A few days ago i visited the chapultepec zoo , unfortunately the zoo was closed earlier then usual due to a political demonstration that was taking place outside of the park in which the zoo is situated ( it was to do with Lopez obrador a leftist former presidential candidate who claims that the vote was rigged and he is the legitimate president of Mexico , cant blame the poor for hoping for a change here , the gringos saw to it that our democratic experiment was crushed) Due to this reason of the political demonstration i only managed to see the sections of the zoo which hold some species of bears and the section which holds primates. Here are some things i noticed on my visit.
The 3 elderly pandas all looked quite healthy if not extremely lethargic as only a panda can be. Some bamboo had been planted in their enclosure and it was very interesting to note how dexterous their paws are in comparison with other species of bear.
The 2 spectacled bear cubs are fully grown and have been moved into seperate enclosures as a temporary measure, they should be given more climbing materials as the enclosure is pretty bare apart from a few branches some long grass and a small pool .
The 2 western lowland gorrillas were out in their large outdoor enclosure, the silverback who usually hides within the outdoor enclosure was very active, both gorrillas seem very aged especially the elderly female , i remember when the male gorrilla first arrived he had the impressive physique of a middleweight profesional boxer in peak athletic condition , but age has changed him into a potbellied and rather sad, reflective but noble looking silverback gorrilla. The elderly female gorrilla usually seems very withdrawn and miserable , but on that day she seemed to be particulary enjoying life and seemed to have truly forgotten her primate blues by searching for green beans , peanuts and papaya thrown into the outside and indoor enclosure.
The old crab eating macquaqe monkeys has dissapeared , i always found it strange that this monkey was kept alone when they are such group animals , perhaps she has been transfered to another zoo, or perhaps like the white nosed guenon which was also kept alone she has died. The enclosure which once held her, now hold 2 pairs of lethargic black Howler monkeys , the cages have been furnished with many climbing materials although the howler monkey characteristically is a very inactive species of monkey and i doubt whether the monkeys are very bothered. Interestingly it seems the national zoo is trying to create an awareness of endemic primates of Mexico for the general public as there were many signs and information about the howler monkey species around the enclosure. On the website , this new year is listed as "the year of the Mexican monkey" so we can expect to see more emphasis put on primates endemic to Mexico in this fledgling new year.
The black golden headed lion tamarins youngsters have left their mothers back and seem to be exploring their heavily planted enclosure and dismembering crickets with much gusto,its always nice to see young animals enter the world . Im very fond of this endearing little species, I counted the group to number 11 tamarins in total , but the enclosure is large and they seem to be very happy , in that mischevious liliputian tamarin way.
Next door the resident emperor Tamarins still havent bred , but seemed to be content nethertheless , they were having alot of fun catching and massacring locusts.
The Egyptian fruitbat cave seemed to have some young ones but cant be sure how many. The outdoor iguana enclosure is empty except for a Toucan moved there temporarily while a new enclosure is being built , i imagine the iguanas have been moved behind the scenes to the reptile house while the weather remains chilly by Mexican standards. The caiman who shares his pool with numerous turtles was basking on the bank, whilse the turtles swam in front of the huge underwater viewing windows.
The 2 two toed sloths were strangely more active then usual , in their beautifully furnished enclosure, and were seemingly the benevolent hosts of a toucan which i imagine the avian curator had moved there as another temporary measure whilst the toucan aviaries undergo some remodelation.
The zoos 2 male Orangutangs were as usual separated in separate enclosures, one thing which confuses me is there is a huge outdoor enclosure heavily planted "natrualistic" and perfect for orangutangs which is never used by the orangutangs , very strange indeed , i wonder why. The Orangutangs are the most active of all the great apes kept at the zoo , and are a great favourite of the visitors , 1 of the males has developed a bond with the female police officer who guards the primate section.
The pair of common Marmosets which must be quite old in marmoset years, and are grandparents whose offspring went to other zoos
,now share their enclosure with a very lively and extremely endearing black headed golden cacique parrot and an african green pigeon , interestingly the parrot and the pigeon seemed to have developed a bond or some kind of avian friendship and were nestled together for a while.
Another mystery the national zoo of chapultepecs only chimpanzee , a male , is still kept alone. The chimpanzee doesnt seem particulary agitated on the contrary seems to be very relaxed and content with his solitude (a simion zarathustra of the animal kingdom perhaps......) , and has a large enclosure , i wonder why the fellow is kept alone , perhaps he was hand raised or circus animal or a former pet confiscated which never adjusted to other chimps, it remains a mystery, but whatever the case the good thing is he seems happy which is all one can ask from this life, even animals seek their relative happiness.
The Male Mandrill is also kept alone , but is a fairly recent addition to the zoo , so perhaps some Mandrill chicas are on their way to keep him company. In the mean time he does seem to be quite agitated and not amused by some of the visitors who are ignorant enough to tease him because of his unfortunate vibrant colours. The zoo confiscates many animals from cirucuses and individuals who keep these creatures as pets. His origin or background could well be that of a pet or perhaps just a surplus male from the african safari in puebla (which if i remember correctly have a few mandrills) , which is probably more realistic.
The squirrel Monkeys seemed ok ,busy hunting insects as usual , i counted 15 of them in their large and heavily planted enclosure , interestingly a squirrel monkey has been moved away into an enclosure which holds some trumpeters , capybaras and some patagonian conures and has been there for a long time , i wonder why. However this particular monkey had many scars on his face and seemed bigger, fatter and more "thuggist" (by squirrel monkey standards) perhaps he was a trouble maker and upset the delicate balance for the complex social hierachy in the other squirrel monkey enclosure. Perhaps he is the dominant male and has been moved so he doesnt increase the already large squirrel monkey groups, who knows.
This is the first part of my updates of chapultepec zoo , but i will try to visit again whenever i have some spare time to see what else have changed in the zoo, i will also try to visit the Zacango zoo in the future near Toluca which i have ironically never visited despite its close proximity to Mexico city.
The 3 elderly pandas all looked quite healthy if not extremely lethargic as only a panda can be. Some bamboo had been planted in their enclosure and it was very interesting to note how dexterous their paws are in comparison with other species of bear.
The 2 spectacled bear cubs are fully grown and have been moved into seperate enclosures as a temporary measure, they should be given more climbing materials as the enclosure is pretty bare apart from a few branches some long grass and a small pool .
The 2 western lowland gorrillas were out in their large outdoor enclosure, the silverback who usually hides within the outdoor enclosure was very active, both gorrillas seem very aged especially the elderly female , i remember when the male gorrilla first arrived he had the impressive physique of a middleweight profesional boxer in peak athletic condition , but age has changed him into a potbellied and rather sad, reflective but noble looking silverback gorrilla. The elderly female gorrilla usually seems very withdrawn and miserable , but on that day she seemed to be particulary enjoying life and seemed to have truly forgotten her primate blues by searching for green beans , peanuts and papaya thrown into the outside and indoor enclosure.
The old crab eating macquaqe monkeys has dissapeared , i always found it strange that this monkey was kept alone when they are such group animals , perhaps she has been transfered to another zoo, or perhaps like the white nosed guenon which was also kept alone she has died. The enclosure which once held her, now hold 2 pairs of lethargic black Howler monkeys , the cages have been furnished with many climbing materials although the howler monkey characteristically is a very inactive species of monkey and i doubt whether the monkeys are very bothered. Interestingly it seems the national zoo is trying to create an awareness of endemic primates of Mexico for the general public as there were many signs and information about the howler monkey species around the enclosure. On the website , this new year is listed as "the year of the Mexican monkey" so we can expect to see more emphasis put on primates endemic to Mexico in this fledgling new year.
The black golden headed lion tamarins youngsters have left their mothers back and seem to be exploring their heavily planted enclosure and dismembering crickets with much gusto,its always nice to see young animals enter the world . Im very fond of this endearing little species, I counted the group to number 11 tamarins in total , but the enclosure is large and they seem to be very happy , in that mischevious liliputian tamarin way.
Next door the resident emperor Tamarins still havent bred , but seemed to be content nethertheless , they were having alot of fun catching and massacring locusts.
The Egyptian fruitbat cave seemed to have some young ones but cant be sure how many. The outdoor iguana enclosure is empty except for a Toucan moved there temporarily while a new enclosure is being built , i imagine the iguanas have been moved behind the scenes to the reptile house while the weather remains chilly by Mexican standards. The caiman who shares his pool with numerous turtles was basking on the bank, whilse the turtles swam in front of the huge underwater viewing windows.
The 2 two toed sloths were strangely more active then usual , in their beautifully furnished enclosure, and were seemingly the benevolent hosts of a toucan which i imagine the avian curator had moved there as another temporary measure whilst the toucan aviaries undergo some remodelation.
The zoos 2 male Orangutangs were as usual separated in separate enclosures, one thing which confuses me is there is a huge outdoor enclosure heavily planted "natrualistic" and perfect for orangutangs which is never used by the orangutangs , very strange indeed , i wonder why. The Orangutangs are the most active of all the great apes kept at the zoo , and are a great favourite of the visitors , 1 of the males has developed a bond with the female police officer who guards the primate section.
The pair of common Marmosets which must be quite old in marmoset years, and are grandparents whose offspring went to other zoos
,now share their enclosure with a very lively and extremely endearing black headed golden cacique parrot and an african green pigeon , interestingly the parrot and the pigeon seemed to have developed a bond or some kind of avian friendship and were nestled together for a while.
Another mystery the national zoo of chapultepecs only chimpanzee , a male , is still kept alone. The chimpanzee doesnt seem particulary agitated on the contrary seems to be very relaxed and content with his solitude (a simion zarathustra of the animal kingdom perhaps......) , and has a large enclosure , i wonder why the fellow is kept alone , perhaps he was hand raised or circus animal or a former pet confiscated which never adjusted to other chimps, it remains a mystery, but whatever the case the good thing is he seems happy which is all one can ask from this life, even animals seek their relative happiness.
The Male Mandrill is also kept alone , but is a fairly recent addition to the zoo , so perhaps some Mandrill chicas are on their way to keep him company. In the mean time he does seem to be quite agitated and not amused by some of the visitors who are ignorant enough to tease him because of his unfortunate vibrant colours. The zoo confiscates many animals from cirucuses and individuals who keep these creatures as pets. His origin or background could well be that of a pet or perhaps just a surplus male from the african safari in puebla (which if i remember correctly have a few mandrills) , which is probably more realistic.
The squirrel Monkeys seemed ok ,busy hunting insects as usual , i counted 15 of them in their large and heavily planted enclosure , interestingly a squirrel monkey has been moved away into an enclosure which holds some trumpeters , capybaras and some patagonian conures and has been there for a long time , i wonder why. However this particular monkey had many scars on his face and seemed bigger, fatter and more "thuggist" (by squirrel monkey standards) perhaps he was a trouble maker and upset the delicate balance for the complex social hierachy in the other squirrel monkey enclosure. Perhaps he is the dominant male and has been moved so he doesnt increase the already large squirrel monkey groups, who knows.
This is the first part of my updates of chapultepec zoo , but i will try to visit again whenever i have some spare time to see what else have changed in the zoo, i will also try to visit the Zacango zoo in the future near Toluca which i have ironically never visited despite its close proximity to Mexico city.
¡Gracias!
(im still hoping that some miracle will happen + they recieve berlins male bao bao (not owned by china, like the mexico ladies) and have one last shot (however unlikely) at breading them. don't see berlin giving it up tho:/ )