Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoological Gardens in 2014

I'd certainly like this to happen; not sure how easily sourced the species is, however.

Failing that, another collection holding American Black would be nice.
 
I'd certainly like this to happen; not sure how easily sourced the species is, however.

Failing that, another collection holding American Black would be nice.

I get mailings from animals asia and they seem to get a load of them from the bear bile trade, maybe that's a source? Rescue ones? I'd assume they're pure genetically.
 
Sun bears would be fantastic, but only if they had the middle tecton AND the right-hand tecton (which ideally would be extended as Communityzoo says above).

I have just uploaded some images of the middle (ex-polar bear) tecton, from my visit in April, to the gallery.
 
Monday's visit

A quick update from Monday's visit to DZG. The highlight was definitely seeing Makalu the snow leopard cub - he was clearly visible at the entrance to the internal den. Apparently, later on, he came out and explored the area around the viewing window between the internal dens and the external enclosure. The male was confined to the external enclosure but very relaxed - lying on his back on one of the platforms with all four paws in the air:)

Another big plus for me was seeing the African hunting dogs awake and moving round their enclosure (they always seem to be fast asleep). However, there only appeared to be 2 of them.

Several no shows - Inca the Asiatic bear, the red pandas (although the foliage in their pen is so thick you could have had giant pandas in their and not seen them :D), Carpathian lynx, and red squirrels. The window into the Carpathian lynx indoor dens has been boarded over - purely speculation on my part but I wondered whether this has been done with future cubs in mind???

Nick (babairusa) and Bart (Geoffroy's cat) were both out, but both showing signs of age - Nick moves quite slowly and stiffly whilst Bart, though still very agile, is starting to look quite thin.
 
Jamaican boa

A new male Jamaican Boa has arrived; it's currently undergoing a 30-day quarantine period.
 
Is there any trick to seeing the Red Squirrels? I haven't seen them for years. I normally go round the zoo anti-clockwise so I get to them pretty soon after opening time. Are they normally asleep then?
 
Is there any trick to seeing the Red Squirrels? I haven't seen them for years. I normally go round the zoo anti-clockwise so I get to them pretty soon after opening time. Are they normally asleep then?

I always do it clockwise, no idea how you can walk up the snail trail without climbing equipment! But I rarely saw them until recently and they've been out my last two visits so maybe worth an opposite route or a second visit before you leave.
 
Is there any trick to seeing the Red Squirrels? I haven't seen them for years. I normally go round the zoo anti-clockwise so I get to them pretty soon after opening time. Are they normally asleep then?

I usually get to the red squirrels sometime between 11 and 12:30 and I've been lucky enough to see them on most of my visits.
 
Popped in for a hour today, little Makalu looks well, apparently off-show means that he's not allowed out into the main exhibit, you can see him fine inside with mum.

The Camaroon sheep had been moved to the enclosure behind the restaurant, next to the otters. The lions looked pretty interested in their bizarre bleating.

Also work is being done on the Bear Ravine, the whole structure is covered in scaffolding. I'm not sure exactly what they were doing though. Could be just making it safe, could be full restoration. I hope they've got the money to get it up and running again.

Finally, I overheard that the Red-crested turaco's are on eggs, but they don't know if they are fertile yet.
 
Visit 28/06/2014

Possibly one of the best visits I've had.

The new car park and access road are pretty much completed and look much smarter/friendlier from before and gives a better first impression of the zoo. It's also much nicer now to be able to walk straight from the car park and into the new entrance instead walking along the main road.

I would say the newly renovated shop/entrance is now completely finished and looks very nice.

At the far end of the shop there is a sort of mini Tecton museum, explaining their history/ architectural importance. There's also some weird glasses you can look through; "looking into the past", to view some old pictures.

The chairlift was in operation and very popular.

The new Gelada Baboon enclosure used to be fairly difficult to view, not any more though; all of the large conifer trees at the base have been cut down and the whole area has been opened up (work was still on-going for some sort of proper wooden viewing area). This makes the enclosure all the more impressive and it was great to sit on the picnic benches and be able to look up and watch the baboons shuffling along.

Managed to see all 4 spider monkeys.

Not sure what's going on with the 5 other Gelada baboons in the separate exhibit.

Inca (Asiatic Black Bear) was asleep in usual spot.

New snow leopard cub was very active with mum in indoor section, and a huge crowd puller. Male was shut outside in main exhibit.

The tiger exhibit was looking the best it has ever done. The female, Daseep, was very active stalking and chasing pigeons, while the huge male, Joao, was sleeping in usual spot.

Old bush dog enclosure now contains Parma wallaby.

Carpathian lynx cage was so lush at the back that you could hardly see them (a good thing).

No sign of Geoffroy's cat, Bart.

Barbary sheep enclosure was looking slightly overcrowded.

No change to ex-cassowary enclosure. I think they've put that one on hold.

Orangs were extremely active. Young Sprout was having great fun terrorising and running away from mum and definitely more independent.

Floor of gibbon house was covered in a very thick layer of straw.

Only saw three white-lipped peccary.

Expecting to see Madagascan tenrecs in discovery centre but apparently they are only on show for education workshops.

Reptile house looked a lot better, but some of the exhibits are still undergoing restoration or waiting for new arrivals.

The two female Asiatic lions are still awaiting a male. (From where though?)

Lemur walkthrough looked very lush. However, I didn't see the Black or the Collard lemur.

Some major work is happening on the bear ravine tecton and nearby kiosk - about bloody time!

Chimp outdoor was looking very nice now they've started to lets some of the grass grow long, but of course the chimps themselves were all inside having a nap!

I'm not a fan of the farmyard area, but the barn was good and the 'micro' pig enclosure has been enlarged for a second time (Although I wish they would get rid of them).

Pleased to see that the fairground attraction that was directly in front of the wild bat cavern has been moved elsewhere.

The otters in the Monkey Tails building that were rejected by the main group are still there, but are soon to be leaving (possibly for the Lake District).

That's all I can remember.
Will upload some pics to gallery later on.
 
Great news for both Carpathian lynx and Dudley Zoo.

It would be nice at some point down the line that the zoo may become an active member in the re-introduction (there is an extensive programme for these in Germany and Czech Republic.
 
Excellent news.:D Probably explains why there were no Carpathian lynx visible and the window to the indoor den boarded over when I visited at the beginning of June.

Strange that there has been no official announcement on the Zoo's website but perhaps, after their experience with Nidara last year, they are keeping things a little more low key. It would be fantastic if Daseep and Joao could provide a hat-trick of cat births this year......
 
Excellent news.:D Probably explains why there were no Carpathian lynx visible and the window to the indoor den boarded over when I visited at the beginning of June.

Strange that there has been no official announcement on the Zoo's website but perhaps, after their experience with Nidara last year, they are keeping things a little more low key. It would be fantastic if Daseep and Joao could provide a hat-trick of cat births this year......

I think it is a sensible policy for zoos to be conservative on making any communications on primiparous females giving birth. Certainly so, when it is a species they have just added to the collection and not previously held. I would expect / hope for no annoucement will be forthcoming at least till the end of next month.
 
I think it is a sensible policy for zoos to be conservative on making any communications on primiparous females giving birth. Certainly so, when it is a species they have just added to the collection and not previously held. I would expect / hope for no annoucement will be forthcoming at least till the end of next month.

Bit late for that now.....
 
News round up

One or two recent snippets from the Zoo's website.

An eight-year-old black-and-white-ruffed lemur, named Ely, has moved into lemur wood after relocating from Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park. Ely joins the gang! | Dudley Zoological Gardens

Six year old male Colombian spider monkey, Chester, had a health MOT recently during a routine implant check. Chester is to become DZG’s breeding male. Chester's health MOT | Dudley Zoological Gardens

The male roul roul partridge is producing intricate, weaved enclosed nests for the female to lay in. Unfortunately his efforts are currently all in vain as the female bird is failing to sit on any eggs she lays in the nest, so keepers have stepped in to remove and incubate the eggs themselves. Bird's a busy builder | Dudley Zoological Gardens

From the Zoo's Facebook page - three-year-old red-necked male wallaby, Napooh, has left DZG to join a breeding 'mob' at Flamingo Land, in Yorkshire; and four-year-old Asiatic short-clawed otter, Noodles, is also heading to Flamingo Land to help establish a new group.

The arrival of the Carpathian lynx cubs has also been announced on both the website and Facebook page.
 
Recent news

Latest snippets from the Zoo's website.

A male Jamaican boa has moved into one of the newly refurbished enclosures in the Reptile House. The 17-year-old snake, named Bob, translocated to DZG from West Midlands Safari Park. DZG is hoping to move in a female quite soon. Bob the boa | Dudley Zoological Gardens

Staying in the Reptile House, keepers have been placing tapir poo mixed with crushed leaves to the sides of the West African Dwarf crocodile enclosure. The crocodiles, 15-year-old Danzo and 12-year-old Janet, have been getting on really well since they were introduced a few months ago, hence the provision of nesting material. Cosy croc nest | Dudley Zoological Gardens

The yellow-breasted capuchin, who was born on April 7 to ten-year-old mum, Dinya and six-year-old dad, Willow is a boy and has been named Ted. Ted's a boy! | Dudley Zoological Gardens

The four Saki monkeys, Dakota and Dej, Rio and Splodge have swopped homes. Dakota and Dej have relocated from Monkey Tails to the Small Primate House, while Dej’s brother, Rio has returned to Monkey Tails with his new buddy, Splodge. Saki home swop! | Dudley Zoological Gardens

Trilobite, DZG's exciting new education and conference centre, will now be built on the site of an existing maintenance block which offers direct access for school and coach parties to the zoo from the newly-opened car park and entrance. The state-of-the art building, will incorporate a centre for zoology, geology and cross-age education with a link to limestone caverns beneath the zoo. The decision to relocate the centre, originally planned for the Hippodrome / Gala Bingo Castle Hill site, is reinforced by staff and customer feedback and visitor surveys since the new entrance opened in Easter. Trilobite on the move! | Dudley Zoological Gardens

The Zoo's facebook page also mentions that Gelada baboon, Ebano, has just become a dad but no details have appeared on the main website.
 
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