European (Tea)Cup - League A - Vienna vs Basel

[Philipine eagle]

This is one of those "toss a coin" matches and there appears to be plenty of great exhibits at both zoos in this category. Although it seems to be dead even between the two establishments, I had a couple of questions about the Wustenhaus (Desert House) in Vienna as it appears that this 1904 structure could potentially be the difference maker for some readers. Does anyone have a species list? Is there a separate admission fee for it? Is it as fantastic as it looks or is a tour of the Desert House a rather speedy affair for most zoo nerds due to it mainly being a botanical garden?

It is included in the zoo entrance fee, but is located just outside the zoo grounds.

I will add a species list asap.

And it is fantastic :

 

[lintworm]

It is included in the zoo entrance fee, but is located just outside the zoo grounds.

It isn't (unless you are an annual passholder).

The species list was this back in September:

- European souslik
- Round eared sengi
- Naked mole rat

- White-fronted bee-eater
- Amethyst glossy starling
- Namaqua dove
- Oriental white-eye

- Gila monster
- Aldabra giant tortoise
- Armadillo lizard
- Baja California rock lizard
- Carter's rock gecko
- Northern black-tailed rattlesnake
- South African bowsprit tortoise

- Colorado river toad
- Kaiser's spotted newt

- Blind cavefish & it's aboveground counterpart
- Garra rufa
- Some sort of pupfish

This building always leaves me somewhat disappointed. But I think part of that is because it is a separate attraction with an additional fee. It just doesn't have enough body to it for that. I really enjoy the historical greenhouse and the plants and the sengi enclosure is just fantastic. But apart from that it has little to make you linger.

 

[Philipine eagle]

species list 9/9/2023:

Entrance hall:
Amethyst starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster)
Indian white-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)
Azraq Toothcarp (Aphaniops sirhani)

Nocturnal section:
Armadillo lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus)
Whip Scorpion (Phrynichus ssp.)
Blind Cave Tetra (Astyanax faciatus
Egyptian Beetle (Blaps polychresta)
Zagros or Iranian Newt (Neurergus kaiseri)
Naked Mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus)

Succulent greenhall
Radiated Tortoise (Asrochelys radiata)

Garden:
European Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) (signed but not seen)

Main hall:
Short-eared Elephant Shrew (Macrpscelides proboscideus) + South African bowsprit Tortoise (Chersina angulata), in what easily could be the world's largest enclosure for short-eared elephant shrews:



There was a feeding point but I could not detect any birds, nor were they marked anywhere.

 

[remar]

Within the sengi exhibit, there are also unsigned ocellated skinks. Regarding the extra entrance fee. The extra fee is because of the rather complicated ownership, as the zoo owns only 50% of the house, with the other 50% belonging to the Austrian national gardens, which are also the owner of the whole castle ground. This also explains the many plants within the desert house. I think, that the 6,00 € extra within a combined ticket is quite expensive. But i still like it, 'cause it is often a place, not that crowded as the zoo itself.

@Kalaw the freshwater fish within the fountains and ponds are barely communicated by the zoo. They house additional groups of species, that are kept and breed backstage at the aquarium building. As far as i know, they do this already for many years. And even if the worst case scenario is happening, there are still the individuals left at the aquarium house.

 

[twilighter]

I really love both zoos offerings in this category! Basel definitely shows off Swiss quality, but I still feel that Vienna has minor edge with Imperial quantity ( 7 vs 2 species of Antelopes for example) and will try to add few addition assets for Vienna:

The new Giraffe house open 2017 is a great engineer achievement and winner of City's environmental award.




Few beautiful pavilions scattered around the Zoo:

European Harvest Mouse. Next to the Aquarium are few similar terrariums for endangered reptiles, like Meadow vipers




Sub-Saharan pygmy mouse



Naked Mole Rate Installation at the Desert House


Part of the Collared Peccary exhibit


Meerkat/ King Colobus (not part of the game) indoor exhibit is also memorable part of the Monkey house


In addition the genuine Savanna hall at the Bird house, Vienna has to offer and Australian Bird Aviary and Burrowing Parrot Aviary



Prairie dog exhibit


@chapman's zebra

The Aquarium - terrarium building also has its strenghts in this category. Besides the mentioned dessert fishes they have various mixed desert terrariums for example for Australian species

Rhinoceros iguana/Haitian ameiva/Cuban grass quit mixed exhibit


Basel Lion exhibit is probably more spacious, but Vienna's design and functionality is also not to be underestimated

 

[twilighter]

I feel that Rhino Park deserves to be mentioned again, because the Rhino house offers water pool and the outdoor area is more various in terrain and generous in space:








The new CR Swift Parrot / Maned Duck Australian Aviary (there is another Walkthrough Australian Aviary) is also nice touch.



Another recent addition - The Insectarium building has a diverse collection of praying mantises, stick insects, beetles, and butterflies and maintains several microhabitats, from tropical rainforests to deserts. The zoo regulates the temperature, humidity, and light levels in all these sub-zones to meet the needs of various insects.

 

[lintworm]

I feel that Rhino Park deserves to be mentioned again, because the Rhino house offers water pool and the outdoor area is more various in terrain and generous in space:

View attachment 772343


View attachment 772344

View attachment 772345

The new CR Swift Parrot / Maned Duck Australian Aviary (there is another Walkthrough Australian Aviary) is also nice touch.

View attachment 772346

Another recent addition - The Insectarium building has a diverse collection of praying mantises, stick insects, beetles, and butterflies and maintains several microhabitats, from tropical rainforests to deserts. The zoo regulates the temperature, humidity, and light levels in all these sub-zones to meet the needs of various insects.
View attachment 772348

View attachment 772347

The insectarium is no more and was already there in 2008 . It is currently under reconstruction as a confiscated ectotherm house.

I am glad you bring up the peccary exhibit, it is a really nice one.

 

[twilighter]

The insectarium is no more and was already there in 2008 . It is currently under reconstruction as a confiscated ectotherm house.

I am glad you bring up the peccary exhibit, it is a really nice one.

Didn't know that it is closed, apologise. Wasn't it renovated and re-opened around 2022?

 

[TeaLovingDave]

A suitably close result, in a match which remained too close to call right until the very end - at various points today both collections had the lead, with a draw being on the cards at other points in the last 24 hours!

Vienna - 63/125 points - 50.400%
Basel - 62/125 points - 49.600%
.