European (Tea)Cup - League F - Antwerp and Planckendael vs Leipzig

[TeaLovingDave]

The category, as one might have guessed from a process of elimination, is WATER AND WETLANDS - I hope for plenty of discussion and debate alongside the sharing of images and evidence, with a reminder that this is mandatory if one wishes to cast a 5:0 vote!

 

[Philipine eagle]

Planckendael has some excellent aviaries in this category: African waterhole walk-through aviary, Australian waterhole aviary

Antwerp has Vriesland (arctic penguin),



a huge sturgeon/Chinese merganser underwater view,




a historic aquarium,


Aquarium - Coral reef

some water themed exhibits in the Reptile house


Reptile House - American alligator exhibit

and a Coypu exhibit.


Left part of the Coypu enclosure

The Birdhouse has Black crake on show...


Black crake (and Golden-breasted starling)

...while about half of the inhabitants of the Cape Buffalo aviary are wading birds that fit into this category.


Cape Buffalo walk-through aviary (white-faced whistling duck, hamerkop, Southern ibis, Abdim's stork, Hadada ibis, Blacksmith's plover, Sacred ibis, Abdim's stork, Fulvous whistling duck, Yellow-billed stork)

The historic Rotunda aviaries have water-themed exhibits: European wading birds, African penguin and American flamingo.

Unfortunately the Hippo House is closed and the seals haven't arrived yet (Dalmatian pelican have temporarely replaced them)

 

[remar]

Two very similar competitors. The current situation for Leipzigs sea lions isn't a real plus. Gondwanaland has highs and lows in this category. I haven't seen Leipzigs Aquarium after the renovation.

I tend to KDMA right now, mostly thanks to their larger amount of birds. But it's not a final decision yet.

 

[Kalaw]

I don't know much about Leipzig or Planckendael, but Antwerp is outstanding here and would be a threat even without the partnership with its bigger little sister. As well as the alligator enclosure pictured above, there are several other excellent enclosures in the Reptile House that count, such as a mix I really enjoyed between Caiman Lizards and an impressive variety of turtle species including the only African Keeled Mud Turtle in Europe and several other rarities.

The Buffalo Aviary is probably one of my favourite other zoo exhibits due to the sensational experience it offers, that being surrounded by countless huge birds in flight. There are other aviaries with large birds, such as storks, ibises and vultures, and other aviaries with a large stock and a sense of liveliness, but few where those two factors are married together so well. I have never seen elsewhere such a large number of such large birds be in an aviary that facilitates such prolonged flight, and the result is stunning.

The Aquarium is one of the most beautiful zoo buildings that I have seen. There is such an immense charm to being in an old arcade-like building with the light from aquarium tanks radiating from the arches. Most of the tanks are of a sufficient size barring one or two that felt like they had a few too many small sharks (such as catsharks) for their own good, and the coral reef tank as the finale is brilliant. The penguin enclosure isn't glamorous, but the deep pool is one of only two places where I have observed penguins perform prolonged diving and porpoising, with the added appeal of scarcely kept Macaroni Penguins. The sturgeon and merganser mix has always fascinated me, as it was still a seal enclosure on my visit; it seems brilliantly deep for both species, and larger fish in open-topped pools is a rare treat.

There are more miscellaneous offerings throughout the zoo as well, such as African Penguins, the Nutria, and a little aviary opposite the gorillas with some relevant species such as Ruffs. Predominantly focusing on native taxa and being really well-landscaped, I thought that this was an unexpected highlight of my Antwerp visit.

3-2 KMDA seems like a safe placeholder vote whilst waiting for more information on Leipzig and Planckendael.

 

[EliasNys]

I am currently on vacation, and am not able to provide a good overview of Planckendael, but it's main draw is probably the large south American aviary, with Humboldt penguins, ibis, flamingo etc. There are also some aviaries with relevant species scattered around the zoo, like cranes. They also have Capybara and giant anteaters in the SA zone and ASCO's (in the moat of the macaque island). They also have pinioned pelicans on the lake near the castle sadly.

Together with Antwerp, which also has the hippo aviary that wasn't mentioned here yet, and Malayan tapir, pelicans and flamingoes, I think this is a win for the KMDA. But as I do not know exactly what Leipzig has to offer in this category, I'll stay at 3-2 currently.

 

[Philipine eagle]

I'm not so sure the Hippo aviary counts as none of the inhabitants depend on water.
And how could I forget the penguin aviary at Planckendael

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I'd be interested to hear arguments from @AmazonianHippo regarding their vote!

 

[snowleopard]

I'm not so sure the Hippo aviary counts as none of the inhabitants depend on water.
And how could I forget the penguin aviary at Planckendael

The walk-through penguin aviary at Planckendael is superb and one of the real highlights of the zoo.

Those two photos are mine, but the species list (as of 2019 when I visited) is courtesy of @KevinB

The following species are kept in the Chilean aviary:
- Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)
- Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)
- Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
- Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
- Magellanic flightless steamer duck or Fuegian steamer duck (Tachyeres pteneres)
- Black-necked swan (Cygnus melanocoryphus)
- Black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
- Inca tern (Larosterna inca)
- Black-faced ibis (Theristicus melanopis)

The flamingo exhibit is on the other side of the visitor road from the penguin exhibit, the flying birds have access to both exhibits.

@KevinB

 

[AmazonianHippo]

I'd be interested to hear arguments from @AmazonianHippo regarding their vote!

Okay this is a close one. Antwerp has the Cape Buffalo aviary, the historic yet amazing aquarium, the reptile enclosures that have been previously mentioned, and the antarctic penguins and south american penguins. This is added to by Plackendael's South American aviary with flamingos, ibises and penguins along with a few other animals dotting around the park, of which I have no idea on their quality. But this in my eyes cannot match Leipzig's SA area, with the aviary and capybaras, anteaters etc. And of course we have to talk about Gondwanaland. Whilst not all the enclosures in the greenhouse are perfect, all of the semi-aquatic ones are exceptional. Not sure if Tierra del Fuego is being counted but if it is, it would only strengthen Leipzig's claim.So in the end, 3-2 Leipzig.

 

[remar]

And of course we have to talk about Gondwanaland. Whilst not all the enclosures in the greenhouse are perfect, all of the semi-aquatic ones are exceptional.

I disagree with this one. Whilst i admit, that the Giant otter exhibit is one of the better of it's kind, the Pygmy hippos, Malayan Tapir and fishing cat could definitely be better.

 

[Père Damian's Deer]

I'm not so sure the Hippo aviary counts as none of the inhabitants depend on water.
And how could I forget the penguin aviary at Planckendael

I feel like the Black-crowned Cranes and Comb Ducks should count for the Hippo aviary.

 

[Père Damian's Deer]

There are also some aviaries with relevant species scattered around the zoo, like cranes. They also have Capybara and giant anteaters in the SA zone and ASCO's (in the moat of the macaque island). They also have pinioned pelicans on the lake near the castle sadly.

I shall provide some pictures for these enclosures.

@KevinB - A nice African aviary containing a nice variety of species that are relevant.
Species: Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Heron, Comb Duck, Black-crowned Crane, White-faced Whistling Duck, African Spoonbill, Pied Avocet, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop

@KevinB - a nice large aviary, containing 2 relevant species
Species: Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler

@KevinB - Aviary for crane species
Species: Demoiselle Crane

@KevinB - Asian aviary also containing relevant species
Species: Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-headed Ibis

@Tiger - A nice Australian aviary containing relevant species
Species: White-faced Heron, Masked Lapwing, Chestnut Teal, Australian Wood Duck, Straw-necked Ibis

@Perseus6 - A nice, but maybe boring Capybara paddock with lots of swimming posibilities.

@KevinB - Dalmatian Pelican pond

@KevinB - This very new addition to the Tropical house also counts because of its new inhabitants.
Species: Sulawesi Sailfin Lizard, Chinese Water Dragon, Southeast Asian Box Turtle

@KevinB - Enclosure for Asian Small-clawed Otters who can swim around the islands

 

[Kalaw]

I have to ask what does Leipzig have to answer all of this? Those aviaries at Planckendael look outstanding as do the capybara and otter enclosures, and I have already discussed my immense fondness of Antwerp's various offerings here. I know of the semi-aquatic mammal enclosures in Gondwanaland which don't strike me as particularly good, an advantage in terms of pinnipeds, and the renovated Aquarium that looks nice, but hardly comparable to Antwerp's. Likewise, the flamingo aviary which I have seen praised a fair amount strikes me as far inferior to the Buffalo Savannah and possibly several of Planckendael's aviaries too. If that really is all, then this surely isn't far off a 4-1?

 

[EliasNys]

I have to ask what does Leipzig have to answer all of this? Those aviaries at Planckendael look outstanding as do the capybara and otter enclosures, and I have already discussed my immense fondness of Antwerp's various offerings here. I know of the semi-aquatic mammal enclosures in Gondwanaland which don't strike me as particularly good, an advantage in terms of pinnipeds, and the renovated Aquarium that looks nice, but hardly comparable to Antwerp's. Likewise, the flamingo aviary which I have seen praised a fair amount strikes me as far inferior to the Buffalo Savannah and possibly several of Planckendael's aviaries too. If that really is all, then this surely isn't far off a 4-1?

Indeed, the only thing Leipzig has that the KMDA doesn't have something to counter are the fur seals.. While the KMDA has plenty of enclosures without an equivalent at Leipzig.

It is a bit unlucky for Antwerp that if this match was just a few days later, the Pygmy hippos would count. The first one arrived today but isn't yet on show.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Antwerp and Planckendael - 55/90 points - 61.111%
Leipzig - 35/90 points - 38.889%