Dudley Zoological Gardens Update on Dudley Lions
- Thread starter fire&ice
- Start date
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Well if they have started work then they are doing it to the best of my knowledge without planning permission which would not be a good idea because if its refused they would have to take it all down,which would not be very clever!
As for them having an empty Lion enclosure I can live with that as its not the best of Lion exhibits in the country!
Dawn B
Well-Known Member
I agree its a poor enclosure to say the least. I did also see things about "Sri-Lankan experience" when I visited two weeks ago. "Himalaya" looks great!!
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
I agree Himalaya is looking good.But the Sri Lankan experience is just the new walk way that is going around the Elephants and nothing more than that just hope its better than the Bornean Long House!
Well, just a thought ... I do think the Long House can be a great exhibit if they put it right off center of a Indonesia/S.E. Asia primate and tapir + biogeographical zone and really start show-casing their leaf eating langurs, pileated gibbons and orangs ....!
This would be great having all these species in one area, and its something I have commented on. However I have no idea how much it would cost moving everything together. A massive amount I reckon.
Maybe they've not started proper work on it yet and im just getting confused with the elephant walkway part being built. yeah its not the best exhibit, however that's why its going completely or going to house another species. I don't know whats going to happen to the empty enclosure, do you zoo giraffe? Also the enclosures size and lack of originality is probably why the new enclosure is being built. I personally think that the new lion and dhole enclosures which will rotate for scent enrichment will be a great exhibit.
N.B I quite like the long house, even though it does get a lot of stick. Not sure about the animal/bird content but I like how its done.
Paulkarli08
Well-Known Member
It makes sense for the Twycross females to move to Dudley, they are basically doing nothing at Twycross, and who knows when a male would arrive and their new enclosure is started, let alone finished. Moving to Dudley is good planning, and at least they can participate in the breeding programme they where born into.
Good move as well Gir going to the Cotswolds, a retirement group
Just need Paignton zoo (and Edinburgh zoo again!) to get a move on and start breeding their lions!
Good move as well Gir going to the Cotswolds, a retirement group
Just need Paignton zoo (and Edinburgh zoo again!) to get a move on and start breeding their lions!
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
I wish I could give you a straight answer to this question but I cannot but knowing Twycross it will be different!
You've got my vote for "Optimist Of The Year" award
Given the enclosure is no longer mentioned in the guide book or on the map I'd guess we'd be lucky if it were complete by June 2011.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
It is still on the maps round the zoo but its no longer mentioned on the map on the guide book which only came out 4 months ago,while the maps around the zoo have been up for at least 12 months!
adrian1963
Well-Known Member
Spoke to a keeper today 9th november and was told they are hoping to have 2 lionesses from Twycross arrive Tuesday 17th November,
He told me they would not be returning to Twycross, if they are not mentioned in guide book I think we now know why they're not mentioned
He told me they would not be returning to Twycross, if they are not mentioned in guide book I think we now know why they're not mentioned
Because of the timespan involved before Twycross' new enclosure is built(?) I am not surprised to hear that.
If Twycross still do build the new enclosure, being the Studbook Holders, presumably they can allocate themselves some new lions when/if the time comes..
(Studbooks are sometimes held by a zoo which doesn't currently keep that species- if they are still involved with it that is) I can't see them not having a major drawcard species like Lions permanently.
adrian1963
Well-Known Member
recieved the following E-Mail from Twycross zoo shortly ago this I hope will clear up one or two questions I've been asked
Dear Adrian
Your recent email has been forwarded onto me.
Our two female Asiatic lions will be moving to Dudley Zoo next week and will be remaining there with a young male that Dudley received from Planckendael Zoo in Belgium earlier this year (their older female has recently been transferred to the Cotswold Wildlife Park). This is primarily because we are becoming increasingly unhappy with our currentlion enclosure, although also because this move will put them into abreeding situation in a much larger enclosure. We do have plans in place for a new lion enclosure, as part of a much larger development for Asian carnivores. This isn't scheduled for completion for several years yet so following the transfer of our females to Dudley we will stop keeping lions here at Twycross until the new enclosure is completed. It isimpossible to be able to predict what lions we will then have at Twycross but at this stage there are no plans for these two females toreturn to Twycross.
The females in question are: Kyra - born 21/4/06 to Royal and Kamleshand
Asha - born 17/5/06 to Royal and Gita. Both were born at Edinburgh.
I hope that this answers your question.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Dorman CuratorEEP Co-ordinator for Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persicus)
I hope this will answer one or two questions
Dear Adrian
Your recent email has been forwarded onto me.
Our two female Asiatic lions will be moving to Dudley Zoo next week and will be remaining there with a young male that Dudley received from Planckendael Zoo in Belgium earlier this year (their older female has recently been transferred to the Cotswold Wildlife Park). This is primarily because we are becoming increasingly unhappy with our currentlion enclosure, although also because this move will put them into abreeding situation in a much larger enclosure. We do have plans in place for a new lion enclosure, as part of a much larger development for Asian carnivores. This isn't scheduled for completion for several years yet so following the transfer of our females to Dudley we will stop keeping lions here at Twycross until the new enclosure is completed. It isimpossible to be able to predict what lions we will then have at Twycross but at this stage there are no plans for these two females toreturn to Twycross.
The females in question are: Kyra - born 21/4/06 to Royal and Kamleshand
Asha - born 17/5/06 to Royal and Gita. Both were born at Edinburgh.
I hope that this answers your question.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Dorman CuratorEEP Co-ordinator for Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persicus)
I hope this will answer one or two questions
Its good that they say they are going due to unhappiness of the enclosure, however for the Asian carnivores not be completed for several years it seems a bit odd. Lions are a major crowd puller. With all the cash Ive heard they have you'd think they get another building team on that job so they could maybe get lions by next year sometime. On the plans of the new lion and dhole enclosure it was literally a large piece of land with a moat in front so it'd be open and then they're sleeping quarters. Im pleased for the lions getting the big Dudley enclosure and the possibility of breeding, however as a memeber of the zoo who visits regularly im disappointed they wont have lions for potentially years. I wonder if the lion cage will be done up and house a smaller cat speices? e.g netted over at the top and hold clouded leopards, or even a stream hrough the middle and heavenly vegetated for fishing cats?
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
From what I have heard its not going to be netted over but it will be re-used for housing a cat species for awhile after the Lions have gone!
Im envious that ou know all of this ZooGiraffe lol. Any ideas what species it might be? If you cant say can you say like puma size etc. It would also be a good enclosure if it was roofed to home something like spider monkeys or that type of primate in size. There is a very large area for climbing equipment etc.
Also if there is going to be another cat species in it as they have said they are not happy with the enclosure, do you think it will be renovated before the new arrivals?