mhale

Formosan sika deer and prairie dogs at Banham Zoo, 14 September 2010

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Hardly the most inspiring exhibit, surely this could be used for something more exciting.
 
Although this is a large area, which some say could be better used, the deer cost virtually nothing to keep as they feed on leftover fruit and seed-mixes, etc. so are an extra exhibit with a very small amount of money going in to keeping it. They steer clear of the Marmots' burrows and are rather sure-footed.

The Prairie Marmots do wander outside the boundaries of their enclosure, but because they're burrows are within the enclosure, they always return.
 
Formosan sika

I like this, it's a simple exhibit of a herd animal, in a herd, with a bonus of a social rodent colony. Climatically appropriate, too. Not all exhibits have to be all-singing-all-dancing, total immersion with bells and whistles. there's a lot to be said for animals in a field.
 
They don't.

They've dug under the fence into the enclosure next door, which I think currently just holds sheep. I've also seen them round the zoo in various places.

I used to look after this herd when I used to work there :) The deer were very sweet, and you could get quite close to the prairie dogs, so I don't think it was a wasted space at all!

The prairie dogs did escape often, and have surfaced in gardens as far away as nearby town, Diss!!!

Some of the unlucky escapees, however, surfaced in the tiger enclosure :D
 
Its quite a nice enclosure really, as there is(or was) a concrete footpath leading through one end of it so its almost like a walkthrough area.

Surprised to hear of Prairie Dogs getting as far as Diss though- maybe they had some artificial help?
 

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