Rotterdam Zoo Blijdorp Zoo News 2024

From a visit last week, a lovely chat with one of the keepers there confirmed that Blijdorp is now the only successful holder of goose barnacles (Pedunculata) as they have now kept them for over 4 months, which is apparently a record (?) They are unsigned in the small tank opposite the pacific kelp forest tank and their filtration systems and water pumps are connected to said kelp forest which allows the goose barnacles to have a functional filter feeding tank without the risk of fully polluting the water in there (i believe thats how it works, anyways:))

I wasn't aware these were difficult to hold, as I've seen them before in Ecomare. I believe these are also the same animals that were taken off the back of one of the seaturtles that washed up.
 
Only Burung Asia, the big Asian aviary, is closed. The Okapi aviary is fully open and the Vulture aviary was revamped to no longer be a walkthrough

I am considering Blijdorp for a visit this year and I have a question. Are there any exhibits that are closed and/or species that are off-show due to avian influenza control measures?

Last friday I was in Blijdorp, and the netting between the visitor hut and the bird area of the Vulture aviary was removed temporarily, so I think they open and close it depending on the influenza situation. So, it is always well visible, regardless of the situation.

There is a good viewpoint of the Burung Asia aviary from the 'Asian Swamp' area (the path near the celebes crested macaques). The white-naped crane aviary is permanently closed as walkthrough as well, but this is also well visible from that path. By the way, the egrets of Burung Asia have moved to this aviary.
 
Very unfortunate news in Blijdorp :(: Due to a technical error, five of the eight Loggerhead sea turtles in the Oceanium have died. Due to a malfunctioning sensor in one of the quarantine tanks, the heating got out of control, which cost five of the sea turtles their lives. Three other turtles were in other basins.

Blijdorp has been taking care of these stranded animals for months and they were set to be released back into the correct Ocean in the near future.
 
Last Friday, 5-year-old Sumatran tiger male Geram moved to Diergaarde Blijdorp from Aalborg Zoo. A female will also arrive soon from a zoo in France.

Source: Diergaarde Blijdorp

Today, 9-year-old Sumatran tiger female 'Nonja' moved to Diergaarde Blijdorp from Maubeuge zoo in France. Hopefully the two will become a breeding couple in the future. Both will get plenty of time to get used to their new surroundings.
 
More feline news: keepers are confident Asian Lioness 'Lalana' is pregnant. She is genetically valuable to the breeding programme, so her bearing healthy youngsters would be a wonderful development. To make sure the cubs are born in the best possible circumstances, Lalana moved behind the scenes. (Mimicking natural behaviour where she would seperate from her pack to give birth.)

Source: Newsletter Blijdorp / see this video for information:
 
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