ZOO Antwerpen A slight concern for Antwerp Zoo

Ungulata

Ungulata

Active Member
I was lucky enough to nip over for a long weekend to Antwerp and make my first visit to such a famous zoo, and would first and foremost like to say what an absolutely wonderful place it is.

The Zoo is FANTASTIC! It really lived up to my expectations - highlights were the sea otter enclosure and the wonderful wonderful bongo exhibit, with the bamboo planting to facilitate hiding for this most anxious of antelope! There are a lot of other zoos could learn a thing or two about their own bongo enclosures from Antwerp. Wonderful stuff!

There was however a small issue that caused me some concern. This was the worst case of stereotyping I've personally witnessed at any zoo, in the porcupines. Many people were giggling at how they were "dancing" and it was most painful to witness. There was also an issue similarly with one of the older female elephants, amur leopard and tiger and also with the giraffe - a female with a youngster - she was showing major stereotyping with head tossing and swiveling, licking and chewing. I realise it is a small zoo and that a lot of the larger stock is based at Plackendael, but still...

Do not misunderstand me, I was very VERY impressed with the standards at the zoo and look forward to my next visit, but the stereotyping in the porcupines in particular gave me serious cause for concern. I do hope people agree with me on this, and wonder if any one else has mentioned this to keeping staff?
 
The giraffes arrived only a week ago, so you most likely witnessed some stressy behaviours from the trip. Else they have gotten the stereotypical behaviour elsewhere (Belfast) but i highly doubt it. She was just stressed out...

I don't know the story behind the porcupines though, perhaps they are rescued animals? Perhaps they where just anxiously waiting for their food or something?
 
Ungulata, I totally understand your concern for animal welfare in Antwerp. It`s a zoo with a HUGE reputation and an impressive animal collection, but living conditions for many of the larger mammals are poorly and stereotypic behavoir can be a consequence of that. Elephants, giraffes, apes, all big cats, okapis have way too small enclosures currently and that so many monkeys in the monkey house have no acess to outdoor enclosures is rightway appalling.

I know the zoo has aquired a bit more space and things will change to the better, but I am far from convinced that the results will be enough. It`s great that the breeding group of west african giraffes with 2 (or 3?) pregnant females has just been moved from the cramped enclosure in Antwerp to Plankendahl, but why the h** do they bring in new giraffes - apparently for a new breeding group? - immediately?! Same for elephants, the plan is to move the current group to Plankendahl in about 2 years, but new elephants are supposed to come to Antwerp!
 
I was in Antwerp three weeks ago. None of animals you mentioned was stereotyping. Porcupines were busy feeding, leopard was alseep and tiger was basking. Elephants were OK.

But I agree that many enclosures are much too small - even if I was first in Antwerp 10 years ago and it improved enormously since then. Even so I think, zoo should make much more drastic changes.

Get rid of more animals, like cape buffalo, kangaroos, porcupines and strange hoofstock mix on terraces, turn those generous green lawns into animal space, turn small historic okapi house and elephant house for small animals or human use, and drastically change layout to carve sufficent space for elephants, giraffes and apes - if zoo is to keep them at all.
 
Jurek7 said:
I was in Antwerp three weeks ago. None of animals you mentioned was stereotyping. Porcupines were busy feeding, leopard was alseep and tiger was basking. Elephants were OK.

But I agree that many enclosures are much too small - even if I was first in Antwerp 10 years ago and it improved enormously since then. Even so I think, zoo should make much more drastic changes.

Get rid of more animals, like cape buffalo, kangaroos, porcupines and strange hoofstock mix on terraces, turn those generous green lawns into animal space, turn small historic okapi house and elephant house for small animals or human use, and drastically change layout to carve sufficent space for elephants, giraffes and apes - if zoo is to keep them at all.
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I agree with what you said here, the biggest species would be better at their country zoo which gives more space to other species in need of up graded exhibits
 
The girafs from the Antwerp Zoo are now in Planckendael, second park of the KMDA. The new savanne opened this month. Later they will get company of antilop's, impala's, Helmeted Guineafowls and maybe zebra's.

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Masterplan of the Antwerp Zoo will include more space for Okapi's (first zoo with okapi's in the world so they will keep them). Also more space for gorilla's and chimps, girafs and elephants. Concrete plans are not yet revealed but I put my trust in the organisation :). Lions will get a much larger space in 2008.

This space will change totaly:
plattegrond2g1ray8.jpg
 
I don't think the flamingo's are in the masterplan itself, but of course the zoo also will invest in the non-masterplan part of the park (like the new lion exhibit). The old raptor cages standing above the gorilla and chimp building are now out of use. They are very old and are also part of the protected patrimonium of the zoo (whole zoo is classified by the way). These cages will get a new place were the zebra's and cape buffalo's are now, but they never will keep birds anymore because they're so old and not of this time anymore.
 
Antwerp zoo can not build on the green lawns, to make more animal space. It is really forbidden, the monumental association say that they have to leave it like this.

The 5 Kordofangiraffes moved from Antwerp to Planckendael(3 pregnant!) and 2 Rothschild are now there. Mother and daughter from Belfast.
After the summer they gonna build further on more space for giraffes, okapis and more animals. The lions get a new exhibith, they move to the front of the panorama brigde. The camels, donkeys and yaks who live theire now get only the part behind the bridge. So more space by the cats, because the lions are moved.

Planckendael will get the elephants from Antwerp zoo. Antwerp Zoo get junger bulls.
 
Marc said:
The old raptor cages standing above the gorilla and chimp building are now out of use. These cages will get a new place were the zebra's and cape buffalo's are now, but they never will keep birds anymore because they're so old and not of this time anymore.
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That's good to hear. I almost burst into tears when I saw those magnificent birds of prey perched on a branch in those small and awfull cages.
 
the elephant skeleton is an "interesting" touch in the giraffe paddock in Marc's photo (post 8)
 
Toddy said:
That's good to hear. I almost burst into tears when I saw those magnificent birds of prey perched on a branch in those small and awfull cages.
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The Zoo Antwerpen is a historic zoo facility and very much exudes that special atmosphere that is lacking from more recently built facilities. We need to cherish that history and place in it in a new context and given that most urban zoos have not sufficient land area an obvious trend into specialisation and less species in more naturalistic habitats.

The modernisation of facilities in historic zoos must be accomplished with diligence while nurturing that historic past and preserving its legacy. Whereas historic buildings must be preserved where functional, I personally do have qualms with those buildings for which no animal exhibit purpose or educational/recreational function can be devised. Sadly, most municipalities where historic zoos are concerned often throw at zoo management authorities listed building status on every historic building - even when it is obvious it can no longer be used for animal exhibits, amenities and is in a dilapidated state, thus obstructing the policy of modernisation.

In the "Old World" quite a few zoos of this nature exist: Zoo Antwerpen, Artis Amsterdam, London Regent's Park Zoo, Paris Menagerie, Blijdorp Zoo Rotterdam, Tierpark Hagenbeck ... etcetera.

Given the above, I find the title of this thread somewhat inappropriate and it does not fully do justice to Zoo Antwerpen or the scientific-educational-conservation efforts by zoo management and its society the KDMA.

The giraffe example is really out-of-place since it entails Rothschild's giraffe only very recently imported from Belfast Zoo to occupy an animal exhibit just one week previously vacated by the resident breeding group of Sudan/Kordofan giraffe G. c. antiquorum (which have been relocated to a new giraffe habitat at the outer facility in Planckendael Zoo.

On recent introduction it is only to be expected that new giraffe tend to be somewhat apprehensive at their new environment and prone to stress reactions and stereotyping behaviour.
 
Although I've never seen it myself from what i've heard the Bronx Zoo's new Madagascar exhibit built inside the old lion house is exceptional. I think other zoos could learn a thing or two from this.
Also Melbourne Zoo uses it's historic elephant house as a place for sleepovers for children.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. And in answer to many explaining the space issue, I agree it is obviously a concern for such a city-centre zoo. My research interests include tereotypic behaviour in ungulates and so the giraffe issue was something I naturally picked up on. I had not realised that was their first day outside though.

In relation to the porcupines - it is a shame that Jurek7 did not witness them stereotyping - I do however have a short film clip recorded off of a stills camera which should show you what I am talking about if you would like to see. Is there facility to post film on this forum or not?

Please keep the comments coming - the plans and expansion look very interesting indeed!
 
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