zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Keep forgetting to post this,but the Damara Zebra's left the collection late 2011,they went to Axe Valley Bird and Animal Park.
Blackbrook Zoo (Closed) Blackbrook Zoo 2012
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zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
That doesn't sound a very positive/suitable move. Is this the place in Devon? I have seen photos- it looks very ramshackle and in some shots a sea of mud.
That doesn't sound a very positive/suitable move. Is this the place in Devon? I have seen photos- it looks very ramshackle and in some shots a sea of mud.
My thinking too, but on my visit to Blackbrook lots of that was also a sea of mud so not suitable for the reindeer either!
To me Blackbrook was a nice place and I made a special effort to visit because of their financial problems, I'd say that they need something with a bit of pulling power and zebra's should be more of a pull to most of the passing punters than yet another crane, so it's a very strange move not that there is anything wrong with reindeers in my eyes.
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
Based both on my own experiences, and on seeing photos of this site in midwinter, the likes of Markhor, Takin, Musk Deer, Snow Leopard, Pallas' Cat or Raccoon Dog would all be very happy there. When it gets cold at Blackbrook it doesn't muck around!
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
The Zebra's left because the housing and paddock was ideal for them,and as Blackbrook realised they hadn't got the kind of money required to sort the housing/paddock our properly they let another collection take them on,in fairness they should never have brought them in the first place as the conditions were not ideal for Zebra.
I also think this is a positive sign for Blackbrook as it shows they realise their are certain species that they just cannot keep at the place,and now they are slowly moving towards keeping species that can cope with the unique conditions that Blackbrook can have!
I also think this is a positive sign for Blackbrook as it shows they realise their are certain species that they just cannot keep at the place,and now they are slowly moving towards keeping species that can cope with the unique conditions that Blackbrook can have!
Probably unfair to pick out Axe Valley for being muddy- most zoo paddocks are at this time of year. Interesting that these Zebra were only at Blackbrook a comparatively short time. Reindeer might be suited better climatically if its a cold place.
I was refering to Blackbrook being muddy (and that was September!), never been to Axe Valley so cant comment.
Not an expert (so I'm sure someone will know), but I wouldn't have thought being hoof deep in mud is good for reindeer either. On a cold frosty / snowy day ideal, but maybe not the mud.
The nilgai were also in heavy mud when I saw them.
Mud and damp are certainly not good for reindeer. They need stone cold almost permafrost soil conditions and somewhat dry wry summer weather to really thrive. Their taiga and tundra environment precludes that sort of thing
As KB says above, mild wet conditions are not good for Reindeer. They look okay in UK zoos round Christmas time in their smart winter coats, but if you see them in summer they are usually tatty and miserable-looking with shedding coats and frayed antlers etc- they really need 'hard cold' and places free from flies etc.
Re muddy paddocks- its a general problem in zoos with restricted paddock size-can only be circumvented by keeping animals on hardstanding areas in winter, if such are available. Some smaller zoos won't have these areas.
Re muddy paddocks- its a general problem in zoos with restricted paddock size-can only be circumvented by keeping animals on hardstanding areas in winter, if such are available. Some smaller zoos won't have these areas.
What happened lately with the bald ibis (G. calvus)?
That doesn't sound a very positive/suitable move. Is this the place in Devon? I have seen photos- it looks very ramshackle and in some shots a sea of mud.
Why didn't the zebra move to Yorkshire Wildlife Park instead of going to Axe Valley?
Were they purchased or donated?
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
Why didn't the zebra move to Yorkshire Wildlife Park instead of going to Axe Valley?
I believe that YWP have Chapman's Zebras. Blackbrook's ex Zebras were Damara.
They are supposed to be Damara but from photos did not have the classic pale legs etc so not sure exactly what they are.
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
Notes on Groves and Bell's work (2004) "New investigations on the taxonomy of the zebras genus Equus, subgenus Hippotigris. Mammalian Biology. 69: 182–196":
I don't know what anyone else thinks, but I rather doubt if there are many purebred Plains Zebras of any subspecies within the UK. I would be very interested to be told otherwise.
I don't know what anyone else thinks, but I rather doubt if there are many purebred Plains Zebras of any subspecies within the UK. I would be very interested to be told otherwise.
Marwell publishes the studbook for both Grevy's zebra and Hartmann's mountain zebra. Does anybody know if there is a studbook for the various sub-species of plains zebra?
Where did the plains zebra that were formerly at Blackbrook come from? They certainly did not look typical Damara zebra to me.
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
The two female Zebras came from the Netherlands doesn't say where from, the article below also says that they were expecting a male named Marvin in 2011.
BBC - Blackbrook Zoo welcomes rare Damara zebra pair
They were only at Blackbrook a little over a year.
In one of the small 'snapshots' in the article, one of the females does appear to have unstriped legs but difficult to see properly from the angle. Perhaps it was the male which had the untypical fully striped legs.
I'm not sure if there is studbook for Plains Zebra- possibly not if it isn't classified as vulnerable/endangered etc and not part of a managed EEP programme.
Regarding purity of Plains Zebras in the UK;
I believe the Bristol- Blackpool-Manor House Zebras are pure Damaras.
" " Colchester's are probably pure Damaras.
I believe Marwell's are pure Chapman's although the original import included one Damara mare but whether her blood is in the current group I do not know.
I think Cotswold's are pure Chapman's(they at least look like it).
Which other zoos have Plains zebra and which types are they?
In one of the small 'snapshots' in the article, one of the females does appear to have unstriped legs but difficult to see properly from the angle. Perhaps it was the male which had the untypical fully striped legs.
I'm not sure if there is studbook for Plains Zebra- possibly not if it isn't classified as vulnerable/endangered etc and not part of a managed EEP programme.
Regarding purity of Plains Zebras in the UK;
I believe the Bristol- Blackpool-Manor House Zebras are pure Damaras.
" " Colchester's are probably pure Damaras.
I believe Marwell's are pure Chapman's although the original import included one Damara mare but whether her blood is in the current group I do not know.
I think Cotswold's are pure Chapman's(they at least look like it).
Which other zoos have Plains zebra and which types are they?
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
They were only at Blackbrook a little over a year.
In one of the small 'snapshots' in the article, one of the females does appear to have unstriped legs but difficult to see properly from the angle. Perhaps it was the male which had the untypical fully striped legs.
I'm not sure if there is studbook for Plains Zebra- possibly not if it isn't classified as viulbnerable/endangered etc and not part of a managed EEP programme.
Regarding purity of Plains Zebras in the UK;
I believe the Bristol- Blackpool-Manor House Zebras are pure Damaras.
" " Colchester's are probably pure Damaras.
I believe Marwell's are pure Chapman's although the original import included one Damara mare but whether her blood is in the current group I do not know.
I think Cotswold's are pure Chapman's(they at least look like it).
Which other zoos have Plains zebra and which types are they?
Two of the Colchester females were born at Blackpool, the male was born at Manor House in 2007. Cotswold have bred a few Chapman's. I think YWP have pure bred Chapman's there from Cricket St Thomas, plus two males from Marwell and Africa Alive.