Don't think i have seen so many okapi in one picture on here, great shot, just wish Marwell could provide a more natural representation of their habitat, rather than an open paddock, and that goes for the pygmy hippo too.
The other paddock is half wooded, and until 2006 that was the only okapi paddock, but I agree it could do with some small tropical trees like at Chester and London. Personally I'd prefer to see the hippos in the somali wild ass stallion's paddock adjacent to the one in this picture, again with small trees.
But when they have the choice between an indoor heated pool that is warm and usable 24/7 to a chilly outdoor one that they'd probably only use in the warmer months, I think I'd know which one I'd choose if I was a pygmy hippo.
But when they have the choice between an indoor heated pool that is warm and usable 24/7 to a chilly outdoor one that they'd probably only use in the warmer months, I think I'd know which one I'd choose if I was a pygmy hippo.
It doesn't have to be an "either/or" decision does it?
From the photos i've seen of the pygmy hippo enclosure at Marwell, there appears to be a very good amount of room, so it must be relatively easy to dig out a pool in this paddock for the summer months and then they have both an heated indoor pool and an outdoor pool
But the pygmy hippos dont have the choice. Thye dont have the option to choose a pool, it wouldn't be too hard to build them a pool in their large outdoor area.
But it'd be waste of funds in my opinion. They can be a nuisance to clean, they'd only use it when it's warm and they'd probably prefer to use the heated one anyway, similar to how Port Lympne's gorillas rarely use they're open enclosures in favour of the cages. The hippos are perfectly satisfied with the indoor pools anyway, if it was really a problem then Marwell wouldn't have the excellent breeding record that most other UK zoos lack.
But it'd be waste of funds in my opinion. They can be a nuisance to clean, they'd only use it when it's warm and they'd probably prefer to use the heated one anyway, similar to how Port Lympne's gorillas rarely use they're open enclosures in favour of the cages. The hippos are perfectly satisfied with the indoor pools anyway, if it was really a problem then Marwell wouldn't have the excellent breeding record that most other UK zoos lack.
How does one tell if a hippopotamus is "perfectly satisfied". Do they have them fill out exhibit surveys?
"Question number 3 - How satisfied are you with the indoor pool? _Perfectly satisfied _Very satisfied _Somewhat satisfied _Not sure _Somewhat dissatisfied _Very Dissatisfied _Perfectly Dissatisfied
Question number 4 - How satisfied are you with your exhibit companions?..."
But what I mean is, they're not struggling on brittle legs in desperation for an outdoor pool. The hippos seem to benefit from the unique lifestyle of being able to swim in a heated pool and then graze in a large paddock to their heart's content, and this seems to be a secret to Marwell's success with the species. An outdoor pool wouldn't really make any major difference other than attractivity.
