Dublin Zoo Dublin Zoo news 2024

Babyrousa said:
20-year old male Hippopotamus Ernie has arrived from West Midlands Safari Park as a new partner for Heidi.

Making a Splash! New hippopotamus arrival at Dublin Zoo - Dublin Zoo
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Good news that finally a zoo will acquire a new hippo for breeding.

Please note that the species is now also at the lower end of being threatened in the wild (VULNERABLE with a population in 2017 - 115,000-130,000. However those figures have to be revised as the species has seen a dramatic decrease in numbers lately).
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Ernie has unexpectedly passed away. :(
Dublin Zoo Announces Death Of Newest Arrival | www.98fm.com
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And to think he only moved to Dublin at least two weeks ago. Must be why I didn't see him when I visited a few days ago :(.

I had honestly been thinking that Dublin should just send Heidi to another zoo, as the hippo enclosure is clearly not the best (both indoors and outdoors). I remember years ago a keeper told me that the zoo might be phasing out its hippos, and while it would admittedly be a big loss, the enclosure might still have potential for another, smaller species (preferably one that is more endangered like pygmy hippo).
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Ernie is neutered so there will be no breeding; this move is only for companionship purposes.
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Mmmm, who on Earth did manage to think that one up and make it not reversible. This is the digital age way to kill off any sustainable population management.

To good part is that somehow his health - for whatever reason - has been impacted negatively to the point he has just days upon getting him transferred in .... he passed away unfortunately. I do hope Dublin Zoo will make forward thinking decision soon to get another - with full capacity and not made non-reproductive - to pair up with the Fota Wildlife Park hippo.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Mmmm, who on Earth did manage to think that one up and make it not reversible. This is the digital age way to kill off any sustainable population management.

To good part is that somehow his health - for whatever reason - has been impacted negatively to the point he has just days upon getting him transferred in .... he passed away unfortunately. I do hope Dublin Zoo will make forward thinking decision soon to get another - with full capacity and not made non-reproductive - to pair up with the Fota Wildlife Park hippo.
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There is no hippos in Fota.
 
Babyrousa said:
May I ask, what made you think that Fota had hippos? Were you just mixing it up with Dublin?

I don't mean to sound rude, but just wondering.
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It was a slip of the pen, more than anything else. Sometimes, I do have the forum open twice and it may have happened I just had Fota on Channel 2 ... so to speak. The downsite of EDIT is that after a short time period you can no longer change any ahum ... shitstorm. Since today, I was active on a Climate March through Amsterdam I did not have any time to rectify or contact Admins...

Staying on topic: my observation - for all intense purposes - is really about Dublin Zoo. I yet deplore that once the decision was made to transfer male hippo Ernie ... he was definitely without his gene transfer functionality intact ...!!!! :rolleyes:

I would wish that European collections be more straightforward and with foresight refocus and reconsider that common / Nile hippo these days are also an endangered species. Hopefully next, a new unrelated and reproductively able bull may be sourced to pair up with the Dublin Zoo cow.
 
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Kifaru Bwana said:
It was a slip of the pen, more than anything else. Sometimes, I do have the forum open twice and it may have happened I just had Fota on Channel 2 ... so to speak. The downsite of EDIT is that after a short time period you can no longer change any ahum ... shitstorm. Since today, I was active on a Climate March through Amsterdam I did not have any time to rectify or contact Admins...

Staying on topic: my observation - for all intense purposes - is really about Dublin Zoo. I yet deplore that once the decision was made to transfer male hippo Ernie ... he was definitely without his gene transfer functionality intact ...!!!! :rolleyes:

I would wish that European collections be more straightforward and with foresight refocus and reconsider that common / Nile hippo these days are also an endangered species. Hopefully next, a new unrelated and reproductively able bull may be sourced to pair up with the Dublin Zoo cow.
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Important point made at the end there. I think zoos in general dont highlight the conservation value well of any megafauna due to their natural size and popularity with the public. Hippos seem to struggle with this in a bigger way than elephants and rhinos.
 
Another unexpected new species has arrived! 5-year old Northeast African cheetah Callie has come from Fota Wildlife Park, becoming the first cheetah to live in Dublin in 20 years. A male is hoped to arrive later this year.

Big Cat, Spotted! Dublin Zoo welcomes first cheetah arrival since 2004 - Dublin Zoo

I'm assuming she's in the enclosure where the painted dogs used to live? Anyway, another great and surprising addition to Dublin's collection, and its nice that our three main zoos (Dublin, Belfast and Fota) are home to cheetahs.
 
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Babyrousa said:
Another unexpected new species has arrived! 5-year old Northeast African cheetah Callie has come from Fota Wildlife Park, becoming the first cheetah to live in Dublin in 20 years. A male is hoped to arrive later this year.

Big Cat, Spotted! Dublin Zoo welcomes first cheetah arrival since 2004 - Dublin Zoo

I'm assuming she's in the enclosure where the painted dogs used to live? Anyway, another great and surprising addition to Dublin's collection, and its nice that our three main zoos (Dublin, Belfast and Fota) are home to cheetahs.
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Fantastic news for Dublin and it's great that new species are being added (including the cheetah) in recent years. Although, it is sad to see the dogs to not be there anymore.
 
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