Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoo update

adrian1963

adrian1963

Well-Known Member
Just visited the zoo found the zoo to bit a quiet I suppose with the kid's going back to school then people have probaly run out of money
Being quiet actually made it better as some of the animals that are usally a bit hard to find were actually about today.
First bit of info is that they will not be having a mate for sarah the sumartran tiger I was told this is because she's to old now so they've decided to let her retire from the breeding programme and enjoy for retirement
Secondly the same goes for the hymulian black bear shes to old to breed so why ot let her retire in peace
They intend to have new breeding pairs of both tiger & bears once the others have passed onto better things both will be in new enclosures.
The snow leopards are still being introduced to each other and by the looks of it the female still rules the roost.
the orangatang house as actually been started I was told this is phase one they are making it so the public can again walk through the back of the enclosure (not sure if I like this idea as the orangatangs will have no privacy during the day) with the front of the enclosure being done at alater date (phase two)
There could be a new arrival shortly a male macaques he will be going into the new enclosure at the primate house.
And lastly the new chimpanzee enclosure has been put on hold that's why they built the new climbing frame then.
 
Sarah the Tiger is very well represented with 8 cubs so it would be totally pointless bringing in a new male for her at her age. Did you hear anything about a new mate for Itar the young lion once Gir passes away?
 
There was a sujection that they would be bringing in a couple of females when Itar passed on but I would wait and see as some of the gossip is unreliable
 
Orangutans at Dudley.

Maybe a moderator will want to move this thread which should be in the UK section.

From this information it appears Dudley's Orangutans are staying in the 50+ year old Apehouse if these sort of renovations(phases 1 & 2) are planned- so once again, still no new House for them in the foreseeable future?
 
EvilKittie said:
hmm another thing they've gone back on! :confused::confused: but hopefully they will do it up well!
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And are you really surprized by this news?

I will defend Dudley for most things but not giving the Orangs a new home I can't defend, this is very poor indeed.
 
chizlit said:
And are you really surprized by this news?

I will defend Dudley for most things but not giving the Orangs a new home I can't defend, this is very poor indeed.
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But we don't even know what they're doing yet! Give 'em a chance! :D
 
Maguari said:
But we don't even know what they're doing yet! Give 'em a chance! :D
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Granted, but they did say they would get a new home as their number one priority.
Indeed we will have to wait and see what happens, but I can't see how they are going to improve something that should be pulled down.
Also why start work on doing the inside quarters first just so the public can can back inside (if that's really what is happening), it's the outside that needs the work doing.
 
chizlit said:
Granted, but they did say they would get a new home as their number one priority.
Indeed we will have to wait and see what happens, but I can't see how they are going to improve something that should be pulled down.
Also why start work on doing the inside quarters first just so the public can can back inside (if that's really what is happening), it's the outside that needs the work doing.
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I doubt it's just for the public's benefit - if the indoors is still how it was when the public last had access then it's very much the indoor animal areas that are the problem - small, low and dark. I think the outside is much more serviceable than the indoors, to be honest, so I think they're entirely right to start with the indoors.

And I still can't see why people are so against adapting this house (even if not for orang-utans) and are insistent on the wrecking ball...
 
Maguari said:
I doubt it's just for the public's benefit - if the indoors is still how it was when the public last had access then it's very much the indoor animal areas that are the problem - small, low and dark. I think the outside is much more serviceable than the indoors, to be honest, so I think they're entirely right to start with the indoors.

And I still can't see why people are so against adapting this house (even if not for orang-utans) and are insistent on the wrecking ball...
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If the inside was / is such a problem why has it taken so long to do something about it?
They can't use the excuse of lack of funds having just spent £150,000 on the new lion exhibit, the lions could have stayed where they were for a while longer as their enclosure was ok, but the orangs need a change for the better.
So either they have now found big funds to give the place a real face lift or it will be just a cheap make do job.
As for the adapting of the orang house rather then knocking it down, well I know you like it, but I don't see what could be done with it to make it look any different than a eyesore without really knocking it about.
 
chizlit said:
If the inside was / is such a problem why has it taken so long to do something about it?
They can't use the excuse of lack of funds having just spent £150,000 on the new lion exhibit, the lions could have stayed where they were for a while longer as their enclosure was ok, but the orangs need a change for the better.
So either they have now found big funds to give the place a real face lift or it will be just a cheap make do job.
As for the adapting of the orang house rather then knocking it down, well I know you like it, but I don't see what could be done with it to make it look any different than a eyesore without really knocking it about.
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I can't answer why it's taken so long to sort the inside - if I was being cynical I'd suggest it was a case of 'out of sight, out of mind' - if the visitors can't see it, the zoo would rather spend money where they can see it! To be a bit more forgiving, it may be that they have been waiting for a certain level of funding to be there to tackle the orang house, or they may simply have needed time to work out what they were going to do! All my own speculation, of course.

In terms of not wanting it knocked down, it's really not a question of me liking it or it being ugly or beautiful - it's one of very few large ape enclosures of that era that are left in existence so I'd like to see it preserved. I await with interest what Dudley's current work is going to produce!
 
Maguari said:
I can't answer why it's taken so long to sort the inside - if I was being cynical I'd suggest it was a case of 'out of sight, out of mind' - if the visitors can't see it, the zoo would rather spend money where they can see it! To be a bit more forgiving, it may be that they have been waiting for a certain level of funding to be there to tackle the orang house, or they may simply have needed time to work out what they were going to do! All my own speculation, of course.

In terms of not wanting it knocked down, it's really not a question of me liking it or it being ugly or beautiful - it's one of very few large ape enclosures of that era that are left in existence so I'd like to see it preserved. I await with interest what Dudley's current work is going to produce!
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Good points. I'll try to keep you posted on what's happening on my visits to the zoo.
 
The reason for the Lion Enclosure being done first was that the money was given to the zoo for that reason by a sponsor and the Orangutan House as taken so long due to planning permission. Also they eventually managed to get all the funding in place again thanks to a member of the zoo and not council funding as suggested in the local press not that long ago.
The outside of the Orang House should be started soon again this was delayed thanks to the planning permission hopefully this will now go ahead and make the area more inticing for the Orangs.
 
It's great to hear that they will be starting work on the outdoor orang area soon. The work that has to go on before hand with findings and permissions always amazes me
 
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