European (Tea)Cup - League B - Wroclaw vs Zagreb

[TeaLovingDave]

A new challenger appears - Wroclaw has not had a chance to prove itself thus far within the current iteration of the Cup, but this now changes as it faces off against Zagreb (itself coming out from a strong first match) within the category of AFRICA.

I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say in the coming three days!

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I think this one is fairly clear-cut in favour of Wroclaw, but I'm not entirely certain as yet of the margin - going for a 3:2 vote to begin with

 

[twilighter]

For the first time I am considering the 5/0 option. Zagreb has some intresting small animals at the Tropical house, Madagascar house, well done Lion exhibit and few African Ungulates. The Monkey house is quite outdated, but Wrocław's Chimpanzee house is also not in the best shape.

Wrocław's African collection is enormous, presented in grand displays and not one zoo nerd associate the Polish zoo with Africa.

The Africarium doesn't need presentaiton, but there are also Dessert house, Madagascar house, many spacious paddocks wit African hoofstock, Giraffe/Zebra/Ostrich Savanna, Okapi, new Lion exhibit, African wild dogs. Significant Reptile collection with few spieces of African Crocodiles. Uncommon primates, like Putty-nosed Monkey, Lac Aotara Bamboo Lemur, Olive Babbon, L'Hoest Monkey. Very special bats - Hammerhead Bat and the unique for the Zoo World Malgashy Flying Fox. The African fish collection is also miles away of what Zagreb has to offer.

I will start with 4-1, but if I change to 5-0 , I will prepare better justification.

 

[twilighter]

Before make a case for Wroclaw is good to look at what Zagreb has to offer. My pictures are from Winter visit and one can imagine that the outdoor exhibits look more lush during the Summer.

Madagascar House with indoor and outdoor exhibits of Lemurs and indoor exhibits of Birds, like Vasa Parrot







Lemur Island



Pygmy hippo outdoor exhibit


Scimitar-horned Oryx


Grant's Zebra


Common Eland



African Birds Aviary

 

[twilighter]

Zagreb II

Meerkat exhibit


Dwarf Mongoose Huts


Lion exhibit


Lion cave - Rock Hyrax / Meerkat


Serval exhibit


Chimpanzee outdoor


Guereza exhibit


Moholi Bushbaby

 

[twilighter]

Enormous part of Wroclaw's land is dedicated to Africa and, if we put Common Hippo lack of outdoor space and Chimp indoor accommodation aside is mostly presented in a very nice fashion. Thinking twice and going trough the both zoo galleries I start to feel that 4-1 is reasonable score and will stick to that for now.

Half of the African Savanna


Africarium present close to 200 spieces of Fish, more than 10 mammals including Aardvark, Common Hippo, Black and Rufous Sengi and Hammerhead Bats. More than 20 species of free flying birds and Nile Crocodile. Manatees are from South America and not exactly on the right place.


African Penguin


Skeleton cost - South African Fur Seal



Kongo River Jungle




East African Hall - Common Hippo/Free Flying birds



Tanganayka Lake


Secrets of Sahara offers few rarely displayed rodents and insectivores. Dromedary, Fennec Fox and Scimitar-horned Oryx.

Pale Gerbil

 

[twilighter]

Wroclaw II

The Malgasy Pavilion is famous for it's rarities and the Tropical Hall. White-tailed Anstangy, Lake Laotara Bamboo Lemur, Goodman's Mouse Lemur, Malagasy Flying Fox, Madagascar Teal can be closely observed here:









The left corner of the Zoo is dedicated to African Ungulates - Bongo, Defasa Waterbuck, Sitatunga, Libyan Barbary Sheep, Watutsi + Okapi and Red River Hogs down the road

Libyan Barbary Sheep exhibit



Sitatunga exhibit


Okapi / Red Duiker one of two connected exhibits



Hartmann Mountain Zebra exhibit

 

[twilighter]

Wroclaw III

The Terrarium collection is one of the most significant in Europe with impressive collection of Chelonians, Geckos, Slender-snouted Crocodile etc




Olive Baboon refurbished rocks


Eastern Putty-nose Monkey at Monkey House


Newly opened Bird House also future some African species

Second exhibit on the raw is for Ground Hornbill


Upgraded Katanga Lion / Meerkat exhibit

Lion enclosure

• Philipine eagle
• 27 Dec 2024

Lion House - Meerkat enclosure

• Philipine eagle
• 27 Dec 2024

Thanks to @Philipine eagle

 

[lintworm]

I think it is a clear win for Wroclaw, but it is not as if quite a number of their enclosures don't have issues too (apart from chimps & hippos). The monkey house is quite outdated, with smallish cages for most species and the reptile house, while impressive, is also not known for the roomy enclosures of it's inhabitants. I also really dislike the hedgehog enclosure in the desert house... I know little of Zagreb, but it seems to offer enough for at least a single point againt Wroclaw's onslaught.

 

[Philipine eagle]

I'm with @twilighter and his reasoning. But a zoo with a similar collection and better enclosures could certainly beat Wroclaw: as @lintworm writes, there are some things to be said about quality in Wroclaw.

But the Afrykarium is one of Europe's must see exhibits and it is entirely devoted to this category. Bad luck for Zagreb.

Therefore: 4-1 to Wroclaw.

Just one minor correction : the Birdhouse in Wroclaw doesn't have any African species. The Southern ground hornbill are now (or were at least in september) to be found at the hornbill section of the pheasantry right opposite the Wreathed and Wrinkled hornbills.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

A fairly obvious result, but one which was closer than it might have otherwise been had more people voted; a single strong vote in favour of Zagreb from @Hugo28 swung the percentages quite a bit due to the lower number of total votes available to "muffle" its impact.

This provides a good example of why it is very much worth voting, even if the overall result seems both obvious and inevitable!

Wroclaw - 90/120 points - 75.000%
Zagreb - 30/120 points - 25.000%