Saturday I went to Artis and a few things caught my attention:
-The former Alpine marmot enclosure already has now residents, a pair of Himalayan monal-pheasants (
Lophophorus impejanus). I am not sure whether they are the same pair that lives in the pheasantry or if it's a new pair.
-I am pretty sure that the black-tailed prairie dogs have left the zoo, I didn't see them and all the information signs were gone at the enclosure.
-I also noticed to 'large scale' maps in the zoo, one is located next to the bridge between the pelican and gibbon enclosures and the other one is near the butterfly house.
-The enclosure of the Williams' dwarf gecko (
Lygodactylus williamsi) was empty indicated by a sign in the enclosure.
-Some information about the renovation of the aquarium, they are for so far I understand still planing on starting the renovation next year (maybe a bit downscaled). This means that the aquarium will be closed at the beginning of 2021 and that all animals will be moved to different zoos or enclosures.
-The new indoor gibbon enclosure is almost finished, you can now walk around it and it looks really good! However on the other side of the enclosure (facing the Dutch Polder aviary) you have a small fries stand, which is incorporated in the enclosure building. I am getting a little bit annoyed by all the food stands Artis has been building/opening over the last couple of years. I understand that people want to buy something to eat or drink and it's a good way to increase the zoos income. But most of the times I visit Artis they are either closed or barely anyone buys something, therefore a few stands have also been closed over the years... I would rather see Artis spend money on improving current enclosures than on building more food stands...
I know this is not news but I really just love ARTIS's mascot. I just love how he seems simple yet cute.
-Some info for PossumRoach you can now buy Artis de Marsis in de zoo store (the alien relative of Artis de Partis). Three different types are available a keychain and two differrent sizes plushies.