So the new logo (it must have killed Benjamin Mee to replace the one his wife designed) appears to feature white tiger stripes... a hint at where they're going next? Hope not.
Dartmoor Zoo Dartmoor Zoo News
- Thread starter foz
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So the new logo (it must have killed Benjamin Mee to replace the one his wife designed) appears to feature white tiger stripes... a hint at where they're going next? Hope not.
mhale
Well-Known Member
News from Dartmoor on their Facebook page:
Over the past month the zoo has come alive with the sights and sounds of new animals.
On the 27th May our curator, Will Walker and head keeper, Colin Northcott went on a quest to Knowsley Safari Park near Liverpool to collect eight Kafue Lechwe antelope.
The animals were loaded up early on the 28th May and just over six hours later they were released into their new Devon home here at DZP.
Although still a bit shy, visitors can see these special antelope in the new African Savannah exhibit in front of the Jaguar restaurant. The species is classified as vulnerable on the endangered species list and we have good reason to believe that some of the seven females may be pregnant, so watch this space.
As part of the same development project, Will and senior keeper Trudy Willetts made the same journey earlier this week to collect four ostrich. These are now the new companions of the zoo’s original Ostrich, Pete.
The introduction was rather tense. Pete has been without the company of other ostriches for almost five years now so this was a big surprise for him. In addition, he’s had to cope with a few major changes in recent weeks with the relocation of the fallow deer, alpaca and llama to make way for the new additions. After a few minor scuffles with the new arrivals, Pete retired to the lower end of the paddock to gather his thoughts.
The four new ostrich took a little longer to get over their journey and adjust to their new surroundings but we’re confident they’ll settle in nicely.
This marks an important step in the creation of the African Savannah exhibit. Other developments include a large waterhole where the Lechwe can wallow, and an area for the Ostrich to dust bathe when it’s hot. Next step will be a pair of Waterbuck – a large and impressive looking antelope – courtesy of Marwell Zoo. The waterhole is going to be very busy this summer.
Marwell were also instrumental in the recent changes for our Otters. Finding themselves with two males, we arranged a swap with one of our resident females. Snowdrop went off to Marwell and Tito was introduced to her twin sister, Attitude about 3 weeks ago. Although to begin with Tito was very shy and quiet (a great contrast with our own otters), within 24hrs of his arrival love was very much in the air. Hopes are high for some new arrivals this summer.
Among the first of the babies to make an appearance this season is a beautiful Japanese Sika Deer. The male fawn was born on the 29th May. You’ll be lucky to spot him hiding out amongst the ferns at the moment but he will soon be skipping around the enclosure to greet his admiring public.
Keep a keen eye out in the aviaries for the newly hatched Lovebirds. The Black cheeked and Peach faced Lovebirds have all been busy with spring nests and several chicks will be stretching their wings throughout the coming months. The Mandarin ducks and Golden Pheasants have also been sitting on eggs and we hope to see some youngsters from them very soon.
Not to be out-done, the education department has been producing off-spring of their own. Nine tiny harvest mice made an appearance on the 18th May effectively doubling our stock in this adorable species. Education officer Silvia Pedretti is currently making a new home to house the tiny tearaways.
Our walkthrough exhibit will also be seeing a few changes over coming weeks. Our two resident Muntjac deer will be getting a new friend from Reaseheath College, near Chester. This will be welcome addition to the enclosure but these small deer can be quite elusive so keep your eyes peeled.
Another addition for the walk-through will be a group of Bennett’s Wallaby. They’ll be coming to us from Porfell Zoo in Cornwall and they’ll be very much at home among the resident Goats, Muntjac and various wildfowl. They’ll be a firm favourite with visitors of all ages.
Over the past month the zoo has come alive with the sights and sounds of new animals.
On the 27th May our curator, Will Walker and head keeper, Colin Northcott went on a quest to Knowsley Safari Park near Liverpool to collect eight Kafue Lechwe antelope.
The animals were loaded up early on the 28th May and just over six hours later they were released into their new Devon home here at DZP.
Although still a bit shy, visitors can see these special antelope in the new African Savannah exhibit in front of the Jaguar restaurant. The species is classified as vulnerable on the endangered species list and we have good reason to believe that some of the seven females may be pregnant, so watch this space.
As part of the same development project, Will and senior keeper Trudy Willetts made the same journey earlier this week to collect four ostrich. These are now the new companions of the zoo’s original Ostrich, Pete.
The introduction was rather tense. Pete has been without the company of other ostriches for almost five years now so this was a big surprise for him. In addition, he’s had to cope with a few major changes in recent weeks with the relocation of the fallow deer, alpaca and llama to make way for the new additions. After a few minor scuffles with the new arrivals, Pete retired to the lower end of the paddock to gather his thoughts.
The four new ostrich took a little longer to get over their journey and adjust to their new surroundings but we’re confident they’ll settle in nicely.
This marks an important step in the creation of the African Savannah exhibit. Other developments include a large waterhole where the Lechwe can wallow, and an area for the Ostrich to dust bathe when it’s hot. Next step will be a pair of Waterbuck – a large and impressive looking antelope – courtesy of Marwell Zoo. The waterhole is going to be very busy this summer.
Marwell were also instrumental in the recent changes for our Otters. Finding themselves with two males, we arranged a swap with one of our resident females. Snowdrop went off to Marwell and Tito was introduced to her twin sister, Attitude about 3 weeks ago. Although to begin with Tito was very shy and quiet (a great contrast with our own otters), within 24hrs of his arrival love was very much in the air. Hopes are high for some new arrivals this summer.
Among the first of the babies to make an appearance this season is a beautiful Japanese Sika Deer. The male fawn was born on the 29th May. You’ll be lucky to spot him hiding out amongst the ferns at the moment but he will soon be skipping around the enclosure to greet his admiring public.
Keep a keen eye out in the aviaries for the newly hatched Lovebirds. The Black cheeked and Peach faced Lovebirds have all been busy with spring nests and several chicks will be stretching their wings throughout the coming months. The Mandarin ducks and Golden Pheasants have also been sitting on eggs and we hope to see some youngsters from them very soon.
Not to be out-done, the education department has been producing off-spring of their own. Nine tiny harvest mice made an appearance on the 18th May effectively doubling our stock in this adorable species. Education officer Silvia Pedretti is currently making a new home to house the tiny tearaways.
Our walkthrough exhibit will also be seeing a few changes over coming weeks. Our two resident Muntjac deer will be getting a new friend from Reaseheath College, near Chester. This will be welcome addition to the enclosure but these small deer can be quite elusive so keep your eyes peeled.
Another addition for the walk-through will be a group of Bennett’s Wallaby. They’ll be coming to us from Porfell Zoo in Cornwall and they’ll be very much at home among the resident Goats, Muntjac and various wildfowl. They’ll be a firm favourite with visitors of all ages.
Dragonsdust
Member
Awesome to hear that Snowdrop has gone to Marwell, I loved that otter and will be looking forward to spotting her next time I visit Marwell 
Sounds great I like the sound of the savanna exibit i always thought that paddock was underused with fallow deer and by the sound of it a good range of species will be on it. Also great to hear about the new otter and wallabies. Will definately have to make a trip there when all the species have arrived.
For those of you who have never been to DZP here is a new online map they have made on googlemaps to show the layout of the zoo.
Dartmoor Zoological Park - Google Maps
Dartmoor Zoological Park - Google Maps
ZooLeopard
Well-Known Member
Dr Peter Kertesz, who has a surgery in central London, treated the tigers for broken canines at Dartmoor Zoological Park near Plymouth.
They were put to sleep in the moated tiger enclosure and taken by pick-up truck to a specially-created surgery.
BBC News - Dentist treats Devon zoo tigers
They were put to sleep in the moated tiger enclosure and taken by pick-up truck to a specially-created surgery.
BBC News - Dentist treats Devon zoo tigers
Some recent news:
Sadly financial troubles have got to much for the zoo.
THE director of Dartmoor Zoological Park is to put his house on the market to fund investment in the business after the company that ran it went into liquidation.
Head keeper called to dart a dog.
A ZOOKEEPER has relived the dramatic moments when he darted a dog that had just brutally savaged a Plymouth policewoman.
Sadly financial troubles have got to much for the zoo.
THE director of Dartmoor Zoological Park is to put his house on the market to fund investment in the business after the company that ran it went into liquidation.
Head keeper called to dart a dog.
A ZOOKEEPER has relived the dramatic moments when he darted a dog that had just brutally savaged a Plymouth policewoman.
Gentle Giant
Well-Known Member
During the three-and-a-half years that Ben has been running Dartmoor Zoological Park in Devon he has faced an expensive legal battle with one of his brothers, the death of his wife from cancer and a day-to-day struggle to stop the bank from closing down the whole operation.
Business as Usual - Dartmoor Zoological Park
Panthera Puss
Well-Known Member
Article by Ben Mee in The Guardian yesterday, well worth a read I think. There's a bit more on 'behind the scenes' zoo life in general in the print version.
Dartmoor zoo's battle for survival | Environment | The Guardian
Dartmoor zoo's battle for survival | Environment | The Guardian
Panthera Puss
Well-Known Member
You'll think the same when you've got a disgruntled otter coming at you
I think the DEFRA danger list only has 3 categories - 'deadly', 'give you a nasty nip', or 'totally harmless', so there are some anomalies at first sight!
The whole DZP story is a bit disheartening - let's hope Hollywood money does some good for a change.
I hope the school who cost them £4500 with the tiger tooth are severely chastened at the very least.
That school will alas ... surely be not chastened by the news.
What is all the more clear is that the challenge for zoos to conserve is far greater than organisations like PETA care to believe. In the process of ever decreasing circles and increasing numbers of endangered species ... we need to re-focus. And acknowledge the vital role that zoos play in that effort to the general public.
Is it not the Year of Biodiversity in 2010? What have the politicians done up till now for the environment (and I count the Climate Change conference in Kobenhavn in Denmark in on that ...)????
What is all the more clear is that the challenge for zoos to conserve is far greater than organisations like PETA care to believe. In the process of ever decreasing circles and increasing numbers of endangered species ... we need to re-focus. And acknowledge the vital role that zoos play in that effort to the general public.
Is it not the Year of Biodiversity in 2010? What have the politicians done up till now for the environment (and I count the Climate Change conference in Kobenhavn in Denmark in on that ...)????
The only thing I don't like is in Ben's "Guardian" article, the male otter's name is actually "Tito." A small detail, but a detail nonetheless 
And if you wonder about otters on code red, you should see the zoo's female "Attitude." She could give a lot of animals a run for their money!
And if you wonder about otters on code red, you should see the zoo's female "Attitude." She could give a lot of animals a run for their money!Gentle Giant
Well-Known Member
The only thing I don't like is in Ben's "Guardian" article, the male otter's name is actually "Tito." A small detail, but a detail nonetheless
Response: The safest place for an animal is its natural habitat ? not a zoo | Comment is free | The Guardian
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
I think this is a good article. While I agree with much of what he says, I don't agree that zoos are defunct, I believe that people connect as children with other life forms in zoological collections, but Zoo owners/representatives have to get better that the argument put forward by Ben Mee in the original article. The argument is there to be made, but zoos need that argument made competently by the people who govern them.