirusa or Takin, although the Peccaries were all foraging. No sign of any Kangaroo and the Cassowary and Wallabies have now gone. Only one Snow Leopard seen, sleeping on it's back right in front of the viewing window, but someone had put a dead shrub in front of the window, so it was still difficult to get a good shot.
There were a lot of empty enclosures on both sides along this part of the park.
The young Pygmy Hippo was very funny and clambered all over it's mum, ducking her underwater and sitting on her head.
Finally one Giant Anteater was outside and the other fast asleep in a hairy pile. Strange-smelling creatures-vaguely chemical.
After a quick visit to the shop-sadly very tacky nowadays I finally left at 2.30, very footsore after 4 and 1/2 hours.
My final conclusions-it seems much work is either in the works or needed to fill the large number of empty enclosures and I would like to see the cat collection brought back up to strength-how about some African Leopards for the African Zone, bring back the Jaguars, Lynx, Sumatran Tigers and Gir Lions. And what about Bengal Tiger and Chinese Tiger, Scottish Wild Cat, Pallas Cat, Puma or Fishing Cat?
And where have all the deer gone? Once upon a time there were Pere David's, Muntjac and several others.
Next stops will be London Zoo and London Sealife.
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