Asian elephant pool and part of Asian elephant paddock,2022-05-26

Apparently there are plans to expand the elephant enclosure, according to OkapiJohn's comment on @SerriGaming's recreation of the exhibit. This, along with a barn annex or an upgrade to the Egyptian Temple are welcome, and I'd prefer exhibit expansions to flagrant displays of monoculture.

@StoppableSan I do not know what this person is basing that information on, personally I don't know anything about plans to expand the elephant area. Even if they did they wouldn't be able to add much more space. I don't think they can build an annex to or upgrade the Egyptian Temple for heritage reasons.Taking up some of the gardens for the elephant exhibit would likely also not be accepted for the same reason.

I recognize that facilities for adolescent elephant bulls are necessary, but I do not think that Antwerp is the right place to do so.

Personally I would like to see the Egyptian Temple and the elephant area to be used for appropriate (North) African species, and think that is a better and more ethical solution than continuing with elephants.

By monoculture displays I assume you refer to the lawn areas? While I personally understand that they have to preserve much of the gardens for historical and heritage reasons, it would be good if they were able to chose a more ecologically friendly solution that flat lawns, for example floral grasslands.

@KevinB That individual is apparently working on a study with Antwerp Zoo (appropriately enough, with the okapi), hence the inside information.

As far as renovations on heritage sites go, I'm not too familiar with Antwerp's zoning so I can't comment, but if they are considering utilizing some of the lawn space for a larger elephant habitat, that might mean they're willing to negotiate with the government regarding the usage of said space.

Past that, I did find it a bit odd that they have Asian elephants in an Egyptian-themed temple when African elephants would work even better, fitting the Atlas Mountain/Egypt theme a lot better.

Either way, Antwerp's setup for the outdoor enclosure, while small, is very nicely forested, which provides a much better context for an elephant's natural environment than other zoos could provide.

(If the zoo did switch to a North African species, I doubt the general public would find the return of camels or the addition of scimitar-horned oryx to be exciting - it certainly would be for us zoo-nerds, but IDK)

@KevinB About the expansion plans of the elephant paddock, there has been an official public conformation that this is indeed true. Last year, a member of the Flemish parliament has asked a question to minister of animal welfare Ben Weyts about the financial situation of the KMDA zoos during the Covid pandemic. In the minister's answer, the expansion of the elephant enclosure at Antwerp is called amongst the projects that have been postponed due to the crisis. Here is the link to the document: https://docs.vlaamsparlement.be/pfile?id=1670272 I got it via a news article of which the link was posted a few months ago by a member on the Laafsekikkers forum.

@Valvas I did actually see that document earlier, but I did not remember it.

The article I discussed in the Antwerp and Planckendael threads also mentioned that they could potentially double the surface of the elephant paddock.

Not completely sure what that would entail. At least taking up the lawn and some garden areas, but potentially even the former cormorant pond (although I think that landscaping would be part of the heritage protection - and I would not like to see that area go personally).

That said, even with an outdoor paddock twice the current surface, I don't think the exhibit would be quite up to modern standards. It remains that the indoor housing in the Egyptian Temple, even if one were to assume standards would be lower for adolescent bulls than for a breeding herd, isn't that great and will not be considered adequate or up to standards in the long term. And there is just no realistic option for constructing a new elephant house anywhere, in any shape or form, anywhere at Antwerp.

I am still of the opinion that elephants are the megafauna species too much for Antwerp, and the one they cannot adequately house in the long term. I also still feel that I would prefer a (Northern) African species selection for the Egyptian Temple and the elephant area.