In early 1984 I travelled to Europe to see some of the more well-known zoos in that part of the world. Almost a year later I intended to give a slide presentation to zookeepers at the Australasian Society of Zoo Keepers annual conference and wrote a commentary on each of the zoos. This is the review of one of those zoos.
At many of the zoos I visited I took notes of the exhibits and the different species I saw – due to Australian laws the zoos in Australia are somewhat limited in the species available for display. The text for each zoo’s review was written several months afterwards and was based upon my notes and from what I could remember. As I said, it was to be delivered to zoo keepers in Australia so there are occasional references or comparisons to Taronga Zoo and its exhibits. In the early 1980’s many zoos around the world were ‘modernising’ their exhibits to look more natural and be more beneficial to the occupants, as opposed to keeping the public happy at the animals expense. Behavioural enrichment was a new concept, too, so there are sometimes frequent references to enclosure design/construction and furnishings.
I have copied the text verbatim, and resisted the temptation to correct my grammar, to re-word or rephrase sentences and paragraphs. I was 21 at the time and my writing skills were underdeveloped (by my current standards). However, if for the sake of clarity I feel the need to add words or additional information, I have done so in [brackets]. The scientific names are recorded from labels on exhibits at the time, and I have not updated them to current usage for posterity’s sake. Measurements are all estimates.
I have created a thread covering all the zoos on my trip, found here A Look at Some Well-known European Zoos - in 1984 and I’ll be posting the individual reviews in the appropriate forums.
Finally, the opinions expressed here are mine and often reflect the views of the day. Some reviews are not complimentary, but I’m hoping that in the intervening 35 years these zoos have improved.
The first thing I saw when I entered Frankfurt Zoo was a noticeboard telling you about the new babies, what’s happening at the zoo, what to see etc. After walking around the zoo, I found it to be one of the best I had visited.
The Grzimekhaus, named after Bernhard Grzimek, a former director and well-known for his wildlife encyclopedia, was absolutely fantastic and no other building I have seen comes close to it in the number of animals it houses or the excellence of the cages. Part of the building is nocturnal, the rest are diurnal exhibits. All the cages are large and look as natural as you could possibly get. There are large fibreglass trees, logs etc. in several of the cages. The Bushdog cage has giant fibreglass buttress roots. The Cape Otter’s cage is a giant pool with a rocky and sandy bank and looks like it’s straight out of Africa.
The Ape House has Chimps, Bonobos, Gorillas and Orangs. There is a board hanging on a wall listing the names of all the apes that have been born here and the dates. When I was there, there were 64 names on the board. There is also a large, slowly revolving globe with rare and endangered animals on it in their countries of origin. A list down the bottom indicates what the zoo has, and which ones they have bred.
The Bird Hall had some interesting displays of nests, eggs, feathers and some slides. The rest of the house had Quetzal, Jabiru and two species of Bald Crows. There was a room at the end filled with plants and free-flying birds and although I could hear them, seeing them was a completely different matter.
A maze made out of hedges had been created for children and I could see it was a very popular place to go. Even adults were running around in it.
The Carnivore House, housing mainly cats and Maned Wolves, was another old edifice. The cages weren’t all that good but they were adequate. A new outdoor Lion Enclosure is near completion, using an empty moat at the front. In the Carnivore House were two displays: one illustrating conservation and education; the other was a leopard skin coat confiscated by someone and the zoo now use it to educate the public about how cruel it is.
The Exotarium is a building housing the Aquarium, Herpetarium and Insect House all-in-one. There is another admission price to pay if you want to go in and it has its own Guidebook (as opposed to the Zoo Guidebook). The cages in here all seemed to me to be alright.
The first afternoon I was there I got to meet the Assistant Director, Dr Christolph Scherpner, and we talked for about two-and-a-half hours. He spoke English better than some Australians I know and so we could talk a lot more easily. Frankfurt Zoo’s main policies are to breed as many rare and endangered species as they can. If they cannot breed a particular species after a few years, they either change their tactics or send the animals away [to another zoo] and try again a few years later. Most of the animals at Frankfurt breed. However, they have only one elephant and the cage is an old concrete monstrosity that isn’t big enough for her. Dr Scherpner told me that they were making plans to send her to another zoo that has a couple of them already and then the zoo can pull down the present monolith and build something better there, not necessarily for elephants. However, the city of Frankfurt said that if the zoo did do that, then no-one would go to the zoo, because everyone was fond of the elephant. The zoo told the people and council of Frankfurt to take a hike and I believe the elephant left the zoo late last year [i.e late 1984].
Apenhaus
64 Apes have been born here. Cages construction is a mix of concrete, glass tiles, wire and metal bars. Inside, the cages contain climbing structures, frames and tyres.
Bonobo (Pan paniscus) x 7
Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) x 4
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) x 5
Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus abelli) x 4
Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) x 8
One of the Sumatran Orangs was born on 11/11/83.
Exotarium
King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonica) x 4
Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) x 4
Large tank and a large pool approximately four feet deep.
Aquarium Highlights
All the tanks in the Aquarium are fairly big in relation to the size of the occupants.
A large pool with South American fish and Toad-headed Tortoise (Phrynops geoffroanus). The back of the exhibit is heavily vegetated and has birds living in it such as the Scarlet Tanager (Ramphocoelus brasilius) and the Sun Bittern (Eurypyga helias).
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Remora (Echeneis naucrates) x2
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) x 1
Large tank for the turtle, the largest I’ve seen. Has plenty of room but in time it will be too big.
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Zebra Pipefish (Dunkerocamps dactyliophorus)
Reedfish (Microphis sp.)
Reedfish known in German as Sußwassernadel
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Herpetarium
Rhodesian Red-tailed Rock Lizard (Platysaurus rhodesianus)
Tonieri’s Tortoise (Malacochsus tornieri) x 2
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Tentacled Snake (Herpeton tentaculatum) x 1
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) x 1
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Starred Agama (Agama stellio) x 2
Thorn-tailed Agama (Uromastyx acanthinurus) x 3
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Stump-tailed Skink (Trachydosaurus rugosus) x 3
Bearded Dragon (Amphibolurus barbatus) x 2
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Mata-Mata (Chelys fimbriatus) x 1
Siamese Water Dragon (Physignathus concinnus) x 3
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Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) x 2
Fence Swift (Sceloporus clarkii boulengeri)
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Cone-headed Lizard (Laemanctus serratus) x 5
Blue-tailed / Five-lined Skink (Mabuya quinquetaeniata) x 2
Pink-tongued Skink (Tiliqua gerrardi) x 4
Cone-headed lizard is known in German as Kronenbasilisk.
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European Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina v. variegata) x 1
Newt (Tylototriton kweichowensis) x 6 _________________________
Alligator Snapping Tortoise (Macroclemmys temmincki) x 1
Tortoise Unlabelled x 5
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The following were all in separate cages.
Rock Lizard (Petrosaurus thalassinus)
Sungazer (Cordylus giganteus) x 3
Plumed Basilisk (Basaliscus plumifrons) x 2
Jamaican Boa (Epicrates subflavus) x 4 - 6
Madagascan Gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis) x 3
Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) x 2
Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) x 1
Royal Python (Python regius) x 4
Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta) x 3
Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) x 1
Black-lipped Cobra (Naja melanoleuca) x 3
Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) x 2
Green Tree Frog (Hyla caerulea) x 1
Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) x 2
Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) x 2
African Rock Python (Python sebae) x 2
Boa Constrictor (Constrictor constrictor) x 2 or 3
Radiated Tortoise (Testudo radiata) x 7
False Gavial (Tomistoma schlegeli) x 2
Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) x 2
Sheltopusik (Ophiosaurus apoda) x 2
Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata) x 2
Axolotyl (Ambystoma mexicanum) x 3
Red-bellied Newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster) x 2
Scorpions: (Pandinus imperator)
……...…….(Heterometrus fulvipes)
Goliath Bird-eating Spider...……..(Theraphosa leblondi)
Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula.....(Brachypelma smithi)
Bird-eating Spider...……………...(Grammastola sp.)
Grzimekhaus
Two recorded messages at the entrance (one in English, the other in German) asking you to take your time so that your eyes can adjust in the nocturnal section, not to make noises, and not to run around.
Backs of all the exhibits have dioramas painted on.
Common Tree Shrew (Tupaia glis) x 2
Diurnal exhibit containing a rock, ‘tree’, leaf litter on the floor and plenty of holes for them to hide.
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Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairii) x at least 5
Diurnal Exhibit. All the animals are asleep in holes in a rock. Cage similar to the previous exhibit. Young born 20/7/83.
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Goeldi’s Monkey (Callimico goeldi) x at least 5
Green Acouchi (Myoprocta pratti) x 2
Cage is enormous. Highest point, top to bottom, is about 20 to 25 feet. Leaf litter and soil on the floor as well as many rocks, logs and tree roots. There are many living trees, small plants and vines. There is water spray falling, probably to simulate a rainforest. The last baby Goeldi’s Monkey born was on 26/1/84 and there was a baby Acouchi born on 15/10/83.
[The exhibit is two stories high – the bottom part is one of the first exhibits you see upon entering, and the top part is the last exhibit you see upon exiting.]
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Nocturnal Exhibits
Desert Dormouse (Eliomys melanurus)
Large desert exhibit with many underground tunnels and nesting burrows up against the glass so you can see them.
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Pacarana (Dinomys branicki)
Large cage with a soil floor and multi-branched ‘trees’ and ‘logs’ made out of fibreglass.
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Green Acouchi (Myoprocta pratti)
Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
Douroucouli (Aotus trivirgatus)
Large multi-branched ‘trees’ and ‘logs’. Only saw two sloths and a douroucouli. Leaf Litter on the floor.
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Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes)
Only saw one. A desert cage. High rock walls with a large ‘tree’ and a sand floor. The rock walls provide shelves for climbing. The cat I saw was exhibiting stereotyped behaviour, running to and fro in front of the glass.
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Fennec (Fennecus zerda) x 2
Another desert enclosure with a sand floor. Some small live palms in amongst rocks. The back wall is pebbly and rocky part way up. The foxes are showing the same stereotyped behaviour as the Black-footed Cat.
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Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) x 2
A forested exhibit containing many ‘trees’, ‘logs’ and ‘vines’. Soil floor. The first cats the zoo got were from Customs after they had been confiscated in a smuggling attempt. Since then, the zoo has regularly bred the Rusty-spotted Cat and sent the offspring to other zoos.
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Banded Palm Civet (Hemigalus derbyanus)
Small rock wallsand leaves on the ground. Many ‘trees’ and ‘logs’. Did not see the animals.
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Neotropical Fruit Bat (Artibeus lituratus) x 400+
Gigantic cave with multi-branched ‘trees’, waterfall, stream, pool and rock walls. These are small bats the size of microchiropterans. 300 bats were released in the cave a few years back and the volume of feed at that time was 10 litres. Nowadays it is 18 litres so the colony is estimated to be 400-550.
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Moholi Bushbaby (Galago senegalensis)
Springhare (Pedestes capensis)
Desert with rocks, soil and multi-branched trees (real trees, I think)
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Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) x 2
Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) x 1
Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) x 1
Large desert (or semi-savanna) environment. Some termite mounds, multi-brancvhed ‘trees’ and ‘logs’, and a soil floor. There was an underground burrow for the aardvarks up against the glass windows. Baby Frogmouth born 3/12/83.
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Ground Cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis) x 2
Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) x 2
Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) x 2
Leaf floor, many multi-branched ‘trees’.
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Leaf-nosed Bat (Carollia perspiculata)
Another cave. May or may not be connected to the other really big cave.
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Kinkajou (Potos flavus) x 3
Leaf litter and trees.
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Eastern Jerboa (Jaculus orientalis)
Another Desert enclosure
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Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi)
Large trees and a soil floor.
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Lesser Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus) x 1
A soil and leaf floor. A big tree for climbing.
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Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus) x 2
Trees and leaf litter.
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Zorilla (Ictonyx striatus) x 2
Soil floor with a few trees.
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Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus)
Trees and Leaf litter. A baby born 28/10/83.
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Demidoff’s Bushbaby (Galago demidovii)
Multi-branched tree, lots of bamboo. Baby born 26/1/84. Does bamboo grow in West Africa?
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Australian Water Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster) x 4
Waterfall, stream and a relatively large, deep pool. Multi-branched trees and a rock.
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Diurnal Exhibits
Golden Spiny Mouse (Acomys russatus) x 2 at least.
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Variable Squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysoni) x 1
Large fibreglass hollow tree and logs.
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Pale-headed Saki (Pithecia pithecia) x 1.2
Multi-branched fibreglass trees, and a real tree. The floor was concrete.
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Cape Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) X 2
An enormous enclosure with a very big pool. Looks extremely natural and like an African riverbank.
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Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale undulata rufula) x 6
Desert exhibit. Real tree and termite mound, logs.
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Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata) x 2
This cage is identical to the last.
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Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata) x 3
Some rock walls, concrete floor and some multi-branched ‘trees’.
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Bushdog (Speothos venaticus) x 2
Soil ground. Large fibreglass buttress roots. Realistic.
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Caracal (Caracal caracal) x 2
Desert. Rocky walls and multi-branched trees.
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Serval (Leptailurus serval) x 1
One multi-branched tree. Lots of sand and rocks.
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Emperor Tamarin (Saguinas imperator) x 5
Soil floor and real trees. Baby born 21/9/83.
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Striped Grass Mouse (Lemniscomys barbarous) x 1
Melba Finch (Pytilia melba) x 2
Another desert.
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Giant Elephant Shrew (Rhynchocyon cirnei) x 1
Real trees, real vegetation and leaf litter.
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Red Howler Monkey (Alouatta seniculus) x 4
Like the Saki’s cage.
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Social Weaver Birds (Philetairus socius) x 12 at least
Cape Ground Squirrels (Xerus inauris) x 4 at least
Savanna environment.
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Red-bellied Tamarin (Saguinas labiatus) x 2
Three real trees, soil floor, tree root.
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Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis) x 4
Two multi-branched ‘trees’, two rock walls. Babies born 21/9/83.
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Top of the Goeldi’s Monkey and Green Acouchi exhibit described earlier. At this level you can only see the tree canopy and the monkeys.
Birdhouse Highlights
Carnivore House
Note: each cat cage has trees nailed to the walls which the cats use for scratching.
Servals (Leptailurus serval) x 2
Both adults, and the enclosure is small. Concrete floor, walls are yellow tiles, glass front. The roof is translucent glass with wire embedded in it. The cage contains three wooden shelves (one with a bowl of water underneath), one branchless tree attached to the wall and two branched logs.
Cats both showing stereotyped behaviour, mainly walking back and forth in front of glass.
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Cape Lions (Panthera leo leo) x 2.2
One subadult male and one female kept by themselves, the other pair in a large cage. Floor of concrete and the front is barred; the walls are blue tiles. The roof was half concrete, the other half being bars covering wire-reinforced glass. Cages are definitely big enough. 2.1 were vocalising.
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Black Leopard (Panthera pardus) x 3
Two young ones kept together, another in a separate cage (and was purring). The cages are the same as the lions above, both in construction and furnishings.
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Jaguar (Panthera onca) x 2
Both animals kept separate. The cages are like the lions but the males cage is a bit bigger and has one extra tree. Male vocalising.
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Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatraensis) x 2
Both kept separate, one cage blocked from view – maybe expecting cubs? Cages the same as the lions above.
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Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) x 1
Cage is approximately the same as the servals (10 feet long, 6 to 7 feet deep, 10 feet high). Three shelves (one with a waterbowl). One branchless tree nailed to a wall and another multi-branched tree. (Note: cage dimensions are only approximates).
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Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) x 2
Both kept separate (one inside, one outside) because of babies. I never saw any though and I don’t know if they had been born yet.
Indoor cage: approx. 10 feet square. Two logs. Construction as for the lion’s cages but a glass, not barred front.
Monkey House
Cages: Concrete floors, tile walls, roof is half tiled / half barred. The front is barred, and then glass. Many metal fixtures. All animals have access to the outside.
Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) x 7
Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) x 12
Purple-faced Leaf Monkey (Presbytis sinex) x 2
Dusky Leaf Money (Presbytis obscurus) x 2
Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) x 8
Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata) x 2
Diana Monkey (Cercopithecus diana) x 2
Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas) x 5
Hanuman Langur (Presbytis entellus) x 8
Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus) x 4
Colobus (Colobus guereza) x 2
The Hanuman Langurs had two babies born 13/2/84 and 17/2/84. The Siamangs had a baby born 9/4/83.
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Cages: Concrete walls, wire roof and glass front. Live plants, trees rocks etc. Very natural, no outside access.
Emperor Tamarin (Saguinas imperator) x 2
Black-tailed Marmoset (Callithrix argentata) x 3
Pygmy Marmoset (Cebuella pygmaeus) x 2
Goeldi’s Monkey (Callimico goeldii) x 2
White-fronted Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus geoffroyi) x 2
Black-tailed Marmosets had a baby born 29/9/83.
At many of the zoos I visited I took notes of the exhibits and the different species I saw – due to Australian laws the zoos in Australia are somewhat limited in the species available for display. The text for each zoo’s review was written several months afterwards and was based upon my notes and from what I could remember. As I said, it was to be delivered to zoo keepers in Australia so there are occasional references or comparisons to Taronga Zoo and its exhibits. In the early 1980’s many zoos around the world were ‘modernising’ their exhibits to look more natural and be more beneficial to the occupants, as opposed to keeping the public happy at the animals expense. Behavioural enrichment was a new concept, too, so there are sometimes frequent references to enclosure design/construction and furnishings.
I have copied the text verbatim, and resisted the temptation to correct my grammar, to re-word or rephrase sentences and paragraphs. I was 21 at the time and my writing skills were underdeveloped (by my current standards). However, if for the sake of clarity I feel the need to add words or additional information, I have done so in [brackets]. The scientific names are recorded from labels on exhibits at the time, and I have not updated them to current usage for posterity’s sake. Measurements are all estimates.
I have created a thread covering all the zoos on my trip, found here A Look at Some Well-known European Zoos - in 1984 and I’ll be posting the individual reviews in the appropriate forums.
Finally, the opinions expressed here are mine and often reflect the views of the day. Some reviews are not complimentary, but I’m hoping that in the intervening 35 years these zoos have improved.
_________________________
The first thing I saw when I entered Frankfurt Zoo was a noticeboard telling you about the new babies, what’s happening at the zoo, what to see etc. After walking around the zoo, I found it to be one of the best I had visited.
The Grzimekhaus, named after Bernhard Grzimek, a former director and well-known for his wildlife encyclopedia, was absolutely fantastic and no other building I have seen comes close to it in the number of animals it houses or the excellence of the cages. Part of the building is nocturnal, the rest are diurnal exhibits. All the cages are large and look as natural as you could possibly get. There are large fibreglass trees, logs etc. in several of the cages. The Bushdog cage has giant fibreglass buttress roots. The Cape Otter’s cage is a giant pool with a rocky and sandy bank and looks like it’s straight out of Africa.
The Ape House has Chimps, Bonobos, Gorillas and Orangs. There is a board hanging on a wall listing the names of all the apes that have been born here and the dates. When I was there, there were 64 names on the board. There is also a large, slowly revolving globe with rare and endangered animals on it in their countries of origin. A list down the bottom indicates what the zoo has, and which ones they have bred.
The Bird Hall had some interesting displays of nests, eggs, feathers and some slides. The rest of the house had Quetzal, Jabiru and two species of Bald Crows. There was a room at the end filled with plants and free-flying birds and although I could hear them, seeing them was a completely different matter.
A maze made out of hedges had been created for children and I could see it was a very popular place to go. Even adults were running around in it.
The Carnivore House, housing mainly cats and Maned Wolves, was another old edifice. The cages weren’t all that good but they were adequate. A new outdoor Lion Enclosure is near completion, using an empty moat at the front. In the Carnivore House were two displays: one illustrating conservation and education; the other was a leopard skin coat confiscated by someone and the zoo now use it to educate the public about how cruel it is.
The Exotarium is a building housing the Aquarium, Herpetarium and Insect House all-in-one. There is another admission price to pay if you want to go in and it has its own Guidebook (as opposed to the Zoo Guidebook). The cages in here all seemed to me to be alright.
The first afternoon I was there I got to meet the Assistant Director, Dr Christolph Scherpner, and we talked for about two-and-a-half hours. He spoke English better than some Australians I know and so we could talk a lot more easily. Frankfurt Zoo’s main policies are to breed as many rare and endangered species as they can. If they cannot breed a particular species after a few years, they either change their tactics or send the animals away [to another zoo] and try again a few years later. Most of the animals at Frankfurt breed. However, they have only one elephant and the cage is an old concrete monstrosity that isn’t big enough for her. Dr Scherpner told me that they were making plans to send her to another zoo that has a couple of them already and then the zoo can pull down the present monolith and build something better there, not necessarily for elephants. However, the city of Frankfurt said that if the zoo did do that, then no-one would go to the zoo, because everyone was fond of the elephant. The zoo told the people and council of Frankfurt to take a hike and I believe the elephant left the zoo late last year [i.e late 1984].
Apenhaus
64 Apes have been born here. Cages construction is a mix of concrete, glass tiles, wire and metal bars. Inside, the cages contain climbing structures, frames and tyres.
Bonobo (Pan paniscus) x 7
Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) x 4
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) x 5
Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus abelli) x 4
Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) x 8
One of the Sumatran Orangs was born on 11/11/83.
Exotarium
King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonica) x 4
Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) x 4
Large tank and a large pool approximately four feet deep.
Aquarium Highlights
All the tanks in the Aquarium are fairly big in relation to the size of the occupants.
A large pool with South American fish and Toad-headed Tortoise (Phrynops geoffroanus). The back of the exhibit is heavily vegetated and has birds living in it such as the Scarlet Tanager (Ramphocoelus brasilius) and the Sun Bittern (Eurypyga helias).
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Remora (Echeneis naucrates) x2
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) x 1
Large tank for the turtle, the largest I’ve seen. Has plenty of room but in time it will be too big.
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Zebra Pipefish (Dunkerocamps dactyliophorus)
Reedfish (Microphis sp.)
Reedfish known in German as Sußwassernadel
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Herpetarium
Rhodesian Red-tailed Rock Lizard (Platysaurus rhodesianus)
Tonieri’s Tortoise (Malacochsus tornieri) x 2
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Tentacled Snake (Herpeton tentaculatum) x 1
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) x 1
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Starred Agama (Agama stellio) x 2
Thorn-tailed Agama (Uromastyx acanthinurus) x 3
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Stump-tailed Skink (Trachydosaurus rugosus) x 3
Bearded Dragon (Amphibolurus barbatus) x 2
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Mata-Mata (Chelys fimbriatus) x 1
Siamese Water Dragon (Physignathus concinnus) x 3
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Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) x 2
Fence Swift (Sceloporus clarkii boulengeri)
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Cone-headed Lizard (Laemanctus serratus) x 5
Blue-tailed / Five-lined Skink (Mabuya quinquetaeniata) x 2
Pink-tongued Skink (Tiliqua gerrardi) x 4
Cone-headed lizard is known in German as Kronenbasilisk.
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European Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina v. variegata) x 1
Newt (Tylototriton kweichowensis) x 6 _________________________
Alligator Snapping Tortoise (Macroclemmys temmincki) x 1
Tortoise Unlabelled x 5
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The following were all in separate cages.
Rock Lizard (Petrosaurus thalassinus)
Sungazer (Cordylus giganteus) x 3
Plumed Basilisk (Basaliscus plumifrons) x 2
Jamaican Boa (Epicrates subflavus) x 4 - 6
Madagascan Gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis) x 3
Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) x 2
Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) x 1
Royal Python (Python regius) x 4
Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta) x 3
Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) x 1
Black-lipped Cobra (Naja melanoleuca) x 3
Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) x 2
Green Tree Frog (Hyla caerulea) x 1
Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) x 2
Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) x 2
African Rock Python (Python sebae) x 2
Boa Constrictor (Constrictor constrictor) x 2 or 3
Radiated Tortoise (Testudo radiata) x 7
False Gavial (Tomistoma schlegeli) x 2
Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) x 2
Sheltopusik (Ophiosaurus apoda) x 2
Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata) x 2
Axolotyl (Ambystoma mexicanum) x 3
Red-bellied Newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster) x 2
Scorpions: (Pandinus imperator)
……...…….(Heterometrus fulvipes)
Goliath Bird-eating Spider...……..(Theraphosa leblondi)
Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula.....(Brachypelma smithi)
Bird-eating Spider...……………...(Grammastola sp.)
Grzimekhaus
Two recorded messages at the entrance (one in English, the other in German) asking you to take your time so that your eyes can adjust in the nocturnal section, not to make noises, and not to run around.
Backs of all the exhibits have dioramas painted on.
Common Tree Shrew (Tupaia glis) x 2
Diurnal exhibit containing a rock, ‘tree’, leaf litter on the floor and plenty of holes for them to hide.
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Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairii) x at least 5
Diurnal Exhibit. All the animals are asleep in holes in a rock. Cage similar to the previous exhibit. Young born 20/7/83.
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Goeldi’s Monkey (Callimico goeldi) x at least 5
Green Acouchi (Myoprocta pratti) x 2
Cage is enormous. Highest point, top to bottom, is about 20 to 25 feet. Leaf litter and soil on the floor as well as many rocks, logs and tree roots. There are many living trees, small plants and vines. There is water spray falling, probably to simulate a rainforest. The last baby Goeldi’s Monkey born was on 26/1/84 and there was a baby Acouchi born on 15/10/83.
[The exhibit is two stories high – the bottom part is one of the first exhibits you see upon entering, and the top part is the last exhibit you see upon exiting.]
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Nocturnal Exhibits
Desert Dormouse (Eliomys melanurus)
Large desert exhibit with many underground tunnels and nesting burrows up against the glass so you can see them.
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Pacarana (Dinomys branicki)
Large cage with a soil floor and multi-branched ‘trees’ and ‘logs’ made out of fibreglass.
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Green Acouchi (Myoprocta pratti)
Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
Douroucouli (Aotus trivirgatus)
Large multi-branched ‘trees’ and ‘logs’. Only saw two sloths and a douroucouli. Leaf Litter on the floor.
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Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes)
Only saw one. A desert cage. High rock walls with a large ‘tree’ and a sand floor. The rock walls provide shelves for climbing. The cat I saw was exhibiting stereotyped behaviour, running to and fro in front of the glass.
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Fennec (Fennecus zerda) x 2
Another desert enclosure with a sand floor. Some small live palms in amongst rocks. The back wall is pebbly and rocky part way up. The foxes are showing the same stereotyped behaviour as the Black-footed Cat.
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Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) x 2
A forested exhibit containing many ‘trees’, ‘logs’ and ‘vines’. Soil floor. The first cats the zoo got were from Customs after they had been confiscated in a smuggling attempt. Since then, the zoo has regularly bred the Rusty-spotted Cat and sent the offspring to other zoos.
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Banded Palm Civet (Hemigalus derbyanus)
Small rock wallsand leaves on the ground. Many ‘trees’ and ‘logs’. Did not see the animals.
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Neotropical Fruit Bat (Artibeus lituratus) x 400+
Gigantic cave with multi-branched ‘trees’, waterfall, stream, pool and rock walls. These are small bats the size of microchiropterans. 300 bats were released in the cave a few years back and the volume of feed at that time was 10 litres. Nowadays it is 18 litres so the colony is estimated to be 400-550.
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Moholi Bushbaby (Galago senegalensis)
Springhare (Pedestes capensis)
Desert with rocks, soil and multi-branched trees (real trees, I think)
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Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) x 2
Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) x 1
Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) x 1
Large desert (or semi-savanna) environment. Some termite mounds, multi-brancvhed ‘trees’ and ‘logs’, and a soil floor. There was an underground burrow for the aardvarks up against the glass windows. Baby Frogmouth born 3/12/83.
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Ground Cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis) x 2
Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) x 2
Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) x 2
Leaf floor, many multi-branched ‘trees’.
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Leaf-nosed Bat (Carollia perspiculata)
Another cave. May or may not be connected to the other really big cave.
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Kinkajou (Potos flavus) x 3
Leaf litter and trees.
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Eastern Jerboa (Jaculus orientalis)
Another Desert enclosure
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Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi)
Large trees and a soil floor.
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Lesser Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus) x 1
A soil and leaf floor. A big tree for climbing.
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Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus) x 2
Trees and leaf litter.
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Zorilla (Ictonyx striatus) x 2
Soil floor with a few trees.
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Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus)
Trees and Leaf litter. A baby born 28/10/83.
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Demidoff’s Bushbaby (Galago demidovii)
Multi-branched tree, lots of bamboo. Baby born 26/1/84. Does bamboo grow in West Africa?
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Australian Water Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster) x 4
Waterfall, stream and a relatively large, deep pool. Multi-branched trees and a rock.
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Diurnal Exhibits
Golden Spiny Mouse (Acomys russatus) x 2 at least.
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Variable Squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysoni) x 1
Large fibreglass hollow tree and logs.
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Pale-headed Saki (Pithecia pithecia) x 1.2
Multi-branched fibreglass trees, and a real tree. The floor was concrete.
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Cape Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) X 2
An enormous enclosure with a very big pool. Looks extremely natural and like an African riverbank.
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Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale undulata rufula) x 6
Desert exhibit. Real tree and termite mound, logs.
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Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata) x 2
This cage is identical to the last.
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Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata) x 3
Some rock walls, concrete floor and some multi-branched ‘trees’.
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Bushdog (Speothos venaticus) x 2
Soil ground. Large fibreglass buttress roots. Realistic.
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Caracal (Caracal caracal) x 2
Desert. Rocky walls and multi-branched trees.
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Serval (Leptailurus serval) x 1
One multi-branched tree. Lots of sand and rocks.
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Emperor Tamarin (Saguinas imperator) x 5
Soil floor and real trees. Baby born 21/9/83.
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Striped Grass Mouse (Lemniscomys barbarous) x 1
Melba Finch (Pytilia melba) x 2
Another desert.
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Giant Elephant Shrew (Rhynchocyon cirnei) x 1
Real trees, real vegetation and leaf litter.
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Red Howler Monkey (Alouatta seniculus) x 4
Like the Saki’s cage.
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Social Weaver Birds (Philetairus socius) x 12 at least
Cape Ground Squirrels (Xerus inauris) x 4 at least
Savanna environment.
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Red-bellied Tamarin (Saguinas labiatus) x 2
Three real trees, soil floor, tree root.
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Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis) x 4
Two multi-branched ‘trees’, two rock walls. Babies born 21/9/83.
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Top of the Goeldi’s Monkey and Green Acouchi exhibit described earlier. At this level you can only see the tree canopy and the monkeys.
Birdhouse Highlights
- White-necked Bald Crow (Picathartes gymnocephalus)
- Grey-necked Bald Crow (Picathartes oreas)
- Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus)
- Rufous Ovenbird (Furnarius rufus)
Carnivore House
Note: each cat cage has trees nailed to the walls which the cats use for scratching.
Servals (Leptailurus serval) x 2
Both adults, and the enclosure is small. Concrete floor, walls are yellow tiles, glass front. The roof is translucent glass with wire embedded in it. The cage contains three wooden shelves (one with a bowl of water underneath), one branchless tree attached to the wall and two branched logs.
Cats both showing stereotyped behaviour, mainly walking back and forth in front of glass.
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Cape Lions (Panthera leo leo) x 2.2
One subadult male and one female kept by themselves, the other pair in a large cage. Floor of concrete and the front is barred; the walls are blue tiles. The roof was half concrete, the other half being bars covering wire-reinforced glass. Cages are definitely big enough. 2.1 were vocalising.
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Black Leopard (Panthera pardus) x 3
Two young ones kept together, another in a separate cage (and was purring). The cages are the same as the lions above, both in construction and furnishings.
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Jaguar (Panthera onca) x 2
Both animals kept separate. The cages are like the lions but the males cage is a bit bigger and has one extra tree. Male vocalising.
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Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatraensis) x 2
Both kept separate, one cage blocked from view – maybe expecting cubs? Cages the same as the lions above.
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Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) x 1
Cage is approximately the same as the servals (10 feet long, 6 to 7 feet deep, 10 feet high). Three shelves (one with a waterbowl). One branchless tree nailed to a wall and another multi-branched tree. (Note: cage dimensions are only approximates).
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Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) x 2
Both kept separate (one inside, one outside) because of babies. I never saw any though and I don’t know if they had been born yet.
Indoor cage: approx. 10 feet square. Two logs. Construction as for the lion’s cages but a glass, not barred front.
Outside cat enclosures
Monkey House
Cages: Concrete floors, tile walls, roof is half tiled / half barred. The front is barred, and then glass. Many metal fixtures. All animals have access to the outside.
Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) x 7
Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) x 12
Purple-faced Leaf Monkey (Presbytis sinex) x 2
Dusky Leaf Money (Presbytis obscurus) x 2
Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) x 8
Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata) x 2
Diana Monkey (Cercopithecus diana) x 2
Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas) x 5
Hanuman Langur (Presbytis entellus) x 8
Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus) x 4
Colobus (Colobus guereza) x 2
The Hanuman Langurs had two babies born 13/2/84 and 17/2/84. The Siamangs had a baby born 9/4/83.
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Cages: Concrete walls, wire roof and glass front. Live plants, trees rocks etc. Very natural, no outside access.
Emperor Tamarin (Saguinas imperator) x 2
Black-tailed Marmoset (Callithrix argentata) x 3
Pygmy Marmoset (Cebuella pygmaeus) x 2
Goeldi’s Monkey (Callimico goeldii) x 2
White-fronted Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus geoffroyi) x 2
Black-tailed Marmosets had a baby born 29/9/83.
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