Edinburgh Zoo Developments at Edinburgh Zoo

[kiang]

On the afternoon of Sunday 1 August, a Chinese goral escaped from its enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo. Chinese goral pose no threat to humans and the animal remained within the vicinity of the enclosure with ...keepers aware of its location at all times.

Despite efforts to return the male, known as Bobbi, by using food to encourage him back into his enclosure, he could not be caught. Staff using a sedation dart gun successfully recaptured the animal just 40 minutes after it escaped.

At no time was the Zoo closed to visitors although the pathways immediately around the enclosure were restricted while capture efforts continued. Investigations into how this animal escaped are on-going and any weaknesses in the enclosure will be rectified before any animals are returned to it.

Lifted from the zoos facebook page

 

[Shoebill]

Do you know if all the 'verus' individuals are from the new/dutch group? And what the policy will be about any breeding of them?

I believe two males from the original group were Western chimpanzees.

No breeding should take place until the two groups are completely settled together and relative harmony has been restored, any premature births would only act as a catalyst for aggression in these early stages of mixing.

 

[Pertinax]

No breeding should take place until the two groups are completely settled together and relative harmony has been restored, any premature births would only act as a catalyst for aggression in these early stages of mixing.

Good point. They will probably delay breeding for a while then, while there's still tension in the group.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I believe two males from the original group were Western chimpanzees.

No breeding should take place until the two groups are completely settled together and relative harmony has been restored, any premature births would only act as a catalyst for aggression in these early stages of mixing.

Not agreed. I would advocate 2 groups: one hybrid/other ssp. group + one group true ssp. verus (with the 2 old verus males) and let them go on to breed (this in my view would increase bonding within the group.

 

[monkeygambler]

Not agreed. I would advocate 2 groups: one hybrid/other ssp. group + one group true ssp. verus (with the 2 old verus males) and let them go on to breed (this in my view would increase bonding within the group.

Even with your idea, there would still be discontent and would still take time for the 2 separate groups to settle, meaning the previous point which stated the 'super group' required time to settle still applies here as your 2 small groups are a mixture of new and old chimps so there is still the politics.

If that makes any sense.

 

[cracker]

Not agreed. I would advocate 2 groups: one hybrid/other ssp. group + one group true ssp. verus (with the 2 old verus males) and let them go on to breed (this in my view would increase bonding within the group.

The problem with this would be managing 2 groups in one enclosure. While the mixing of the new group obviously meant that some animals were kept separate for a period of time, the new enclosure was not designed for 2 groups and only one group could have access outside at any one time which would not be ideal considering the whole point of the new enclosure was to let the chimps decide where they wanted to be in the enclosure (one of three pods or the outside area).

 

[Goretex]

Hello,

I went to Edinbrough zoo on wednesday it was busy:

I was very impressed with the "Budongo chimp trail" my only real critisum was that some of the viewing was blocked oweing to parents watching there kids in the nearby playground!! I'm delighted by how well the 2 groups of chimps are getting on with each other.

The sun bears were inside but they seemed relaxed. I like there enclosure and I did like the successfull breeding group of geladas' enclousre I think Colchester would have a few things to learn from them. I was also pleased with how they'd refurbished the old giraffe paddock for the Indian rhinos.

I do think on a less positive note I feel that some of the big cat accomodation needs to be bigger. It was too busy round there to see them.

There was no penguin parade!!! But I enjoyed watching the king penguins being fed.

We were holidaying in Northumberland and had done a lot of Roman things that week so this was a nice change. It was a fair effort to get there. We've been and done this before 6 years ago.

 

[Shoebill]

I am just back from a brilliant zoo trip. Today I focused in on the zoo's primate collection. Some interesting moves have occured...

There are now two empty enclosures within the "Magic Forest". They are being redeveloped with lots of vertical branches and plants. These being the red titi monkey enclosure and the old cotton top tamarin enclosure (these have now left the collection), the pair of red titi's are now being housed down in the walk-through lemur enclosure. I do hope that these redeveloped enclosures go on to house some interesting rainforest bird species instead of yet more New World primates!

The white-faced saki group within the Magic Forest looks brilliant. All of the youngsters are looking somewhat grown up! I am sure they will be moving on soon.

Down in the old ring tailed lemur enclosure now lives a group of red bellied lemurs and mongoose lemurs.
The blue-eyed black's can still be found in the prism enclosure with walkway. In my opinion this has always been a far too small an enclosure, no wonder these animals are over-weight!
The walk-through now houses both the red-fronted brown lemur and the red titi monkey.

Over at the monkey house; the group of purple-faced langurs were looking brilliant. The male was abit stressy with all the visitors looking at the infant.
Also the yellow-breasted capuchin (Cebus xanthosternos) family has grown in numbers very quickly. Brilliant news for a Critically Endangered species.

Overall, a fab afternoon!

 

[Shoebill]

A young pair of North Luzon cloud rats have arrived at the zoo and are now living in the former red titi enclosure. What a fast turn around!

Do you think the red titis will remain in the walkthrough or be moved on?

 

[kiang]

The reindeer have all departed and the paddock is to be used by a breeding group of vicuna, as per their facebook page.

all of reindeer left us last week, I am not too sure where they went to so I'll get back to you on that. A breeding group of Vicuna will replace them in the next month or so.

 

[Javan Rhino]

The reindeer have all departed and the paddock is to be used by a breeding group of vicuna, as per their facebook page.

all of reindeer left us last week, I am not too sure where they went to so I'll get back to you on that. A breeding group of Vicuna will replace them in the next month or so.

They've gone to Pitcastle Estate in Perthshire, according to the later comment on the facebook post

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

They've gone to Pitcastle Estate in Perthshire, according to the later comment on the facebook post

I take it these are your regular reindeer (and not the very rare forest reindeer R. tarandus fennicus)?

 

[Simon McGlary]

I take it these are your regular reindeer (and not the very rare forest reindeer R. tarandus fennicus)?

If you mean tundra reindeer, yes!

 

[Maguari]

If you mean tundra reindeer, yes!

RZSS calls them 'Tundra Reindeer' presumably to distinguish them from the Forest Reindeer (fennicus) at HWP. Everyone else calls them domestic Reindeer - they're not a wild form (which 'Tundra Reindeer' - to me - implies).

 

[gerenuk]

When the Chacoan peccaries arrive next year, where would they go?

 

[kiang]

When the Chacoan peccaries arrive next year, where would they go?

What Chacoan peccaries, this is news to me?
Do you have any further info gerenuk?

 

[Maguari]

When the Chacoan peccaries arrive next year, where would they go?

OK, now I'm interested!


I've heard nothing of Chacoans coming in - big news if so.

 

[sooty mangabey]

OK, now I'm interested!


I've heard nothing of Chacoans coming in - big news if so.

Big news now, but just you wait until they start breeding....

 

[Simon McGlary]

When the Chacoan peccaries arrive next year, where would they go?

News to me too!

There is a second douroucoulli arrived and they are now sharing their enclosure with a new pygmy marmoset pair!

 

[Rhinopithecus]

Chacoans

Indeed there are very advanced plans to bring at least two potential breeding groups of Chacoan peccaries into Europe - spring next year. Would be nice to see and hopefully will replace some of hybrid collared peccaries still on show in many zoos.