European (Tea)Cup - Bonus Match 1 - Zoo Berlin vs Burgers

[TeaLovingDave]

As promised, after a short break I've got a few bonus matches for fun planned before we resume the Cup in earnest on my return from an interrail trip around the continent all revolve around various "what if" scenarios relating to categories, leagues and competitors.

The first two (this match, and the other one I'm launching at the same time) will look at whether the categories in the final two League C matches, had the random selection gone the other way around, would have led to Cologne progressing at the expense of Berlin, both progressing at the expense of Beauval, or the status quo remaining as it ended up in reality.

As such, we now look at a world in which Zoo Berlin and Burgers competed in the category of AFRICA rather than Ectotherms as canonically happened.....

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Anyone fancy actually discussing this one?

 

[Kalaw]

My feeling having visited Burgers' but not Berlin is that this is probably Burgers' weakest geographical category. The African savannah is excellent, as are the lion, cheetah and gorilla enclosures, and of course the ground-breaking chimpanzee island that, unbelievably, exceeds what most European zoos offer the species despite being five decades or so into its lifespan at this stage. But beyond a few free-rangers in the Bush, and not that many, there is nothing non-mammalian that I can recall, whereas Berlin certainly seems to have a lot of excellence for reptiles, birds and fish. It can also certainly compete in terms of mammals, with the wonderful Common Hippo enclosure (so few in Europe offer both grass and underwater viewing), lovely species such as the Gerenuk, and in the Moorish-inspired Antelope House, a gorgeous historic building, themed to the category in question, with a beauty that far exceeds any more modern attempts at cultural architecture.

All in all, I just feel as though the sheer bulk of Berlin's offerings, and it being far better rounded, place it far ahead. I am still rewarding Burgers' two points for the free-fliers in the Bush (which from an animal perspective far exceeds any of the aviaries at Berlin), the excellent chimpanzee enclosure and the role it has played in the research of the species over the years, and the roughly 4 hectare (10 acre) savannah, which is possibly the best at a traditional zoo in Europe.

 

[Philipine eagle]

While I can really appreciate the savanna and geat apes exhibits in Arnhem, I still feel that the imbalance in the collection is so big, to Arnhem's disadvantage, that I voted 4-1.

A few mammals are notable, with the Rodriguez Flying Fox as most prominent, and furtheron Eastern white-bearded wildebeest, Aardvark and Beisa. Golden-bellied mangabeys are a nice extra but these are not yet on show, so they don't count here.

The quality of the enclosures is undoubtedly better in Arnhem than in Berlin, but the excellence of Arnhem's savannah and the beauty of Berlin's historic Antelope House can compete as far as I am concerned.

Arnhem is particularly strong in (rare) bird species, but not as far as Africa is concerned. Although the recent arrival of Kenya variable sunbirds is a very attractive addition, Socorro pigeon, M crested ibis and Red-crested turaco can't save the day for Arnhem.