Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo news 2014 #1
- Thread starter canaryboy
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The "absolutely nothing" claim is absurd (maybe that was the point to hammer an opinion home -in which case it doesn't work, it just makes you look Pavlov dogmatic and doesn't forward intelligent debate).
Whilst it's absolutely arguable that not all changes in recent years have been good ones and that better things could have done with the resources (I'd agree with this perspective for most changes in the last eight or so years) to say that nothing's improved since your halcyon days is just plain wrong. Many animals have moved to more spacious and better furnished enclosures (especially over the last couple of years in particular), some animals in unsuitable enclosures (e.g. Lions, Sea Lions) have left the collection and. whilst one might consider it a waste of money, the entrance building/Snow Leopard complex does generally impress Joe Public. Furthermore, the Coati/Bush Dog enclosure is genuinely good, as are the recent, much needed, refurbished Owl enclosures. The new "pets corner" is also very well done.
Do I agree that all of the above were the right thing to do, a good use of resources and perfect? No (apart from the Coati/Bush Dog & Owl area which I think is great).
Do I think that the above aren't improvements? Don't be silly.
As I said before, Twycross is in a very difficult and fairly desperate position which has little to do with the current management team -desperate situations require desperate solutions and whilst I might whinge and snipe I know their options are limited by funds and there's no easy (to swallow) solutions available. Time will tell how the management succeed and personally I think they're in the position of a football manager appointed to a bottom of the table team needing thirteen points out of the next fifteen to avoid relegation -if they fail I wouldn't blame them, if they succeed I'll praise them a hero/gods. Let's hope they're "Gus Poyet".
Finally, in reference to the topic that started this "spat". I think it's dishonest to charge £2 for what looks like a fairly low spec (still) plastic carrier bag -it looks like profiteering (I can't imagine the bag cost more than tens of pence) rather than any kind of green measure. I suspect Joe Public will conclude as much and I feel sorry for the staff trying to justify charging it to someone who's just bought (say) £25 of goods from the shop.
As an interesting aside, the "plastic bag bad" mantra is not necessarily as clear cut as some parties might claim. I'd agree there's definitely an issue with (the waste of) excess packaging in general but whether (degradable) plastic bags are much worse than (often non-degradable plastic lined) paper bags is open for debate.
Don't worry, nobody knows how the (whole) world works -anyone who claims to have all the answers is lying or mad
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To be fair, I'm unsure whether the plastic bag thing is entirely their decision...
BBC News - Plastic bag charge to be introduced in England
BBC News - Plastic bag charge to be introduced in England
To be clear the bill introduces only a 5p charge (not £2) and I'm fairly sure only applies to organisations employing over 500 people (i.e. not Twycross).
I'm not necessarily against the idea of charging for plastic bags (though related issues are complex) just what seems like using "conservation" as an excuse to profiteer and increase funds (it's deceitful).
If the charge is used entirely to off-set the environmental footprint perhaps it is still digestible. I seriously doubt whether that is the case here!
the £2 bags are made of canvas (according to a reply to this question on their Facebook page).
I also saw this on their website (unrelated to bags 
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Colour me back-peddling and embarrased. Maybe I should not have took Animal Friendly's post at face value. Looking on the Twycross site the bag with eyes is obviously a "mock up" depicting evil plastic bags not the replacement £2 bag. Ignore all parts of my previous posts relating to this issue. I'm off to the naughty step now.Now back to zoos.......
when I had a look at the website I thought it was a picture of the bag in question as well (but I thought it was a heavy-duty plastic bag, rather than a flimsy plastic one). It was only after checking out their Facebook and discovering the bags were canvas that I had a second look at the picture and realised it was meant to be an evil mock-up picture. It is a bit of a confusing image to use to portray their story.
Now back to zoos.......
with regards to plastic bags, what we do in NZ (often, not always) is that the shops have both plastic and paper bags and the customer is asked which they would prefer. Many supermarkets charge per plastic bag as well, which induces people to bring their own canvas bags.
does anyone know if the Asian lions are to return to twycross?
I doubt it; it was planned at one point as part of the long-mooted Kuno project, which was quietly abandoned a while ago with little fanfare.
Johnny Morris.
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I see that the zoo are doing their bit for protecting the environment, as from July 1st of this year they will no longer be serving visitors with bags for their purchases made in the gift shop, instead they can buy a reusable bag, similar to what Asda sell for 5p (bag for life they call it and when it is old and tatty they replace it free of charge), Twycross however will be charging customers who have been good enough to make purchases in the gift shop £2 per bag, a weird looking thing with shifty eyes, and I do not see any mention of it even being replaced like the Asda scheme, yes well, there goes another unhappy customer.
Being from Wales and extremely careful with my money, i haven't bought a carrier bag in years. TAKE YOUR OWN BAG, if you need one.
Chlidonias, we have the same system over here too! However, I do think / feel that it would be much better to discourage usage of any plastic bags when shopping … be it supermarket or any other groceries' or conventional store / outlet. I do feel it is much better to provide at cost canvas or paper bags and nothing else. Only this will finally bring the customer over to the very fact it is an environmental hazard / nuisance that needlessly has crept into our shopping environment. So far, so good on the art of enviro-friendly shopping …
Back to zoo news now …
Animal Friendly
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Nothing wrong with being careful with the coppers Johnny, as yes when I return to Twycross I do intend to take my own bag, it is yellow with black lettering stating world primate centre which I use regularly for banking etc. I recall the comedy series "Open All hours", Arkwright posted a notice on his shop window stating "A free gift with every purchase", Battle axe Mrs. Featherstone was waiting for her free gift after Arkwright placed her purchases in a paper bag, "What about the free gift " enquired Mrs. Feathersone," the paper bag is the free gift replied Arkwright!
Animal Friendly
Well-Known Member
Now back to zoos.......
It is not your fault, no need to be embarrassed, It is my fault as I honestly thought that purple thing with shifty eyes was the offending bag in question, and yes today on closer inspection the eyes are not printed on it, so the £2 will be canvas, in fairness to myself there was no mention of it being canvass yesterday and I am unable to ask questions on their facebook page as I am barred
,So I think we can safely say this subject can now be considered closed, at least we get a laugh if nothing else. Glad I looked at their facebook page today, as today is the 29th birthday of dear Asante,happy zoo visiting every one and don't forget to take your own baghippophilic
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Boulas the Gorilla has died. He had an undiagnosed throat abcess.
Longleat Mourns Loss Of Boulas The Gorilla - Longleat Safari Park & Adventure Park
Longleat Mourns Loss Of Boulas The Gorilla - Longleat Safari Park & Adventure Park
Very sad, it's animals like him that depress me about the whole idea of captive gorillas.
Okanda is often in my thoughts, I hope he can overcome the disadvantage of being hand-reared.
Thirded! The first time I went to Twycross (2008) I found it extremely depressing and one of the things was the awful sterile mowed grass in the awful sterile ape enclosures (apes being my 'thing' not that it wasn't mowed everywhere)
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