Bristol or Wild Place first?

[TeaLovingDave]

Edinburgh is a *lot* more diminished than is Marwell, in my opinion the latter collections still has a *few* oddities and doesn't look like it is actively falling apart.

They both have a *lot* of meerkat enclosures, however

 

[Zia]

On reflection I think I'd go...

1. Chester
2. Whipsnade
3. Bristol
4. Colchester
5. Paignton
6. Blackpool
7. Cotswold Wildlife Park
8. London
9. Yorkshire Wildlife Park
10. Twycross

 

[ShonenJake13]

On reflection I think I'd go...

1. Chester
2. Whipsnade
3. Bristol
4. Colchester
5. Paignton
6. Blackpool
7. Cotswold Wildlife Park
8. London
9. Yorkshire Wildlife Park
10. Twycross

I still have yet to visit Cotswold, but will be doing so in the coming months, as well as a return to Chester and potential stop at Welsh Mountain whilst up there.

I haven't visited Blackpool (it's one of nine zoos in the U.K. and Ireland with apes I haven't been to yet, alongside Chessington, Dudley and Paignton in England, Belfast in Northern Ireland, Blair Drummond in Scotland, Welsh Mountain and Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary in Wales, Dublin in Ireland and Durrell in Jersey), is it good?

 

[Johnny Morris.]

I'd have Exmoor in my top 10, probably top 5 It's improvements in the last 6 years can only be bettered by Winghams, which i wouldn't put in my top 10, but it's giving Howletts a run for it's money.

 

[ShonenJake13]

@Shorts sorry, completely skipped over your post earlier! Where were they in the reptile house beforehand? They weren't onshow today but there were young in the reptile nursery somewhere so that was something.

 

[pipaluk]

Edinburgh is a *lot* more diminished than is Marwell, in my opinion the latter collections still has a *few* oddities and doesn't look like it is actively falling apart.

They both have a *lot* of meerkat enclosures, however

I agree Edinburgh has suffered more, particularly for carnivores, I did only suggest Marwell might rival it, I can't think of anywhere else that comes close to those two during the last 10 years.
Although the obvious Pandas and Koalas are possibly the only unique in Uk species now, King & Gentoo penguins aren't common in the UK, even Sun Bear, Indian Rhino,golden cheeked gibbons, the wallabies ( can't remember what species) are held in less than 5 zoos, Malayan Tapir too now. Still not anything like the list that could have been made 10 years ago I know.

 

[pipaluk]

I'd have Exmoor in my top 10, probably top 5 It's improvements in the last 6 years can only be bettered by Winghams, which i wouldn't put in my top 10, but it's giving Howletts a run for it's money.

Never been to Exmoor, though I hope to soon, as it's my kind of collection. I'm sure it'll make my top 10. I also think Wingham is good, nice collection of cats and a reptile collection that's probably one of the best in the country, certainly the best for a zoo of its size (disregarding Crocodiles of the world as that's more of a specialist collection).

 

[kiang]

What is the acreage of the Wild place?

 

[pipaluk]

On reflection I think I'd go...

1. Chester
2. Whipsnade
3. Bristol
4. Colchester
5. Paignton
6. Blackpool
7. Cotswold Wildlife Park
8. London
9. Yorkshire Wildlife Park
10. Twycross

How did I forget Yorkshire Wildlife Park?! The Polar Bears alone make it worth the long trek it is from me!

 

[Maguari]

Glad you had a good day @ShonenJake13 !

It's telling (and pleasing) that YWP is already cropping up in people's top 10s after still quite a bit less than 10 years and starting from almost nothing.

Also - is the title question on this thread the first question asked on ZooChat that *everyone* unequivocally answered the same?

 

[pipaluk]

What is the acreage of the Wild place?

I hope someone can give an exact answer, I think the original plans for the site stated the total size but I've been unable to find them.
However the actual current area used for enclosures would probably comfortably fit in an area the size of Linton zoo so less than 20 acres I would guess.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

It's telling (and pleasing) that YWP is already cropping up in people's top 10s after still quite a bit less than 10 years and starting from almost nothing.

Given a few more years, and as long as it continues in the right direction, I suspect it will not only be definitively in my top 10 (it sometimes is, when I am asked at the right time ) but at a very respectable position within the top 10!

 

[zoogiraffe]

Never been to Exmoor, though I hope to soon, as it's my kind of collection. I'm sure it'll make my top 10. I also think Wingham is good, nice collection of cats and a reptile collection that's probably one of the best in the country, certainly the best for a zoo of its size (disregarding Crocodiles of the world as that's more of a specialist collection).

There is no doubt that Wingham is now the number 1 Herp collection in the UK,its certainly ahead of Chester small but choice as if you take away the Tuatara they don't have any really unique species that cannot been seen else where or that are about in private hands being bred!!

 

[Maguari]

There is no doubt that Wingham is now the number 1 Herp collection in the UK,its certainly ahead of Chester small but choice as if you take away the Tuatara they don't have any really unique species that cannot been seen else where or that are about in private hands being bred!!

Private hands doesn't count in a zoo thread, surely? There're all kinds of things in the pet trade but short of a well-timed pet shop visit most people will never see them.

And Chester have more than just the Tuatara - Tentacled Snake, Hypsilurus magnus, Bell's Angleheads, the new skinks and Graham's Anoles (of which Chester's are the only ones on Zootierliste)? Just off the top of my head and not having visited in a few months so not entirely sure what's on show. Plus Chester's herps are, by and large, not displayed in a higgledy-piggledy manner in a dark, not even very attractive barn (even the worst-displayed are at least in a huge, well-planted barn. ).

I've nothing against Wingham, and it does have some nice species - but it does feel like a private herp collection rather than a zoo herp collection in how it's housed and chosen, and I'd struggle to place it as a better place to see herps.

 

[zoogiraffe]

I know what you are getting @ maguari nut in terms of number of species on show even with the new additions at Chester they are still round 15-20 species behind Wingham,and as for Hots No where in the UK touches Wingham now unless London puts some more on-show,as Chester are more than 5 behind Wingham on hots including what they have off-show.and that is just wrong!

Any way back to the thread discussion!

 

[ShonenJake13]

Acreage for Wild Place is 135 acres, so they definitely have room to grow!!!

Also, just quick side note re herps at London, plans are to bring arboreal alligator lizards (Abronia sp.) onshow in the next couple of years, though seeing will be believing as they probably aren't on the top of their list to put onshow in the reptile house. There are currently a couple of empty enclosures going spare though and they are now displaying a shedded Abronia skin alongside some other shedded skins in the former milk snake enclosure, and all of the other skins are from onshow animals so that could be a sign of things to come!!

 

[Pertinax]

; like London and any other city zoo, space constraints are a clear problem.

You may be aware(or not) that Bristol Zoo is a very different place from a few decades ago- I can remember when it contained every ABC species you can think of bar Hippos, but gradually over time nearly all the larger species have been moved out- Lions and Gorillas are really the only ones left. A lot of people(general public) criticise the Lions' enclosure on size grounds and I wonder how much longer they will continue with them, though they are one of the very few remaining flagship species the zoo has now. Might they go to Wild Place eventually?

I take it you saw the baby Gorilla 'Afia' in with the group? After seeing some rough treatment of her by the young male Kukena a couple of week's back I was a bit concerned for her safety but presume all is still well.

 

[Pertinax]

and some of the species diversity (I know that this won't last much longer, but I'll get my kicks whilst I can).

What is going to change re species diversity at Howletts?

 

[ShonenJake13]

A lot of people(general public) criticise the Lions' enclosure on size grounds and I wonder how much longer they will continue with them, though they are one of the very few remaining flagship species the zoo has now. Might they go to Wild Place eventually?

I take it you saw the baby Gorilla 'Afia' in with the group? After seeing some rough treatment of her by the young male Kukena a couple of week's back I was a bit concerned for her safety but presume all is still well.

I would hope so, though it won't be for a while since they have yet to start on Asian areas at Wild Place.

Kukeña seemed very relaxed around Afia, and even came over to play with her a little during the feed. Romina is still a little wary though, and she promptly got up and left with Afia in tow. Sure enough, Kukeña was being quite wild afterwards, dashing around chestbeating and messing around with the frozen stream. The group seemed very calm, and Touni was seen eating near Jock so here's hoping that will mean a new birth soon.

What is going to change re species diversity at Howletts?

I don't think it's a secret that lots of the rarer species found in zoos that are kept at Howletts are slowly being phased out of the zoo; the Sumatran surilis, Heck's macaques, African wildcat etc. They do still have a lot of fantastic species however

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I don't think it's a secret that lots of the rarer species found in zoos that are kept at Howletts are slowly being phased out of the zoo; the Sumatran surilis, Heck's macaques, African wildcat etc. They do still have a lot of fantastic species however

With several more having already been phased out; for instance, the collection has lost White-throated Guenon, Indian Desert Cat and Javan Surili since my last visit.