Piece about YWP getting EAZA Membership - really great achievement!
wc_Yorkshire Wildlife Park Passes the Test
wc_Yorkshire Wildlife Park Passes the Test
Yorkshire Wildlife Park EAZA Membership
- Thread starter OrangePerson
- Start date
karoocheetah
Well-Known Member
Fantastic stuff - I was very impressed with my first visit and it's a real reward for the hard work of the staff there. Great News!
Didn't want to start a new thread for this - YWP wins another award
Yorkshire Wildlife Park Scoops Business of the Year Award
Yorkshire Wildlife Park Scoops Business of the Year Award
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what might these unusual species include?
I have no idea- just saying the range of less common species they might potentially be able to get automatically becomes wider. But there are plans showing shorter-term intended species already on the Forum.
I can't rember all the species in the plans that are on here, but I would think that the black rhinos and the okapi are two species that would be very difficult to get hold of (if not impossible) without EAZA membership?
Absolutely. Also Great Apes(apart from Chimps possibly) if they are being considered. Just generally it widens the numbers of places that they could obtain surplus stock from also.
Yep, now you mention it gorillas were on the plans, chimps weren't. I remember looking if they were going to become a new holder for chimps during the Twycross discussion
Yep, now you mention it gorillas were on the plans, chimps weren't. I remember looking if they were going to become a new holder for chimps during the Twycross discussion
Gorillas are IMO, really easier to keep, less dangerous, more placid, easier to house and manage, more attractive, more of a crowd puller than Chimps. On the downside they are generally less active, less available and so less easy to acquire.
That's what I always thought until I saw bonobos for the first time. They instantly became my favourite great ape.
The recent collection plan had Bornean orangutans not gorillas I think.
I've been meaning to mention this as a topic. I get the impression gorillas are quite emotionally sensitive and difficult animals - is that only for mixed groups and breeding?
Chimps are rowdy and do have some problems but on the whole seem more tolerant - look at how Monkey World have managed to put unrelated, neglected, abused chimps together into large groups.
I would say Gorillas are quieter, more introverted and emotionally sensitive(a good description) in whatever groupings they are kept. Chimps are noisier, more outgoing and extroverted, less prone to stress or illness and generally more active.
I think getting the large number of poorly socialised Chimps at Monkeyworld
into workable groups was probably very complicated and no mean feat, but I think its Monkeyworld's biggest single achievement. They proved it can be done and I hope Twycross will follow suit with theirs(not so many problem animals either) when the time comes.
Don't forget that Edinburgh integrated 2 different groups of adult chimps - apparently quite smoothly.
I think that having keepers with plenty of experience of the apes in question may be one of the main factors required for success.
Alan
I think that having keepers with plenty of experience of the apes in question may be one of the main factors required for success.
Alan
Have you read 'Chimpanzee Politics' by Frans de Waal? There is a fascinating account of how they got the original colony of Chimps at Arnhem Zoo together in the 1970's, using several smaller groups of adults from different zoos. They had to juggle them about, chiefly by removing the tyranical dominant female 'Mama' and her best friend (called 'Gorilla' because she looked like one) temporarily from the main group, to allow the newly aquired males to establish themselves, and then reintroducing the two females again after an interval of some months, during which time they had lost their power in the group.
I was surprised how quickly Edinburgh achieved success, though I realise there would have been a lot of management skills involved to achieve such a smooth transition. I salute Monkeyworld for what they did chiefly because most of their chimps are/were desocialised.
I'm hoping that if Twycross really build their new Chimpanzee complex, then we will see all their chimps- which may soon be three(?) main groups, all consolidated into one large single one.
I did get the impression that they are going to get some more squirrel monkeys on the basis of the EAZA membership.