Belfast Zoo Belfast Zoo News 2009

[Pertinax]

Bikira is actually the youngest of the 3 Belfast females. She is 14.

The others are Delilah, wild-born 1963 & Kamilah, born at London Zoo in 1987.

The oldest is Delilah who has a very fertile but poor past breeding record and you can discount her now due to her age. She is not troublesome in the group though.
Kamili has bred once(with their first male Keke, who died) and could do so again.
Bikira has not bred so far.

 

[Shorts]

I'd like to see a zoo take on white tigers and explain what they really are and why they shouldn't be bred from.

If I recall correctly, Hamerton Zoo do something like that.

Possibly Isle Of Wight Zoo as well , their signage is very good, but my memory fails me..

 

[James27]

Chessington had a notice too, I was pretty impressed

 

[moloch gibbon]

Sorry I don't know the exact date for Boulas' move but was told it will be soon.

I too would rather see Belfast welcome Sumatran or Amur tigers as opposed to the white "hybrid" but I guess that cubs or surplus stock need to find new homes and Belfast can accomodate them. Also, white tigers are very popular with visitors which is a bonus.

Still no luck in finding out the new species which Belfast will house and will be the only zoo to do so outside south-east asia!>>>

Re the new s.e asian species, I'm sure one of you will figure it out eventually - it's a great one though! Can't wait to see them!

 

[Fergie]

I think I may have worked it out but I'm not going to say incase its way out!

however, come to think of it I don't know where the zoo would place this species without building a new enclosure. It isn't hoofstock anyway with the current blue-tongue situation.

 

[James27]

What's special about this new species? Is it only the one in Europe or something?

 

[Fergie]

Apparently it is only housed in one other collection outside either it's home country or south-east asia..

 

[zoogiraffe]

Well as somebody that knows what this species is all i will say is that i will be over to Belfast as soon as i can after they arrive.

 

[James27]

Is it Asian? Is this the sealion exchange thing they were doing? Maybe Biakal (sp?) seals?

 

[kiang]

Is it Asian? Is this the sealion exchange thing they were doing? Maybe Biakal (sp?) seals?

Leipzig still have one i believe.

It seems as though quite a few folk on here know, but are not telling

When will this new species be arriving at the zoo?

 

[zoogiraffe]

It seems as though quite a few folk on here know, but are not telling

When will this new species be arriving at the zoo?

Yes but most of them work at Belfast,some of just know people that have worked with the species in the wild and in rescue centres in the countrys that they come from.As for when they will arrive as soon as all the paper work can be sorted out.

 

[Mr Saxon]

Its been said the species would arrive before the end of this year.
Though I'm not sure it would be Biakal seals cause I'm not sure where they would be placed. My top 4 guesses are Hoofstock, monkey, cat or reptile

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Douc, Sunda or Sumatran langur!?

 

[Bele]

I visited Belfast yesterday . Not the best of days due to heavy showers and a world-record attempt at the largest hand-painted picture , organised by a charity - vast numbers of mothers and toddlers in push-chairs !

I could only see 5 gorillas together inside the house , viewing not easy due to the crowd and camouflage painted glass , there did only appear to be one big male . I recognised Delilah from her days at Bristol , now looking her age .

 

[Pygathrix]

Whatever it is I hope they arrive by November because that's when I'm next going...

 

[Mr Saxon]

yeah, seems they broke the record for it though.....
My thoughts are they will arrive in October/Novemeber.

 

[James27]

Maybe probiscis monkeys..? I know, unrealistic lol.

 

[Pertinax]

I could only see 5 gorillas together inside the house , viewing not easy due to the crowd and camouflage painted glass , there did only appear to be one big male . I recognised Delilah from her days at Bristol , now looking her age .

I have never been there since they got Gorillas, but I know the younger Silverback 'Gugas'(the one they want to keep) avoids Boulas by staying in the dens- alternatively they may have had to seperate them fully by now and lock one away. I suspect you saw Boulas as I doubt he has left yet.

Delilah looked old even during her latter years at Bristol (due to poor diet, bad management regime, lost babies etc) and has had a much better life since moving to Belfast, though she also lost three more babies there in the earlier years. Every photo I've seen of her there she seems to be eating(making up for the years at Bristol?)

 

[Mr Saxon]

Any news on the Toco Toucans and Fiji banded Iguana? Where will they be placed cause I sort of assumed in the rainforest house. And how big is the newly furbished Reptile house? Same size or bigger?

 

[Al]

The toucan will be exhibited in one of the large back dens of the bird flights as it would most definately take out any smaller species in the rainforest house.

The reptile area is the same size but comprises of 5 larger enclosures. I must point out that we didnt get it refurbished to the standard we wanted due to lack of time so it will be closed again this winter to be redeveloped further!