Beijing Zoo Some update information of Beijing Zoo

[Terp]

baboon - thank you for these updates. I visited the Beijing Zoo in 2009 and am really pleased to hear about a new Felid house. It was clearly a zoo transitioning for the better when I was there, but a ways to go in parts and in particular the exhibits for the smaller cats weren't great. The caracal exhibit in particular was very poor and left a lasting impression stuck. Are you aware of any link where we might see photos of the new building?

Also, if you could provide a bit more detail as to the loss of gorilla and clouded leopard it'd be much appreciated. Did these animals die or were the transferred to other facilities?

Thanks!

 

[baboon]

The new felid house is a shame! I think it is even worse than the old one, because at least the old one seperates the big cats from the smaller cats. However, now they put all the cats except tigers and lions into the new felid house! Now, the cheetahs and jaguars become neighbour, thus the two poor cheetahs are often scared by the jaguars. But in fact the jaguars are more frustrated, because they used to have a very lush and big enclosure in "Tiger and Lion Hill", but after the new felid house completed, they are moved into the very small cages inside the new felid house, and their old lush enclosure is given to new-coming white lions. Besides the cheetah, the poorer leopard cats, Pallas' cats and carcals also become the neighbours of angry leopards and jaguars.
I say the big cats are angry, because all the cages of big cats are very small, even poorer than the old ones. You can't imagine this is indeed a newly-constructed exhibit of a 21st century zoo! And especially these cages are for the highly-precious animals such as Amur leopards, snow leopards and Chinese desert cat! Now, except all the snow leopards are sent to northwest China for a breeding program, the other big cats are all moved into the new felid house, according to the website of the zoo; but those ones who have gone to the zoo say most of the cages are empty, and no leopards inside them~
The new felid house is a two-storied building, but it doesn't means that the leopards enjoy a two-storied enclosure. The true is, some cats are kept in the second floor, and the othes are kept in the first floor. But all the cages for the big cats are just big enough for they turn their bodies. Ironically, they bulid a large specimen exhibit room inside the new felid house!
Then about the clouded leopard, the zoo website says it is dead. So does the gorillas, the male one, who comes from Spain, died several years ago, the female, who comes from Japan, died this year earlier; both of them are too old, and their only son, was sent to Zhengzhou Zoo two dozens of yeas ago.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Is the breeding programme for snow leopards now concentrated at Xining Zoo, Xinjiang Province? How many snowleopards and ages where transferred there from Beijing?

 

[baboon]

The breeding program is in Xinjiang, but not in Xining Zoo, as the Xining Zoo is in Qinghai Province~ The website doesn't say which zoo or breeding center holds the snow leopards.
Meanwhile, another good news. One worker of Beijing Zoo has just said in the web that there are still lion-tailed macaques in the Zoo, but in the off-exhibit area. I had thought they all disappeard several years ago~

 

[Terp]

Thanks for the info, quite a shame to hear they've invested in a sup-par facility for such a fantastic collection.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

The breeding program is in Xinjiang, but not in Xining Zoo, as the Xining Zoo is in Qinghai Province~ The website doesn't say which zoo or breeding center holds the snow leopards.
Meanwhile, another good news. One worker of Beijing Zoo has just said in the web that there are still lion-tailed macaques in the Zoo, but in the off-exhibit area. I had thought they all disappeard several years ago~

Yes, you are right. I got the geography wrong.
It may be the Urumqi Zoo ... then.
Would love to know whether that is a Yes.

 

[baboon]

I have just asked the snow leopards' condition on Beijing Zoo's forum, but there is no reply yet~~ However, the Urumqi Zoo will be removed soon by the government, and the animals inside will be given to a newly-constructed "Safari Park". You know this is a common fate of most city zoos in China during these years

 

[yangz]

All three species are easy to see, but winter seems better.

Thank you Baboon for all your updates on Beijing Zoo and Chinese zoos in general. I was curious. Why is it better to see the snub nosed monkeys better in winter? Since they live in a temparete climate in the wild, do they have some physical changes during the colder months?

 

[baboon]

Thank you Baboon for all your updates on Beijing Zoo and Chinese zoos in general. I was curious. Why is it better to see the snub nosed monkeys better in winter? Since they live in a temparete climate in the wild, do they have some physical changes during the colder months?

Just because Beijing's summer is too hot, and the monkeys are lazy and sleepy most of the time. And because all three species live in the cool high mountains, especially for the black snob-nosed monkeys, they are more accustomed to Beijing's winter~ All three species have long and thick fur, and feed on usnea and lichen heavily in winter.

 

[baboon]

During yesterday's visiting, I saw a new-born Yunnan snob-nosed monkey, less than one year old. The newly-exhibited species include a group of sugar gliders, one Siberian flying squirrel, a pair of Narcondam Hornbills and a pair of Kalij Pheasants. But sadly it seems that the only lowland tapir in the zoo is gone; and the small Indian civet, brush-tailed possums, red-handed tamarins and brush-tailed porcupines are all lost.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

How large is the Yunnan (black) snub-nosed group in Beijing?

 

[baboon]

How large is the Yunnan (black) snub-nosed group in Beijing?

They have two families on exhibit, each family has one dominate male and other two or three family members.

 

[Jurek7]

a pair of Narcondam Hornbills

Do you know how zoo got these, or maybe post a photo? Narcondam hornbill must be one of the most difficult birds to get for a zoo. It is endangered and lives only on a tiny Indian island of Narcondam which is also military base with restricted entry. Is it possible they are other hornbill species?

 

[Chlidonias]

I completely overlooked that passing reference to Narcondam hornbills! This species does sometimes leave the island (illegally) -- I just did a quick google search and apparently there was an escaped one at large in Singapore in 2009! (wildsingapore news: Have we done homework on hornbills in Singapore?). I suppose China may have been able to obtain a pair legally however.

 

[baboon]

Do you know how zoo got these, or maybe post a photo? Narcondam hornbill must be one of the most difficult birds to get for a zoo. It is endangered and lives only on a tiny Indian island of Narcondam which is also military base with restricted entry. Is it possible they are other hornbill species?

I don't know how they get it, and because the birds are sleeping, I can't see clearly; but the sign before their enclosure says they are Narcondam hornbill, and I think if there is a identity mistake, the only other choice is Blyth's hornbill~~

 

[alexkant]

Hi,
A few questions about Beijing.
1.Is it any way to see off-exhibit animals in Beijing zoo? I mean black muntjacs, desert cat,etc...
2.Do they keep Procapra gutturosa? As I know they replaced tibetian gazelles.
3.Do they plan to get Formosan serow?
4.Where can I see Sclater's monal at Beijing or Shnaghai area?
Thank you in advance!

 

[baboon]

Hi,
A few questions about Beijing.
1.Is it any way to see off-exhibit animals in Beijing zoo? I mean black muntjacs, desert cat,etc...
2.Do they keep Procapra gutturosa? As I know they replaced tibetian gazelles.
3.Do they plan to get Formosan serow?
4.Where can I see Sclater's monal at Beijing or Shnaghai area?
Thank you in advance!

Hi, it is said the black muntjac can be seen from the inside of Children Zoo, but I haven't try~~ I don't know how can go to the off-exhibit area~~ They have no Mongolian gazelle, but have goitred gazelles. The Formosan serow from Taiwan are sent to Weihai Wildlife Park, a private zoo, for unknown reason; thus Beijing Zoo may not have this species recently. The Sclater's monal can be seen in only one zoo: Beijing Wildlife Park, a private zoo located in Daxing Town, which is in the south suburban of Beijing.

 

[baboon]

BTW, Beijing Wildlife Park has the largest captive population of golden snob-nosed monkeys, and all three species of monals.

 

[alexkant]

Thanks, baboon, for your help!
As I already know, the only Sclater's monal has died in Beijing Wildlife Park last year.

 

[baboon]

Beijing Zoo has celebrated the first birth of giant ant-eater in the zoo; the little one is about 100 days now, and was on exhibit with its mother last month. Meanwhile, a Yunnan snob-nosed monkey was born recently.