Dudley Zoological Gardens Bear ravine & other news

[adrian1963]

On my visit 01 / 02 / 10 I was glad to see the male snow leopard out and about in the enclosure. He has some damage to the one ear but this seems to be reacting well to traetment.
The Orangutang House looks to be coming on now with the scaffolding now taken down and work going on inside, there will be a small indoor viewing area it will be about half way down the house behind the wooded off doorway (in gallery).
No sign of little Ronnie yet (tapir), Sarah decided to stay inside to day due to the snow, Baby Gibbon now looking great with the fur/hair now growing all over.
The lion lookouts where all blocked off so I think they must be getting ready to introduce the females to the male very shortly.
On reading the Zoo's new book it has come apparrent that they are thinking of putting a new collection of Primates in the Bear Ravine. I asked if they had considered putting either the Chimps or the Orangutans in there and was told in no certain terms that they had no intansion of moving neither so I asked if it was a new collection all they said was wait and see.
On the chimps a keeper said they were going to reinforce all the fencing around the enclosure (me thinks there could be a male on the way)
Will be returning to the zoo 18 / 02 / 10 so if any questions just ask I will do my best to get answers

 

[RTB1987]

i wonder what they'll put in there?
Could it be made into somekind of baboon rock like enclosure? Or maybe they'll take some of the bonobos off Twycross's hands so that they don't need to have some inside while the other half go into the outside area. Do we know if they are still having that problem??

 

[robmv]

I'd love them to make some use of the old bear ravine, but they've been talking about converting it for primates for over ten years so don't hold you breath!

 

[Pertinax]

I'd love them to make some use of the old bear ravine, but they've been talking about converting it for primates for over ten years so don't hold you breath!

It would require massive refurbishment- at considerable cost for the Zoo- to make it suitable and 'proof' for Primates. A large group of something like Hamadryas or Geladas would look good in there though. As Robmv says; don't hold your breath though.

 

[Shorts]

i wonder what they'll put in there?
Or maybe they'll take some of the bonobos off Twycross's hands

Highly highly unlikely.

One, I don't think Twycross would want to give them to anybody.

Two, I don't think Dudley's a prestigious enough establishment to get them anytime in the forseeable future (put the baseball bat down, I quite like Dudley).

 

[Pertinax]

Highly highly unlikely.

One, I don't think Twycross would want to give them to anybody.

Two, I don't think Dudley's a prestigious enough establishment to get them anytime in the forseeable future (put the baseball bat down, I quite like Dudley).

Agree with you 100% on both counts....

The last time I went to Twycross the group was split by sexes, rather than into two mixed sex groups. I can only see any Bonobos which leave Twycross, going to Europe.

 

[chizlit]

From my point of view I simply dont see it being suitable for primates at all.
As Pertinax said it would cost too much for a start, secondly the ravine lends itself to other animals rather than primates.

 

[RTB1987]

By bear ravine are we talking about the part where the bears are now or the whole complex (bear, tiger and old polar bear sections)? If it is just the bear section wouldn't have thought it would take too long. Don't they already have a basic climbing structure that was built when the macaques were in there.

 

[Maguari]

By bear ravine are we talking about the part where the bears are now or the whole complex (bear, tiger and old polar bear sections)? If it is just the bear section wouldn't have thought it would take too long. Don't they already have a basic climbing structure that was built when the macaques were in there.

The Bear Ravine is what is now a guanaco paddock opposite the farmyard area.