Marwell Wildlife Marwell Zoo News 2024

Seems odd about the fence. I am planning on going tomorrow so I will have a look.
 
Notes from a visit today.

  • I think the temporary electric fence in the giraffe paddock is not to keep the giraffe out of the paddock but to keep the zebra and roan antelope away from the giraffe gate.
    • Similarly I also noticed that the gate between the bongo and lesser kudu paddocks was shut and a similar electric fence had also been put up to keep the bongo away from the kudu.
  • On the subject of health problems there were signs at the addax/dorcas gazelle paddock that animals were being monitored by a vet. Nothing was closed off though.
  • There are also now dik-diks in the addax/dorcas gazelle paddock as well as their own enclosure. There are no signs for them there though.
  • Have there been some issues recently with visitor behaviour?
    • There are signs throughout Life Among the Trees about not tapping on the glass windows.
    • There are signs around the red panda enclosure about not climbing on the exhibit walls. The path going up to the indoor quarters has been closed off. Is this related?
  • Three visits in a row where I got a good look at the clouded leopards. One even came right up to the viewing window. Even on a weekday there were a lot of people around their enclosure. Could they potentially be a star species if more people were aware of them?
  • Saw both the recently announced newborns (cotton topped tamarin and red river hog).
  • One of the vivariums is the invertebrate exhibit near cold blooded corner is empty. I can't remember what was previously in it though. The partula snails, hissing cockroaches and sun beetles are still there.
 
Cat-Man said:
It’s been a long time policy at marwell (and other institutions) to keep animals on hard standing when weather could cause welfare concerns. Speaking purely as an individual with no zoo experience it is easy to see why given giraffes nature, size and gait the barrier for allowing them into their (quite sloped) paddock would be higher. I expect the prolonged period of wet weather this spring has meant the ground is soggy and could pose quite the risk!
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I think they should resolve the issue with the sloped paddock and it getting soggy. I would favour them putting in some hard grained soil nex to sandy substrate and perhaps part green ...(but the latter not a lot). Come to think of it, I think it is time they build some new holdings for giraffe instead of the current rectangular structure ..., it is both not nice from animal nor human perspective (the latter both keeper staff and visiting public).
 
Sad news

Farewell Makeda

It is with deep sadness that Marwell Wildlife announces the death of 19-year-old giraffe Makeda yesterday.

The zoo’s Veterinary team had been treating Makeda for serious dental disease for a number of months but the medication stopped working and the condition could not be left untreated.

Sadly, anaesthetising animals always carries a risk and is particularly difficult with giraffes due to their size.

The procedure was a very challenging one and the zoo’s Veterinary and Hoofstock teams had anaesthetised Makeda to carry out the dental treatment, which went well.

However, sadly she did not recover from the anaesthetic despite the very best efforts of zoo teams.

Makeda was born at Marwell Zoo in 2005 and lived her whole life amongst the Marwell herd.

Marwell Zoo’s Hoofstock Team said: “The team is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our giraffes, Makeda.

“She was such an inquisitive character, with a keenness to be involved with everything, and made up an important part of our herd.

“Makeda did incredibly well when training with her keepers, thanks to her willingness to learn, and her love of food.

“She was greedy and confident, knowing exactly what she wanted, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. She will be greatly missed by us all.”
 
This only leaves 1:2 giraffes I think

1:1 Rothschild(Mboro & Ruby) &
0:1 hybrid Christa

Hopefully another 2/3 Rothschilds can be sourced to kick start the herd again
 
HelloCrossy67 said:
Are they currently breeding Mboro and Ruby?
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No I believe Ruby isn't suitable for breeding apparently(unsure of reason why) although she's a purebred Rothschild(conceived at Woburn). Breeding recommendation is forbidden with her anyhow. Last I heard a Rothschild female had been selected for Marwell from another UK collection however no moves have happened as of yet.
 
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Embu said:
No I believe Ruby isn't suitable for breeding apparently(unsure of reason why) although she's a purebred Rothschild(conceived at Woburn). Breeding recommendation is forbidden with her anyhow. Last I heard a Rothschild female had been selected for Marwell from another UK collection however no moves have happened as of yet.
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Makeda had given birth earlier this year it did not survive, understand still hoping to get female from West Midland.
 
okapis said:
Makeda had given birth earlier this year it did not survive, understand still hoping to get female from West Midland.
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Makeda gave birth at the age of 19!? Seems strange considering she's only had 1 calf before(DNS) and that was in 2010, not to mention she was a known hybrid
 
Sad about Makeda.

Is Ruby the small giraffe and is her size anything to do with why she isn't regarded as suitable for breeding? If that is her she is quite a bit smaller than the others.

I thought Marwell weren't planning on breeding from the hybrids too, unless it was an accident.
 
NMM said:
Sad about Makeda.

Is Ruby the small giraffe and is her size anything to do with why she isn't regarded as suitable for breeding? If that is her she is quite a bit smaller than the others.

I thought Marwell weren't planning on breeding from the hybrids too, unless it was an accident.
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I believe that was the plan not to breed from the current 3 females but because of their ages and status' I was under the impression that any future breeding would have to come from imported females. If Makeda did give birth this year then it must have been purely accidental as there's no way Marwell would have deliberately bred from a hybrid and at that age after a 14 year absence.
Anyhow sad news about Makeda her age was testament to her keepers care
 
NMM said:
Sad about Makeda.

Is Ruby the small giraffe and is her size anything to do with why she isn't regarded as suitable for breeding? If that is her she is quite a bit smaller than the others.

I thought Marwell weren't planning on breeding from the hybrids too, unless it was an accident.
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All three females including Makeda were on inplants, but somrtimes these things do not work,yes Rugby is the smallest giraffe at Marwell always small and never wanted to breed from her, some better news four wild horses have been born in the last two months.
 
HelloCrossy67 said:
Considering the low numbers on all 3 species in the main paddock, it makes me wonder if there are underlying plans...
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I don't think so. Reducing numbers to about 3 or 4 animals per species seemed to be part of Cretney's modus operandi during his tenure.
 
HelloCrossy67 said:
Also yes see your point NMM, it's good to see that some, such as the Bongo, Sitatunga, Oryx and Preswalskis are growing in size!
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Let the zebras do their magic - and one can almost smell then the herds that must've been in years prior.. and are still much thought of today.
 
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