adrian1963
Well-Known Member
Visited the zoo 05 / 03 / 2012 there were quite a few visitor and a lot of children on school visits around the place.
Flamingos are still 2x Caribbean and 6 x Chilean.
Saw the baby Black Crested Macaques they look healthy and seem to be quite lively.
Baby sprout was really going for it on the straps and floor poor old mother was sat up the corner just watching little Sprout.
Saw the Black Cheeked Lovebirds for the first time was quite surprised with how many they have in the aviary about 10 I could count.
White Lipped Peccary were a no show this was the first time I had been to the zoo and they were not out on show.
The Bush Dogs were also a no show but did ask a keeper about their health and both are doing fine and were out and about on Saturday in the sun.
Next was the Reptile House and must admit I do agree with Johnny Morris but this is again down to funding as I was told a couple of years ago it was supposed to have been rebuilt in another location in the zoo as part of the deal that saw the old Aquarium removed from the castle grounds but the funding never came from the organisation responsible (what a surprise that was will not name the organisation but Tecton Buildings will give a clue to those who want to know).
The building is currently being refurbished with new reptiles as a few of the enclosures were empty when I visited.
The Snow Leopards are now virtually inseparable both stuck on the top platform at the front on the left as you look at the enclosure, so here’s hoping for the future.
Now for my highlight of the visit the 2 new Tigers what beautiful animals these are I was surprised with the way the two interacted chasing and jumping on each other and no aggression from either to the other, it’s a pity there are not many more exhibits with 2 species of tiger in as it gives you the chance to see the difference between the species.
It’s great seeing single species of tiger in collections but having a Sumatran (one of the smallest tigers) and a Siberian (one of the largest) in the same enclosure really does make you appreciate the differences.
I was lucky enough to be able to stand and have 10 mins by myself at the viewing window and Daseep (Sumatran) and Tschuna (Siberian) both came right up to the window and how beautiful they look close up.
It’s a shame that Tschuna will have to leave the collection when a mate is found for Daseep I wonder if there could be a way of keeping both (maybe the zoo could find a mate for Tschuna and then use the Bear Ravine for the enclosure wishful thinking).
The New Penguin walk in as been started they have blocked off the path from the back of the Reptile House to the Penguin enclosure, also the path from the Primate House to the Penguin enclosure as been closed off and new fencing is being erected and by the looks of it the path to the rear of the discovery centre may stay closed permantly.
Will be putting photographs of the tigers in the gallery shortly.
Flamingos are still 2x Caribbean and 6 x Chilean.
Saw the baby Black Crested Macaques they look healthy and seem to be quite lively.
Baby sprout was really going for it on the straps and floor poor old mother was sat up the corner just watching little Sprout.
Saw the Black Cheeked Lovebirds for the first time was quite surprised with how many they have in the aviary about 10 I could count.
White Lipped Peccary were a no show this was the first time I had been to the zoo and they were not out on show.
The Bush Dogs were also a no show but did ask a keeper about their health and both are doing fine and were out and about on Saturday in the sun.
Next was the Reptile House and must admit I do agree with Johnny Morris but this is again down to funding as I was told a couple of years ago it was supposed to have been rebuilt in another location in the zoo as part of the deal that saw the old Aquarium removed from the castle grounds but the funding never came from the organisation responsible (what a surprise that was will not name the organisation but Tecton Buildings will give a clue to those who want to know).
The building is currently being refurbished with new reptiles as a few of the enclosures were empty when I visited.
The Snow Leopards are now virtually inseparable both stuck on the top platform at the front on the left as you look at the enclosure, so here’s hoping for the future.
Now for my highlight of the visit the 2 new Tigers what beautiful animals these are I was surprised with the way the two interacted chasing and jumping on each other and no aggression from either to the other, it’s a pity there are not many more exhibits with 2 species of tiger in as it gives you the chance to see the difference between the species.
It’s great seeing single species of tiger in collections but having a Sumatran (one of the smallest tigers) and a Siberian (one of the largest) in the same enclosure really does make you appreciate the differences.
I was lucky enough to be able to stand and have 10 mins by myself at the viewing window and Daseep (Sumatran) and Tschuna (Siberian) both came right up to the window and how beautiful they look close up.
It’s a shame that Tschuna will have to leave the collection when a mate is found for Daseep I wonder if there could be a way of keeping both (maybe the zoo could find a mate for Tschuna and then use the Bear Ravine for the enclosure wishful thinking).
The New Penguin walk in as been started they have blocked off the path from the back of the Reptile House to the Penguin enclosure, also the path from the Primate House to the Penguin enclosure as been closed off and new fencing is being erected and by the looks of it the path to the rear of the discovery centre may stay closed permantly.
Will be putting photographs of the tigers in the gallery shortly.