Dublin Zoo Dublin zoo visit today.

[dublinlion]

Had my first look at the Gorilla exhibit today and was quite impressed overall although the family were all indoors due to the weather conditions. the indoor housing is large with plenty of cover and climbing props and the exterior has a pathway surrounding it which also gives good views of the Chimp and White Collared Mangabey islands.
Although the grounds are really nice and most animals are in good family groups in good large enclosures, i am always frustrated by the huge empty spaces and lack of species. 6o acres with 30+ mammal and 20 or so bird species, a tiny reptile house with about 10 species and no fish is really a bit disappointing, but this seems to suit the general paying public as they get a million visitors a year and even with cold wet weather like today the attendance was quite good.
On a more positive note there are some really good exhibits such as a huge well landscaped area with 6/7 White Rhino and mixed Giraffe, Zebra, Oryx and Ostrich. Elephant, Tapir, Wolf, Ibis, Snow leopard, Sumatran and Amur tiger enclosures are good and best of all, the Mangabey and Black Crested Macaque islands are great and among my favourites at any zoo.
What really made my day was the huge group of wild ducks (tufted, pochard, teal etc.) near the Chimp island, well over a 100.
Anyway if anyone wants any more info just ask.

 

[Pertinax]

Had my first look at the Gorilla exhibit today and was quite impressed overall although the family were all indoors due to the weather conditions. the indoor housing is large with plenty of cover and climbing props and the exterior has a pathway surrounding it which also gives good views of the Chimp and White Collared Mangabey islands.

Can you view the Gorillas' outdoor island from all along/most places along the path, or only at selected 'view points' ? Would you say it gives good viewing overall of the outside area?

 

[dublinlion]

Can you view the Gorillas' outdoor island from all along/most places along the path, or only at selected 'view points' ? Would you say it gives good viewing overall of the outside area?

the pathway platform runs all round the island and gives very good viewing from all angles. it has obviously been well planned and I reckon that it will look even better in the spring and summer when the planting really takes off. Yesterday the gardening staff were doing a lot more planting around the outer perimeter.

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Were the Sumatran tigers together?

 

[Shirokuma]

Did you see if anything was being done with the old gorilla enclosure?

 

[dublinlion]

Were the Sumatran tigers together?

yes and they looked fantastic. i spent ages watching them as they were very active and came close to the viewing windows.

 

[dublinlion]

Did you see if anything was being done with the old gorilla enclosure?

the house is closed off and the outer area is empty. I believe they intend to put something there short term and the long term plan is to extend the orang area to include this and the old (still unused) polar bear enclosure. although i imagine that this would be very expensive as orangs are so adept at escaping.

 

[Stefka]

"i am always frustrated by the huge empty spaces and lack of species. 6o acres with 30+ mammal and 20 or so bird species, a tiny reptile house with about 10 species and no fish is really a bit disappointing"

I can´t really agree with you. Altought there are few things I don´t like about Dublin Zoo, this isn´t one of them. I prefer less species in larger area than Zoos where they are trying to get as many species as possible and squeez them in small places. I´ve visited Pilsen Zoo (Czech republic) this summer and I felt like I´m in a pet shop. They are getting more and more species but they don´t really have enough space to expand. That was really frustrating.

There are empty spaces in Dublin Zoo, but I would prefer to use them as an extra space for species they already have. Or maybe as "stand by" enclosures for unexpected arrivals (injured Irish wildlife, unwanted exotic pets etc.)

 

[dublinlion]

"i am always frustrated by the huge empty spaces and lack of species. 6o acres with 30+ mammal and 20 or so bird species, a tiny reptile house with about 10 species and no fish is really a bit disappointing"

I can´t really agree with you. Altought there are few things I don´t like about Dublin Zoo, this isn´t one of them. I prefer less species in larger area than Zoos where they are trying to get as many species as possible and squeez them in small places. I´ve visited Pilsen Zoo (Czech republic) this summer and I felt like I´m in a pet shop. They are getting more and more species but they don´t really have enough space to expand. That was really frustrating.

Stefka, I am not suggesting they follow the example of Pizen and pack the Zoo with 100s of species, but a few well placed aviaries and a few more mammal species would be nice. I also like the bigger family groups they house, such as 60+ Flamingos, 20+ Waldrap ibis etc., 8 Rhinos, 10+ Giraffe and so on.

 

[dublinlion]

On my recent visit, there was major construction going on at the back of the elephant enclosure near the reptile house. I assume this is the long awaited bull elephant holding facility?

 

[Stefka]

Stefka, I am not suggesting they follow the example of Pizen and pack the Zoo with 100s of species, but a few well placed aviaries and a few more mammal species would be nice. I also like the bigger family groups they house, such as 60+ Flamingos, 20+ Waldrap ibis etc., 8 Rhinos, 10+ Giraffe and so on.

And I´m not suggesting to stop import of new species entirely.

I just don´t want them to be too eager to fill all empty spaces with new species; improving the conditions of already existing animals should be the highest priority. But I would sure welcome few more smaller species, some amphibians and more reptiles, for example. Or an exhibition of Irish native animals would be nice as well.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

the house is closed off and the outer area is empty. I believe they intend to put something there short term and the long term plan is to extend the orang area to include this and the old (still unused) polar bear enclosure. although i imagine that this would be very expensive as orangs are so adept at escaping.

Any design plans already on the table?

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

"i am always frustrated by the huge empty spaces and lack of species. 6o acres with 30+ mammal and 20 or so bird species, a tiny reptile house with about 10 species and no fish is really a bit disappointing"

I can´t really agree with you. Altought there are few things I don´t like about Dublin Zoo, this isn´t one of them. I prefer less species in larger area than Zoos where they are trying to get as many species as possible and squeez them in small places. I´ve visited Pilsen Zoo (Czech republic) this summer and I felt like I´m in a pet shop. They are getting more and more species but they don´t really have enough space to expand. That was really frustrating.

There are empty spaces in Dublin Zoo, but I would prefer to use them as an extra space for species they already have. Or maybe as "stand by" enclosures for unexpected arrivals (injured Irish wildlife, unwanted exotic pets etc.)

For what it is worth Zoo Pilsen has planned all imports and exhibit renovations and describing it as a pet zoo is not doing the curator and his staff any justice. In many respects Czech zoos are somewhat more advanced than those over here ... Besides, Zoo Pilsen has extra land for expansion ...

 

[dublinlion]

Any design plans already on the table?

Pretty sure the plans are there but would imagine its long term as the govt. money has dried up with the recession. Its all a matter of priorities and afaik the bull elephant and the flamingo area (netting, add exotic waterfowl?) are the next projects.
A keeper told me that a wild otter is visiting the zoo and causing havoc on the lake and this is a recurring problem.

 

[Stefka]

For what it is worth Zoo Pilsen has planned all imports and exhibit renovations and describing it as a pet zoo is not doing the curator and his staff any justice. In many respects Czech zoos are somewhat more advanced than those over here ... Besides, Zoo Pilsen has extra land for expansion ...

I get what you´re saying, I agree that Czech zoos are very advanced. And Pilsen Zoo have changed A LOT during the past decade. I remember visiting Pilsen Zoo when I was little. It was a school-trip, I was around 9 years old and I left the Zoo crying, because I couldn´t stand to watch the bears in that tiny cage. (yes, I was very emotional child ) And now, they probably have the best bear enclosure ever. And there are many more enclosures I like.
The problem is, they are trying to become a world-class Zoo at all costs. But there is no way they´re ever gonna match zoos like the Zoo Prague.
I don´t know their current building plans, how far can they expand. But I know that all the new big species they got recently (giraffes, rhinos) are not on a new estate, all the new arrivals are placed in modified places they already had. I didn´t really see a problem with the outside enclosures, but the pavillions do feel like a pet shop (sorry, I have to insist on that comparison). It almost seems to work on a policy - "small animal - small enclosure", with no regards to actual needs of some species.
Another example - I really liked the idea behind their new exhibit - The Czech River. It´s very attractive, educational, nicely buildt... But otter is a carnivore and fish is fish... The otters should have way more space!

Anyway, I am hoping they´re gonna get there, eventually. But it´s gonna take time. As I said in some previous thread - first concentrate on improving the conditions of animals you already have, then start to think about importing new ones.

 

[Stefka]

Its all a matter of priorities and afaik the bull elephant and the flamingo area (netting, add exotic waterfowl?) are the next projects.

Really? Are they planning the netting for flamingos so they wouldn´t have to clip their wings anymore? I am so happy to hear that, thank you for your update!