Dierenpark Zie-ZOO Dierenpark Zie-ZOO news 2025

Visited Zie-ZOO today for their world animal day event and had the opportunity to speak with some staff about current plans for the zoo. Overall they're hesitant to speak much about future species and such (both face-to-face and on social media) because they don't want people to get excited and for plans to then fall through. Things also tend to change very quickly, which is why there's usually not much lead-up on them announcing that certain animals have left (if they post about it at all).
  • The last spotted hyena left for Amersfoort, earlier than expected, as Zie-ZOO had hoped to hold onto her until after fall break. The enclosure is now empty, and they can prepare it to move the striped hyena into it (eventually).
  • The last Kirk's dik-diks have also moved out, to various zoos. They plan on bringing the species back eventually, but have no space to keep them behind the screens for a few years.
  • The work on the animal is planned to be a phased approach, which means that they're working on one enclosure at a time. They got rid of the green anacondas recently, and are now preparing that space for a new animal (which takes a while with paperwork, etc.). Once the new animal is ready (or mostly ready), they'll move something else out and start the cycle again.
  • Speaking of the animal attic, the old green anaconda enclosure held Mexican bearded lizards today, a species that was previously housed in the attic but in a different enclosure. The water pit was mostly emptied out and sand placed in the rest to make it (more) suitable for them.
  • The scavenger aviary is finished, but they're waiting for it to be fully approved. In 4 weeks it should be ready for animals.
 
The scavenger aviary is finished, but they're waiting for it to be fully approved. In 4 weeks it should be ready for animals.

Great news! I was waiting for this one to be finished so I could finally go for my first visit
 
In an interview with ZooFlits, the new management talked about what has been going on behind the scenes in recent years and about their plans for the future. Several animal species have left the collection recently. In two years' time, the zoo has gone from 137 to 102 animal species. And more will be leaving.

Many of the decisions regarding the animal collection are based on animal welfare. Many of the enclosures in the old part of the zoo are outdated and, in the zoo's opinion, no longer suitable for the species housed there. There were also species without permits or that were kept behind the scenes, without fitting in with the plans for the future.

A government inspection process was also on the horizon. For several years now, the government has been reassessing animal enclosures and the associated permits. For example, a new permit has to be applied for the sarus crane enclosure. However, this means that the enclosure needs to be six times larger and the fence needs to be higher. It has therefore been decided that the last sarus crane will soon be moved to Whipsnade Zoo. In its place, a new aviary will be built with birds that are affected by wildlife trade. The adjacent log cabin will also focus on this issue.

A new indoor playground will be built on the site of the vacant dik-dik enclosure, among other things. The area around the hall will have an East Madagascar theme. The ring-tailed mongooses will be given an indoor and outdoor enclosure here. Other species are not yet known. The rest of the old section of the zoo will largely be converted into a forest biotope, with a number of themes and areas.

The American black bears will also leave the collection. The zoo has commissioned drawings for a new enclosure with a different species of bear: spectacled bears. However, this would take up too much space. Such a large enclosure would not be very attractive if the animals sleep a lot. In addition to a Madagascar section, an Asia section will also be built with animal species that require less space and are more visible. In addition to an Asia section, there will also be a large area with domestic animal breeds, and there are plans to keep Dutch birds, such as passerines, partridges and little owls.

After the opening of the new scavenger aviary, the focus will shift to the renovation of the animal attic. This will focus on reptile species found on islands.

Source: ZooFlits
 
More news from Zooflits about changes at Zie-Zoo. They will be be removing the two ugly floating pontoon islands, intended for their two Colombian black spider monkeys, that never ended up being used as the monkeys refused to use the ropes to the island and because reaching the islands was only possible by boat, which was found to be too difficult for keepers. The spider monkeys have moved behind the scenes and will, after consultation with and a decision by the studbook keeper for this species, move to another zoo.

Drijvend apenverblijf verdwijnt uit Brabants dierenpark: ‘Niet meer van deze tijd’
 
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