Marwell Wildlife Marwell Developments

Zambar

Zambar

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Park Guide - Encounter Village

The new walk-through aviary I mentioned a couple of months ago is now open in the old tamarin enclosure in Encounter Village. Currently housing waders and waterfowl present at the park, in time it is hoped to hold new species such as Von der Decken's Hornbills, Touracos and Glossy Starlings.

My e-mail newsletter also noted that the cafe in the Ark Gift Shop is now open.
 
yes i was there last month and noticed work going on in the shop but did not know it was going to be a cafe.
does Marwell need it in the shop really was hoping it was going to be some new stock to purchase
 
So where have the Golden Lion Tamarins been moved to? It seems a nice idea but I don't really see it appealing to a younger audience that much. Maybe something like a lorikeet walk through where you can also feed them would be more appropriate for children. Maybe a future idea *hint hint Marwell*

As for the cafe, it seems a bit odd sticking it in the gift shop, which is already on the small side, its always crowded when I go in there. I will have to judge for myself when I next visit.
 
Put a cafe in the Gift Shop and people will spend more time in there and potentially buy more stuff....
 
I've always thought a Lorikeet Feed/Walk-Through would be better, blend in well with the animal encounter and Australian theme. Combining it by opening up the mound again with another small mammal species would be nice too.

The shop will also be moving to a new entrance site at the top of the park in a couple of years, so the current building will become a cafe with perhaps a few animal exhibits.
 
Zambar said:
The shop will also be moving to a new entrance site at the top of the park in a couple of years, so the current building will become a cafe with perhaps a few animal exhibits.
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Fair enough..

Do you know what the current projection is timewise for them having Gorillas- and is it planned to be 'males only' at least to start with?
 
Gorillas, no idea. It's been thrown back and forth ever since Cretney set out a target to get them in 2005, but it's trusted that they'll arrive at some point, after they've sorted out the new entrance at least (I'm hoping the 2011 conservation campaign will be focused on primates, so that they can be the next project! :p). With several of the masterplan's 'must-haves' done by then (cafe/valley/woodland/entrance), it seems plausible that would be next.
And when they do arrive, the plan would be to start with a bachelor group. :)
 
Do you know if this primate campaign will affect any of the hoofstock herds that Marwell is famous for. Are there any plans online for their masterplan?
 
The lack of primate species in general and especially apes has always been a hole in the collection IMO. But is well made up for by the hoofstock. Wasnt there talk of wanting to add Bonobo's at one time?
 
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I believe, and I may be wrong, but they're headed for the Chapman Zebra and Wildebeest enclosures. Obviously, after some alterations to the area.
 
The primate campaign is pure speculation LO, note the I'm hoping. Keep a look out for those here, wrong information can overcomplicate a lot of things. ;) No plans online yet either.

Bonobo's were planned originally, but Twycross were unhappy with the decision.

And yep, that's where they'd be headed.
 
Gavin123 said:
The lack of primate species in general and especially apes has always been a hole in the collection IMO. But is well made up for by the hoofstock. Wasnt there talk of wanting to add Bonobo's at one time?
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Historically, Marwell has never been a collection renowned for Primates, which are rather a specialist group requiring a lot of care and attention to keep and breed successfully. Most zoos having larger primate collections have developed them from an initial specialist interest of the owner/management, whereas in Marwell's case the early focus was on Ungulates and Cats, never Primates.

There have been some moves in later years to redress this lack, with the arrival of the Siamangs, Sulawesi Macaques, and various Lemurs and Tamarins/Marmosets. But three other Monkey species they have kept- Hamlyn's Owl faced, Diana Monkey and Western Colobus, have not been very successful at all, so Marwell still isn't recognisable as a 'primate' establishment (they don't claim to be).

Gorillas, when they come, will no doubt be added simply as a high profile attraction/visitor draw.(no harm in that;)) Again, as Marwell historically has no experience with these complex primates, its likely they will be allocated a group of 'males only' with which to gain the initial experience of keeping them.
 
I do wonder that if they didn't keep building these expensive buildings they might get some more species instead-yet another cafe?

If people want the tat they currently sell in the shop they would buy that in a marquee!

And OK-the new entrance is very pretty but hardly essential when funds could be allocated more sensibly.

After all, people are going to see the animals not the entrance!

I know I've said before I'm in the Knowles camp, but I do wonder if the Cretney team have got their heads screwed on?
 
I understand the need for environmentally-sound visitor centres which combine additional-spend facilities. I also understand the importance of research-based facilities, especially with university links locally. However, the natural landscape of the park really doesn't lend itself to over-developed themed exhibits, and it would be a shame if these continue to appear. The gibbon area is a classic example of this - at a fraction of the cost these animals could have been given something similar to monkey world's siamang enclosure, and the anoa have basically remained with a yard, albeit with some woodchip and temple-themed rockwork as a backdrop, when Marwell has acres of mature woodland and indeed used to house the anoa at times in these woodland paddocks.

With regard to primates, Marwell has long held a successful group of Sulawesi macaques, however guenons and colobus have proven not to be successful here. I am surprised at ISIS now showing a single diana monkey and just 2 male colobus. With two such important species, I would have thought keeping them on rotation with a single outdoor enclosure once the zoo found they were not compatible, and holding a rapidly breeding group of about 10 crested porcupines on the tiled floor of their indoor enclosure for the last few years would not have been a suitable setup for either monkey species. I am sure that, given the last few developments, the possibility of a lower-budget monkey enclosure just being built without all the theming and marketing fanfare and therefore necessary fundraising, would not have been viewed as an option.
 
johnstoni said:
I The gibbon area is a classic example of this - at a fraction of the cost these animals could have been given something similar to monkey world's siamang enclosure.

I am surprised at ISIS now showing a single diana monkey and just 2 male colobus.
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I agree with the first statement- and despite the expense and theming the Siamangs still can't use this 'fancy' enclosure properly as its not furnished effectively for them to swing/travel in the higher areas- bamboo poles would help a great deal here. Every time I've see them the Siamangs are on the ground. To my mind it shows a basic lack of understanding of their needs. Whereas MonkeyWorld's simple enclosure surrounding a couple(?) of Pine trees gives their Siamangs far more scope for activity.

The ISIS listing is correct. I believe the male Diana has been moved abroad(?) but I would prefer to see one or other of these two species dropped, (or perhaps both replaced by one different species) given there is only the one(very good) outside enclosure.
 
I was just browsing ebay and looking at old Zoo Memorabilia and came across this (Its collection of postcards for zoos mainly in the UK):

Collection of Zoo Postcards Bristol London Marwell on eBay (end time 19-Oct-10 20:02:43 BST)

One of the postcards depicts a pair of Black Rhinoceros at Marwell. I was not aware that Marwell ever kept the species.

Can someone confirm when/if they were ever exhibited at Marwell and where?

I have only know White Rhinoceros at Marwell...
 
Yep, Marwell originally had a pair of black rhinos which arrived in 1980/81, Kes and Katie. However Kes died of health problems six years later and sadly Katie followed three weeks later of unrelated causes. They were kept in the current rhino area, though the house was extended a bit when the whites arrived as they're backs were touching the roof!
 
Thank you.

Can you tell me a little about the Clouded Leopards that Marwell used to keep?

Also why did they not return to keeping Black Rhino?
 
Zambar said:
Yep, Marwell originally had a pair of black rhinos which arrived in 1980/81, Kes and Katie. However Kes died of health problems six years later and sadly Katie followed three weeks later of unrelated causes. They were kept in the current rhino area, though the house was extended a bit when the whites arrived as they're backs were touching the roof!
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The male black rhinoceros was born at London Zoo in 1978 and sent to Marwell in 1980.

The female black rhinoceros was born at Whipsnade in 1979 and sent to Marwell in 1981.

Both animals had the same father, so they were half brother and sister.

They both died in 1986.
 
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