Looking back on 2023

1. Seeing the young Asian Elephants play in the mud and going into the Komodo Dragon Exhibit! (Chester Zoo)
2. Scimitar-Horned Oryx being downgraded from EW to Endangered!
3. Paignton Zoo seemed to be at a low place, with Crocodile Swamp Closing. Hopefully it will get a footing this new year.
4. Properly introducing myself to the ZooChat Community, and maybe starting my own ‘Fantasy Zoo’
 
1. My personal highlight of this year would have to be the two major trips I went on to new zoos. First, in May I visited all six NYC zoos plus two in New Jersey, where I saw a lot of really impressive exhibits and new species (especially at Bronx). Later on, in October I visited Toronto, Detroit, and Toledo Zoos over a long weekend- each of which was an incredible zoo and quite unique in their own ways as well.

2. Learning that the USFWS lifted its ban on breeding wild-born polar bears.

3. Jaffa, the Masai giraffe male at Roger Williams Park Zoo, passing away.

4. I have plans to hopefully visit my first ever zoo outside of the US/Canada, as well as a high chance of seeing wild primates for the first time ever!
 
Hello.

1. What is your personal zoo visit highlight?

I have had many highlights this year.

- July: In Belo Horizonte, I met @David Matos Mendes for the first time in person. Not only did I enjoy my day with great company, but I also saw many species I had not seen in years, such as my favorite animal: the African bush elephant.
- August: this time, it would be David's turn to meet me at my local zoo. We had a blast there.
- December: I visited Itatiba, the only zoo in the world to have Brazilian mergansers and an Eastern silky anteater on display.

+ To close this year with a flourish, I visited the zoo today!

2. What is your favourite piece of zoo news of the year?
- The opening of Animália Park to the general public.
- The newest attractions in Itatiba (silky anteater, zebras and the Amazon House) and its plans for the future (sitatungas and a new reptile house!).
- The plans for Dreams Ecopark (they're big, so I will not spoil them).

3. What was your most disappointing zoo news of the year?
- Gemsbok are going to be phased-out from the only zoo that bred them in Brazil.
- The giraffes smuggled by Rio de Janeiro zoo will not be on display there, which means they were ilegally brought from South Africa for nothing.

4. Is there anything zoo-based in your plans for 2024?

Firstly, if I manage to get into university, I have plans to visit my local zoo more often.

I'm planning to visit São Paulo zoo, Animália Park, Curitiba zoo and Foz do Iguaçu (Parque das Aves, Refúgio Biológico Bela Vista and Dreams Ecopark) next year.
 
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Figured I would do my year highlights as well:

1. What is your personal zoo visit highlight?

Probably, on balance, my visit to The Bug Parc in Norfolk - as someone very fond of a strong invertebrate collection, this place was a dream come true. If I hadn't been there, then honestly the Tiny Giants building at London would have come second.

As for individual animal sightings, it was probably watching the entire family of Sumatran tigers at London chasing and catching a woodpigeon that had entered their enclosure.

2. What is your favourite piece of zoo news of the year?

Announcement of the masterplan for Colchester Zoo is probably my personal highlight.

Lots of interesting arrivals this year as well - the quokkas at Stuttgart, two new holders of polar bears in England and small Indian mongooses at London particularly stand out.

On a slightly smaller scale, I have been really pleased that Colchester Zoo are now doing monthly reports of zoo news, some of which can fly completely under the radar. Really hope it continues into 2024.

3. What was your most disappointing zoo news of the year?

Definitely the issues going on at Banham Zoo and Africa Alive towards the end of the year.

4. Is there anything zoo-based in your plans for 2024?

A revisit to London is definitely on the cards. May also be visiting a tiny new zoo that opened fairly recently in the local area. Otherwise, it will mainly be repeat visits to Colchester which for me is no bad thing.
 
Enzo said:
I visited Itatiba, the only zoo in the world to have Brazilian mergansers and an Eastern silky anteater on display.
Click to expand...
Funny you should say that, as it has just been announced yesterday (at least on ZooChat, although it may have been public knowledge prior) that Prague will be acquiring the species. Presumably these are coming from Itatiba, unless there is also a private holder which could have provided them. :)

EDIT: I realise now that it has been public knowledge for quite some time, but that they won’t be going on show until March.
 
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Kalaw said:
Funny you should say that, as it has just been announced yesterday (at least on ZooChat, although it may have been public knowledge prior) that Prague will be acquiring the species. Presumably these are coming from Itatiba, unless there is also a private holder which could have provided them. :)

EDIT: I realise now that it has been public knowledge for quite some time, but that they won’t be going on show until March.
Click to expand...
They are much probably going to be acquired from Itatiba, once the institution has good relations with european zoos for several reasons. I've heard they've been trying to find other institutions to help on the maintenance/breeding of the species for quite some time.
 
Enzo said:
Hello.

1. What is your personal zoo visit highlight?

I have had many highlights this year.

- July: In Belo Horizonte, I met @David Matos Mendes for the first time in person. Not only did I enjoy my day with great company, but I also saw many species I had not seen in years, such as my favorite animal: the African bush elephant.
- August: this time, it would be David's turn to meet me at my local zoo. We had a blast there.
- December: I visited Itatiba, the only zoo in the world to have Brazilian mergansers and an Eastern silky anteater on display.

+ To close this year with a flourish, I visited the zoo today!

2. What is your favourite piece of zoo news of the year?
- The opening of Animália Park to the general public.
- The newest attractions in Itatiba (silky anteater, zebras and the Amazon House) and its plans for the future (sitatungas and a new reptile house!).
- The plans for Dreams Ecopark (they're big, so I will not spoil them).

3. What was your most disappointing zoo news of the year?
- Gemsbok are going to be phased-out from the only zoo that bred them in Brazil.
- The giraffes smuggled by Rio de Janeiro zoo will not be on display there, which means they were ilegally brought from South Africa for nothing.

4. Is there anything zoo-based in your plans for 2024?

Firstly, if I manage to get into university, I have plans to visit my local zoo more often.

I'm planning to visit São Paulo zoo, Animália Park, Curitiba zoo and Foz do Iguaçu (Parque das Aves, Refúgio Biológico Bela Vista and Dreams Ecopark) next year.
Click to expand...

Indeed a good zoo year you had, my friend. It was a pleasure to receive you in our zoo. As I told you, next time you come, we're gonna be able to provide more backstage/special visits. Also, a great time we had in Rio indeed!

Agreed with the other topics you mentioned... Specially with the sad/disappointing ones.
 
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