Animals we miss the most

[Waddi]

Thanks Pertinax, any dates for Sibu or Anak?

 

[Parrotsandrew]

In these days when Red River Hogs are such a common exhibit in our Zoos, its strange to think Thurston was one of only two of these Hogs in a UK zoo in those days(the other being at Paignton.)

He was extra special to me as I loved the little moated enclosure he occupied. I had a real thing about moats in those days.

 

[Pertinax]

He was extra special to me as I loved the little moated enclosure he occupied. I had a real thing about moats in those days.

He was the first Red River Hog I ever saw and the only one I knew of for many years. The one at Paignton I saw much later, it was a decrepit female, not in its prime like Thurston was.

 

[Julz]

Mercedes and Babu the red panda are big misses for me at HWP. I remember first seeing red pandas at Edinburgh and being fascinated by them.

Going back further I miss the elephant from Glasgow Zoo (Katie or Kirsty, I can't remember her name ATM) and Adimula the Tiger. Partly because of the memories of trips to the zoo, which are precious childhood memories, and the first two animals I can remember seeing at the zoo.

 

[gentle lemur]

The animals I miss the most are the greater vasa parrots which used to live in the Oakfield Aviaries at Chester. The least colourful of all parrots, except perhaps for the black lory and the lesser vasa (which Chester also kept some years ago); but they had attractive personalities and I never knew what they would be doing when I turned right at the spectacled owl aviary. Active, interesting and good breeders too.
I'm glad the zoo kept the Derbyan parakeets when they demolished the Oakfield aviaries, but I wish they had kept the vasa parrots too.

Alan

 

[Pertinax]

I'm glad the zoo kept the Derbyan parakeets when they demolished the Oakfield aviaries,

I've noticed the Derbyan Parakeets on my infrequent Chester visits- probably because they are unusual in Zoos and Chester have a large flock. I just looked on ISIS and only two other UK collections are listed as having them-Basildon(the Child Beale Trust at Pangbourne),one pair, and Twycross(5).

I think they are fairly common in Aviculture on the other hand.

 

[adrian1963]

Birmingham Botanicle Gardens had 3 pairs in the avairies in the middle of the main lawn area in july this year

 

[Nisha]

Thanks Pertinax, any dates for Sibu or Anak?

Sibu returned in 2008 (after leaving in 2002 or there abouts) but died at Chester less than two years later...

 

[Waddi]

Thanks Nisha, definately Sibu then, the time I was talking about was late 90's early 2000's.

So on his return Sibu could be seen in RoRA then?

 

[Parrotsandrew]

Going back further I miss the elephant from Glasgow Zoo (Katie or Kirsty, I can't remember her name ATM)

It was Kirsty I think. She went to Chester.

On the subject of Chester, I didn't know the Oakfield aviaries had been demolished. I'm saying nothing. The Derbyan Parakeet is a lovely species. Flamingo Land had one a few years ago (a cock bird), but could not pair it up so it was disposed of. I was not happy.