Blackpool Zoo Improvements to Blackpool

LeeMac13

LeeMac13

Well-Known Member
Ok after a first time visit to Blackpool on Saturday it got me thinking that some of the newer exhibits i.e. Lions, Tigers, Giraffe and new sea lion and penguin areas look alot better than the rest of the zoo. Of course they do I hear you cry there a lot newer than the rest of the zoo. But what in your opinion would you change or add, improve etc at the zoo?

For me it would be the Orangs and Gorilla enclosure but maybe they look so dated as im used to RORA at Chester??
 
LeeMac13 said:
For me it would be the Orangs and Gorilla enclosure but maybe they look so dated as im used to RORA at Chester??
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The Orangutan enclosure is actually the original Ape House for all three ape species(Chimp, Gorilla, Orangutan) which they had when it opened. There were three small indoor cages and one outdoors(the Orangutan enclosure) which amazingly the animals had to rotate to use.

Soon after they realised this was impractical and built the much larger 'wing' for the Gorillas with a 2nd outdoor enclosure. The chimps were not kept anymore. Later still the old Chamois island was added as the Gorilla island so they have more outdoor space than previously.

I agree that it all needs replacing as it is very outdated now- the Orangutan section being the worst. The Gorilla section is much better and the inside is quite spacious, though it has seen better days. Completely new housing would be a huge improvement.
 
Pertinax said:
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I agree that it all needs replacing as it is very outdated now- the Orangutan section being the worst. The Gorilla section is much better and the inside is quite spacious, though it has seen better days. Completely new housing would be a huge improvement.
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A agree Pertinax the Orangutan enclosure did seem really cramped inside barely room for them to move around would be great to see them in a brand new mixed exhibit with the gibbons possibly.

Also has anybody noticed that the Elephants at Blackpool seem a lot more subdued than other Elephants ive seen in other zoos:confused:
 
Not sure why you would think that mixing gibbons and orangs are a great idea. When it works then it can be good, but alot depends on the individual personalities, particularly of the orangs and also the size of the exhibit. Too many gibbons are mentally scarred or dead as a result of this attempted mix.

There is no chance Blackpool would mix orangs and pileated gibbons as the latter are a rarely kept/bred species. It might have more chance with a more common species, but I cannot see this happening.
 
tetrapod said:
Not sure why you would think that mixing gibbons and orangs are a great idea. When it works then it can be good, but alot depends on the individual personalities, particularly of the orangs and also the size of the exhibit. Too many gibbons are mentally scarred or dead as a result of this attempted mix.

There is no chance Blackpool would mix orangs and pileated gibbons as the latter are a rarely kept/bred species. It might have more chance with a more common species, but I cannot see this happening.
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I was just using the Gibbons as an example, of mixing two species together. Would just be nice to see the orangs in a more naturalistic environment thats all.
 
LeeMac13 said:
Also has anybody noticed that the Elephants at Blackpool seem a lot more subdued than other Elephants ive seen in other zoos:confused:
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I agree, the enclosure is extreamly small and needs updating but again its down to money i suppose, i know the elephants are being trained as the keepers use protective contact now. Which means they are restricted to their enclosure and no longer go for walks etc.
I think the indoor house should be changed to sand like chester as it would be better for the animals health.

Considering also that the giraffe enclosure is new i think it is rather small for the number of animals , i think they are planning to extend the enclosure though.
 
camel leopard said:
Considering also that the giraffe enclosure is new i think it is rather small for the number of animals , i think they are planning to extend the enclosure though.
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I wouldnt be surprised there is quite a lot of space that could be used to the right of the enclosure currently holding hoofstock.
 
LeeMac13 said:
I wouldnt be surprised there is quite a lot of space that could be used to the right of the enclosure currently holding hoofstock.
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I was thinking that but aprently the paddock that the llamas and rhea are in is quite boggy so wouldnt be the best for the giraffe but hopefullythey will do something.
 
Yes switch to protected contact at Blackpool came at a cost, namely the lush grass paddock and woods available to the elephants is no longer accessible by them. Given the major developments in the last couple of years, I think it unacceptable that the zoo haven't created a permanent corridor to this area and have it properly fenced for the three remaining elephants.
 
LeeMac13 said:
Also has anybody noticed that the Elephants at Blackpool seem a lot more subdued than other Elephants ive seen in other zoos:confused:
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Probably because they are middle-aged/elderly animals with no calves/younger animals around to interact with and stimulate more activity?
 
I wonder if the old vicuna enclosure and the ajoining enclosure housing mountain gazelle i think could be developed for the elephants?
 
LeeMac13 said:
I wonder if the old vicuna enclosure and the ajoining enclosure housing mountain gazelle i think could be developed for the elephants?
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A bit far from the Current House and not much bigger of an area than thay already have,any way they have already started work in that area for what ever is going to replace the Markhor and Vicuna.
 
I think they are to be replaced by a wallaby walkthrough , there are four waiting to go on show and some with the grey roos.
 
Why did they stop keeping Markhor? Did they disband the group gradually or did it die out to just a couple of animals?
 
I think they just died out and sent the last two animals to HWP, its a shame to see them go, though i'amsure the HWP enclosure is alot more suited.
 
plus they might have been inbred for they were the only group in the UK for quite a while, I think without any new animals being brought in?
 
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johnstoni said:
plus they must have been inbred for they were the only group in the UK for quite a while, I think without any new animals being brought in.
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Not true. Blackpool worked with the other European holders on this species. A new male arrived in 2002 (I think), but not sure whether he contributed to the gene pool. Given the history with the species and the endangered status it is a pity Blackpool has obviously decided that markhor are not sexy enough to maintain the display.
 
There has been work going on around the ardvark enclosure think it is an outdoor area, and the old markhor enclosure is to be made into a wallaby walkthrough.
 
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