Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoo News 2023

A couple of photos of the enclosure from the news article...

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Hello Twenké and Dora! - Dudley Zoo and Castle
looks cool...
but a bit bare surely? Marwell's dogs revel in the thick plants, they are hard to see
 
I always thought the Bush dog (former Hyena) enclosure looked rather dated compared to the new-and-improved exhibits around the zoo, I can't wait to see how this enclosure looks when the new pack arrives. :D

When I went back in summer 1999 I was sure I saw a Hyena! But the signage for the enclosure was for Maned Wolf and I think I saw a Maned Wolf later on. But I recall that year there was a picture of a Hyena in the guide book with no caption or context.

One of those phantom animal sightings that for years I've thought did I or didn't I see that..
 
When I went back in summer 1999 I was sure I saw a Hyena! But the signage for the enclosure was for Maned Wolf and I think I saw a Maned Wolf later on. But I recall that year there was a picture of a Hyena in the guide book with no caption or context.

One of those phantom animal sightings that for years I've thought did I or didn't I see that..
Interesting - ZTL says they had them no later than '96...
 
That's two phantom sightings from my childhood (see London Zoo thread).

I wonder if anyone has the guidebook from that year...
I was at Dudley in 1991 ,the hyenas in those days were housed where the Sumatran tigers are currently housed. I'm pretty sure they were brown hyenas and interestingly they were owned by a board member
 
That's two phantom sightings from my childhood (see London Zoo thread).

I wonder if anyone has the guidebook from that year...
I recall a family member I talked to recalled her memories of a hyaena in the Moscow Zoo... which she recalls having no spots, no stripes - but a thick mane - so she believes as I do that it was probably a brown hyaena. Though this was in the 70s or maybe 80s... and ZTL doesn't show Moscow as having them during that time oddly enough.
I recall when me and this family member went to Wildkatzenzentrum Felidae in '22, where we saw the brown hyaenas in front of us; she became skeptical as to whether it was a brown hyaena at all; as she remembers the animals she saw having a thicker mane than what she saw here...
 
21 new Humboldt penguins have arrived at Dudley from South Lakes Safari Zoo. The penguins are a mixture of sexes and ages and bring the total colony to 31.

https://fb.watch/oBy1xONoWb/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Fantastic news :D
I'm taking this to mean South Lakes no longer has any penguins? That would be a shame if so, that's another good species they've lost in the last few years. The penguin enclosure at South Lakes wasn't the biggest or best it could've been though, so it's good they now have more space to swim around. I'll be visiting Dudley Zoo again next Summer, so I'll be sure to see them.
 
I'm taking this to mean South Lakes no longer has any penguins? That would be a shame if so, that's another good species they've lost in the last few years. The penguin enclosure at South Lakes wasn't the biggest or best it could've been though, so it's good they now have more space to swim around. I'll be visiting Dudley Zoo again next Summer, so I'll be sure to see them.

It seems as though a fair few species have left in the last year like the flamingos & wolves and with singletons of nyala & wildebeest it probably won't be long before they are gone as well. I do wonder what the plan with South Lakes is currently due to a recent ish rebrand o_O
 
It seems as though a fair few species have left in the last year like the flamingos & wolves and with singletons of nyala & wildebeest it probably won't be long before they are gone as well. I do wonder what the plan with South Lakes is currently due to a recent ish rebrand o_O
Not to derail the thread, but, they have an elderly pair of lions and bears, non-breeding tigers, jaguars, giraffe. The rhinos seem to be the only major species to be breeding currently, the comment itself isn't a criticism, but, as you say, have to wonder where the collection is going.
 
Good visit to Dudley today, rain and wind but not too cold. Brought a good few animals out. Good sightings of the foxes, tigers, wolverines and snow leopards and first really good look at the new male lion who is impressive. The Pandas were also bombing around which isn’t something I’ve seen much before but the wind was whipping up a storm in their trees and they seemed to be enjoying it.

Fair number of visitors but it looked like most were heading for Santa so generally it was pretty quiet.

The new penguins look very good and it’s great to see an active pool again.

The Saki monkey enclosure was empty and signed vacant and under refurbishment. Couldn’t see them elsewhere so assume they are off show, or something else.

Updated bird signage and a satyr tragopan pair in the aviaries near the cassowary which was nice to see. Hadn’t spotted them before.

The bush dogs were active in their new space. The new viewing platform was blocked off but it looks nice - pic attached. When the rain was coming down in the morning the glass was nearly impossible to see through but by later in the afternoon it had cleared off and got some decent views. Will be good to be able to use the platform as it’s now the only non glass viewing for them. Snapped a picture.

The old building and foundations are all gone from the front of the zoo now leaving a space for the college construction. Makes for a better view of the zoo on the way from the car park and less of an eyesore now it’s gone.
 

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Other Late July/August 2023 News Not Mentioned:

On September 2nd, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.0.1) pygmy goat named Daisy from the Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire which is now on exhibit.

Dudley Zoo - There’s a new kid on the block down on the...

According to the official Isle of Man government website, three male Humboldt penguin chicks have been sent from Curraghs Wildlife Park to Dudley Zoo.

Isle of Man Government - Nine rare Manx penguin chicks move to West Midlands

On July 28th, the zoo announced the penguins' names, Mario, Luigi, and Bowser.

Dudley Zoo - Keepers have named our three new male...

On August 7th, the zoo announced that they acquired (0.0.3) axolotls named Didymus, Hoggle, and Ludo which are on exhibit in the Farm Barn.

Dudley Zoo - Have you spotted our new adorable axolotls in...

On August 24th, the zoo announced that (0.0.2) crested partridges hatched which are on exhibit in Lorikeet Lookout.

Dudley Zoo - Have you spotted our two roul roul partridge...
 
I remember that at about that time 2 hyenas were being housed in the old camel house which is now the chimps outdoor enclosure
I remember Spotted Hyenas in what is now the Bush Dog enclosure, between the "Small Cats" range, Tiger enclosure and the Snow Leopards. I also remember talking to a member of staff who told me that the hyenas, (then quite elderly), had escaped when vandals cut their wire mesh fencing during the night. Keepers/ security staff managed to return one of the pair to the enclosure but the other, heading downhill towards the perimeter fence, had to be shot to prevent it escaping the site into Dudley town centre. I don't remember when this was, but sometime in the nineties.
 
I remember Spotted Hyenas in what is now the Bush Dog enclosure, between the "Small Cats" range, Tiger enclosure and the Snow Leopards. I also remember talking to a member of staff who told me that the hyenas, (then quite elderly), had escaped when vandals cut their wire mesh fencing during the night. Keepers/ security staff managed to return one of the pair to the enclosure but the other, heading downhill towards the perimeter fence, had to be shot to prevent it escaping the site into Dudley town centre. I don't remember when this was, but sometime in the nineties.
Blimey!! That poor animal... :(

It's a shame they don't have the room to keep anymore on site (or at least have them exhibited at West Midland Safari Park). I get that they're dangerous animals but I do feel bad when they have to be killed to prevent it escaping any further. I am glad that they have updated the current Bush dog enclosure since as I always found that mesh fencing to be quite dated.
 
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