Marwell Wildlife Marwell 2022 News

Won't say anything more as I got slated for my opinion on the abusers at the time, so let's gloss over it...
Pleased that the restoration of Eland to the hoofstock collection seems to be back on after Covid.
Personally I'd like to see Nilgai and Blackbuck come back too. Not sure anyone in the UK even has Nilgai anymore? Not seen any in years.
Hoping to get a visit in the next 2 weeks depending on weather and my health holding up. Not done any photography for a while either.


Blackbuck and Nilgai would be great! Quite a few places still do hold Nilgai - Whipsnade, Port Lymphe, Knowsley, Blair Drummond, Watatunga and Hobbledown in Surrey.
Obviously a few of those are more ‘reserves’ than zoos but still.
 
From facebook:


“We are deeply saddened to announce the death of one of our giraffes.

Our keepers and vet team are working together to establish more details after Irsula collapsed suddenly earlier today.

Thank you to all our guests for your support and understanding at this time. We will keep you updated with more information.”

@Gelada was Irsula a pure Rothschild's or one of the hybrids?
 
Regarding the break-in at Marwell last year, three people have been charged with burglary with intent to commit criminal damage and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal (items were thrown at one of the giraffes during the break-in). A fourth person has been charged with assisting an offender.

More information can be found here:
Marwell Zoo break-in: Four charged after giraffe harassed

@DesertRhino150 did the Giraffe come out of the encounter with the burglars unscathed? Furthermore were any further Animals targeted.
I don’t know but I can predict the motive for the break in was too steal a animal(s). I remember years ago Blackpool Zoo suffered a burglary. During this event the thieves stole 3 Cotton Topped Tamarins. These were Parents and a baby. Unfortunately only the Parents were recovered and returned to the Zoo. I suspect the Baby was kept as a Pet or sold on the black market. I hope this is the case. The other scenario is vast it was abused and tortured before being killed.
 
Irsulah was a purebred Rothschild giraffe I believe seen as she arrived from Woburn where she was born.

Be interesting to know whether the new male giraffe is one of the young bulls or breeding bull Meru. I would expect the latter as he's a proven bull. Fantastic news either way, just need some new females to join, Paignton perhaps?
 
I cannot confirm, but based on SLOTZ previous commentary, it's obviously easier to move on a smaller giraffe (for logistical reasons).

I would therefore suspect one of the younger males was moved as a probable new breeding male.
 
I cannot confirm, but based on SLOTZ previous commentary, it's obviously easier to move on a smaller giraffe (for logistical reasons).

I would therefore suspect one of the younger males was moved as a probable new breeding male.

although worth noting Marwell only has one female purebred Rothschild now. The other two females are hybrids
 
although worth noting Marwell only has one female purebred Rothschild now. The other two females are hybrids
I think its Mburo who has arrived from Chester, the only pure female Marwell have is Ruby born in 2012 but has always been on the small size. Do not think Marwell will breed from her, so the future is to bring more females in at some stage.
 
I cannot confirm, but based on SLOTZ previous commentary, it's obviously easier to move on a smaller giraffe (for logistical reasons).

I would therefore suspect one of the younger males was moved as a probable new breeding male.

That's correct. It's much easier and more effecient to transport a younger male rather than a fully grown bull, so it's likely one of the young males. Mburo is three, so would be of perfect age, but there are other candidates too.
 
Of interest to this thread, I visited Chester today and a keeper pointed out Albert in the herd but I also saw his sign was gone while Mburo's was still there so I am not sure if it's the signs that are wrong or the keeper!
 
You think they were trying to steal a giraffe?

@littleRedPanda I may have a learning disability, but I’m not that thick LOL
When I mentioned the burglary at Blackpool Zoo, I was giving an example of a Zoo where motive was to steal Animals. I was suggesting that the Marwell Zoo break in could have had the same motive. Your post about stealing a Giraffe made me chuckle to myself. I can picture a couple of burglars riding around Hampshire on a Giraffe. This would certainly be a novel get away car.
 
Visited today. My previous visit was last September. Notes and observations below.

The Clouded Leopards appear to be very popular. Could hardly describe the zoo as crowded today but there always seemed to be a large gathering around their viewing windows. I think you need to be very lucky to see them.

To allow the new Giraffe to settle in the viewing platform and the indoor viewing are shut. Into Africa is only open as far as the indoor Lemur viewing. The Giraffes were also shut out of the main paddock.

The Blesboks have moved from the Giraffe paddock to one of the paddocks on your left as you walk from Heart of Africa towards Cafe Graze. The two middle paddocks both seem to have new inhabitants since my last visit. The order is now Lesser Kudu, Przewalski's Horse, Blesbok and Arabian Oryx. Can anyone else remember what was previously in the two middle paddocks? I am struggling at the moment.

According to the signs the African Wild Ass have moved to be in with the Ostriches. They appeared to be shut inside. There was some maintenance work taking place on the enclosure's fences but the Ostriches were out and about. The former Wild Ass enclosure appeared to be empty. Could this be where the Eland are going?

Several changes in Life Among the Trees
- Gentle Lemurs have gone and there are Coppery Titi Monkeys and Golden Handed Tamarins in their place.
- Golden Lion Tamarins have moved in with the Sakis and Pygmy Marmosets have moved from the Tropical House to their old enclosure.

The two tanks on the right hand side of Cold Blooded Corner have been merged together and there is now a Royal Python in them.

The paddock next to the tropical house appears to be empty.

There were no signs for the former African Valley but it did have several Przewalski's Horses in it.

The Siamang are shut inside and there is a sign that there enclosure is about to undergo some maintenance work.
 
Was it the sable antelope you are thinking of? They used to be next to the bongos and the oryx. I could be completely wrong..
 
Don't think so. I don't recall them being there. I can remember the sable antelope being in the giraffe paddock and one of the paddocks at the far end of the zoo (I think where the banteng are now).
 
Don't think so. I don't recall them being there. I can remember the sable antelope being in the giraffe paddock and one of the paddocks at the far end of the zoo (I think where the banteng are now).
Sable Antelope have been kept in a number of places over the years, where the Arabian Oryx are now and again where the Lesser Kudu are now, the areas where now the horses and Blesbok are were in the past used for Zebras Grevys and Hartmanns, the Banteng have access to the former Wild Ass paddock,and hopefully there will be some new additions soon to the group,the empty paddock by the tropical house which has held a male Addax lately could well hold Eland if when they come.
 
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Thanks Okapis.

Maybe I missed the sable antelope being in those areas. I know that the mountain zebra where in the second paddock I mentioned for a long time, but couldn't recall what replaced them when they moved.
 
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