Correction: the post does not say these are mountain bongos. It simply states that "particularly the mountain species is endangered". To my understanding these are regular old lowland bongos.
Rotterdam Zoo Blijdorp Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Jessica Hogervorst
- Start date
Mountain bongos (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) are the subspecies held in zoos, while the lowland subspecies (T. E. eurycerus) is only held in a single zoo in Africa (according to ZTL)
If I am not mistaken all bongos in European and American zoos are descendants of individuals from the source populations in the mountains of Kenya, which would be the eastern or mountain subspecies of the bongo.
Damn, how did that fly over my head all this time? I humbly apologiseMountain bongos (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) are the subspecies held in zoos, while the lowland subspecies (T. E. eurycerus) is only held in a single zoo in Africa (according to ZTL)
Haliaeetus
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Diergaarde Blijdorp has renovated two aviaries in recent months. This work was financed by “ Vrienden van Blijdorp” (Friends of Blijdorp). The aviary near the Palawan House has been enlarged and modifications have been made to prevent rats from entering the aviary. A water stream has also been added. Of the former bird inhabitants, only the collared partridge (Arborophila gingica) has returned. They are now housed together with blue-crowned laughingthrush (Pterorhinus courtoisi) and chestnut-backed thrush (Geokichla dohertyi). The latter is a new species for the zoo. More bird species will be added to this aviary in the future.
The weaver kopje aviary has also been renovated. The water feature has been enlarged and modifications have been made to prevent rats from entering the aviary. This aviary has also got a new species, namely the Von der Decken's hornbill (Tockus deckeni). They are housed together with purple glossy starling (Lamprotornis purpureus) and snowy-crowned robin-chat (Cossypha niveicapilla). The green turaco (Tauraco persa) will not be returning to this aviary. The introduction of another species of turaco is being considered. The Cape ground squirrels (Geosciurus inauris) will not be returning either. The zoo is looking for a ground-dwelling bird species as an alternative.
The aviaries of the Steller's sea eagles and the birds in the Malayan forest edge will also be refurbished soon and will also receive more water.
Sources (with pictures):
ZooFlits
ZooFlits
The weaver kopje aviary has also been renovated. The water feature has been enlarged and modifications have been made to prevent rats from entering the aviary. This aviary has also got a new species, namely the Von der Decken's hornbill (Tockus deckeni). They are housed together with purple glossy starling (Lamprotornis purpureus) and snowy-crowned robin-chat (Cossypha niveicapilla). The green turaco (Tauraco persa) will not be returning to this aviary. The introduction of another species of turaco is being considered. The Cape ground squirrels (Geosciurus inauris) will not be returning either. The zoo is looking for a ground-dwelling bird species as an alternative.
The aviaries of the Steller's sea eagles and the birds in the Malayan forest edge will also be refurbished soon and will also receive more water.
Sources (with pictures):
ZooFlits
ZooFlits
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Haliaeetus
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Haliaeetus
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Haliaeetus
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The Galapagos Turtles have now a new, more energy-efficient heating system.
Diergaarde Blijdorp - Rotterdam Zoo on Instagram: "Een nieuwe hybride warmtepomp voor onze Galapagosschildpadden. De installatie zorgt ervoor dat de omgeving op temperatuur blijft en dit is precies waar deze koudbloedige schildpadden zo van houden. Het resultaat? Zo’n 60 tot 70% minder gasverbruik. Blijdorp zet zich dagelijks in voor een duurzamere toekomst, zowel voor onze bezoekers als voor de dieren en planten. Samen met Viessmann hebben we dit weten te realiseren. #duurzamedinsdag"
Diergaarde Blijdorp - Rotterdam Zoo on Instagram: "Een nieuwe hybride warmtepomp voor onze Galapagosschildpadden. De installatie zorgt ervoor dat de omgeving op temperatuur blijft en dit is precies waar deze koudbloedige schildpadden zo van houden. Het resultaat? Zo’n 60 tot 70% minder gasverbruik. Blijdorp zet zich dagelijks in voor een duurzamere toekomst, zowel voor onze bezoekers als voor de dieren en planten. Samen met Viessmann hebben we dit weten te realiseren. #duurzamedinsdag"
Haliaeetus
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Haliaeetus
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Père Damian's Deer
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They are next to the Amur Leopards and Asian garden (Eurasian Otter), on the side of the Rivièra Hall.
Visited for the first time today. Some general thoughts/observations from me really. Really enjoyed the zoo overall. I like the way the different areas are setup, with their own signage and routes. I definitely underestimated how big the park is! The Oceanium was a clear highlight and very well presented. Was fortunte to see a few animals being fed such as the Polar Bears and the Vultures. Certain areas were disappointing, such as bird area in the Rivierahal which had only a few species in and felt very empty. The map is also quite misleading as it shows the large walkthrough aviary but this is now closed and seems to being left to ruin which is sad to see. A few no shows such as Gorillas, Kudu, Slow Loris and Red Panda.
Only one new mammal species for me which were the Hutias. Others I were hoping to see were; Tufted Deer (didn't spot in either enclosure), Elephant Shrew (saw a mention that they are in the Gorilla house but didn't see any exhibit there, have they gone?) and Ground Squirrel (didn't see signed anywhere).
A few questions more for my own curiosity...
Only one new mammal species for me which were the Hutias. Others I were hoping to see were; Tufted Deer (didn't spot in either enclosure), Elephant Shrew (saw a mention that they are in the Gorilla house but didn't see any exhibit there, have they gone?) and Ground Squirrel (didn't see signed anywhere).
A few questions more for my own curiosity...
- Were the Gibbons previously kept in the exhibit which is high up in the Elephant house, did they have outside access at all?
- What is the long term plan for the Amazon Dome structure?
- The lemur walkthrough was closed, is this always the case or does it only open certain days?
- What used to be housed in the enclosure near the Indian Rhinos, it has a lot of water area and some rock work. The path slopes through it. Just curious what used to be here?
Indeed sad to see but unfortunately not out of the norm for Blijdorp.
The kudu have left the park recently and replaced with (dama?) gazelles, they didn't get along with the giraffes.
The elephant shrew enclosure is very well-hidden and unsigned. It's in the gorilla house, behind a plant mural where there are a few peepholes into the enclosure. Similar to the Slow loris enclosure, but even smaller....
The Cape ground squirrels are definitely still there (I visited on monday), they're in the small kopje aviary right after the bridge going around the savanna. It's easy to miss as you skip it completely if you go from the safari bridge straight through to the crocodile river greenhouse and congo aviary (which is the most logical route)
- The Amazonica dome will some day be home to Pygmy hippos when the American area is converted into a Tropical African region, but most likely this will take a very, very, very long time.
- The lemur enclosure was an actual walkthrough once, but was closed somewhere during corona I believe and never reopened.
- This is actually the second Red panda habitat, and it's still in use
Burgers' is gonna be better by miles in my opinion. They don't have as much but it's a real treat to see the amazing environments and many free-roamers. If you want, I can send you some species cards you can use to find the free-roamers and some unsigned species
Just in time for the winter season!
Do I expect any good tidings this fall/winter season ..., probably not.
Last June, 79 eggs were found in hand luggage during a baggage check at Schiphol Airport. The eggs, 51 of which were puffin eggs and 28 duck eggs, came from Iceland. Because Diergaarde Blijdorp is the only zoo in the Netherlands with puffins and has a large number of incubators, it was decided to take the eggs to the zoo as quickly as possible in the hope of saving as many of them as possible. After just one week, the first egg began to hatch.
Ultimately, 42 puffins hatched from the eggs. Once they were large enough, the animals were gradually transferred to the Bass Rock enclosure at the zoo. The duck eggs did not fare so well. These eggs had suffered too much during smuggling. As a result, only nine animals survived: two long-tailed ducks and seven tufted ducks.
After the eggs began to hatch, it was decided to officially give them to Diergaarde Blijdorp. After consultation with the coordinator, it was decided to include them in the EEP population. As a result, the population grew to 119. All birds will remain at Diergaarde Blijdorp for the time being, until they are large enough to be moved. They will then be distributed among European zoos.
Source: Diergaarde Blijdorp
Ultimately, 42 puffins hatched from the eggs. Once they were large enough, the animals were gradually transferred to the Bass Rock enclosure at the zoo. The duck eggs did not fare so well. These eggs had suffered too much during smuggling. As a result, only nine animals survived: two long-tailed ducks and seven tufted ducks.
After the eggs began to hatch, it was decided to officially give them to Diergaarde Blijdorp. After consultation with the coordinator, it was decided to include them in the EEP population. As a result, the population grew to 119. All birds will remain at Diergaarde Blijdorp for the time being, until they are large enough to be moved. They will then be distributed among European zoos.
Source: Diergaarde Blijdorp
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Paul.Haerle
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The last Black and Rufous Sengi (a male) died.
Haliaeetus
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Birth of 0.1 Red Panda ; she has been called SUNITA.
Diergaarde Blijdorp - Rotterdam Zoo on Instagram: "Kiekeboe! Het rode panda jong laat zich steeds vaker zien. Het is een vrouwtje en ze heet Sunita. De naam wordt veel gebruikt in India en betekent 'goed gedragen'. Met een beetje geluk kun je haar spotten terwijl ze haar buitenverblijf verkent. Je vindt haar samen met moeder Savita op het eiland. Dierverzorger Marieke maakte deze foto, tussen de grassprieten door!"
Diergaarde Blijdorp - Rotterdam Zoo on Instagram: "Kiekeboe! Het rode panda jong laat zich steeds vaker zien. Het is een vrouwtje en ze heet Sunita. De naam wordt veel gebruikt in India en betekent 'goed gedragen'. Met een beetje geluk kun je haar spotten terwijl ze haar buitenverblijf verkent. Je vindt haar samen met moeder Savita op het eiland. Dierverzorger Marieke maakte deze foto, tussen de grassprieten door!"
Typhlonectes
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I am in the Netherlands visiting Burgers and Artis with a free day tomorrow. Is Blijdorp worth a visit? Specific interest is smaller animals (Herps)