I really am confused by IanR and Kifaru above;possibly better not to lump their opinions about African Wild Dogs at R.P. together as they can be construed differently..but Im getting the distinct impression that they think the species is not suited to an urban zoo environment.But then,in the next breath,it will be complaints about the diminution of London`s collection.If we really believe that it is the content of an an enclosure and not the size,then what is the problem?(And im not condoning overcrowding obviously).By comparison with wild habitats even Whipsnades vast meadows are tiny..and these animals are known"edgers" anyway -give them a field the size of Westmorland and odds on there will soon be a well-worn muddy path around the edge of it all.Perhaps its time for a new website for folks who like zoos but somehow are not really at ease with them until all enclosures stretch out over the distant horizon that is!Lets call it "clawstrophobic.com"!
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2016
- Thread starter Tim Brown
- Start date
Bib Fortuna
Well-Known Member
Thankfully zoos have made good progress and continues to develop consistently since these times with tiny cages, so that even African wild dogs can enjoy the luxury of enclosure sizes that give them space enough for their movement.Yes, the problem with such a "new-fangled" enclosures is of course the annoying reduction in the number of species. Previously, when there was still the old mesh cages, the cake piece enclosures and the tiny cake plate platforms for elephants ,the zoos were real zoos-but today? It's deplorable that there are zoos that keep caninds in installations of 2 or more hectares and noone can see the animals.
Dear Tim, I am hardly known as a supporter of the enclosure size theme nor a complaint of further reduction in species. I love zoos they where each and every one of them is different.
To make it clearer: I was thinking more of that the whole Whipsnade setting with several other African savannah species would better suit the wild dogs than the ZSL Regent's Park site. This versus what would more coalesce with the ZSL animal collection in that part of the zoo.
BTW: I personally know of a few wild dog enclosures far smaller in size than the London site …, and in these wild dogs breed and raise their offspring happily.
To make it clearer: I was thinking more of that the whole Whipsnade setting with several other African savannah species would better suit the wild dogs than the ZSL Regent's Park site. This versus what would more coalesce with the ZSL animal collection in that part of the zoo.
BTW: I personally know of a few wild dog enclosures far smaller in size than the London site …, and in these wild dogs breed and raise their offspring happily.
The Zoo has 2 Okapis
Mbuti- Male b.2004
Oni-Female b.2013
Mbuti- Male b.2004
Oni-Female b.2013
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
That's the one. Originally installed as a bath for elephants but reputedly proved too small for adults. I suspect that the untrained animals installed there in the 1960s, especially Pole Pole would have been lethal past adolescence that close.
giant_anteater
Well-Known Member
I'm not all that familiar with London Zoo, so I don't know the enclosure you're talking about, but could it be for the Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo that they're supposed to be getting/have gotten?
Or are they already on display elsewhere?
it may be, but the tree-kangaroo hasn't materialised yet, and this enclosure has been in refurbishment since at least October
Frankfurt has again down to 1-1 after receiving a new female from Rostock last year.
Care to elaborate?
You mean they have a pair again or there has been a swap?
(with an individual leaving for another zoo ...)
the one at London is the female from Frankfurt, and Frankfurt got a replacement female from Rostock.
Except that London has not yet received any tree kangaroo, so it is equally probable the Frankfurt female has either died or moved to a different and non-London collection.
my information was that the tree kangaroo arrived at London during December I think it was (a few weeks ago anyway).
Interesting 
plans must have changed then.
plans must have changed then.
That would make sense! I had visions of anoas returning to the collection but perhaps not...
I re-checked with my sources and the tree kangaroo is at London. It is of course not on show yet.
I think the tree kangaroo is in quarantine at the moment.