Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoological Gardens in 2013

Baby meerkats

Three baby meerkats have been venturing outside - they were born about 4 weeks ago.
 
Surprised this has not yet been picked up by Dudley regulars.

Hot on the heels of the plans for a new Entrance complex and shop, here is the outlays of the new futuristic Education building to showcase the Black Country limestone mining, fossils and conservation work of Dudley Zoo. Planning would be for 2015/2016. Peter Suddocks is full of welcome surprises. :)

Source: £3m Dudley Zoo centre plan unveiled « Express & Star

I personally would feel that current monstrosity bolted up theatre complex blocking the view to Dudley Zoo one of the most painful eyesores best removed forthwith.
 
Surprised this has not yet been picked up by Dudley regulars.

Hot on the heels of the plans for a new Entrance complex and shop, here is the outlays of the new futuristic Education building to showcase the Black Country limestone mining, fossils and conservation work of Dudley Zoo. Planning would be for 2015/2016. Peter Suddocks is full of welcome surprises. :)

Source: £3m Dudley Zoo centre plan unveiled « Express & Star

I personally would feel that current monstrosity bolted up theatre complex blocking the view to Dudley Zoo one of the most painful eyesores best removed forthwith.

I saw this in the local paper, totally forgot about it until now. It was in Thursdays Birmingham Mail and it does look impressive, the artists impression looked very futuristic. I'm sure they state it's going to contain a whole new education centre and classroom. Where will that leave the current education/school building? I'm sure that it's one of those that are listed, I'd hate to see more valuable space no longer being used even though the new build is sorely needed.
 
Surprised this has not yet been picked up by Dudley regulars.

Hot on the heels of the plans for a new Entrance complex and shop, here is the outlays of the new futuristic Education building to showcase the Black Country limestone mining, fossils and conservation work of Dudley Zoo. Planning would be for 2015/2016. Peter Suddocks is full of welcome surprises. :)

Source: £3m Dudley Zoo centre plan unveiled « Express & Star

http://www.zoochat.com/38/zoo-news-328206/
 
Male Asiatic lion, Itar

Male Asiatic lion, Itar, has relocated to Portugal as part of an international breeding programme.

A new male lion called Mwamba will soon be arriving from Paignton Zoo to join lionesses Kyra and Asha.
 
Male Asiatic lion, Itar, has relocated to Portugal as part of an international breeding programme.

A new male lion called Mwamba will soon be arriving from Paignton Zoo to join lionesses Kyra and Asha.

Any idea why? Is he just not doing the business with the ladies?
 
Any idea why? Is he just not doing the business with the ladies?

Strange thing is he's been gone for some months now but the zoo has been quiet about it. Just hope they don't sneak the lovely Tschuna out the back door without telling any of her many fans.
 
Any idea why? Is he just not doing the business with the ladies?

The females were dominant over him, hence no mating was take place, and since he was related to them (first cousins on both sides of the family tree) the studbook recommended they be split up.

Mwamba is a little bit older than Itar and those females anyway so hopefully that will stop this situation happening again at Dudley...
 
Black and white ruffed lemur

A female black and white lemur called Anna has relocated to DZG from the African Safari Zoo in South West France. DZG's male, Splitz (described as their most genetically important black and white ruffed lemur), has moved from Lemur Wood to join her in the Small Primate House.

Anna is settling in and the pair seem to be getting on well and are grooming each other. Keepers have their fingers crossed the pair will soon breed.
 
A very sad turn of events this morning... thoughts are with Dudley's carnivore team :(

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our baby snow leopard cub, Nidara. The 11-week-old cub died this morning in the presence of DZG staff and the zoo vet.

There had been no previous indication there was anything wrong with the youngster and we are currently awaiting the vet's report.

All staff are immensely upset by this tragic event
 
Very sad news indeed. Sincere condolences to all at DZG, especially the carnivore team.:(
 
A great shame indeed; though the fact the zoo managed to get a first-time breeding of this species to 12 weeks is something of an achievement, considering how often such breedings fail to get beyond a few days old.
 
That is a real shame. However, even so ... it bodes well for the future.
Snow leopards are certainly not easy husbandry wise.
 
News round up

Just a few snippets gleaned from DZG's website on my return from holiday.

Three meerkats were born in June and have been named George, Alexander and Louis after the new royal baby.

The black howler monkey born earlier this year is a male and has been named Becks.

The alpacas, Barley and Crunchy, have had their thick fleeces shorn - they look very strange without them but I'm sure will be much more comfortable given the hot temperatures recently.

The snow leopards, Margaash and Nanga, have been allowed back together following the death of their cub, Nidara (no news yet on the cause of death).

There is an entertaining video on the website of the 3 African hunting dogs ripping apart a papier mache zebra that one of the volunteers made as an enrichment activity for them. Given that I've only ever seen them moving on one of my visits over the last 18 months, it was great to see them so active.
 
News from today's visit

The weather forecast was for sunshine with the risk of short, sharp showers so I thought I'd chance a visit today. It was more like monsoon deluges and I was almost tempted to start building an ark!

The scaffolding and cladding have been removed from the zoo entrance and gift shop.

There have been more primate re-locations - the spider monkeys are back in their enclosure by the flamingoes; the Gelada baboons have been relocated to their new enclosure under the chairlift (I saw a male, at least 3 females and a youngster); and the Sulawesi crested macaques are due to move into the old Gelada enclosure this Wednesday. There was no information about what might be going into the right hand pit once the macaques have vacated it.

The small primate houses were looking quite empty but it probably didn't help that I arrived in the middle of a deluge. There were some pygmy marmosets in with the Goeldi's monkeys.

The rheas appear to have settled in well at bear ravine - the male was displaying to the females. Their old enclosure opposite the Barbary sheep is still being revamped for the Stanley cranes.

Managed to see Bart, the Geoffroy's cat, which was good - I missed him whilst the European lynx was in his enclosure. Also saw the new male lion - or rather part of the new male lion as he was lying on the sand underneath the old tropical house, partially obscured by a column.

Saw one of the baby meerkats - very cute. The reindeer viewing window is complete and looks really good. The path from penguin bay to the back of the reptile house is currently closed as they are rebuilding it to take out the steps and make it more accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. No sign of work starting on the viewing platform in the tapir enclosure yet.

The female Dabb lizard laid 9 eggs in May - 8 have been removed to an incubator whilst the last one has been left with the female to see if she will incubate it naturally.
 
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was very wet day on Monday for first visit. Was surprised some of the exibits where sill being used. Talking to a cat keeper one of the tigers they where looking at moving to Yorkshire wildlife park. Saw a skull from a hippo from the 80's where did they have room for a hippo?
 
was very wet day on Monday for first visit. Was surprised some of the exibits where sill being used. Talking to a cat keeper one of the tigers they where looking at moving to Yorkshire wildlife park. Saw a skull from a hippo from the 80's where did they have room for a hippo?

Hippo discusion here - http://www.zoochat.com/38/dudley-zoo-hippo-291045/

The tigers currently were never permanent being both female. Eventually the sumatran will get a male sumatran mate. I didn't know where the 'spare' was going though, well done for finding that info.
 
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