Burgers' Zoo Burgers' Zoo news 2025

[Mr Gharial]

Some small news from today:

A picture with some information about the new building at Panther Plaza was hung at the build site. Might have been there earlier too but I may have missed it:


The Wallaby enclosure has finally gotten the cleanup it needed. The old flamingo pond and indoor enclosure are gone, there's new fences, and part of the hill/plants obstructing the view to the former pheasantry have also been removed:

Flamingo pond gone:


Hill/plants gone:


New fences? Maybe?


They were also replacing some fences on the Safari restaurant terrace:


And there's a new, long bench on one of the terraces where there used to be normal tables:


Not sure if that's new, honestly. I don't visit the Safari all that much, let alone the terrace of the never-open restaurant

 

[Mr Gharial]

Burgers' Zoo will reveal a new species for the Mangrove dome tomorrow. On a facebook post we can see a few hints as to which animal it will be

• this species eats mainly fruits and leaves
• this species is quite calm by nature and avoids conflict
• in this species, the males raise the young
• this species has a lot of bodily contact with other members of its kind
• this species can sit still for a long time when threatened

Although it will officially be revealed tomorrow, there is another, very subtle hint hidden in the announcement...

Spoiler: very subtle hints...

 

[ralph]

Not sure how I feel about this. New species are always welcomed of course, but I really don't think this one fits the theme all that much.

 

[Mr Gharial]

Not sure how I feel about this. New species are always welcomed of course, but I really don't think this one fits the theme all that much.

There aren't a lot of primate species found in Central America in general. White-faced capuchins, Geoffroy's spider monkeys, Central American squirrel monkeys, and two types of howler monkey are the main ones.

Few of those are held in European captivity, and even fewer of them can be held safely in the Mangrove among visitors and free-roaming birds and butterflies.

Although I do agree, they could've chosen a species that lives near the coast. Cotton-top tamarin would've been great (Critically endangered, walkthrough-safe, native to the Caribbean coast although not specifically Belize) but they're quite insectivorous and would definitely get the butterflies.

From what I've heard, it was always the plan to include primates in the Mangrove as free-roamers, although the original plan was Squirrel monkeys. So I'm actually quite glad that plan came to fruition, hopefully the same thing will be true for iguana's being released at some point

 

[ralph]

Squirrel monkeys would have fitted better. I've actually seen squirrel monkeys in the mangroves of Costa Rica. (Not the species that are in zoos, but close enough)

Titi's are much more interesting species though.

So, I'm still on the fence about it.

 

[KevinB]

Squirrel monkeys definitely would not be butterfly save, I have seen them hunting and eating wild native butterflies in zoos before. But I think there are very few primate species, especially the smaller ones, that will not consume arthropods given the chance.

 

[Cat-Man]

Am I the only one with no idea what the species is?

 

[Paul.Haerle]

Am I the only one with no idea what the species is?

No, you aren't

 

[Mr Gharial]

Am I the only one with no idea what the species is?

No, you aren't

Coppery titi (Plecturocebus cupreus)

 

[Cat-Man]

Thanks!

 

[EliasNys]

Coppery titi (Plecturocebus cupreus)

Has this been already confirmed or is it just speculation?

 

[Mr Gharial]

Has this been already confirmed or is it just speculation?

It will be confirmed tomorrow but the "hidden" pictures are clearly Coppery titi

 

[Paul.Haerle]

Are there any other species that were mentioned as possible free-roaming species for the greenhouses?

 

[Mr Gharial]

Are there any other species that were mentioned as possible free-roaming species for the greenhouses?

There were also plans for iguanas and poison dart frogs for the Mangrove at some point

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

It will be confirmed tomorrow but the "hidden" pictures are clearly Coppery titi

It was not so "Hidden" for the primate experts...! But a nice new addition to the place. I am quietly hoping for another small primate ..., but that is probably pushing it. Somewhat surprised they may go for a South American theme rebrand at the Mangrove!

 

[InvertTime]

It was not so "Hidden" for the primate experts...! But a nice new addition to the place. I am quietly hoping for another small primate ..., but that is probably pushing it. Somewhat surprised they may go for a South American theme rebrand at the Mangrove!

I think the educational part of the Mangrove will stay Belize, but species-wise they might go for a Central/Northern-SA bit.

Kinda how the Bush is a general rainforest, but has mostly asiatic influences.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I think the educational part of the Mangrove will stay Belize, but species-wise they might go for a Central/Northern-SA bit.

Kinda how the Bush is a general rainforest, but has mostly asiatic influences.

I really do like that the Bush has indeed more of an Asian theme.

Well, my dream time ....: I do hope in time that an African domed hall may be next ... up somewhere around the Savannah/Safari area (pure speculation of course).

 

[Pertinax]

The pair should still be in the cage @Mr. Gharial described as far as I am aware.

Is there only a pair of GB Mangabeys now? Older videos of the gorilla exhibit show a larger group than that.

 

[Mr Gharial]

Somewhat surprised they may go for a South American theme rebrand at the Mangrove!

They've always used alternative animals to fill in for others. West African fiddler crabs instead of a Central American species (yes, there's mudflats fiddlers but they're close to died out by this point), Violacious euphonia instead of Yellow-throated euphonia, Banded astyanax instead of Belize astyanax, etc

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

They've always used alternative animals to fill in for others. West African fiddler crabs instead of a Central American species (yes, there's mudflats fiddlers but they're close to died out by this point), Violacious euphonia instead of Yellow-throated euphonia, Banded astyanax instead of Belize astyanax, etc

I do hope they go out for all out Belize...