Bristol Zoo (Closed) Bristol Zoo news 2017

Wallaby walkthrough has been wrapped in sacking with the footprint of an Australasian ratite printed on it and the words "coming soon". The wallabies are still in there and two have joeys in their pouches.
The restaurant is finished. The extension is very 1930's looking outside and so in keeping with the original exterior. I haven't been inside yet
 
I wonder if it will remain a walk -through and if so would they be confident to put emu in it (I know this has been done) or will they con people with rhea as a substitute? Or is the footprint miss-leading?
 
I wonder if it will remain a walk -through and if so would they be confident to put emu in it (I know this has been done) or will they con people with rhea as a substitute? Or is the footprint miss-leading?
There's another Australian ratite that you aren't thinking of. One that I very much doubt the zoo would be confident putting in a walk through!
 
I very much doubt that a kiwi will be placed in a Wallaby Walkthrough, although there is even less chance of Bristol Zoo acquiring a live moa.
 
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I wonder if it will remain a walk -through and if so would they be confident to put emu in it (I know this has been done) or will they con people with rhea as a substitute? Or is the footprint miss-leading?

Unfortunately, I think the sign is misleading, and that the enclosure may well be used for other things in the future. The wallaby thing just hasn't worked as it might have done, so the zoo will (rightly) move on....
 
emu and cassowary are the only two Australian ratites.
Sorry, should've said Australasian! Also, I in no way think that kiwi are the future for this enclosure. I also don't believe that cassowary or emu are likely to go in there. If I was to guess, I'd say that the wallabies would head to Wild Place, and the enclosure will be used for something completely different. Hopefully sticking with the Australian (Australasian;)) theme.
 
Unfortunately, I think the sign is misleading, and that the enclosure may well be used for other things in the future. The wallaby thing just hasn't worked as it might have done, so the zoo will (rightly) move on....

How has it not been working?
The wallabies are breeding successfully
Is there an issue with public viewing of the wallabies?
 
How has it not been working?
The wallabies are breeding successfully
Is there an issue with public viewing of the wallabies?
They are breeding fine and can be viewed indoors-and indoors only. You would be very lucky to see them outside as they don't often venture that far
 
How has it not been working?
The wallabies are breeding successfully
Is there an issue with public viewing of the wallabies?

I've never seen the outside walkthrough open, it just seems rather empty. The Wallabies are nice but always seem indoors-their den is a refurbished section of the old Zebra/Okapi stables but I don't know how many people notice them or go round there as its a rather quiet path.
 
why do they not go outside, does anyone know? That seems kind of irregular. What is wrong with the enclosure?
 
why do they not go outside, does anyone know? That seems kind of irregular. What is wrong with the enclosure?
I don't think there's anything wrong with the enclosure, per se. Possibly the species doesn't work so well in a walk-through - and there was no desire to go for the more obvious red-necked wallabies (thank goodness). Are there any walk-through exhibits in which yellow-footed rock wallabies have been more relaxed?
 
The ones in the walkthrough at Tierpark Berlin are rather more showy, for what it is worth.
 
Aren't Madrid's in a walk-through as well, or am I misremembering?
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with the enclosure, per se. Possibly the species doesn't work so well in a walk-through - and there was no desire to go for the more obvious red-necked wallabies (thank goodness). Are there any walk-through exhibits in which yellow-footed rock wallabies have been more relaxed?
Oh! I apologise for my ignorance, I didn't realise these were the rock wallabies (although I do remember now that Bristol has them). It will probably be to do with the differing habits of rock wallabies versus "regular" wallabies such as red-necks.

All the wallabies are naturally crepuscular or nocturnal. But red-necks and similar species rest up near bushes and other such cover, so adapt well to walk-throughs. Rock wallabies, however, rest in caves and under overhangs - they like contained areas. So it's probably natural that during the day they would stay inside a shelter.
 
The ones in the walkthrough at Tierpark Berlin are rather more showy, for what it is worth.

Yes, this is true - but I think this is more of a walk-in than a walk-through.....

I've (not) seen them in the walk-through at a fairly poor safari park near Toulouse (name escapes me now - African Safari, or something unimaginative like that). Again, hidden away in a shed (I presume).
 
The restaurant is finished. The extension is very 1930's looking outside and so in keeping with the original exterior. I haven't been inside yet
I visited yesterday and went into the restraunt. You have to wait to be seated and then have a waiter/waitress come and serve you. Prices included £8:95 for Fish and Chips, £8:50 for Ham, Egg and Chips and £7:95 for Meat Feast Pizza! I didn't eat there in the end amd got a burger from the grill kiosk.
 
I visited yesterday and went into the restraunt. You have to wait to be seated and then have a waiter/waitress come and serve you. Prices included £8:95 for Fish and Chips, £8:50 for Ham, Egg and Chips and £7:95 for Meat Feast Pizza! I didn't eat there in the end amd got a burger from the grill kiosk.

Judging by the huge number of complaints on their FB pages about this, they will need to make some changes PDQ. People all say the same thing- what's a 'fancy' restaurant doing in a Zoo where families with small children preponderate and all they want is reasonable-priced and easy to source 'simple' food which can then be quickly eaten in informal surroundings. Seems like a marketing shot that went haywire ( I know it was outsourced to somewhere, but even so.)
 
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