Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoological Gardens in 2014

TeaLovingDave said:
I'd suggest having the only Asiatic Black Bear in the UK counts as a somewhat special species :P
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For someone like Jackwow who has visited many Asian zoos I guess the species doesn't quite have the same allure as it does for you or I! ;)

TeaLovingDave said:
Anyhow, it's a shame you missed so many of the nicer species - I wonder if you would have felt more amiably inclined to the collection had you not had so many no-shows. Quite amazed you failed to see the tigers mind you, as their indoor and outdoor enclosures are entirely visible to the public - same with the lynx, actually.
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I agree with this, as I mentioned I'm used to no-shows and I think that with another visit Jackwow may feel differently.
As for the tigers, on my last visit only the male was visible, both inside and out. I assume that part of the old holding remains in the hill and can be used as off-show facilities for the tigers when needed.
 
Jackwow said:
Because it's a fairly small collection and it doesn't really have any special species or exhibits. It was nice to see the Snow Leopards but the Tigers and Lynx didn't show and I think there were also meant to be Geoffroy's Cats but they didn't show either. The lemur walkthrough has Collared, Black and white ruffed, Black and also Ring-tailed but of course only the Black and white ruffed and Ring-tailed showed both of which I've seen so many times whereas I've never seen Collared or Black. The aviaries were also poor. All in all just a poor experience.
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It's a shame that you had so many no-shows.:( I'm surprised that you didn't see the tigers as one or the other is usually visible either indoors or out.

In my experience, the male lynx quite often hides in the foliage at the back of the enclosure and the female seems to spend most of the morning asleep indoors but both are more active later in the day. They both seem quite sensitive to noise levels so if there are hordes of noisy people about they may stay hidden. There is only one Geoffroy's cat who is quite elderly (about 18 or 19). I quite often make several trips to the Geoffroy's cat / lynx area during a visit - that way I usually see all of them at some point.

I've found the staff at Dudley very approachable and, when asked, they can often suggest the best times/places to see particular species:)
 
Ah, forgot to mention. I was driven past the entrance on Sunday and the entrance has been refurbished.
 
Well, the famous "ZOO" sign was done and all the scaffolding was removed, I wasn't there long enough to tell if you could actually use the entrance.
 
lamna said:
Well, the famous "ZOO" sign was done and all the scaffolding was removed, I wasn't there long enough to tell if you could actually use the entrance.
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No you still have to go in via the little wood cabin kiosk.
 
Animal transfers

There have been a number of animal transfers at DZG recently as part of international conservation projects.

A veiled chameleon from the Discovery Centre and four Puna Ibis have gone to Tropical World in Leeds; two reindeer (Fern and Bramble) have joined a new herd at Exmoor Zoological Park; and a female snowy owl and the site’s two Stanley Cranes have relocated to Five Sisters Zoo, in West Lothian, Scotland.

A female Violet turaco has arrived at DZG from Paradise Wildlife Park to join their resident male as part of a breeding programme. The youngster is currently in an off-show quarantine bay, adjacent to the male, until the two can be paired in the triple aviaries after 30 days.

Matched and dispatched | Dudley Zoological Gardens
 
Well that's odd. They've spent ages building a new enclosure for the Blue Cranes but now they've sent them away? Are they going to get more?
 
Back from a trip. Three otters have been moved into Monkey Tails where the porcupines used to be kept, and the Micro pig's enclosure has been slightly expanded.

Work is still continuing on the former cassowary enclosure, most of the old fencing has been cleared away and a new house is being built.

Kito seemed to be pretty shy. He didn't seem nervous or flighty, but he stayed right at the back of the enclosure. Josie is looking big and I don't expect it will be long before there is another calf.
 
lamna said:
Back from a trip. Three otters have been moved into Monkey Tails where the porcupines used to be kept, and the Micro pig's enclosure has been slightly expanded.
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Seriously? The otters have/had one of the best enclosures in the zoo and they never really worked in Monkey Tails before! What is the point in this move? Is there anything in their former enclosure now? :confused:

And I guess the staff member who told me the pool was just being used as a temporary home for the fish was clearly wrong.
 
Only three of the otters have been moved there, the rest are still in their old exhibit.

I assume it's been done so there is more space in the main exhibit, or to establish a bachelor group, similar to the Meerkats in Monkey Tails.
 
lamna said:
Only three of the otters have been moved there, the rest are still in their old exhibit.

I assume it's been done so there is more space in the main exhibit, or to establish a bachelor group, similar to the Meerkats in Monkey Tails.
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I hope not, the building has a lot of potential so just using the ground floor as surplus holding is a bit of a waste in my opinion.
 
Yeah, I'd love to see that place with a bit of work on it. Are there any plans to get the waterfall working again?
 
The following statement has just been released regarding the death of Mwamba:

A full veterinary report following the post mortem of Asiatic male lion, Mwamba, has revealed the cause of death to be pneumonia.
The 11-year-old died on Sunday, March 16, in his Lion Ridge enclosure.
Senior Curator, Derek Grove, said: "The vet attended to him the Friday before his death as he didn't seem his usual self, but the following day he was out in the paddock with the two lionesses and we really thought he had rallied. We were all shocked by the speed of his death."
He added: "It is a sad time for staff as he was a very laid-back lion and a real character and is much missed."
 
Sad news re: second baby giraffe

DZG has announced the death of a male Rothschild's giraffe born early yesterday morning, the offspring of Josie and Kubwa - it died within 10 hours of birth.

Death of newborn giraffe | Dudley Zoological Gardens

The article goes on to say that seven-week-old Rothschild's female Kito, is thriving and has settled well into the family group.
 
Nisha said:
The following statement has just been released regarding the death of Mwamba:

A full veterinary report following the post mortem of Asiatic male lion, Mwamba, has revealed the cause of death to be pneumonia.
The 11-year-old died on Sunday, March 16, in his Lion Ridge enclosure.
Senior Curator, Derek Grove, said: "The vet attended to him the Friday before his death as he didn't seem his usual self, but the following day he was out in the paddock with the two lionesses and we really thought he had rallied. We were all shocked by the speed of his death."
He added: "It is a sad time for staff as he was a very laid-back lion and a real character and is much missed."
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so will he be replaced?
 
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