New extension of the Antwerp Zoo's elephant paddock, not yet entirely finished at the time of taking this picture, but already in use by the elephants. (30/06/2023)
Thanks for this photo @Valvas I really need to visit the Antwerp Zoo again to see this with my own eyes.
It looks like this new section has a dry moat, or am I seeing this wrong? If so, I do hope they decorate it a bit more, since it now looks anything but pretty or attractive. I hope they decorate it with (fake) rocks, just like the former elephant enclosure (before the 1999 renovation). This would give the enclosure a certain nostalgia. But after all, it is only a personal wish
@Tiger The new area indeed has a dry moat. I visited last Sunday, it now looks pretty barren and unfinished. They could have done more with this I think.
That said, I am not a big fan of them spending money on them prolonging elephant holding at Antwerp for a bit longer, as it is unsustainable and will have to be ended in the mid to long term (and in my opinion should already have been or should be soon).
@Tiger You're welcome. Note that the new extension does not really have a dry moat like the pre-1999 enclosure, but rather a slope that the elephants have access to. There are some rocks at the bottom of it, but these aren't viewable on the picture.
@KevinB I pretty much understand your sentiment on this project, as I was myself also somwhat sceptical on it. But although the extension is a little bit barren, I think it has turned out to be a major improvement on the elephant housing. I still do not believe that it will last very long though; just as long that it is acceptable and/or needed for putting young bulls.
Regardless of whether Antwerp should keep housing adolescent bulls, for such a tiny expansion a dry moat is just a stupid idea. It takes up like half the added space...
Edit: I see Valvas pointed out the moat is usable space. Definitely better, albeit im skeptical how much they will use it given the gradient.
