Rotterdam Zoo Blijdorp News 2021

Today the new flamingo aviary next to the historical entrance was officially opened. During the construction period 50 flamingos from Hilvarenbeek, Odense en Arnhem were added to the flock, making for a total of 120 greater flamingos in Rotterdam. The project, which also saw changes made to the big square bordering the enclosure, was entirely funded by the association ''Friends of the Rotterdam Zoo'' and other external organisations. The flamingos are joined by a small group of gadwalls (Mareca strepera), which is a new species for the zoo. Some more gadwalls were also placed in the large pond next to the Rivièrahal. Flamingo’s strekken vleugels in nieuwe volière Blijdorp
 
Blijdorpenaar said:
Today the new flamingo aviary next to the historical entrance was officially opened. During the construction period 50 flamingos from Hilvarenbeek, Odense en Arnhem were added to the flock, making for a total of 120 greater flamingos in Rotterdam. The project, which also saw changes made to the big square bordering the enclosure, was entirely funded by the association ''Friends of the Rotterdam Zoo'' and other external organisations. The flamingos are joined by a small group of gadwalls (Mareca strepera), which is a new species for the zoo. Some more gadwalls were also placed in the large pond next to the Rivièrahal. Flamingo’s strekken vleugels in nieuwe volière Blijdorp
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It seems the original flock (around 70 birds) had aged considerably with many birds now in their 50's and 60's and since 2015 no breeding successes had been recorded. Thus 50 new birds in different age compositions were added from 3 other zoos. Flamingo numbers are important and it is known that larger colonies suit the Eurasian species very much (as would even sex ratios).

My question would be: what was the breeding success of old at Rotterdam. So, in 2014 and before that year. Anyone has any further more in-depth information on how many flamingos were bred .... say from 2000 till 2014 (and in the years)?
 
Allow me to correct you: 2004/2005 was the year with the last reproductive succes. I don't have numbers on before then, but I know two species of flamingo were kept before then. Cubans, I believe. Annual succes with both of those species, as well as some mix-species couples forming. If you know Dutch, you might want to dive into the digital archive of Vriendennieuws.
 
Blijdorpenaar said:
Allow me to correct you: 2004/2005 was the year with the last reproductive succes. I don't have numbers on before then, but I know two species of flamingo were kept before then. Cubans, I believe. Annual succes with both of those species, as well as some mix-species couples forming. If you know Dutch, you might want to dive into the digital archive of Vriendennieuws.
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I missed a digit, I meant 2004.

From own memory, I believe they have held Eurasian flamingo for a considerable time and I has never struck me that they were attending to chicks or sitting on nest mounds brooding. Delving through an archive for snippets of in the hope of finding anything is not really my thing. I was just hoping that another forumster might have more info on breeding success from 2000 and beyond.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Delving through an archive for snippets of in the hope of finding anything is not really my thing. I was just hoping that another forumster might have more info on breeding success from 2000 and beyond.
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I dived in the archive of 'vriendennieuws' from 2000 till 2004 and found the following:

Breeding in 2000:
0,0,5 Greater flamingo
0,0,4 American flamingo

Breeding in 2001:
0,0,8 Greater flamingo
0,0,3 American flamingo

Breeding in 2002:
0,0,5 Greater flamingo
0,0,3 American flamingo

Breeding in 2003:
0,0,0 Greater flamingo
0,0,0 American flamingo

Breeding in 2004:
0,0,12 Greater flamingo
0,0,4 American flamingo

At the end of 2004 all the American flamingo's left the zoo. No flamingo has hatched since then i believe.
 
MennoPebesma said:
I dived in the archive of 'vriendennieuws' from 2000 till 2004 and found the following:

Breeding in 2000:
0,0,5 Greater flamingo
0,0,4 American flamingo

Breeding in 2001:
0,0,8 Greater flamingo
0,0,3 American flamingo

Breeding in 2002:
0,0,5 Greater flamingo
0,0,3 American flamingo

Breeding in 2003:
0,0,0 Greater flamingo
0,0,0 American flamingo

Breeding in 2004:
0,0,12 Greater flamingo
0,0,4 American flamingo

At the end of 2004 all the American flamingo's left the zoo. No flamingo has hatched since then i believe.
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Thanks @MP, I really appreciate that. It seems like they had on average some 6 chicks hatched annually with their breeding success of European greater between 2000-2004.

It seems peculiar that in 2004 12 greater flamingo hatched as well as 4 Americans Cubans (in the same flock?) were raised and suddenly thereafter everything went blank. One wonders what changed in the composition since. Was the number of remaining birds not sufficient for flock breeding behaviour or was reproductive senescence already an issue. Did they retain chicks in the breeding flock or were these and some birds from also the greater flock sent elsewhere? All questions ...., with no answers probably.
 
Blijdorpenaar said:
Today the new flamingo aviary next to the historical entrance was officially opened. During the construction period 50 flamingos from Hilvarenbeek, Odense en Arnhem were added to the flock, making for a total of 120 greater flamingos in Rotterdam. The project, which also saw changes made to the big square bordering the enclosure, was entirely funded by the association ''Friends of the Rotterdam Zoo'' and other external organisations. The flamingos are joined by a small group of gadwalls (Mareca strepera), which is a new species for the zoo. Some more gadwalls were also placed in the large pond next to the Rivièrahal. Flamingo’s strekken vleugels in nieuwe volière Blijdorp
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Video of the facility
 
-It's been reported in another thread, but Ill repeat it here: the Rotterdam Zoo has announced elephant Fahim will be moving to the Lodz Zoo in Poland this summer. He is damaging his enclosure here a lot and doesn't seem overly enthousiastic about Faya. The Zoo also hinted there might not be any new male elephants for a while, to make planned construction in and around the enclosure easier. Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh are also meant to be moving to the USA this summer.
-A small group of sooty mangabeys (1.3, though the male is a half-sibling of two of the (young) females so this wont necessarily be a breeding group) will be getting introduced to the gorillas. They are currently staying in a small enclosure in the viewing cabin next to the playground. Some small adjustments will be made to ensure they can get away from the gorillas if need be. Previous experiences with the greater spot-nosed monkeys were positive.
-Our lone Eurasian otter will be getting a girlfriend from Warschau pretty soon.
-The crested partridges from Taman Indah have swapped spots with the Prevost's squirrels (across from the blackbucks).
-The Cape ground squirrels are temporarily staying behind the scenes.
-Birth of a bison female earlier this month. First young for the current male.
-Apart from gadwalls, the flamingos are also in the company of a few northern pintails (Anas acuta). Also a new species for Rotterdam.

From: Kort Nieuws
 
A bit of old news that I haven't seen mentioned yet - Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam zoo) is planning on renovating the old wolf habitat into a "bee valley" focusing on native flora and fauna.

As well as a renovation for the Visayan warty pig enclosure
DPG Media Privacy Gate (mentioned at the end of the article)

These plans actually weren't in Masterplan 2030
 
Blijdorpenaar said:
Today the new flamingo aviary next to the historical entrance was officially opened. During the construction period 50 flamingos from Hilvarenbeek, Odense en Arnhem were added to the flock, making for a total of 120 greater flamingos in Rotterdam. The project, which also saw changes made to the big square bordering the enclosure, was entirely funded by the association ''Friends of the Rotterdam Zoo'' and other external organisations. The flamingos are joined by a small group of gadwalls (Mareca strepera), which is a new species for the zoo. Some more gadwalls were also placed in the large pond next to the Rivièrahal. Flamingo’s strekken vleugels in nieuwe volière Blijdorp
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It seems walkthrough, but I doubt that
 
Mr Gharial said:
A bit of old news that I haven't seen mentioned yet - Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam zoo) is planning on renovating the old wolf habitat into a "bee valley" focusing on native flora and fauna.

As well as a renovation for the Visayan warty pig enclosure
DPG Media Privacy Gate (mentioned at the end of the article)

These plans actually weren't in Masterplan 2030
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I believe that both these plans are already finished.

Mr Gharial said:
It seems walkthrough, but I doubt that
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Why? It's realy walkthrough. At the moment it is not open yet due to avian flu measures.
 
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The odd doors were picked to appease the municipality and their concern over the national monuments that surround the aviary. The entire construction has to fit very strict aesthetic guidelines and double doors weren't possible because of that. I could've sworn the doors would originally be a series of vertically suspended chains, similar to flaps, but it would seem that they decided on just single doors. Not sure why or how effective that will be in containing the ducks.

The bee valley is indeed already finished, as well as the visaya enlargement. A picture of the latter can be seen here -> Kort Nieuws
 
Blijdorpenaar said:
The bee valley is indeed already finished, as well as the visaya enlargement. A picture of the latter can be seen here -> Kort Nieuws
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Is there also a renovation going on in the Asia-house? I know the Komodo dragons are moving to a new island section in the Oceanium, but what are the plans for the other animals?

Do we have any pictures of the new bee garden yet? Very curious
 
I'm not entirely sure whats up in the Asia House. The two terrariums (giant Malaysian leaf insects and an oriental garden lizard) that are currently dismantled, struggled with maintaining proper humidity for a long time. I'm receiving mixed signals on whether or not these enclosures will return. Apart from that they are currently performing thorough maintenance on the floor.

Also, I hate to break it to you, but the Island Hopping enlargement of the Oceanium was cancelled last year. It will at least be multiple years before they look at the plans again, if ever. Too much money for too little improvement, they decided. So the Komodos will have to stay put for now. Archief: opknapbeurt Oceanium (2016-2019) – Blijdorper Bende Blog!
 
Blijdorpenaar said:
I'm not entirely sure whats up in the Asia House. The two terrariums (giant Malaysian leaf insects and an oriental garden lizard) that are currently dismantled, struggled with maintaining proper humidity for a long time. I'm receiving mixed signals on whether or not these enclosures will return. Apart from that they are currently performing thorough maintenance on the floor.

Also, I hate to break it to you, but the Island Hopping enlargement of the Oceanium was cancelled last year. It will at least be multiple years before they look at the plans again, if ever. Too much money for too little improvement, they decided. So the Komodos will have to stay put for now. Archief: opknapbeurt Oceanium (2016-2019) – Blijdorper Bende Blog!
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That's a real shame, I was absolutely in love with the idea (I always love island-themed area's in zoos. It's a shame they're rare)
 
Yeah, I was really enthousiastic about the Madagascar section in peticular. Heard many employees also liked it a lot. Truly a pity.
 
The concept art looked absolutely beautiful! I hope it will still be realized in the future, once Blijdorp has financially recovered from 2020
 
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