Edinburgh Zoo January 2011 - Highs and lows

T

TriGB

Well-Known Member
Visited Edinburgh over the weekend, the first visit for 6 months. I have been reading about the very hard winter they have had, both weather-wise, politically and financially with many days of closure due to health and safety etc. However, I wasn't quite prepared to see the zoo looking so sorry for itself.
Despite this there were some high's;
* Sea Eagles - both flying to and from the high perches to the ground and both interacting (almost courtship posturing?)
* Budongo - Lots of action; posturing, chasing and foraging outside.
* Koala bird exhibit - Birds coming close to path and feeding (excellent aviary!)
* Anteaters - both very active in an excellent enclosure.
* Lady Ross's Touraco - lovely display and good mix.
* Luzon Cloud rats - great and a perfect enclosure.
* Diana Monkeys - active and using the two big trees - great to see!
The Low's;
*Sun Bear exhibit - I read all about the developments on this site and I was really looking forward to this exhibit. The viewing gellery with educational material at the top is good but I was so disappointed to see that they've kept the polar bear moat as was. One bear was pacing back and forth and the negative 'chat' from the public was the kind I heard in zoo's a decade ago! It looked a sad sight! Can bark, tree trunks etc not be placed there without drainage being affected? I also expected the enclosure to be bigger from the posts on this site?
* The Drill enclosure - I was upset to see these amazing animals that are rarely seen in zoo's being kept in an enclousre that was barely big enough for a pair of Macaws. Why can't the zoo convert or create a Gelada stylie enclosure with space for them?
* Sumatran Tiger exhibit - OK, the male is recovering from surgery....but; how can the zoo justify the 'dressing' up of very small enclosures with foliage as ideal for tigers? Even if Sumatran's are small - the 'chat' from passing visitor's was again negative - little kids asking their parents why they couldn't run! If it's temporary while another enclosure is being built then they should say so - otherwise, this is not good enough!
* I understand the husbandry issues of keeping hoof stock. Why can't the management place signage explaining to people that have walked along way uphill to see a mixed african plains exhibit that sometimes they have to kept on hardstands!
* Rainbow Landings - the plan to keep so many monkey's indoors? Are they going to build outdoor runs, even off-show space? I'm getting fed-up with seeing monkeys being kept without sunlight - surely the zoo industry is bigger, better and wiser than these private aquarium set-ups that keep marmosets and tamarins in air-conditioned temple-themed caves?
 
TriGB said:
* The Drill enclosure - I was upset to see these amazing animals that are rarely seen in zoo's being kept in an enclousre that was barely big enough for a pair of Macaws. Why can't the zoo convert or create a Gelada stylie enclosure with space for them?
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Drills- I presume they are currently living in one of the traditional enclosures in the Monkey House? As they currently only have 1.2. they may see if they can breed them first before finding them a more spacious enclosure. I had thought they might end up in one of the old Gorilla House enclosures but they've been earmarked for the Pandas now.

I agree the Drills would be better displayed somewhere more roomy, especially if they do start to increase. However the zoo also has the Guinea baboons to rehouse now and their need may be more pressing at present..

Sun Bears- unfortunately no matter how attractive or enriched an enclosure is, they may still display a degree of stereotyped behavior if they have acquired it previously -as did London's female Sloth Bear.
 
Lanka, at ZSL, arrived with severe behavioural problems and its a miracle that London were ever able to get her to breed and raise cubs successfully. Her visible stereotyped behaviour also semeed to decrease the longer she was in ZSL's care. I am not aware of the captive history of the two bears at Edinburgh, but if one or both arrived already stereotyping, RZSS would do well to make this clear on signage around the exhibit as London did when the sloth bears arrived. It may well be the case that the sun bears did not arrive with any evidence of behavioural problems, I would be interested to learn if this is so.
 
TriGB said:
Visited Edinburgh over the weekend, the first visit for 6 months. I have been reading about the very hard winter they have had, both weather-wise, politically and financially with many days of closure due to health and safety etc. However, I wasn't quite prepared to see the zoo looking so sorry for itself.
Despite this there were some high's;
* Sea Eagles - both flying to and from the high perches to the ground and both interacting (almost courtship posturing?)
* Budongo - Lots of action; posturing, chasing and foraging outside.
* Koala bird exhibit - Birds coming close to path and feeding (excellent aviary!)
* Anteaters - both very active in an excellent enclosure.
* Lady Ross's Touraco - lovely display and good mix.
* Luzon Cloud rats - great and a perfect enclosure.
* Diana Monkeys - active and using the two big trees - great to see!
The Low's;
*Sun Bear exhibit - I read all about the developments on this site and I was really looking forward to this exhibit. The viewing gellery with educational material at the top is good but I was so disappointed to see that they've kept the polar bear moat as was. One bear was pacing back and forth and the negative 'chat' from the public was the kind I heard in zoo's a decade ago! It looked a sad sight! Can bark, tree trunks etc not be placed there without drainage being affected? I also expected the enclosure to be bigger from the posts on this site?
* The Drill enclosure - I was upset to see these amazing animals that are rarely seen in zoo's being kept in an enclousre that was barely big enough for a pair of Macaws. Why can't the zoo convert or create a Gelada stylie enclosure with space for them?
* Sumatran Tiger exhibit - OK, the male is recovering from surgery....but; how can the zoo justify the 'dressing' up of very small enclosures with foliage as ideal for tigers? Even if Sumatran's are small - the 'chat' from passing visitor's was again negative - little kids asking their parents why they couldn't run! If it's temporary while another enclosure is being built then they should say so - otherwise, this is not good enough!
* I understand the husbandry issues of keeping hoof stock. Why can't the management place signage explaining to people that have walked along way uphill to see a mixed african plains exhibit that sometimes they have to kept on hardstands!
* Rainbow Landings - the plan to keep so many monkey's indoors? Are they going to build outdoor runs, even off-show space? I'm getting fed-up with seeing monkeys being kept without sunlight - surely the zoo industry is bigger, better and wiser than these private aquarium set-ups that keep marmosets and tamarins in air-conditioned temple-themed caves?
Click to expand...

Sorry to read your visit to Edinburgh was not entirely enjoyable. I must admit I was surprised to see that sun bears have been homed in Mercedes old enclosure. I was never happy seeing Mercedes living in that place, in a way it spoilt my day, how ironic that her old home is opposite the Budongo Trail, an excellent facility for the chimps, you had the worst next to the best. However things have certainly improved for Mercedes in recent times, now happily living in the Highlands with her young toy boy Walker. I personally thought that once Mercedes had moved her old enclosure would have been demolished as it very much represented "old zoo" not tart it up for two sun bears. As Johnstoni states Lanka had severe behavioural problems while she lived at London zoo, even though these problems were caused at her previous home and not while living at Regents Park, poor old London zoo got it in the neck again from various animal welfare groups.
 
When the sun bears, Somnang and Rotana, first arrived they were showing extreme stereotype behaviour. In facte Somnang would not come out from the back off show area and it was possible to see him take two steps in each direction, the size of cage he was kept in when he was kept as a pet! Rotana ended up chasing him outdoors. They do have a tendency of showing pacing behaviours still but in areas where they either get a first glimpse of the keepers or where the keepers sometimes throw food in to them so they are obviously craving interaction. The keepers are working towards stopping this behaviour by feeding them at different places and times, much as is done with the chimpanzees. Given that they only arrived at the zoo last July, progress has been quite good. Especially with Somnang who can get a bit stressed at seemingly simple thing, like a branch not moving the way he would like! Their exact history before the rescue centre in Cambodia is not known.
 
idont understand what you mean about rainbow landings and mokeys being kept inside rainbow landings is birds not monkeys
 
The drills are in the enclosure on the left of the Monkey House entrance, so they have a long interior enclosure and a round outdoor one. It is a little bare and the outdoor section is not large, although it is quite tall.
I would love to see them in a planted enclosure lower down the hill, if I ruled the world I would give them the site of the African aviary (cranes, hammerkop, dikdik etc).
I think the sun bear enclosure is a great improvement on the old polar bear one, although I can understand that there may still be problems. But I do agree about Rainbow Landings - I'd prefer to see it used for reptiles.

Alan
 
Interesting to know about the Sun bears, it really needs to be made clear to the visiting public what progress these animals are making.
 
johnstoni said:
Interesting to know about the Sun bears, it really needs to be made clear to the visiting public what progress these animals are making.
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Absolutely, as you previously stated London informed the visitors via the signage about Lanka's behaviour being caused by her previous living conditions at Warsaw I believe. I am not saying the sun bear's enclosure at Edinburgh is fantastic, However I bet it is heaven compared to where they lived prior to the sanctuary at Cambodia,I will follow their progress with interest, hopefully their condition will improve with good husbandry.
 
As Pertinax alluded to above, there used to be a sign in the monkey house stating that the drills and aye-ayes were going to be moved into the refurbished ape house. With the aye-ayes gone and pandas coming this is obviously not going to happen, which is a pity as the drills outdoor enclosure is so poor.

I also agree with the OP's comments about the tigers - last time I was there I heard many negative comments, also there were several in the visitors' book. The enclosures are fine for eg Pallas' cat but anyone can see they are far too small for tigers.
 
gentle lemur said:
The drills are in the enclosure on the left of the Monkey House entrance, so they have a long interior enclosure and a round outdoor one. It is a little bare and the outdoor section is not large, although it is quite tall.
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Last time I went(some years ago now) there were Hamlyn's monkeys in that one (when the Hamlyn's were still prospering at about 6 animals). I hope they are successful with breeding from the Drills-a 2nd bloodline might see them eventually become a bit better established in the UK.

The third group- at Woburn- is comprised at present of (5) castrated males only, though there is talk of them wanting to bring in breeders as well. Currently they probably have the best(most spacious) enclosure of the three UK groups though.
 
The Sunbear enclosure is over twice the size of Mercedes old habitat, you have to remember they removed the old wildcat habitat (which was of a decent size) to create the upper back forest area for the bears to roam about in.
Have to admit though, this is the first time i've heard negative thoughts on the habitat, everyone elses I heard have been approving.

As simon says, these pair were caged animals kept as pets in their past :( so they have come a long way compared to how they were.
 
Simon McGlary said:
Jaguar 1.0 . Sadly the female had to be put to sleep after developing a tumour that was affecting the brain.
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Was this Tina? When did that happen, not heard anything about it? I went to the Jaguar enclosure when I visited last June, but didn't see either of them - didn't look for too long though since I see them often at Chester, and there were plenty of new species for me to see :D
 
Meant to add, the jaguars were initially moved there whilst the tigers served quarantine in the lower enclosures. The top enclosures where the jaguars are aren't quarantine approved, the lower ones are. Whilst serving quarantine it was confirmed that one will move and a new one sourced, most likely from a zoo outside the UK. This was felt that any additional moving would cause unnecessary stress on the tigers and so it would be better to wait for the new female to arrive and serve her quarantine before moving both.
Also, with large carnivores, they tend to move less when food is readily available. Coupled with the fact the enclosures look much smaller from the windows than they really are!
Due to limited space and money it is difficult to put as much information up at enclosures as zoos or their visitors would like. This is why a talks programme and the fact that many keepers are quite approachable to ask questions is important. This allows the public to find out more.
 
Javan Rhino said:
Was this Tina? When did that happen, not heard anything about it? I went to the Jaguar enclosure when I visited last June, but didn't see either of them - didn't look for too long though since I see them often at Chester, and there were plenty of new species for me to see :D
Click to expand...

Yes, that was Tina. After moving to the top enclosures she really started to become a jaguar. For those that aren't aware of Tina's history, she was a rescue animal from a Belgian circus where she had been declawed and defanged! At least she had some good years at Edinburgh Zoo.
 
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