Rotterdam Zoo Blijdorp News 2023

Gorilla male Aybo has moved from Diergaarde Blijdorp to Zoo du Bassin d'Arcachon in France. The rest of the gorilla group will also move to other zoos in the coming years. No new group will return to Blijdorp in the future.

This decision stems from Blijdorp's sharpened mission and vision for species conservation and nature restoration presented at the beginning of this month. To realise these goals, sometimes difficult choices have to be made, of which this is one. Also part of the future plan is the renovation of the Riviera hall that currently houses the gorillas. If all the gorillas have moved out and renovations are not yet underway, the enclosure could possibly be used as a temporary holding facility.

Source: Diergaarde Blijdorp
 
Although not simultaneously. There has been a time Blijdorp had some animals of Pan paniscus, Pan Troglodytes, Pan troglodytes troglodytes, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii, Pongo abelii, Pongo pygmaeus, Pongo pygmaeus morio, and Gorilla gorilla gorilla.

As well Symphalangus syndactylus, Hylobates pileatus, Hylobates moloch,
Hylobates lar lar, Hylobates lar, Hylobates agilis.

It seems some new ways of protecting these animals and their environment are going to be explored.
 
Blijdorp is my favourite zoo in the Netherlands, but the new ideas for the master plan leave me a bit concerned. For me what makes Blijdorp the best is the amount of species it has in reasonably all-good enclosures. I hope they do not start cutting species for no good reason (just like the gorillas)

Getting rid of the American section sounds like a good compromise to me for what they intend to do. Most of the North American animals are not really endangered and probably the polar bear enclosure does not fit the new welfare standards. Replacing Amazonica with an African Jungle hall sounds like something interesting. It can be a really interesting project at the same level as, the Bush, Dôme Équatorial, Gondwanaland or Masoala. Who knows even including the gorillas. The Bronx's Congo of Europe. Amazonica never impressed me, to be honest. It is just a gigantic butterfly house. It always felt like there was lost potential in there to include some free-flying birds or small primates. However, I will say that the loss of South America in the zoo will be a painful one.

It concerns me if the zoo will cut on its Asian fauna, as I find Blijdorp the most pleasurable zoo to see a vast and diverse array of Asian species, not only big and charismatic ones but also small and lesser known ones.
Maybe I am not thinking enough out-of-the-box but I think the same goals they propose for conservation could be achieved without these radical changes, although I agree that enclosures like the black rhinos or the pygmy hippos need a change.
 
Some news from my visit today.

-the last red crowned crane died. Enclosure is empty.
-the northern treeshew enclosure is also empty.
-new ibis enclosure is coming toghter nicely, it is in the same style as the maki enclosure.
-some work was being done on the savannah.
-new lion male looks like he is setteling in. He was very relaxed with the females.
-there is a new species in the vulture aviary casarca
 
MennoPebesma said:
Gorilla male Aybo has moved from Diergaarde Blijdorp to Zoo du Bassin d'Arcachon in France. The rest of the gorilla group will also move to other zoos in the coming years. No new group will return to Blijdorp in the future.

This decision stems from Blijdorp's sharpened mission and vision for species conservation and nature restoration presented at the beginning of this month. To realise these goals, sometimes difficult choices have to be made, of which this is one. Also part of the future plan is the renovation of the Riviera hall that currently houses the gorillas. If all the gorillas have moved out and renovations are not yet underway, the enclosure could possibly be used as a temporary holding facility.

Source: Diergaarde Blijdorp
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Sorry, I am not buying into an idea centered around conserving just 10-12 mammalian endangered species where the Sixth Extinction Crisis is rearing its ugly head.

I am least impressed by the current Zoo Director ...., lacking vision long term, no zoo passionate individual and no real concept of species management nor husbandry, a mere caretaker ... governor. Sending gorillas on their way ... pathetic.
 
Mr Gharial said:
Do you mean Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)?
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Yes, one google search would have given you that answer. Casarca rutila or Casarca ferruginea are other synonyms for its name
Kifaru Bwana said:
Sorry, I am not buying into an idea centered around conserving just 10-12 mammalian endangered species where the Sixth Extinction Crisis is rearing its ugly head.

I am least impressed by the current Zoo Director ...., lacking vision long term, no zoo passionate individual and no real concept of species management nor husbandry, a mere caretaker ... governor. Sending gorillas on their way ... pathetic.
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I'm also not impressed. He is has a background in economics, but can't get money for anything. There were a few leaks in some buildings and I asked someone. The answer, we don't have the money. He has no knowledge in terms of animal mamagement. He isn't the only one who had something to say about the gorillas. This wasn't a masterplan, but a mere revision of the zoo. This without any real plan, but we know that it will involve 10 species.
 
Allow me to offer some alternative views - though do take them with a grain of salt, I have not entirely made up my mind to be honest.

The conservation aim Blijdorp is taking here is about as good as we can ask from a zoo like this. A seemingly true commitment to a limited number of projects and species, for which the zoo can actually make a legitimate difference, and providing clear and measurable conservation targets for those few projects. The collection will be geared almost entirely towards their conservation and education targets, and the zoo has built up a good research component. I personally do not agree with all choices, and quite likely not all choices will turn out to be the right ones, but conceptually this comes very close to what us zoo enthusiasts would describe as the potential for modern zoos: a strong conservation, education and research focus, with measurable targets and goals that have the potential to make a true difference, and a collection fully geared towards it.

Is it perfect? No. Do I like every choice? Also no. But this plan has received a far more negative response than I think is warranted.
 
Mr. Zootycoon said:
The conservation aim Blijdorp is taking here is about as good as we can ask from a zoo like this. A seemingly true commitment to a limited number of projects and species, for which the zoo can actually make a legitimate difference, and providing clear and measurable conservation targets for those few projects. The collection will be geared almost entirely towards their conservation and education targets, and the zoo has built up a good research component. I personally do not agree with all choices, and quite likely not all choices will turn out to be the right ones, but conceptually this comes very close to what us zoo enthusiasts would describe as the potential for modern zoos: a strong conservation, education and research focus, with measurable targets and goals that have the potential to make a true difference, and a collection fully geared towards it.
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I agree with you. I think it wil take time to accept some things. I do think that the concept is what is going to take blijdorp to a modern zoo level and I'm convinced that it can give them the potential to get back up. It is the state of the zoo that I'm mostly angry about. The money is just a big thing. The cutting of species isnt something that I am angry with. Losing Amazonica and artica is fine. Only the polar bear is an animal that I would have liked to keep for conservation. The rest are animals that are cool because they don't have alot of holders or they have so many holders that if i really want to see them I would go to another zoo. The thing I find a litte hard is the uncertainty. I would like the zoo to be more clear on which other species they want to keep and projects they work with. I mean I made a list on which species would leave with these plans and that would be around half of the species. I do question what we will get in return. It doesn't have to be a detailed plan, but just a red line for the future would have been nice. My biggest problem is the rivièra hall, if i look at other old zoos they really make some beatifull enclosures. Berlin and köln do it, so why can't the rivièra hall be a jungle hall for small mamals or something else. I don't see the profits in not having mammals in this buildings.
I like the new route that the zoo is heading. This is a modern way to look at zoos. A good way to bring conservation, education, history and a day out togheter. I do think that with the help of the local goverment and other sponsors that with the right aproach this wil bring the zoo back on the map of best zoos in europe
 
Rensrobert said:
My biggest problem is the rivièra hall, if i look at other old zoos they really make some beatifull enclosures. Berlin and köln do it, so why can't the rivièra hall be a jungle hall for small mamals or something else. I don't see the profits in not having mammals in this buildings.
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Two words: National Monument.
 
Blijdorpenaar said:
Two words: National Monument.
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Okay, to make it more clear then. I know it is a momument, i'm not stupid. I was reffering to the fact that other historical zoos can do more with their national monuments. Berlin, koln etc. Its just that the netherlands is really conservative with these monuments. Which isn't bad.
 
Rensrobert said:
Okay, to make it more clear then. I know it is a momument, i'm not stupid. I was reffering to the fact that other historical zoos can do more with their national monuments. Berlin, koln etc. Its just that the netherlands is really conservative with these monuments. Which isn't bad.
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Okay, National Monument. Perhaps also local and national politics, and rules, opinions, and demands about funds.
 
Blijdorpenaar said:
Two words: National Monument.
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The Bird house and monkey house in Artis are also Municipal and National monuments respectively, however Artis was able to turn these into walkthrough (tropical to arid) enclosures. So it can still be possible in The Netherlands.
The situation per zoo and monument can however be different depending on the points that John brought up.
 
MennoPebesma said:
Gorilla male Aybo has moved from Diergaarde Blijdorp to Zoo du Bassin d'Arcachon in France. The rest of the gorilla group will also move to other zoos in the coming years. No new group will return to Blijdorp in the future.
Click to expand...

So the zoo is left with no ape species? The management makes really strange decisions to send away popular animals and destroy good exhibits. If the zoo manager is a businessman, this would explain it.

Few month ago I was in the Netherlands and even stayed in Rotterdam. I visited several zoos but skipped Diergaarde Blijdorp in favour of Burgers Zoo. It makes me sad, as it was once the best all-round zoo in the country, but not any more.
 
Not gonna lie, the new concept fails the specific location entirely. Its not about if the enclosures would be nice but that Artis would not work in Arnhem, and this feels a bit like a weird mix between Amsterdam's classical menagerie style that is rather oriented along the line of a classical lay out and taxonomy and Burgers' eco display that at least used to be focussed on specific geographical defined habitats. Blijdorp for me was defined by geography, less the spectrum of one specific site rather than that of an entire continent. This way the three big city zoos complimented one another. I always loved wandering thru Rotterdam because it felt just as unique as, Burgers and Artis, but also Avifauna, Apenheul, Ecomare and even to an extent Harderwijk. I absolutely dislike the idea that america would replaced by a second africa. Would rather prefer to see the current polar bear enclosure converted into something fitting the rest of the exhibition, like seals for the pools and reindeer together with polar fox for the land space, the aviary could then hold ptamigan, artic hare and snow buntings.

Do not wish anybody anything bad, but i got to be honest I hope the current director is going to leave before they would create a mess for whoever would follow, the previous Artis director build an elephant enclosure that will sooner or later be transverted into a facility for a smaller species like rhinos or hippos.
 
Lots of things going on at the Asian Lion Troup.

- New male Wishu was succesfully introduced to female Reena. Wishu will meet Reena's mother Lalana at a later point.
- Sadly, lioness Asha has been euthanised. Just as her sisters Mette (died early 2023) and Reena, she was suffering from neurological problems (ataxia). Asha's problems made her quality of life deteriorate.

Wishu (2 yrs old) has been brought to Blijdorp for a match with Lalana (13). Lalana has no neurological problems, which makes the match between Wishu and her quite valuable for the breeding programme.

Blijdorp and Utrecht University initiated reseach to ataxia in Asian lions. Lots of individuals in zoos suffer from this disease, and the population in the wild seems to suffer from some cases too.

The fact that all Asian lions alive today derive from the small surviving group of only 20(!) individuals in the 1900s, combined with so many lions with neurological problems, seems bad news for this species. Hopefully the research will shine a light on the problems.
 
I've been looking at Zootierliste and this PDF from 2014 to learn more about European hamster breeding programs. Is this zoo no longer involved? I ask this because they aren't listed on Zootierliste as holding them.
 
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