Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoo

adrian1963

Well-Known Member
This is the thread I want to start for 2011 with some great news

Lars Gibbons have a new born the baby was born on the 5th December 2010 lets all hope this turns out better then the last young one Lily

Also there are to be some big arrivals in the form of camels at the zoo early 2011
They will be housed in the area by the Farmyard with the old Toilet Block and half the Adventure Playground as there outdoor enclosure

It also appears that the Kockabura and the sacred Ibis have left the collection as both were missing again from there avaries.

Benji is under going veternary treetment at the moment for a chest infection and this is holding up the refurbishment of the outdoor enclosure as he has been cofined to his own area as he won't taje the vets pills so they have to allow him to breathe in the medication people tell me he is 40+ in years how true is this.

The Reptile House is to under go some refurbishment but don't get carried away as it is only going to be cosmetic.

I have put some photographs in the gallery for all of the above.

Ir was also said that the zoo have put in plans for a new reptile house and a new Cat Enclosure.

The Bear Ravine is now the main area for concern as the Tecton building is collapsing there are plans in place for this area but they all include using the Tecton Building as in the Lion Enclosure the animals that have been ear marked for this area were Bears, Tigers or Gorillas
 
Thanks for the update Adrian:) What Species is the new Cat Enclosure?
How many Bornean Orangutan's are at Dudley and there names?
Regards Jordan.
 
There are four Orangs at present and I'm not one for names as I to be honest have forgotten them
The cat species I hope would be puma but I have a feeling it will be jaguar with the way they were talking
 
What in your opinion would be most beneficial/likeley an option for Dudley Zoo for the Bear Ravine (tiger, bear or gorilla).

Given the collection would a sun bear exhibit be a possibility?
 
I would not think a Sun Bear Exhibit would be possible it looks abit to small:( but i have never visited so...
Regards Jordan.
 
Well we all have different opinions and i forgot to add that i was talking about the Bear enclosure my apologises:)
Regards Jordan.
 
Great news about the Lar gibbons.
Jordan, there are 4 orangutans at Dudley. Two males called Benji and Jurong. Two females called Azimat and Jazz.
 
What in your opinion would be most beneficial/likeley an option for Dudley Zoo for the Bear Ravine (tiger, bear or gorilla).

The Bear Ravine at Dudley is (or used to be) an enormous area, a long shallow valley with a hillside behind and visitor path running alongside. It used to contain Brown Bears. At one end is the Tecton building which houses dens underneath and a public viewing balcony above but all this is currently closed off, unsafe and decaying.

IMO this area would suit more Bears- particularly any of the 'black' species, or Tigers* very well but would need landscaping and probably new fencing and a completely new indoor house as well. It doesn't lend itself particularly for Gorillas-a very large open area they would probably avoid using. *Tigers would probably show best in here.

I hope Dudley do not get Gorillas again in the future as they still appear to have problems keeping their existing Great Apes in first class surroundings..
 
So Adrian the new camels are going back where the old ones used to be housed then.
 
Chizlit I thought this when I first heard but they are going where the old avairies used to be and the old camel house used to be where the farmyard now resides untill recently they kept 2 camels in a small enclosure up by the funfair this is now used as a by the maintance team and the area were the landtrain is kept over night
I personally would love to see Tigers in the Old Bear Ravine as the size of it lends itself to a Big Cat enclosure it would need new indoor enclosures and a new fence but all new enclosures require some work and mostly expensive work we can only hope that things go alright with the Orangutans but the conidtion of Benji as nothing to do with the way Dudley looks after the animals it's just a cold as I can make out the way they were talking it's just Benji being Benji that makes things harder.
Does anyone know how old Benji really is as when he arrived from Dublin Zoo there was alot of debate about his age me thinks it was the same with Ince (black bear)
 
Benji: born Duisburg 6 November 1977. Transferred to Wuppertal 7 November 1977, to Dublin 18 May 1994, and to Dudley 2 February 1996.
 
Well we all have different opinions and i forgot to add that i was talking about the Bear enclosure my apologises:)
Regards Jordan.
If you think its a bit small for Sun Bears I really suggest you visit before making comments based on photos you have seen on here,as it is alot bigger than many other enclosures in Europe that currently House Sun Bears now!!!
 
Have they started or planning to start on phase 2 of the orang utan enclosure revamp? Last winter was phase 1, I assumed it would be phase 2 this winter?
 
They are holding back at present because of the cold Benji as and is in a solitary confided area at present under going vets theropy
Strainght after he is better then they should start phase 2 they did want to start at the beginning of December but with Dudley nothing goes straight

This will be my final day on this site as moving on tomorrow 12 / 12 / 2010
 
I know Adrian holds this place very close to his heart and fears that due to the stupidity of certain groups this could soon become a zoo of the past.
He also fears for the collection as they have had a bad year this year on deaths non due to the way the animals are being looked after I must say.
I personnelly would love to see the old buildings around the zoo back to thier best but with English Heritage in charge of them this will NEVER!!!!! happen.
The zoo itself holds it's self well to the collection it currently as but I think it could do with bringing in some new species and I don't really mean they have to be the big type of mammal, there is quite a lot of ground around the zoo that could lend itself to small enclosures and have small species within them also there are quite a few areas were new avairies could be constructes and have again new species of birds within them anyone else think the zoo could do with bringing in some small species
 
Notrik, I would love Dudley to have small species. Have you seen Birmingham Nature Centres small mammal house? It's so amazing, tenrecs, lemmings, all sorts. I feel these species are so ignored and really need more attention.
 
I know Adrian holds this place very close to his heart and fears that due to the stupidity of certain groups this could soon become a zoo of the past.
He also fears for the collection as they have had a bad year this year on deaths non due to the way the animals are being looked after I must say.
I personnelly would love to see the old buildings around the zoo back to thier best but with English Heritage in charge of them this will NEVER!!!!! happen.

Would you care to expand on this ie who you mean ( EH, Dudley Council?), and what problems stand in the way apart from the obvious lack of money and not being able to touch half of the zoo because of Heritage regs.
 
All I need to say is the following

Can not repaint the outside of the listed buildings because English Heritage want to keep them as they are

All local council funding being wasted on that great unwanted MOSQUE this money could have gone to help the zoo and other WANTED attractions

£5million promised funding stopped this year because of goverments cuts

Lack of investment in the whole area itself (Castle Hill developement)

Need I go on
 
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