On my visit last Friday all that I could see was some work on what might have been a footpath running the length of the rear of the house .
Personally I did not think the outside enclosures were too bad . They have grass floors and quite good climbing structures which both pairs of orangs were using . Could be because the weather had turned colder but all four orangs were quite active . I thought that they looked in good condition too , long coats and not too fat .
crazy theory here but could it be that the area available inside the house for the orangs has been expanded to include what was previously the area that the visitors could walk through to see the orangs inside?
I love all this cloak-and-dagger stuff that goes on at zoos everywhere!You might as well ask Coca Cola for their secret formula or ask Ferrari if they wouldn´t mind giving you a copy of the blueprints for next season´s engine as ask a zoo what exactly this renovation is all about.I have sometimes had a chat with other zoo enthusiasts about this and after about five minutes I have nearly fallen over laughing.I mean, what exactly are they worried about - that somebody is going to copy them and make it cheaper in China?It´s brilliant - you couldn´t make it up!Actually , if you are as bad as I am you can have great fun with this , and wind up the press dept. in your zoo no end with a bit of imagination!
I personally suspect that it's more a case of them wanting to avoid criticism before a project is finished. New and/or improved exhibits rarely please everyone and what with constraints of space and money (usually) zoos probably just want to get on with it without having to answer any awkward questions from visitors and other interested parties. I think it's also a case of them wanting to avoid egg on their face ..... for example, by publicising grand plans one minute, which may later have to be postponed, toned down or even cancelled when (for example) costs spiral out of control or funds need to be diverted elsewhere if an unexpected emergency arises.
I agree though that many zoos are very reticent about advertising future plans. I'd like to know what they'd like to do if they could - even if they can't guarantee when it would happen. That'd make me feel better looking at inadequate and/or dated and/or shabby enclosures if the zoo readily admitted it was aware of its shortcomings. Instead, I sometimes kind of feel a bit 'insulted' that inadequate (for whatever reason) exhibits are presented without any further comment, as if we (the visitors) are supposed to think it's acceptable. Don't know if that makes sense ?
I can't remember where or what it was called, but I remember coming across a website for a small animal park which was paricularly informative and honest. It admitted it was unhappy with this enclosure and that, and why, and what its hopes were to rectify this as soon as possible. It had loads of photos showing the before and after improvements already accomplished and a timetable for what was being worked on now and next. I really liked that attitude.
Just to add some more news from the zoo today some of the African Wild Dogs will be leaving early 2010 to be replaced by a group of female Dogs hopefully to have a sucessful breeding programme. Black Lemurs are to be re-released into Lemur Wood shortly.
For those who are wondering what is in the elephant house off show then here's the news they are the 2 owls used on the display's in the castle courtyard.
Also noticed no Orangutangs out today as ulterations where being done to the wall at the rear of the first enclosure (closest to the Gibbons)
A new group of Squirrel monkeys have been released in monkey tails. also noticed the young Squirrel monkey's out and about on there parents back today.
Just to add some more news from the zoo today some of the African Wild Dogs will be leaving early 2010 to be replaced by a group of female Dogs hopefully to have a sucessful breeding programme. Black Lemurs are to be re-released into Lemur Wood shortly.
For those who are wondering what is in the elephant house off show then here's the news they are the 2 owls used on the display's in the castle courtyard.
Also noticed no Orangutangs out today as ulterations where being done to the wall at the rear of the first enclosure (closest to the Gibbons)
A new group of Squirrel monkeys have been released in monkey tails. also noticed the young Squirrel monkey's out and about on there parents back today.
all the owls are kept there, and wouldn't they just want to being in a female not remove the whole pack, and im not sure about the black lemurs because they might of given birth since there was a birth there.
I have an idea the african wild dogs may be a straight forward swap males for females
I was under the impression that only the owls being used in the show's were being kept in the elephant house maybe wrong though.
Black lemurs are shy animals the same as the collard ones so the re introduction into the wood may take a little time but they did confirm they would be reintrodusedmthier in the very near future.
Does anyone know why they have had a large delivery of large rock and why they have removed the old dodgems and it looks like the old fun house is going as well from the fair ground area as this does release a fair bit of ground (excuse the pun).
