But Dudley's tiger is a lady so if they needed a male the original plan made no sense at all.
Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoological Gardens in 2013
- Thread starter Angel
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But Dudley's tiger is a lady so if they needed a male the original plan made no sense at all.
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
From the posts on here, I believe the original plan was for Dudley to hold both the female Amur and Sumatran together until a new male Sumatran could be sourced for Dudley. After Dudley source a new male Sumatran, the female Amur was supposed to move to Whipsnade, however as Whipsnade already had a female (Who may or may not be past breeding age - it would also be her first litter) something must have happened with plans and the Dudley female Amur must be no longer moving to Whipsnade.
Dudley want a pure Sumatran pair, it looks as though if the Dudley female goes to YWP she will be the breeding female and not the female they already hold.
Nidara - cause of death
Published on Dudley's website today:
Veterinary results following the death of our adorable 11-week-old snow leopard, Nidara, show the cause to be peracute coliform intestinal infection which in turn caused an E. Coli septicaemia. Veterinary Surgeon Peter A K Stewart, who collated the results, said: "Unfortunately, this sort of infection is common in young animals and has a high mortality rate. The condition would have lead to a sudden death."
Published on Dudley's website today:
Veterinary results following the death of our adorable 11-week-old snow leopard, Nidara, show the cause to be peracute coliform intestinal infection which in turn caused an E. Coli septicaemia. Veterinary Surgeon Peter A K Stewart, who collated the results, said: "Unfortunately, this sort of infection is common in young animals and has a high mortality rate. The condition would have lead to a sudden death."
Very sad news, but at least we know they are a proven pair.
I've being thinking about this for a while, as far as I know Dudley has the most successful colony of Humboldt penguins in the UK, and I think I know why.
Many zoos have a few jackass penguins, and their exhibits are all basically the same. Large rocks, gravel, a few tussocks of grass on flat ground
But Dudley has a steep slope, dirt and lots of vegetation.
When I saw Magellanic penguins on Andes to Amazon I was surprised how similar it was to Dudley.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0039z01
I also found this, which seems to back it up.
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I've being thinking about this for a while, as far as I know Dudley has the most successful colony of Humboldt penguins in the UK, and I think I know why.
Many zoos have a few jackass penguins, and their exhibits are all basically the same. Large rocks, gravel, a few tussocks of grass on flat ground
But Dudley has a steep slope, dirt and lots of vegetation.
When I saw Magellanic penguins on Andes to Amazon I was surprised how similar it was to Dudley.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0039z01
I also found this, which seems to back it up.
An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie
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Geoffroy's cat in research project
From DZG's website:
Geoffroy’s cat, Bart, has donated blood as part of an international research project. The 18 year-old wildcat’s sample was collected by three blood-sucking bugs instead of the more usual needle and syringe approach.
The research project was carried out by veterinary medical student, Maike Kunze, from Oldenburg in Germany, who has been collecting samples from wildcats in 13 other zoos in the UK and a further 40 across Europe since 2011.
The noninvasive procedure lasted for just under one hour, with each Triatominae bug taking up to 20 minutes to fill up on Bart’s blood. Once full, Maike syringed the blood directly from the bugs’ stomachs, before sending the sample back to a laboratory in Berlin, where it will be genetically analyzed and tested for a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii.
The parasite can cause Toxoplasmosis, a common infection that occurs in most birds and mammals, including humans.
Ungulates team leader, Jay Hayward, said: “It is great that Bart can help such an important study.
“By using the bugs, which are also known as kissing bugs, the collection procedure is a safer way for us to get the blood sample, as it means we don’t have to restrain Bart or sedate him first. The bugs do all the work and it is quite a fascinating procedure to watch and Bart didn’t seem too fussed with the extra attention either.”
From DZG's website:
Geoffroy’s cat, Bart, has donated blood as part of an international research project. The 18 year-old wildcat’s sample was collected by three blood-sucking bugs instead of the more usual needle and syringe approach.
The research project was carried out by veterinary medical student, Maike Kunze, from Oldenburg in Germany, who has been collecting samples from wildcats in 13 other zoos in the UK and a further 40 across Europe since 2011.
The noninvasive procedure lasted for just under one hour, with each Triatominae bug taking up to 20 minutes to fill up on Bart’s blood. Once full, Maike syringed the blood directly from the bugs’ stomachs, before sending the sample back to a laboratory in Berlin, where it will be genetically analyzed and tested for a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii.
The parasite can cause Toxoplasmosis, a common infection that occurs in most birds and mammals, including humans.
Ungulates team leader, Jay Hayward, said: “It is great that Bart can help such an important study.
“By using the bugs, which are also known as kissing bugs, the collection procedure is a safer way for us to get the blood sample, as it means we don’t have to restrain Bart or sedate him first. The bugs do all the work and it is quite a fascinating procedure to watch and Bart didn’t seem too fussed with the extra attention either.”
Trilobite update
Dudley MBC's planning officers have deferred a decision to demolish the old Hippodrome theatre / Gala bingo hall which may impact on the proposals to build the Trilobite education building.
DZG CEO Peter Suddock said: “We saw this as a wonderful opportunity to develop a sad and forgotten site with a futuristic building that echoes the unique and exciting lines of Lubetkin’s renowned Tectons when they were unveiled to the world in 1937.
"However, while we are keen to develop this unloved site for the benefit of the borough, through education and much-needed apprenticeships, we have a timescale to honour.
“Work will start next month at DZG on some of the borough's most important and iconic buildings: Lubetkin's Tectons, the world’s largest single collection of Modernist structures sited across the 40-acre zoological gardens.
“Thus while we see the demolition and subsequent development of the Hippodrome Theatre / Gala Bingo Hall site as an opportunity to bring major investment to the borough, we cannot indefinitely await decision and will consider persuing alternative projects to the benefit of the zoological gardens.
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.
Dudley MBC's planning officers have deferred a decision to demolish the old Hippodrome theatre / Gala bingo hall which may impact on the proposals to build the Trilobite education building.
DZG CEO Peter Suddock said: “We saw this as a wonderful opportunity to develop a sad and forgotten site with a futuristic building that echoes the unique and exciting lines of Lubetkin’s renowned Tectons when they were unveiled to the world in 1937.
"However, while we are keen to develop this unloved site for the benefit of the borough, through education and much-needed apprenticeships, we have a timescale to honour.
“Work will start next month at DZG on some of the borough's most important and iconic buildings: Lubetkin's Tectons, the world’s largest single collection of Modernist structures sited across the 40-acre zoological gardens.
“Thus while we see the demolition and subsequent development of the Hippodrome Theatre / Gala Bingo Hall site as an opportunity to bring major investment to the borough, we cannot indefinitely await decision and will consider persuing alternative projects to the benefit of the zoological gardens.
I was down there today, I really hope that ugly abandoned building is ripped out.
Also during the sea lion talk they mentioned they were hoping to start breeding there, does anyone know anything about where they would get them from? As far as I know the only other Patagonian sea lion in the UK is Sofus, if he hasn't been moved to Poland yet.
Also during the sea lion talk they mentioned they were hoping to start breeding there, does anyone know anything about where they would get them from? As far as I know the only other Patagonian sea lion in the UK is Sofus, if he hasn't been moved to Poland yet.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Colchester and Curraghs are the only other place's with South American Sealion in the UK.Curraghs have a bred the species but the young have not survived,while Colchester keep just an all female group.
Edit I think Gweek still has 2 males as well.
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johnstoni2
Member
As far as I know, Curraghs stopped keeping pinnipeds in the 90s. I found the following entry from the Bartlett Society website detailing a number of unsuccessful births, as well as a successful birth in 1992:
"International Zoo News, No. 241 (Vol. 39/8, Dec 1992) p29: ... everything has gone well with the pup which was born on 8th July 1992 ... Between 1977 and 1989 the Curraghs group produced seven calves, none of which survived (five were killed by the bull, one was stillborn and one was hand-reared to 26 days). Dudley 1983 dns."
Does anyone know if the 1992 pup was the last and, did it survive to adulthood? What became of the Curraghs group?
The only photo I can find of the Curraghs sea lions is from the 1970s, and I can't place where this enclosure would have been:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Wildlife_Park_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1418336.jpg
While it is interesting to hear that Dudley 'plan' to breed from their Patagonians, it remains to be seen what exactly they intend to change in order to achieve this. I'm not aware of even any unsuccessful births of this species from the group at Dudley apart from the one mentoned at the end of the entry above. I don't see how the pools are going to keep up with current accepted standards in the long-term, and am not aware of any plans for a new pool. Not that this is the key to successful breeding. For some reason this species breeds well in conditions no better on the continent, yet the record in the UK is massively one of net consumption rather that production of these animals. I wonder if it has something to do with this species being less trained (and therefore, relaxed around people) than Californian sea lions.
As for Colchester, its bizarre....I can only assume they either are content to have a group of trained females without the disruption of a large bull in the group, or they are wary of complications from breeding and don't want a string of unsuccessful births. I believe they had (3?) young males in the 1980s, then possibly kept a mature male with one or two females (can anyone confirm this?) in the old pool (now the second penuin pool) prior to the construction of the present enclosure. Given Colchester have the best facility arguably for this species in the UK, it is a shame they aren't allowing a different social structure where breeding and calves form an enriching part of their lives.
So with both Twycross animals euthanased last year (following a live birth the previous year which didn't survive), and the Edinburgh male gone to Poland, this leaves single-sex groups at Colchester (0.5?) and Gweek (2.0), and the trio (1.2) at Dudley. Unless Colchester plans to bring in a male, I don't think this species will breed in a UK collection for many years.
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I only saw the bull and one of the females when I visited on 29th July. It was a filthy day with torrential rain storms and I thought I'd just missed the other female.
Sadly the other girl had to be PTS recently .
I really do think the three collections should pull resources ...
(I am not sure they are willing to do so), if not the species will disappear from the UK indefinitely.
What is the situation Continent-wise?
(Might they be better off there?)
I visited yesterday, the zoo was packed by lunchtime! As far as renovating the Tectons goes work seems to have ground to a halt as I saw no work (or signs of) on any of them.
Animal wise I was quite disappointed to find the bush dogs have finally been replaced with... Bloody mara!
The geladas were active and make a good display, they are also visible from before you enter the zoo which is a very nice touch!
Sulawesi crested macaques are now in the old carnivore pit and their original hillside home by the flamingos, there appears to be 4 in each enclosure and they seem a bit lost as neither enclosure is on the small side...
The new male lion was definitely trying his luck with one of the females if you get my meaning!
She was not quite receptive and left him high and dry! 
And finally Inca was extremely active first thing, making full use of the climbing frame. (See the Dudley gallery for photo's.)
Animal wise I was quite disappointed to find the bush dogs have finally been replaced with... Bloody mara!
The geladas were active and make a good display, they are also visible from before you enter the zoo which is a very nice touch!
Sulawesi crested macaques are now in the old carnivore pit and their original hillside home by the flamingos, there appears to be 4 in each enclosure and they seem a bit lost as neither enclosure is on the small side...
The new male lion was definitely trying his luck with one of the females if you get my meaning!
She was not quite receptive and left him high and dry! And finally Inca was extremely active first thing, making full use of the climbing frame. (See the Dudley gallery for photo's.)
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And I bet not even the good kind
Indeed, it's a crying shame as the enclosure has the potential to have something decent in it. The former occupants have included spotted hyaena, maned wolf and bush dog, this latest incarnation doesn't fill me with as much joy for some reason!
Considering the size of the enclosure, I think they are right to aim for something mara-sized - just a shame they haven't got something more unusual like a Chacoan mara, or improved the fencing and put old Bart in there.
I don't see what's wrong with replacing the bush dogs with more bush dogs! I know of a certain zoo in the North West who have a surplus of them...
New arrivals
News from DZG's website:
"A male roul-roul crested partridge has moved into the love birds enclosure, while a male Himalayan monal is making himself at home in the aviary after being released from a 30-day quarantine period.
Keepers are now hoping the two boys will be joined by female counterparts in the near future."
Both birds are certainly very striking to look at - pictures on their website at New birds move in | Dudley Zoological Gardens
News from DZG's website:
"A male roul-roul crested partridge has moved into the love birds enclosure, while a male Himalayan monal is making himself at home in the aviary after being released from a 30-day quarantine period.
Keepers are now hoping the two boys will be joined by female counterparts in the near future."
Both birds are certainly very striking to look at - pictures on their website at New birds move in | Dudley Zoological Gardens