Martii
Well-Known Member
Oh great another bachelor group within the zoo
Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo news 2024
- Thread starter ZooNut23
- Start date
Atleast it’s a new species.Oh great another bachelor group within the zoo
Why is that an issue? Bachelor groups are often very important for captive population management.Oh great another bachelor group within the zoo
Excuse my ignorance (I don't know the situation at Edinburgh well enough) but how is a bachelor group a bad thing exactly?Oh great another bachelor group within the zoo
felis silvestris
Well-Known Member
Good thing they’ve got a new species. I believe the barbary macaques were in the same enclosure about 10 years ago.
Martii
Well-Known Member
Apologies folks for my outburst yesterday
Saw this on the zoos website
There are five Turkmenian markhor here at Edinburgh Zoo - Bud, Basil, Bramble, Heather and Daisy.
Our small herd arrived from Highland Wildlife Park in February 2024 and can be spotted exploring their temporary enclosure in our old giant panda enclosure.
Saw this on the zoos website
There are five Turkmenian markhor here at Edinburgh Zoo - Bud, Basil, Bramble, Heather and Daisy.
Our small herd arrived from Highland Wildlife Park in February 2024 and can be spotted exploring their temporary enclosure in our old giant panda enclosure.
ArmadilloArms
Member
As much as everyone was worried about not having an A list animal at the zoo post-pandas, we do now have the most famous monkey in the country at Edinburgh. Honshu is a viral star! I'm quite exited to have him and his pals.
The diversification of primates such as the drills and snow monkeys and the addition of the Markhors does seem like a bit of a spring awakening for the zoo. As well as a larger herd of Banteng coming and the refurb of the old binturong area (which was being fully demolished when I was there a week ago)
I know we are a very niche set of zoo goers here and its harder to please those with a special interest in zoo collections, but for the layman enclosures being used feels like there's less of a soapbox to be had by people saying there's nothing to see at Edinburgh. I'm feeling positive for this summer!
The diversification of primates such as the drills and snow monkeys and the addition of the Markhors does seem like a bit of a spring awakening for the zoo. As well as a larger herd of Banteng coming and the refurb of the old binturong area (which was being fully demolished when I was there a week ago)
I know we are a very niche set of zoo goers here and its harder to please those with a special interest in zoo collections, but for the layman enclosures being used feels like there's less of a soapbox to be had by people saying there's nothing to see at Edinburgh. I'm feeling positive for this summer!
Obviously us enthusiasts love having niche species at our zoos but fundamentally we want the same thing as the average punter. Diversity in the collection, well stocked enclosures and that feeling that every time you visit you’ll see something different!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
That's a nice addition, wish we had them in some zoos further South so they were easier to see, bit of a treat to have them in two Scottish collections. Lovely.
Jambi
Well-Known Member
After hearing about these recent additions, I'm tempted to arrange a visit to Edinburgh later this year. I've never seen Japanese macaques or markhor before, and it's been many years since I've seen Edinburgh's drills. I have a week off work near the end of October that I haven't arranged anything for yet, right now it's a toss-up between Edinburgh and Chester.
Where are the binturongs currently?
ArmadilloArms
Member
This is exactly what I meant! For some reason I can't register anything else living there. It will always be the Binturongs & Beauty Snake there in my head, perhaps cos of the breeding success there!
Poppy and Ali the Binturong are still in by the entrance to The Magic Forest.
I think the Edinburgh Zoo needs to seriously review its collection plan and not species management by just walking along. It needs a long term vision plan and I seriously do not know what that is in the case of EZ?!!!
I could see a transformation to a focal zoo more temperate / colder climate species (Snow monkey, Snow leopard) and a focus on tropical Africa and Asia. Maybe a smaller Andean/Patagonian South America focus. Also, the specialisation on primates (African colobines, mangabey, L'hoest or owl-faced and Diana or DeBrazza monkeys...!!!
ArmadilloArms
Member
This does make excellent sense. I was recently in Berlin and between Berlin Zoo and Tierpark they manage to define each location with purpose (I know they are only very recently a partnership so did already have strong identities) I could see a lot of potential for RZSS follow a similar pattern with Edinburgh being "the city zoo" taking you around the world in a quick manner with some of the more "classic" zoo animals and HWP being the more temperate safari/range, bug sprawling areas where you feel like you are observing naturally and a lot of hoofstock and paddock animals. You can sense this was always RZSS's plan, but it always seems like they never really follow through with an idea.
I vaguely remember the big 5/5 year plan they begun pre-corona, I didn't expect it to be completed (pandemic and all) but I did expect some updates, it seems that instead of transparency and admitting it couldn't be done for completely rational reasons, they seem to pretend they never tried?
When you consider the giraffes, Tiger Tracks and Wee Beasties are relatively new exhibits it's shocking the state they are in, even The Gannet restaurant is looking shabby already. The maintenance and upkeep of the zoo does really lack. As great as it would be for a huge upheaval I do feel that they need to start getting the basics right before big changes. For me filling some empty enclosures and the enclosure refurbs they are doing at the moment are a step in the right direction, the location will look far more positive this summer than it did last and we can only hope they grow on that and perhaps work on their communication skills in the meantime to add some hope and excitement.
Martii
Well-Known Member
That would be perfect
All well and good. EZ management need to effectively communicate to the wider general public what its future vision for the zoo is. Currently, it is all haphazard hop-scotch make believe and play as wee go along to the netherworlds. The secret words are long term - vision - future - outlook // Communicate - Transparency - Public Engagement.
Cobi
Well-Known Member
Unless there is something concrete and exciting coming up in the immediate future I’m not convinced the wider general public are especially interested in the future vision of zoos.
To the vast majority of casual visitors a zoo is just somewhere to visit and spend a pleasant few hours. I don’t think vision has much impact on that at all.
GeeZee
Well-Known Member
I agree I’m really glad to hear the snow monkeys are now at EZ too, especially Honshu.
So to confirm the Turkmenian markhor are now in the old panda enclosure for the time being? I thought the koalas were going to be moved there?