Well, of all the elements of equatorial Africa Marwell could have hoped to recreate, it seems that the one for pygmy hippos is lots of lush grazing.....
I think their setup for this species is far superior to any other holdlings for this species in the UK and this is reflected by the consistent breeding success.
Sure, an outdoor pool would be nice, but they do have a choice about demonstrating where they want to spend their time, and you are unlikely to find stationary, submerged hippos at Marwell in the way you often do at London, because Marwells hippos are out grazing most of the time!
I think it would be a step back for an exhibit to be created with lots of out-of-reach tropical plants, woodchip floor and theming just to satisfy our need for some kind of tropical forest aesthetic.
I think it would be a step back for an exhibit to be created with lots of out-of-reach tropical plants, woodchip floor and theming just to satisfy our need for some kind of tropical forest aesthetic.
I don't think anyone is suggesting this, they are just suggesting that they could maybe build an outdoor pool for the summer months and something that is bigger than their current indoor one.
There has been in a sunshade put up in the past during the summer, but I haven't seen it for a while. On recent visits though I've seen the hippos, particulary Antone, sprawled out in the sun taking it all in.
Right - and the point is they often do choose to be out in the sun when there are some shaded areas provided.
Some people on this thread were commenting about the need for the enclosures to be more naturalistic - I was partly responding to that.
It would be nice to see an outdoor pool created for them, but I don't see it as essential. Port Lympne very successfully kept and bred malayan tapir for many years with no outside pool.
What I really do hope Marwell allows is summer access to the outdoor paddock at night for their hippos, even if on rotation some days.
It would be nice to see an outdoor pool created for them, but I don't see it as essential. Port Lympne very successfully kept and bred malayan tapir for many years with no outside pool.
What I really do hope Marwell allows is summer access to the outdoor paddock at night for their hippos, even if on rotation some days.
True, an outdoor pool is not essential but would be nice. I think the large rgazing area is key here to why marwell has a very good breeding record and should be copied in other zoos.
I think it would be a step back for an exhibit to be created with lots of out-of-reach tropical plants, woodchip floor and theming just to satisfy our need for some kind of tropical forest aesthetic.
Aesthetics aside, this is a species that exists in densest forest, not only with shade but also immersed in foliage and opportunities to "disappear." Further, their social structure is complex and does not include "herds" as such. We can suspect, at least, that psychologically an open paddock with such a harem may have consequences (but research would have to clear up whether it IS a problem or merely can be imagined as one....or @Ituri's survey).
Opposing theming is one thing but disregarding an animal's natural behavior is something else.
And displaying an animal from deep forest as though it is simply an odd horse is just bad education (no matter what the signs say)
Would I be right in thinking that Pygmy Hippos are just not that aquatic anyway, and might well prefer lots of grazing to a [necessarily colder than indoor] pool in the paddock? And no, I've never actually asked one its opinion.........
