Bristol Zoo (Closed) Bristol Zoo news 2009-2010

[Tim May]

Now i don't know if this is true or not but i am fairly sure i have read somewhere that London zoo in its early years either bred or had eggs laid from a pair or group of undescribed giant tortoises, can anyone confirm this?
I'm sure i read it in IZN or maybe IZES, just don't know.

I know that this question was posted seven months ago, but I’ve only just noticed it.

In the book “A Walk Through the Zoological Gardens” (F. G. Alfalo; 1900) the author states that Galapagos giant tortoises have occasionally laid eggs at London Zoo and that the eggs have hatched, although the youngsters never lived more than a few weeks.

 

[MARK]

I know that this question was posted seven months ago, but I’ve only just noticed it.

In the book “A Walk Through the Zoological Gardens” (F. G. Alfalo; 1900) the author states that Galapagos giant tortoises have occasionally laid eggs at London Zoo and that the eggs have hatched, although the youngsters never lived more than a few weeks.

Thats interesting news

 

[Pertinax]

Visited Bristol the other day, a few comments;

Young female Gorilla 'kera' seems to be getting on okay in the group- the younger male 'Komale' seems her main 'friend'. She still has the plucked patches on her shoulders.

Saw the female Okapi but not the calf and there is no notice about its birth. (Hopefully it was lying up in the shed). Did not see the male either.

(newish)Male De Brazza monkey still seperated from original female, he lives with her daughter.

Reptile House closed as mentioned above.

Splash zone closed for maintenance. The Bird House doesn't look much different since they changed the species around. The large freeflight Aviary appears only to contain the Rainbow Lorikeets now, it has rather lost its interest and diversity.

Zona Brazil looks rather tired.

You can see most of Bristol Zoo in one hour these days if you're in a hurry..

 

[Zambar]

Zona Brazil looks rather tired.

And that's why I hope they don't take too long getting this new tropical house underway.

 

[Gigit]

You can see most of Bristol Zoo in one hour these days if you're in a hurry..

I've only been there once and wasn't as impressed as I hoped I'd be and remember thinking 'is that it?' Maybe that's why I haven't felt the need to go back.

 

[foz]

Zona Brazil was the leats impressive exhibit at Bristol. I quite enjoyed the rainbow lorikeet avairy, by allowing the public to feed the birds (at a cost of like 70p or something like that) it gives a closer connection to the animals and so the visitor should feel the urge to like these animals and inevitably found out more about them. I through the avairy was huge for the flock of lorikeets and perhaps more species could be added... (pheasant species, victoria crowned pigeon and ibis immediatley spring to mind)

 

[Pertinax]

I through the avairy was huge for the flock of lorikeets and perhaps more species could be added... (pheasant species, victoria crowned pigeon and ibis immediatley spring to mind)

It used to be the 'Wallace Aviary' featuring birds from the Indonesian region and there were plenty of species in there. Now it is just another interactive zone with helpers on hand to supervise Lorikeet feeding. I think I would have preferred to see a seperate aviary built if they wanted to do that, and this kept as a proper walkthrough Aviary as it used to be.

 

[Pertinax]

I've only been there once and wasn't as impressed as I hoped I'd be and remember thinking 'is that it?' Maybe that's why I haven't felt the need to go back.

Once upon a time... Bristol had as rich and diverse an animal collection as any other provincial zoo. You could spend many hours there to see everything properly and sadly that is just not the case anymore.

 

[foz]

Once upon a time... Bristol had as rich and diverse an animal collection as any other provincial zoo. You could spend many hours there to see everything properly and sadly that is just not the case anymore.

I totally disagree I felt the collection was outstanding, the choice in species in such limited space makes for an interesting variety in species, and species not found in other major zoos as well as amazing exhibits such as seal and penguin coasts and the night zone. I would (and so would my family who aren't zoo nuts at all) spend days in there.

 

[James27]

Yeah I agree with Foz, I think it's awesome for such a small zoo. I spend way more than an hour at a time there

 

[Pertinax]

I spend way more than an hour at a time there

I could certainly spend more than an hour there and usually do- but you can see most things during that time.

 

[Martin B]

One of my favourite zoos, been five times this year and have spent most of the day there each time!

 

[zoogiraffe]

And that's why I hope they don't take too long getting this new tropical house underway.

I think you might be in for a shock at what they do with Zona Brazil!!

 

[James27]

Dammit, stop teasing us! I'd forgotten about that and now it's going to bug me again. I have a few guesses but what I was thinking may require more room. But then if they used the cassowary paddocks what I was guessing may just fit... I dunno lol.

 

[bongorob]

The large freeflight Aviary appears only to contain the Rainbow Lorikeets now, it has rather lost its interest and diversity

There was a Masked Plover in with the lorikeets in August. It was standing by the stream near to the exit.

 

[Pertinax]

I don't like what they have done to this aviary at all. They have added a 'crashed plane' and 'jeep' to give a 'Pacific Jungle' effect and there's a manned kiosk at the entrance, while the Lorikeets seem like an insignificant display.

If I was Bristol I would have built a smaller walthru aviary for Lorikeets if they wanted a 'rainbow landings' set up, and kept this one full of birds as it was previously.

 

[foz]

I don't like what they have done to this aviary at all. They have added a 'crashed plane' and 'jeep' to give a 'Pacific Jungle' effect and there's a manned kiosk at the entrance, while the Lorikeets seem like an insignificant display.

If I was Bristol I would have built a smaller walthru aviary for Lorikeets if they wanted a 'rainbow landings' set up, and kept this one full of birds as it was previously.

Again I disagree, I thought the feeding of lorikeets was a highlight of the trip to Bristol, certainly everyone taking part enjoyed it imensley. I beleive a smaller avairy would lessen the effect of the jungle (and of course limit the space of the animals). The exhibit 'ornaments' such as the plain, the jeep and a wooden crocodile lurching for the water are all nice touches, perhaps unnecessary but captivates the interest of a young visitor. However I do agree that perhaps more species might be intergrated into the avairy as I have previously said.

 

[James27]

Indeed, most people with kids I know who go to Bristol say their kids are a bit disappointed as there are not many bigger animals, so this "kids section" I think benefits the zoo greatly. Plus, I thought it was fun too, best lorikeet feeding exhibit I've seen.

 

[Pertinax]

Indeed, most people with kids I know who go to Bristol say their kids are a bit disappointed as there are not many bigger animals, so this "kids section" I think benefits the zoo greatly. Plus, I thought it was fun too, best lorikeet feeding exhibit I've seen.

Im not knocking 'Lorikeet feeding' per se- as an interactive experience its fine and Bristol have become very good at doing this- probably to compensate for the lack of big animals nowadays. But this used to be a really attractive Aviary with many interesting Indoneasian species and I feel they have lost something valuable in turning it into what it is now.

 

[James27]

Ah I see. Birds aren't one of the highlights for me in a zoo, so I guess I didn't really appreciate it before