Iberian Zoo Trip

The reconstructions of most enclosures have been minor (so far) - the gorillas haven`t got any more space, just the old enclosures have just been decorated to look better and grass and a few plants have been planted (although that has happened at least 5 years ago); the elephants are still at the same place, but the moat has been filled recently. I don`t think the rhinos have any more space and the 2 hippo enclosures are still a disgrace (100% concrete). My impression is that larger investitions have been kept behind because of the large plans for the future, and this is what the zoo looks like today - hardly anything has changed in the last 20 years, and only few money has been spent. They`ve done what they can with the existing enclosures (adding of vegetation, dead trees, combining 2 adjactant enclosures ect.), but that`s clearly very far from being enough.

If you compare the 2 mayor zoos of Spain - Madrid and Barcelona - with the top zoos in Europe (Chester, Rotterdam, Burgers, Berlin, Prague, Zurich...), they are far, FAR behind.
 
ANyhuis said:
Baldur, are you really from Iceland? Are there any good zoos up there?
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Allen, I sure am. Sorry but I only saw your question now that I took a look at the thread again after two weeks.

No real zoos, at least would not be for someone who lives in the US Midwest like you. A small menagerie closed around 20 years ago, the one that got famous for catching and exporting Orcas. Since then there have been no exotics on display.

Reykjavik has a small zoo with farm animals and odds and ends from the Icelandic nature (the major attractions being Reindeer and Common Seal) and there are photos on ZooChat. You will also find the occasional very small aquarium dotted here and there when you drive around the country but I have only seen a few.

Basically you would come to Iceland for most other things than zoos, but if you do, let me know and I will be happy to meet up (I might ask you to sign a book or two along the way! :p)
 
simmojunior said:
Are you suggesting they are going to mix komodo dragons and muntjac deer. It is good to hear the elephants do not have to live in that miniscule african complex. Does that now mean the rhinos have a more appropriate amount of space.
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No, it will not be a mixed exhibit. Each species will have its own space, but both exhibits will form part of the same "themed area" called "Terra de dragons" (Land of dragons). Muntjaks will be mixed with some birds.
There are the maps: https://www.zoochat.com/community/posts/197816

When visiting the zoo you will see many temporary exhibits with animals waiting for its new exhibits (muntjaks, Komodo dragons, Congo buffalos, elephants, ...)

As Yassa commented, all the upgrades of the last years have been minor. That's because during many years the future of the zoo has been "dark".... planning to close it, move outside the city or decrease its extension. Now the future is clear and the zoo will not be closed or translated to other place, and all the plans of reconstruction can be executed without problems.
 
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I havn`t seen the renovated ele enclosure, but I seriousley doubt it is 2000 m², there isn`t enough space around the ele enclosure to enlarge it to 2000 m² without including the giraffe or rhino enclosures, and from the pics, that hasn`t happened. Its much better then before, though.
 
Yassa said:
I havn`t seen the renovated ele enclosure, but I seriousley doubt it is 2000 m², there isn`t enough space around the ele enclosure to enlarge it to 2000 m² without including the giraffe or rhino enclosures, and from the pics, that hasn`t happened. Its much better then before, though.
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The enlarged enclosure includes the rhino enclosure. The pics only show the old renovated part.

There will not be rhinos in the new zoo.
 
aim_foliksta said:
No, it will not be a mixed exhibit. Each species will have its own space, but both exhibits will form part of the same "themed area" called "Terra de dragons" (Land of dragons). Muntjaks will be mixed with some birds.
There are the maps: https://www.zoochat.com/community/posts/197816

When visiting the zoo you will see many temporary exhibits with animals waiting for its new exhibits (muntjaks, Komodo dragons, Congo buffalos, elephants, ...)

As Yassa commented, all the upgrades of the last years have been minor. That's because during many years the future of the zoo has been "dark".... planning to close it, move outside the city or decrease its extension. Now the future is clear and the zoo will not be closed or translated to other place, and all the plans of reconstruction can be executed without problems.
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I feel some of the criticism directed towards Barcelona Zoo is unjust. As aimfoliksta has pointed out before the Barcelona Zoo's future has been in the balance for years. Hence, any renovations have been minor and allowed for only marginal improvements in current exhibitry.

Now, the Barcelona Municipality has put its weight behind the Masterplan devised by Barcelona Zoo senior staff, is the Zoo able to venture beyond and re-develop the entire zoo. Some species evidently will no longer be exhibited (e.g. white rhinos as only males now maintained) and others will be added which will provide for an immersion quality zoo (much like Bioparco Valencia).

And for what it is worth ... zoos in Espagna have only recently (perhaps starting in 2005/06) travelled on the road of the "New Zoo" concept and thus slowly moving away from the traditional old school early 20th century zoo. Animal welfare wise much has yet to be introduced or changed into better animal exhibits following the latest scientific understanding of animal management and maintenance.

In no way am I diminishing your perspective, I just like to put a different one on top ... and yes AEZA has a lot to do with improving Spanish zoos.
 
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Baldur said:
Basically you would come to Iceland for most other things than zoos, but if you do, let me know and I will be happy to meet up (I might ask you to sign a book or two along the way! :p)
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Thanks, Baldur. I definitely DO want to come see Iceland someday. When I do, I'll remember you (and sign your books).
 
Thanks for the link. Bioparc Valencia looks very good and it is too bad I will not have time to go there when I am in Spain this September.
 
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