Hi,
I was at Belfast Zoo today. The zoo was aboslutely packed, probabaly due to a number of factors - sunny weather, Easter weekend, 75th birthday.
The new visitors centre is great - informative and aesthetically pleasing.
Visited the avenue first. Even though i absolutely love the zoo, i always seem to be disappointed with this section - probably because the enclosures are basic yet adequate and the animals are usually in hiding. Did not see any bongo or tapir family (just male) but enjoyed great views over the mixed paddock containing 1 blesbok, 2 nile lechwe and 1 male sitatunga.
The new capybara and giant anteater enclosure is pretty basic and unfortunately the anteater was nowhere to be seen, however it was relatively late in the afternoon. I would have thought the capy would require a pool? I will definately return when the females arrive.
New climbing structures have been added the mixed lemur exhibit, making it very interesting for its inhabitants and visitors alike, and when all species arrive this massive enclosure will house - black and white ruffed, belted black and white ruffed, red-bellied, crowned lemurs and parma wallabies - interesting mix!!
The primate collection at Belfast is really outstanding - if I am correct, including lemurs there are 9 marmoset/tamarin species, moloch gibbons, western lowland gorillas ( i got a close up with the silverback and he is MASSIVE), chimps, 5 monkey species and 7 species of prosimians.
One of the female colombian black spider monkeys looked heavily pregnant and there has been a recent colobus birth.
It was a mesmorising experience watching the sifakas literally bouncing around their enclosure- they are so fast and agile. I felt honored to be watching such an endangered species.
Unforunately the reptile house was still undergoing refurbishments however they hope to exhibit -
Poisson arrow frogs
chameleon
mixed boa exhibit
chinese crocodile lizards
mediterranean tortoises
day gecko
radiated and yellow-footed tortoises
maybe fijian banded iguanas!
This is quite an extensive list, considering Belfast is a predominantly mammal and bird collection
Other highlights included seeing:
golden cat
blesbok
the 2 new eles which appear to have settled in well - they seem to be quite large in comparison to Yhetto!
helmeted currasow - beautiful bird
barbary lions - they were attacking visitors who pressed their faces against the glass panels in the house!
lily - seems to still be at the zoo - there was talk of her moving to the Czech Republic
The spectacled bear enclosure seems to have deteriorated since my last visit - some of the platforms have collapsed and the wooden poles were rotting. However this large enclosure is still magnificent with the rocky outline and deep, fast flowing pools.
But, today was the first time that i had seen so many bird species at the zoo. The rainforest house was very lively - the fulvous whistling ducks were nesting and there seemed to be nicobar pigeons galore!! A few more mammal species (e.g. acouchi or silvery marmoset) would really add to the already great collection in this house.
The highlight for me was the walkthrough aviary - it was full of life - both fauna and flora. Yet, there is room for so many more species of bird. It was fantastic to have southern bald, scarlet ibis flying overhead and a variety of waterfowl dabbling in the numerous pools below - you walk along a raised platform.
It will be great when the Irish government becomes less strict on the blue-tongue regulations as Belfast are waiting to bring in some female blesbok and rearrange the giraffe herd, to enable breeding to begin again.
Belfast Zoo looks set to have a promising year with the arrival of von der deckens hornbill, blue-bellied rollers. blue-crowned laughing thrushes, tree roo and giant anteaters. I don't know if anyone remembers Al saying that Belfast are 2 receive two very rare species - one is only found in one other collection outside south-east asia and the other isn't found anywhere else in the UK. I am most definately intrigued!
fergie
I was at Belfast Zoo today. The zoo was aboslutely packed, probabaly due to a number of factors - sunny weather, Easter weekend, 75th birthday.
The new visitors centre is great - informative and aesthetically pleasing.
Visited the avenue first. Even though i absolutely love the zoo, i always seem to be disappointed with this section - probably because the enclosures are basic yet adequate and the animals are usually in hiding. Did not see any bongo or tapir family (just male) but enjoyed great views over the mixed paddock containing 1 blesbok, 2 nile lechwe and 1 male sitatunga.
The new capybara and giant anteater enclosure is pretty basic and unfortunately the anteater was nowhere to be seen, however it was relatively late in the afternoon. I would have thought the capy would require a pool? I will definately return when the females arrive.
New climbing structures have been added the mixed lemur exhibit, making it very interesting for its inhabitants and visitors alike, and when all species arrive this massive enclosure will house - black and white ruffed, belted black and white ruffed, red-bellied, crowned lemurs and parma wallabies - interesting mix!!
The primate collection at Belfast is really outstanding - if I am correct, including lemurs there are 9 marmoset/tamarin species, moloch gibbons, western lowland gorillas ( i got a close up with the silverback and he is MASSIVE), chimps, 5 monkey species and 7 species of prosimians.
One of the female colombian black spider monkeys looked heavily pregnant and there has been a recent colobus birth.
It was a mesmorising experience watching the sifakas literally bouncing around their enclosure- they are so fast and agile. I felt honored to be watching such an endangered species.
Unforunately the reptile house was still undergoing refurbishments however they hope to exhibit -
Poisson arrow frogs
chameleon
mixed boa exhibit
chinese crocodile lizards
mediterranean tortoises
day gecko
radiated and yellow-footed tortoises
maybe fijian banded iguanas!
This is quite an extensive list, considering Belfast is a predominantly mammal and bird collection
Other highlights included seeing:
golden cat
blesbok
the 2 new eles which appear to have settled in well - they seem to be quite large in comparison to Yhetto!
helmeted currasow - beautiful bird
barbary lions - they were attacking visitors who pressed their faces against the glass panels in the house!
lily - seems to still be at the zoo - there was talk of her moving to the Czech Republic
The spectacled bear enclosure seems to have deteriorated since my last visit - some of the platforms have collapsed and the wooden poles were rotting. However this large enclosure is still magnificent with the rocky outline and deep, fast flowing pools.
But, today was the first time that i had seen so many bird species at the zoo. The rainforest house was very lively - the fulvous whistling ducks were nesting and there seemed to be nicobar pigeons galore!! A few more mammal species (e.g. acouchi or silvery marmoset) would really add to the already great collection in this house.
The highlight for me was the walkthrough aviary - it was full of life - both fauna and flora. Yet, there is room for so many more species of bird. It was fantastic to have southern bald, scarlet ibis flying overhead and a variety of waterfowl dabbling in the numerous pools below - you walk along a raised platform.
It will be great when the Irish government becomes less strict on the blue-tongue regulations as Belfast are waiting to bring in some female blesbok and rearrange the giraffe herd, to enable breeding to begin again.
Belfast Zoo looks set to have a promising year with the arrival of von der deckens hornbill, blue-bellied rollers. blue-crowned laughing thrushes, tree roo and giant anteaters. I don't know if anyone remembers Al saying that Belfast are 2 receive two very rare species - one is only found in one other collection outside south-east asia and the other isn't found anywhere else in the UK. I am most definately intrigued!
fergie
