Birmingham Nature Centre Birmingham Nature Centre News 2012

zoogiraffe

zoogiraffe

Well-Known Member
A few quick bits of news froma visit today,the Mouflon left the collection last Wednesday,I believe they have gone to West Midlands Safari Park.
Also a new Red Squirrel enclosure has been started to be built opposite what used to be the Mouflon exhibit.The Soay Sheep have also left the collection and this area will be used for a new mixed Lemur exhibit,the Small Mammal House is going to be re-built as a Nocturnal House and will then just have 3 large exhibits inside when finished.They also plan to build a new Red Panda exhibit near to the Reptile House.
 
To add to that, the mouse lemurs are to move into the future nocturnal house and an interesting species is to replace them... ;)
From the plans 2012 looks to be another good one for Birmingham.

Also today was the first time I have seen the red squirrels and mouse lemur active. Kind of ironic since I commented several times that they always failed to show! :D
 
Brum said:
To add to that, the mouse lemurs are to move into the future nocturnal house and an interesting species is to replace them... ;)
From the plans 2012 looks to be another good one for Birmingham.

Also today was the first time I have seen the red squirrels and mouse lemur active. Kind of ironic since I commented several times that they always failed to show! :D
Click to expand...
Amazing what a change of company can do when you visit a place!!
 
zoogiraffe said:
Amazing what a change of company can do when you visit a place!!
Click to expand...

Indeed! I've been visiting for at least 20 years and today I saw a completely different side to the place. :) It made a refreshing change from chasing children or walking around on my own! :D
 
From facebook page -

Red-necked wallaby youngster. We've just received 7 adults from Woburn Safari Park and some are carrying Joeys.

Hope to visit Wed or Thurs next week hope the weather holds as everytime I seem to go it Rains
 
Out on the BNC facebook page today -

The Small Mammal House has been completely gutted to make way for 4 large enclosures and some very interesting species, which will hopefully include, slow loris, sloth, owl monkeys and some small mammals including Madagascan jumping rats and our mouse lemurs. Lots of work going on and should be finished soon. We'll keep you posted.

Also the 3 Ring Tailed Lemurs coming from Dudley Zoo are now down to 2 as the female as given birth and will be stopping at Dudley until further notice.

EDIT - will be visitng 29th March if anyone as any questions I will try and find the answers for you please p/m
 
Adrian how's work progressing on the new squirrel & red panda enclosures? Have they started work on the latter yet? Thanks in advance! :)
 
According to thier facebook page the Red Panda enclosure is coming on well but I do wonder as the last Red Panda's they had escaped a couple of times and guess what they have done moved the new enclosure closer to the Park and there are many more over hanging trees just hope they cut the tree's in the enclosure back enough so as not to aid an escape bid
Will get some updated photographs on my visit
 
I also hope that the new enclosure is more secure, the new site isn't too far from the previous one though so I am beginning to wonder just how they will thwart attempted escapees. Let's hope they've learnt from previous experience! :)
 
The replacement for the small mammal house sounds intriguing. I've never been to BNC but I'll definitely go when this has been completed and stocked.

Do they currently hold the animals listed or will these be brought in on cometion of the building work?
 
Last edited:
Just the mouse lemurs at the minute mazfc but they don't have any problems acquiring new species so hopefully everything will fall into plqce! :)
 
There are a number of new exhibits that will be completed during 2012; the new Red Panda enclosure will be finished by the end of April 12. The red squirrel enclosure will be one large facility which will be divided to allow the successful rearing of any viable youngsters. There is a block of cages housing a number of species directly adjacent to the cafeteria, this will shortly be redeveloped into 2 large joined enclosures to house our pair of Ocelot's. When completed the two enclosures will be heavily planted and there will be a complex natural climbing frame to encourage natural behaviour(s). The new nocturnal house is almost finished, it consists of 4 large enclosures. Each enclosure will have thermostatically controlled heating, lighting and humidity. There will be dimmer lighting and reverse lighting in all exhibits. The ornamental pond will be refurbished into a harvest mouse enclosure. There will be 2 new enclosures built opposite the path to the European lynx exhibit. The present Reeves pheasant enclosure will shortly be redeveloped into a large outdoor facility for golden lion tamarins. This new aviary will have several large glass viewing panels. There will be a great deal of new planting throughout the Nature Centre. During 2012 there will be a number of important EEP species arriving to become part of the new Institutional Collection Plan.
 
Saguinus said:
There are a number of new exhibits that will be completed during 2012; the new Red Panda enclosure will be finished by the end of April 12. The red squirrel enclosure will be one large facility which will be divided to allow the successful rearing of any viable youngsters. There is a block of cages housing a number of species directly adjacent to the cafeteria, this will shortly be redeveloped into 2 large joined enclosures to house our pair of Ocelot's. When completed the two enclosures will be heavily planted and there will be a complex natural climbing frame to encourage natural behaviour(s). The new nocturnal house is almost finished, it consists of 4 large enclosures. Each enclosure will have thermostatically controlled heating, lighting and humidity. There will be dimmer lighting and reverse lighting in all exhibits. The ornamental pond will be refurbished into a harvest mouse enclosure. There will be 2 new enclosures built opposite the path to the European lynx exhibit. The present Reeves pheasant enclosure will shortly be redeveloped into a large outdoor facility for golden lion tamarins. This new aviary will have several large glass viewing panels. There will be a great deal of new planting throughout the Nature Centre. During 2012 there will be a number of important EEP species arriving to become part of the new Institutional Collection Plan.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, can't believe how quickly the enclosures are being built and renovated! :D
Any news on the open-topped lemur enclosure being built or is that going to be completed after the current spate of building has finished? And it's good to hear ocelots are coming back and the "predator" enclosures are getting a fitting refurbishment! :D
 
The new open topped enclosure will be completed in the next 6 weeks; the new facility will be located where the Soay sheep used to be. There will be an extensive climbing frame ( almost complete), a new indoor building and a lot of planting. The enclosure will give visitors the opportunity to see lemurs or possibly spider monkeys in a relatively large naturalistic environment. The majority of all the new development should be finished in around 8 weeks; I hope you will visit us and post a description of the new exhibits.
 
Give it a week or so and I'll be heading down, not really a good idea with the school holidays upon us! :D I'll definitely be heading down again to see the new exhibits when complete and I'm also looking forward to seeing the GLT's outside and in a proper exhibit! :)
 
Nice to see the plans falling into place at the center,will visit and catch up with the staff I know at the place,once they are all completed.Looking forward to seeing them and seeing the changes in the Reptile collection,everything will be good as long as you still have the Soloman Island Ground Boa hidden away somewhere within the park!
 
Saguinus said:
The new open topped enclosure will be completed in the next 6 weeks; the new facility will be located where the Soay sheep used to be. There will be an extensive climbing frame ( almost complete), a new indoor building and a lot of planting. The enclosure will give visitors the opportunity to see lemurs or possibly spider monkeys in a relatively large naturalistic environment. The majority of all the new development should be finished in around 8 weeks; I hope you will visit us and post a description of the new exhibits.
Click to expand...

Are the lemur's not already in an open topped enclosure?

And on a non animal note, when will the cafe be re-opened?
 
At the present time all our lemur species (ring tailed, black & white ruffed snd grey mouse lemur) are housed in closed topped enclosures. The new enclosure should be completed in the next few weeks and will allow visitors to see these amazing animals in a relatively complex environment.
The cafeteria will be open this Saturday (07/04/12) under new management.
 
Just seen a photo of the cafe on BNC's facebook page, it looks so different. This place is really coming on at a fast pace. Is there any way it could be extended into Cannon Hill Park?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top