Burgers' Zoo Burgers' Zoo news 2023
- Thread starter lintworm
- Start date
There will be a second group. At the former site of the reindeer, there will be a breeding group of this species. The Rimba will then house the surplus animals.
The moray eels have been identified in the gallery as being Honeycomb moray eels (Gymnothorax favagineus), as species that has been kept in the past too.
Some small bits I forgot yesterday:
- The large guitar ray in the shark tank is back on show after its wounds have healed again.
- The Victoria crowned pigeon is again busy with a nest in the same tree as last year, next to the restaurant.
Some small bits I forgot yesterday:
- The large guitar ray in the shark tank is back on show after its wounds have healed again.
- The Victoria crowned pigeon is again busy with a nest in the same tree as last year, next to the restaurant.
News from my latest visit:
Bush:
Lots of bird activity today! Spring is definitely in action and I managed to see a lot of birds that are usually hard to see because of this. Including Purple honeycreepers, red fodies and red-rumped caciques!
Underneath the free-roamers signage there was a new board with QR-codes providing visitors with puzzles and questions leading them through the Bush.
Desert:
Some new fences were added to multiple spots in the Desert
In the Peccary enclosure, there was electric fencing inside the enclosure, keeping the peccaries to the inner circle. Some new branches were also added.
There were some new plants added on top of the rocks next to the roadrunners.
Mangrove:
The entrance the the Mangrove was temporarily blocked. There was a big machine from a sewage company. You could enter through the usual exit and do the route backwards, but the bridge over the manatee pool was blocked off. I believe the manatees were behind the scenes as well, though I could've just missed them. There were multiple divers in the bassin and a lot of pipes. They must've sucked some stuff off the bottom because there was some typical Mangrove-gravel underneath the truck at the end of the day.
The four-eyed fishes are rather strange. I knew they lived on the surface on the water, but I didn't expect them to prefer it high and dry!
Most of them were either in the mud side of the mudflats, or sitting on the concrete.
The upside-down jellyfish were behind the scenes as well. Because of this, there were a lot of fiddler crabs underwater in this area (something you don't usually see)
Bush:
Lots of bird activity today! Spring is definitely in action and I managed to see a lot of birds that are usually hard to see because of this. Including Purple honeycreepers, red fodies and red-rumped caciques!
Underneath the free-roamers signage there was a new board with QR-codes providing visitors with puzzles and questions leading them through the Bush.
Desert:
Some new fences were added to multiple spots in the Desert
In the Peccary enclosure, there was electric fencing inside the enclosure, keeping the peccaries to the inner circle. Some new branches were also added.
There were some new plants added on top of the rocks next to the roadrunners.
Mangrove:
The entrance the the Mangrove was temporarily blocked. There was a big machine from a sewage company. You could enter through the usual exit and do the route backwards, but the bridge over the manatee pool was blocked off. I believe the manatees were behind the scenes as well, though I could've just missed them. There were multiple divers in the bassin and a lot of pipes. They must've sucked some stuff off the bottom because there was some typical Mangrove-gravel underneath the truck at the end of the day.
The four-eyed fishes are rather strange. I knew they lived on the surface on the water, but I didn't expect them to prefer it high and dry!
Most of them were either in the mud side of the mudflats, or sitting on the concrete.
The upside-down jellyfish were behind the scenes as well. Because of this, there were a lot of fiddler crabs underwater in this area (something you don't usually see)
Attachments
(Part 2 bc of image limit)
Park:
Finally some work happening at the old reindeer enclosure! A lot of new rockwork was added, mostly down in the ditch of the main viewing area. There were new metal fences placed and a separation area can be distinguished.
The flamingo enclosure has been opened up and there was some work going on inside (at least, judging by the car tracks, I didn't actually see anything actively going on).
At least one male Northern cardinal can be seen in the peasantry, where it is held with the Superb fruit doves and Chestnut-back ground thrushes.
A lot of trees were cut down near and in the chimp enclosure. You can now see behind the enclosure because of it. There was some electric fencing added to the Chimps side to avoid them escaping to the fallen trees.
Safari:
Some trimming was done on the Kopje path, so you can now see the Safari plains from there.
Ocean:
The Pipefish tank is being prepared. It has been filled in and now has new rockwork inside.
The Smaller open ocean tank was emptier than usual. Only two barracuda were present, three trevallys and a single leopard shark.
Park:
Finally some work happening at the old reindeer enclosure! A lot of new rockwork was added, mostly down in the ditch of the main viewing area. There were new metal fences placed and a separation area can be distinguished.
The flamingo enclosure has been opened up and there was some work going on inside (at least, judging by the car tracks, I didn't actually see anything actively going on).
At least one male Northern cardinal can be seen in the peasantry, where it is held with the Superb fruit doves and Chestnut-back ground thrushes.
A lot of trees were cut down near and in the chimp enclosure. You can now see behind the enclosure because of it. There was some electric fencing added to the Chimps side to avoid them escaping to the fallen trees.
Safari:
Some trimming was done on the Kopje path, so you can now see the Safari plains from there.
Ocean:
The Pipefish tank is being prepared. It has been filled in and now has new rockwork inside.
The Smaller open ocean tank was emptier than usual. Only two barracuda were present, three trevallys and a single leopard shark.
Attachments
The young Sri Lankan leopard (born in 2021) will soon move to a zoo in Germany.
Source: Facebook Burgers' Zoo
Source: Facebook Burgers' Zoo
Burgers' Zoo has since announced that she will move to Zoo Augsburg.
In BZ again, with a few more updates.
Desert:
The Tarantula and Scorpion have switched enclosures (again). Meaning they are back in their original order (tarantula on the left, scorpion on the right, crickets in the middle)
The Pekari's are still confined to the middle area of their enclosure
Bush:
I already mentioned how busy the birds are currently, but the red-rumped caciques (which are usually hard to spot) are all over the bush right now, collecting nesting material. They are once again building their nests around the bridge between the waterfall and the Capybara. So if anyone wants a better shot at spotting this rare animal, nows your chance!
Mangrove:
Signage for the four-eyed fish has been added inside the mudflats viewing hut.
Mangrove jellyfish are still behind the scenes
Park:
The trees that were removed from the chimpanzee enclosure are currently being turned into climbing structures inside the enclosure. The Chimps were inside, of course.
There was no activity inside the gorilla enclosure, but they were also confined to inside at the moment.
The flamingo enclosure was not actively being worked on, but it was clear that the water portion of the enclosure had been thoroughly cleaned.
The former reindeer enclosure is as good as finished. Since my last update, there's been an addition of new sand and some rocks. As well as a future info sign and a new feeder.
General:
The map has had a small update, now showing hog deer in the former reindeer paddock, and a gila monster in the desert.
Rimba:
Some new rocks were also added to the main rimba paddock
Desert:
The Tarantula and Scorpion have switched enclosures (again). Meaning they are back in their original order (tarantula on the left, scorpion on the right, crickets in the middle)
The Pekari's are still confined to the middle area of their enclosure
Bush:
I already mentioned how busy the birds are currently, but the red-rumped caciques (which are usually hard to spot) are all over the bush right now, collecting nesting material. They are once again building their nests around the bridge between the waterfall and the Capybara. So if anyone wants a better shot at spotting this rare animal, nows your chance!
Mangrove:
Signage for the four-eyed fish has been added inside the mudflats viewing hut.
Mangrove jellyfish are still behind the scenes
Park:
The trees that were removed from the chimpanzee enclosure are currently being turned into climbing structures inside the enclosure. The Chimps were inside, of course.
There was no activity inside the gorilla enclosure, but they were also confined to inside at the moment.
The flamingo enclosure was not actively being worked on, but it was clear that the water portion of the enclosure had been thoroughly cleaned.
The former reindeer enclosure is as good as finished. Since my last update, there's been an addition of new sand and some rocks. As well as a future info sign and a new feeder.
General:
The map has had a small update, now showing hog deer in the former reindeer paddock, and a gila monster in the desert.
Rimba:
Some new rocks were also added to the main rimba paddock
Attachments
Last edited:
The Smaller open ocean tank was emptier than usual. Only two barracuda were present, three trevallys and a single leopard shark.
Remember fish can hide in that tank too, numbers are still higher than you cite, but it is still quite empty...
The fencing has nothing to do with fallen trees, but will be because of the introduction of two new west African chimpanzees which arrived some months ago and are now slowly introduced in the group.
Some small notes from my visit today:
- It seems the last roan antelopes have also moved out, signage was removed and I didn't see any. The wet weather doesn't help, but the safari really looks tired and empty these days...
- The "nemo" anemone fish that lived in the future pipefish tank are now in the small coral reef tank opposite.
- Signage for the red cardinals was removed in the Desert, though there is still at least 1 free flying. They are also present in the canyon aviary and in the bird house.
- After the kea, the goulds amadines are also temporarily behind the scenes according to a sign. Temporary or a prelude to the emptying of the bird house?
- With updated signage in the Mangrove it appears that the green swordtails are also gone, I hadn't seen them for quite some time anyway. I did spot a horseshoe crab though, which sizewise didn't seem like a new addition but rather one of the original ones (or the new ones grow very quick...)
Yes, I noticed on my more recent visit that there were more than my visit when I made that update. Still, I had never seen it that empty, so they still may have been behind the scenes that day.
According to keepers, the Green swordtails have all been eaten by the Tropical gars since a long while. Good that they finally removed the signage for them.
As for the horseshoe crabs: I believe there was only a single adult left before the new juveniles were added, you probably saw that one
The last spectacled langur has finally left, it went to the Artenschutzzentrum Grasleben in Germany. The zoo once mentioned they would like to keep another langur species, which would likely mean the gibbons need to leave as they don't tend to like mixed species enclosures with smaller primates...
The final reeves' muntjac also passed away according to a guide, which means 2 species less in Rimba within a couple of weeks. Reshuffling of the collection is going fast, but let's wait if we will get any replacements...
The final reeves' muntjac also passed away according to a guide, which means 2 species less in Rimba within a couple of weeks. Reshuffling of the collection is going fast, but let's wait if we will get any replacements...
Two snippets of news from official Burgers' Zoo channels:
- 8 African penguin chicks have left the creche and joined the group,which now numbers close to 75 penguins.
- The group of greater flamingo is due to leave to Gaiazoo (if they haven't left already). The reason is bird flu restrictions which because their enclosure isn't an aviary caused them to be in a small aviary for over a year now. wing-clipping doesn't have a future anyway, but this means another prominent enclosure is empty and ripe for refurbishment.
- 8 African penguin chicks have left the creche and joined the group,which now numbers close to 75 penguins.
- The group of greater flamingo is due to leave to Gaiazoo (if they haven't left already). The reason is bird flu restrictions which because their enclosure isn't an aviary caused them to be in a small aviary for over a year now. wing-clipping doesn't have a future anyway, but this means another prominent enclosure is empty and ripe for refurbishment.
Some small updates from today's visit:
- A 3rd Eld's deer and another hog deer were borm recently
- The main hog deer group is still in the Rimba, I spotted 5 in the former reindeer enclosure. All very shy.
-The golden-bellied mangabey are now in one of the behind the scenes leopard cages. So they seem to be on their way out. Given that their EEP was discontinued recently, not a big surprise. Let's hope they will get a replacement in the gorilla enclosure in tje form of another mangabey/guenon.
- Kea and Gould's amadine are back on show in the bird house, in the Mangrove the mangrove jellyfish are back on show. No sign of the pipefish in the Ocean yet.
- The flamingo are still there.
- In the tunnel tank I spotted a single large Indian threadfish.
- A 3rd Eld's deer and another hog deer were borm recently
- The main hog deer group is still in the Rimba, I spotted 5 in the former reindeer enclosure. All very shy.
-The golden-bellied mangabey are now in one of the behind the scenes leopard cages. So they seem to be on their way out. Given that their EEP was discontinued recently, not a big surprise. Let's hope they will get a replacement in the gorilla enclosure in tje form of another mangabey/guenon.
- Kea and Gould's amadine are back on show in the bird house, in the Mangrove the mangrove jellyfish are back on show. No sign of the pipefish in the Ocean yet.
- The flamingo are still there.
- In the tunnel tank I spotted a single large Indian threadfish.
So that is gold-bellied mangabey, roan antilope, helmeted guineafowl, flamingo, muntjac, leaf monkeys, bighorn sheep all leaving of having left the collection recently.
Last edited:
The golden-bellied mangabey is Endangered and is only kept in 14 ZTL zoos. It's an odd choice of animal to leave the collection.
Being endangered didn't stop the EEP from being discontinued now did it?
Which is a shame considering that AZA zoos gave their last viable animals to the EAZA as the AZA was phasing out the species first.
At the time when the new EEPs were decided, golden-bellied mangabey were still listed as data deficient. The upgrade to endangered came a few months after the TAG decision to phase out. The golden-bellied mangabeys in Europe were long dependent on breeding in Wuppertal and Budapest. But Wuppertal phased out their group in 2016 (favouring lion-tailed macaque and colombian black spider monkey) with the remnants going to Burgers' Zoo and Magdeburg, who both didn't have much success with this species. In all those years Burgers' had only 1 successful breeding and multiple deaths, Magdeburg never bred them...
Had this species already been classified as endangered in 2015, things could have gone quite differently, but the species has been struggling for years now and the 2.2 imported from the US in 2014 didn't have a big impact.
At least I hope they are replaced by an EEP species that really needs and extra holder and not an EEP species like Brazza guenon or guereza that is already quite common. Burgers' had great success with black crested mangabey in the past and I wouls not mind those
. If they aren't replaced the move doesn't make much sense if the gold-bellieds are leaving.I'm confused by the IUCN classification. There are opossums known from just a few specimens found in decades and they are still classified as 'Least Concern'.
The IUCN red list assessments are predominantly carried out by individuals who volunteer their time and resources to write them, sometimes many at a time, and are checked by an IUCN staff member before being published, I believe. Some assessments are better and more thorough than others, and some contain errors.
It may not always be the gold standard it strives to be, but it's the best we've got.
Thanks, Swampy
I realise that the IUCN staff member can't assess all species accurately, but I would have thought that a species that is only collected every few years could be 'Data Deficient' but couldn't be 'Least Concern'
I realise that the IUCN staff member can't assess all species accurately, but I would have thought that a species that is only collected every few years could be 'Data Deficient' but couldn't be 'Least Concern'