Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley visit

[Dom]

Well i managed a final zoo visit in 2009, to Dudley, which was my first visit.

I was pleasently surprised, i must say.

Positives

Well, it was new years eve, and the zoo was basically empty, which was lovely, and the tiny layer of snow made most of the exibits rather picturesque.
Saw the Himilayan black bear, which is a first for me, and she was awake!
Lovely close up view of the male snow leopard.
The chimp house seemed quite large, and with a few more climbing structures, could be excellent.

Averages
Most of the enclousures seemed satisfactory,and most of the animals seemed healthy.
Giraffes looked healthy, just were confined to their indoor house.

Negatives
Obviously the orang islands are not up to standard, this point has been discussed before, so i won't bash it.
The largest enclousure, the one on the hill contained sheep....which seemed a little wasted to me.

Questions.

Does anyone know why the black bear walks backwards so often?

Any ideas what is happening inside the orang house?

How many sea lions do they have?

Thanks

 

[adrian1963]

Dom I'll do the best to answer your questions

The Asianic Black Bear has done that ever since she arrived there used to be 2 in the enclosure and the other one used to do exactly the same thing I don't understand it myself as she seems happy in the enclosure and she has her own little hiding hole right up against the Polar Bear enclosure wall.

On the Orang house it is under refurbishment at present (about time) they are hoping to have it complete for March it will have 2 seperate indoor areas for the Orangs and a viewing area for the public to stand and observe the animals.
Sea lions they have 3 (1 male and 2 females) they use both parts of the old killer whale and dolphin pools.

On the Chimp front I think they are still hoping to strengthen the fences and have a male or 2 but I have noticed myself that a few of the females have been disapearing to other zoo's I prusume.

The largest area for animals at present is basically a rocky piece of hill and therefore ideal for the rare sheep they have on it.


What did you think of Lemur Wood & Wallaby Walk Through's

Was the young Tapir out in the enclosure

 

[Martin B]

I visited Dudley for the first time ever on the 28th December, likewise this was my last zoo visit of 2009.

I was bitterly dissapointed by the zoo and some of the exhibits on show, particularly the orang islands. I understand that some/many of the exhibits are listed buildings and structures.
I did think the chimpanzee area was quite good as the outdoor area seemed quite large and with a bit of modernising it could make for very nice exhibit.
I'm sure if you look at Dudley as a zoo for a day out, it does make for a good one, but when you constantly compare the exhibits before you with the array of others you have seen at say Chester, Bristol etc it is dissapointing in my opinion.

With some of the species they have it has so much potential if the funding can be found. I was told that the zoo was featured on local television saying it was lacking funding, if anyone knows any more I would be interested.

The one thing I did really enjoy was the monkey trails area as it was nice and cosy with lots of monkeys doing lots of things, it was often hard to know where to look. I enjoyed seeing the white face saki monkey at close quaters. The otter exhibit inside this area also impressed me.

I have been looking at the Dudley threads closely and hope that it can make the modifications needed in the near future.

 

[EvilKittie]

Does anyone know why the black bear walks backwards so often?

Any ideas what is happening inside the orang house?

How many sea lions do they have?

1) Bad Habit

2) No idea

3) 3

 

[Maguari]

The largest enclousure, the one on the hill contained sheep....which seemed a little wasted to me.

Can't remember my source, so take this with a pinch of salt, but I have heard that as the large paddock opposite the entrance is visible from outside the zoo, the zoo has been asked (by the local authority?) not to put anything exotic in it. I can only speculate as to the reason - two leap to mind: so it looks appropriate for the setting in front of the Castle or to avoid distracting motorists on the main road!

 

[Dom]

In respects to the sheep, all points made valid, but i do think it would make the Dudley landscape more intresting to have something exotic on the hill!

The young tapir was not in disply, i only saw one.

The walk through wallaby house was shut at the time i went, but looked.....odd to say the least. I understand that it was the old elephant paddock?

The lemur walkthrough looked good, lushly planted, nicely done.

BUT

Wallaby and lemur walkthroughs seem to be a standard feature for British zoos at the moment, and in all honestey i don't often bother walking round them.

 

[Maguari]

Dudley's wallaby walkthrough is thoroughly dull and the walk-through element pretty much redundant.

Dudley's lemur walkthrough is one of the best going. Multiple species including some large groups, a really nice site with a winding pathway - excellent.

 

[EvilKittie]

Dudley's wallaby walkthrough is thoroughly dull and the walk-through element pretty much redundant.

Dudley's lemur walkthrough is one of the best going. Multiple species including some large groups, a really nice site with a winding pathway - excellent.

i fully agree with wat you said - they shud remove wallaby walkthrough and make it into a new GOOD enclosure

 

[Dom]

What are other people's opinions on the small enclousures round the edge?


I'm reffering to the babarusia, tapir and rhea houses.

 

[EvilKittie]

What are other people's opinions on the small enclousures round the edge?


I'm reffering to the babarusia, tapir and rhea houses.

i think remove the kangaroos and extend the tapir - that halve the rhea paddock, and remove the rhea, cage over the half closest to the birds and but a small primate or birds, than give the other half over to the babarusia with a new breeding pair.

 

[adrian1963]

There are many alterations that could be made to the zoo here are my own idea's
1 - move the giraffes to the old bear ravine and include a few gazelle or zebra's
2 - move the Rhea and enlarge the avaries to allow the birds more freedom
3 - the area at the back of the resturant between african wild dogs and the resturant could be used for the Babarusia
4 - The old otter enclosure next to the porcupines could be used for the geoffrey's cat
5 - remove the geoffry's cat enclosure and enlarge the red panda enclosure
6 - move the burger van from the entrance and put it to the side of the shop and use the area created including the large hilly area to the rear for a large animal (leopard / cobra or how's about a grizzly bear)
7 - move the orangutans to the other end of the chimps enclosure thus using there old house for a pygmy hippo enclosure
8 - with all the birds being moved the zoo has a few ponds that are not being used so the birds could use these.
9 - move the Kangeroo's to the giraffe paddock thus making the Tapir enclosure much bigger
10 - the wallabies could be moved to the castle courtyard and there area used for a new small mamal species

I have many more idea's but these seem to be the easiest to do
what do you think

 

[chizlit]

#1 I asked about moving the giraffes to the bear ravine on my last visit, I was told it wasn't suitable for thm because it's go too many slopes in it, this I can believe, but the chimp area is ideal for them.

There are many alterations that could be made to the zoo here are my own idea's
1 - move the giraffes to the old bear ravine and include a few gazelle or zebra's
2 - move the Rhea and enlarge the avaries to allow the birds more freedom
3 - the area at the back of the resturant between african wild dogs and the resturant could be used for the Babarusia
4 - The old otter enclosure next to the porcupines could be used for the geoffrey's cat
5 - remove the geoffry's cat enclosure and enlarge the red panda enclosure
6 - move the burger van from the entrance and put it to the side of the shop and use the area created including the large hilly area to the rear for a large animal (leopard / cobra or how's about a grizzly bear)
7 - move the orangutans to the other end of the chimps enclosure thus using there old house for a pygmy hippo enclosure
8 - with all the birds being moved the zoo has a few ponds that are not being used so the birds could use these.
9 - move the Kangeroo's to the giraffe paddock thus making the Tapir enclosure much bigger
10 - the wallabies could be moved to the castle courtyard and there area used for a new small mamal species

I have many more idea's but these seem to be the easiest to do
what do you think

 

[adrian1963]

I agree with that chizlit but the concept of actually making the ground flat for the giraffes is quite easy to do. As I discussed with a couple of people the last time I was at the zoo but was told plans are already in place for the bear ravine?
Many changes to come over the next few years at this zoo as they try there best to bring it up to a top Midland attraction,

 

[fire&ice]

There are many alterations that could be made to the zoo here are my own idea's
1 - move the giraffes to the old bear ravine and include a few gazelle or zebra's
2 - move the Rhea and enlarge the avaries to allow the birds more freedom
3 - the area at the back of the resturant between african wild dogs and the resturant could be used for the Babarusia
4 - The old otter enclosure next to the porcupines could be used for the geoffrey's cat
5 - remove the geoffry's cat enclosure and enlarge the red panda enclosure
6 - move the burger van from the entrance and put it to the side of the shop and use the area created including the large hilly area to the rear for a large animal (leopard / cobra or how's about a grizzly bear)
7 - move the orangutans to the other end of the chimps enclosure thus using there old house for a pygmy hippo enclosure
8 - with all the birds being moved the zoo has a few ponds that are not being used so the birds could use these.
9 - move the Kangeroo's to the giraffe paddock thus making the Tapir enclosure much bigger
10 - the wallabies could be moved to the castle courtyard and there area used for a new small mamal species

I have many more idea's but these seem to be the easiest to do
what do you think

Some absolutely brill idea's there Adrian! I think the only thing i wouldnt like in there is the move of the giraffes, the old bear ravine is abit . . . lumpy in my opinion lol Infact if there is anything id like to see there again its bears! (Although i do love Inca, she is one of my favorites).

I think id like to see the Snow Leopards with more room, especially with them being separated for so long, one of the two (almost always the male Wutai i believe) has to stay in the indoor part of the enclosure and i think its just a little boxed up.

Could anybody tell me what the old Lynx enclosure looked like? Only iv seen a few negative comments about it and wondered what it was like?

Thanks

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

It is all well and good what one would like in the Dudley Zoo, but as I understand that funding has been and is THE ISSUE it is all rather pointless speculating on what could be. If any of you have some undiscovered pot of cash then hand it over to Dudley Zoo ...., so they can implement rather than reminicise what could be

 

[chizlit]

The old lynx house was like a small prison cell complete with bars, it was the kind of place you know you shouldn't look at , because it was so horrible, but you still did because you felt so sorry for the animals that were confined in there.
Whats worse is these cells used to contain leopards (if my memory serves me right), these used to pace up and down all day, it was a pitiful site.

Thankfully there is a happy ending as the new lynx enclosure is a mini triumph IMO.

Could anybody tell me what the old Lynx enclosure looked like? Only iv seen a few negative comments about it and wondered what it was like?

Thanks

 

[fire&ice]

The old lynx house was like a small prison cell complete with bars, it was the kind of place you know you shouldn't look at , because it was so horrible, but you still did because you felt so sorry for the animals that were confined in there.
Whats worse is these cells used to contain leopards (if my memory serves me right), these used to pace up and down all day, it was a pitiful site.

Thankfully there is a happy ending as the new lynx enclosure is a mini triumph IMO.

Could anybody tell me what the old Lynx enclosure looked like? Only iv seen a few negative comments about it and wondered what it was like?

Thanks

Thanks for the reply

Im glad i never saw them in that environment!

 

[chizlit]

Thanks for the reply

Im glad i never saw them in that environment!

It upset me everytime I saw them, in the end I spoke to keepers and wrote to the zoo with my thoughts, thankfully it had a happy ending, I'm not saying I made a difference, but if the zoo did listen, then I'll say thanks on here.