Dublin Zoo Dublin Zoo news 2023

[Babyrousa]

I thought it would be good to share this new inspection report on the allegations made against Dublin Zoo regarding animal welfare breaches, which found no evidence to support these claims.

The report is 256 pages, but from the little I've read, it sounds like it should be really interesting and worth a read. Here's an extract:

"The Report finds that of the 23 allegations made:
- Seventeen were considered to be ‘unfounded with no evidence supplied to support the narrative of the allegation’
- Two were found to have ‘no basis or evidence to even substantiate the allegation’
- Three were classed as ‘some evidence was found supporting a historical allegation, but Dublin Zoo had already resolved the case’ with changes in ‘process, facility or management’.
The one claim ‘considered to be supported as per the stated allegation’ was an issue regarding the development of the new red panda habitat as per the recommendations of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) best practice guidelines. However, the report also notes this recommendation had been assessed by the management and in the professional opinion and experience of Dublin Zoo it was not considered a concern by the senior team - which the investigation team recognised as being justifiable and consistent with the other percentage of zoos which house red pandas in a similar manner within the European and North America zoo population."

https://www.dublinzoo.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dublin-Zoo-Special-Inspection-Report-2022.pdf

 

[Zoofan15]

Female Southern white rhinoceros calf born:

Dublin Zoo announce arrival of baby Southern white rhinoceros

The yet-to-be-named female calf was born on Thursday, January 2, 2023 to its mother Nyala, and is estimated to weigh approximately 50kg.

The calf joins her father, Chaka, and half-brother, Fionn, as the newest member of the seven-strong herd, also known as a crash, in Dublin Zoo's African Savanna.

 

[Babyrousa]

Some observations from a visit today:

• The first thing I saw were some renovation works around the society house and the old education centre outside the South American house, which I first noticed when I went to the Wild Lights last month. It's clear that they've started turning the house into the headquarters of the new National Centre for Species Survival where the zoo will be doing their conservation planning, as covered in their 2031 vision.
• The lions are still in their old enclosure, with the tigers next door. I noticed that they seemed to be constructing a new house at the tigers' old enclosure where the lions are probably gonna move to.
• I saw the new bongo house, and I also saw that the painted dogs' new housing was more or less complete - it just needs some straw/shavings inside. Both of these houses have a shelter for visitors, as they stated in their vision that they wanted to create more indoor areas to make the zoo an all-weather attraction.
• There also seemed to be construction works behind the giraffe habitat, but I'm not sure what's happening over there.
• One of the tanks in Zoorassic World seemed to be under renovation. A volunteer informed me that the mangrove monitor left the zoo and will be replaced by an iguana. Zootierliste says that Dublin acquired a Fijian short-crested iguana (Brachylophus bulabula) last year, so it seems that this would be the species the volunteer was talking about.
• I also saw a new white-crowned mangabey baby indoors, and it was nice to see the baby and its mother playing with one of the other young mangabeys. I also saw the new baby rhino indoors, and it frolicked for a bit as I watched it for a little while.

I will be uploading some photos of the construction works in a while.

 

[kiang]

Any news where and when the aye ayes from Bristol will go on display?

 

[Babyrousa]

Any news where and when the aye ayes from Bristol will go on display?

I asked the same volunteer if the zoo had any plans for a Madagascan exhibit, and she said she didn't know of any plans, so I guess it will be some time before the aye-ayes finally do go on show. It seems the National Centre for Species Survival will be the zoo's main priority for this year, along with the new lion house.

 

[Mickey]

I asked the same volunteer if the zoo had any plans for a Madagascan exhibit, and she said she didn't know of any plans, so I guess it will be some time before the aye-ayes finally do go on show. It seems the National Centre for Species Survival will be the zoo's main priority for this year, along with the new lion house.

Are these "houses" meant to have also smaller inhabitants, like most animal houses in zoos do, or just heated pavillions for guests (and the main animal) to look at the animals during cold months?

 

[Babyrousa]

Are these "houses" meant to have also smaller inhabitants, like most animal houses in zoos do, or just heated pavillions for guests (and the main animal) to look at the animals during cold months?

If you mean the lion house, I guess it's just for visitors to see the animals indoors when it's cold. Correct me if I misunderstood your question as it wasn't exactly clear to me.

 

[Babyrousa]

The rhino calf born in January has been named 'Malkia', meaning 'Queen' in Swahili.

Dublin Zoo

 

[Babyrousa]

Here's a post from the zoo's website on the impending move of elephants Yasmin, Anak, Kabir and Sanjay to Cincinnati, currently planned for October.

The elephant herd will be off-show at certain times daily. - Dublin Zoo

 

[Babyrousa]

The zoo have recently published their conservation education master plan. I only just noticed this now and while there's probably not that many points of interest (I only had a brief look at the whole document), I thought it would be worth sharing for anyone interested.

https://www.dublinzoo.ie/wp-content...servation-Education-Master-Plan_Digital-5.pdf

 

[dublinlion]

There is an article about the aye ayes in the reissue of the guide book. The new housing is being built beside the entrance to the African plains and is well advanced, and seemingly due to open this summer.

 

[Babyrousa]

I got the reissued guidebook when I visited the zoo today, and reading the page with the tapirs it said "We currently keep two tapirs - Rio and her daughter Sophia". Could Marmaduke have passed away now? I saw one of the tapirs from a distance during my visit but I didn't head towards the enclosure.

On a side note, I could see how advanced the construction of the aye-aye house (which I originally had assumed was a new house for the lions) was as dublinlion said. It has doors that visitors can open and close to keep it dark inside for the lemurs, and there are tree mosaics on the outside of the house. I look forward to seeing the aye-ayes when they go on-show this summer.

 

[sara]

I got the reissued guidebook when I visited the zoo today, and reading the page with the tapirs it said "We currently keep two tapirs - Rio and her daughter Sophia". Could Marmaduke have passed away now? I saw one of the tapirs from a distance during my visit but I didn't head towards the enclosure.

On a side note, I could see how advanced the construction of the aye-aye house (which I originally had assumed was a new house for the lions) was as dublinlion said. It has doors that visitors can open and close to keep it dark inside for the lemurs, and there are tree mosaics on the outside of the house. I look forward to seeing the aye-ayes when they go on-show this summer.

I ask Dublin Zoo in a tweet and they said Marmaduke died last year just 3 days before his 37th birthday. Such a shame, he was my favourite at the zoo

 

[Babyrousa]

I ask Dublin Zoo in a tweet and they said Marmaduke died last year just 3 days before his 37th birthday. Such a shame, he was my favourite at the zoo

Yeah, it’s a real shame to lose him but at least he lived to a good age for a tapir. And at least now he’s back with his old mate Hilary in tapir heaven.

 

[dublinlion]

The aye aye house is due to open next week. It looks pretty much complete. I was told they have 4 aye ayes for display. I had thought it was three. There is new indoor housing almost finished, for the bull rhino at very back of their exhibit. Flamingo were off display due to bird flu precaution and the sulawesi macaques are still off display and there is no sign of any work going on at their exhibit and it looks very overgrown. Fiji Iguana now on display in reptile house.

 

[Babyrousa]

The aye aye house is due to open next week. It looks pretty much complete. I was told they have 4 aye ayes for display. I had thought it was three. There is new indoor housing almost finished, for the bull rhino at very back of their exhibit. Flamingo were off display due to bird flu precaution and the sulawesi macaques are still off display and there is no sign of any work going on at their exhibit and it looks very overgrown. Fiji Iguana now on display in reptile house.

Maybe the fourth aye-aye is a new baby that was born behind the scenes. If true, then this would be the first time this incredible species has ever bred in Ireland!

 

[Mickey]

Where is this "Aye-aye house" located in the site?

 

[Babyrousa]

Where is this "Aye-aye house" located in the site?

The aye-aye house is located right next to the entrance to the African Plains; dublinlion mentioned it in his post from May (see above). It is also next to the Amur tigers' enclosure, where the lions are moving into.

 

[dublinlion]

A newspaper report today says a flamingo has tested positive for bird flu and the whole flock is in isolation. It is hard to see how this infection came about as only very small wild birds can access the enclosure.

 

[Jana]

Bird flu is easily spread by feaces (that can drop through net from gulls sitting on it, for example). Contaminated water, food, soil/sand, soles of keepers boots etc. Also cats (and maybe other mammals) are easily infected by the strain that circulates in waterbirds this year in Europe.