Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoological Gardens in 2015

RTB1987 said:
Anyone know what happened to his siblings Morbi and Jasdan?
Click to expand...

Morbi was killed by their mum after being put back following vaccinations

Jasdan went to Rotterdam around the same time as Jetpur left. She's now at Terra Natura in Spain
 
Sounds great, looking forward to seeing it for myself. I'm loving how it feels like the zoo is always moving forward.
 
This article from DZG's website wouldn't normally be forum-worthy; it's basically about some fancy new benches. However, it does include a photo of a small section of the new entrance area. The photo shows one of the new life size animal sculptures, some of the newly turfed/planted borders, the bespoke new entrance gate and part of the newly resurfaced walkway up to the entrance ramp. It's starting to look roughly like those artist’s impressions from a few years ago.

The article also quotes the zoo director as saying, "The next stage of our site development plan will see exciting new animal enclosures built in 2016, which will benefit both the residents and visitors", so it sounds like 2016 will be another great year for Dudley and its regulars as the zoo continues to improve. The zoo's director said earlier in the year that they will focus primarily on new/upgraded enclosures for the zoo's existing collection rather than bringing in new species.
Sitting pretty! | Dudley Zoological Gardens
 
The leopard (jaguar?) cage is particularly brutal. It looks like it is either the current geoffrey's cat enclosure, or the site of the new lynx exhibit.
 
The footage of the Sun Bear enclosure is fascinating. The footprint of the pit is still there today, but I had no idea that there was a cage over the top of it - very odd design!
 
A fascinating trip down memory lane and a reminder of just how much DZG has improved, particularly in recent years. It was lovely to see the bears, bison and the train, all of which I remember well.

FunkyGibbon said:
The leopard (jaguar?) cage is particularly brutal. It looks like it is either the current geoffrey's cat enclosure, or the site of the new lynx exhibit.
Click to expand...

The leopard/jaguar cage was between the current lynx enclosure and the the tiger viewing window, behind the boards. I think those cages have now been converted to the tigers indoor quarters. From memory, I think there were 3 cages and they were pretty soulless and bare.

I don't remember the dolls house at all. Interesting to hear that the footprint of the sun bear enclosure is still there - whereabouts is it?
 
Chlidonias said:
What was the "doll house" for? Would that have been in the macaque cage?
Click to expand...

I think yes, it was probably in the Rhesus Monkey enclosure which from old photos I've seen was a quite large 'open air' type thing for a whole colony of them. For those familiar with Dudley layout, I believe this was somewhere near, or even on, the site of the Barbary sheep enclosure.
 
FunkyGibbon said:
The leopard (jaguar?) cage is particularly brutal. It looks like it is either the current geoffrey's cat enclosure, or the site of the new lynx exhibit.
Click to expand...

Cages of this type were pretty standard in conventional zoos of that era. I can think of very similar ones at other places such as Paignton and Chessington. And 'big cat' houses at places like Bristol and London contained many cages not much bigger. In that respect Dudley's open pits for the largest carnivores were a big improvement.

You can see why a lot of people might be 'anti-zoo' seeing a Leopard in surroundings like that.
 
Angel said:
Interesting to hear that the footprint of the sun bear enclosure is still there - whereabouts is it?
Click to expand...

It's the odd walled enclosure at the end of the chimp path. It was left derelict for years (you could go down into the dens if there was no-one about!). About 10-15 years they filled in the pit and tried prairie dogs, and later domestic rabbits, in there, but neither lasted long. I'm not even sure that you get to the end of that path now.
 
This area is now closed off the reason the prairie dogs and the rabbits didn't last long was due I think to the enclosure always being very damp with the water from the hillside behind collecting in the enclosure.

Just to update there are quite a few films on you tube of Dudley Zoo through the years
 
robmv said:
It's the odd walled enclosure at the end of the chimp path. It was left derelict for years (you could go down into the dens if there was no-one about!). About 10-15 years they filled in the pit and tried prairie dogs, and later domestic rabbits, in there, but neither lasted long. I'm not even sure that you get to the end of that path now.
Click to expand...

Thanks Robmv - I know the enclosure you mean. I vaguely remember seeing it before they filled the pit in - I think they may have had coatimundi there in the late 1970s.
 
Visit to the zoo

I visited Dudley Zoo today as I hadn't been for a couple of months and I was pleased I went. I particularly like the new entrance the statues add somthing.
I'm also pleased with the extention of the Tapir and Capybara exhibit with the kangaroos moving into Nicks old exhibit. And a lot of the animals such as the Red Panda were out today so that was a treat. The fairground was packed up today I don't know if this happens every winter but if it doesn't maybe the fairground that a lot of people hate is moving away (fingers crossed).
Thanks

P.s: When I was outside the Orangutan Indoor viewing area a lot of people were telling ther children "look at the monkey" when it is quite clearly an ape. We're raising our children to be idiots. Does this bother anyone else.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top