Not the best photo of this animal, but as it is one of the most unusual and rarest species to be found at Blackbrook - one of only 4 collections in Europe to hold the taxa - I thought this well-worth an upload!
The species is kept by several private breeders too. This isn't the only collection in the country with the the species, they're actually bred by a member here!
It's certainly the only public collection in the country holding the species, though - which is generally what is meant when people discuss such things. For instance, it is safe to say Newquay Zoo are the only collection in the UK to hold Northern Luzon Cloud Rats in this thread even though there are private keepers elsewhere breeding them.
But that's by-the-by, although I am glad to hear someone is breeding them in the UK in answer to the following question
I only saw one individual, but did not stay too long at the enclosure so could not say for sure this is all that Blackbrook keeps. Have no idea as to the origin of the Blackbrook stock.
It's certainly the only public collection in the country holding the species, though - which is generally what is meant when people discuss such things.
.
wait, aren't you [Javan Rhino] the one who is regularly making comments to the effect of "oh if I'd known [insert animal here] was so rare I would have paid more attention to it/tried harder to see it..."? And now you're saying "no point wasting money on signs saying exactly this"?
I've probably said something like that in the past, but I don't start criticising the zoo because they didn't bother to say anything - like I say I don't mind zoos advertising the fact [if you have U.S.P.s like that then why not advertise them], all I'm trying to say is it isn't vital and I don't see why Blackbrook has received criticism - Considering not a couple of years ago Blackbrook was in financial trouble then I personally feel that such types of signage simply aren't good VFM [or haven't been previously] - they're a nice addition, yes, but not vital in my opinion and I don't think it's grounds to criticise.
p.s. assuming I've said that in the past then I don't regularly say it, given the users I tend to go around zoos with rare species are generally pointed out to me anyway if I almost dismiss them, plus for European collections I tend to look through zootierliste to pick out what I haven't seen before. All I'm trying to say is that Joe Public won't care that they can't see S. bald ibis anywhere else in the UK, especially when they've possibly seen Waldrapp if they've been to other places.
Belfast did indeed hold southern bald ibis, unfortunately our flock dwindled to one remaining bird which was sent to Blackbrook! We do not keep northern bald ibis!
Personally I think zoos should mention they're the only place (or one of a few) where a certain species is held, basically for the reasons Devilfish outlines -it makes people realise how lucky they are to see something and maybe take a while contemplating that and the species.
I'd let Blackbrook off not mentioning the fact if/when the get round to doing something regarding their atrocious labelling -as long as I can remember now the place (which I like a lot) has been a mishmash or basic, wrong and missing labelling, one could argue they're not doing much towards fulfilling their education remit*.
I don't think lack of money's an adequate excuse really (straightfoward informative labelling is more about time than money).
*for balance I think the penguin labelling's reasonable and I believe they do some keeper talks but that's about it.
Personally I think zoos should mention they're the only place (or one of a few) where a certain species is held, basically for the reasons Devilfish outlines -it makes people realise how lucky they are to see something and maybe take a while contemplating that and the species.
.
Me too. It was only through zoochat that I knew how unusual it was to see a zoe imperial pigeon as London Zoo is the only collection with this species.
As I have said in the past, it's also worth reminding people how endangered some species are in easily understandable terms such as 'rarer than a giant panda'.
