Marwell Wildlife Marwell Zoo News
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I think he was about 10. He fell ill suddenly and was PTS. If I remember correctly he had a ruptured bladder.
I,m not sure when the Rothschild giraffe studbook was set up and how they guarantee that the the founding members were all pure-bred. So that was an interesting point to make. I am fairly new to all this and (wrongly) tend to accept things at face value
Don't do that(take things at face value...
)The original giraffes arrived at Marwell before it opened in 1970/1. Probably 2.4. or 1.5. They were part of a larger consignment imported into Belle Vue Zoo for quarantine. They would have been pure though as they were all wildcaught, presumably from the same area. The question is exactly which race they actually were...In those days no one bothered too much about Giraffe subspecies- hence the later crossbreeding that occurred there.
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Latest Musings on Marwell
Visited Marwell last weekend, first visit for a couple of months.
Rather than another review of sorts, just thought I would post the things that came into my head while I was there.....
1. Still no Squirrel Monkeys (or anything else) on island on Black Swan Pond. Anyone know what happened there.....?
2. I was told that Marwell lost the first Takin born in the UK (although they now have a second youngster). What's the story there?
3. Marwell did used to have two groups of Roan, one of which I believe was pure bred (those by the macaques.....now Ankole). These were moved on to make way for Ankole who in turn were moved to make way for the Australian 'Biome'.
4. Although when I first visited the Australian 'Biome' & Close Encounters I thought there was real potential for a nice exhibit, I now really think that this area has been poorly thought out and executed and is a waste of prime zoo space. The walk-through wallaby area could not look less Australian and currently looks like an old bit of overgrown wasteland with a path through it. The wallabies may be there but you can't see them for weeds. The parma wallably/ kookaburra area is a big improvement but again lacks something, despite the close proximity of the animals its all a bit sterile. The reptile area is the exception and is a nice exhibit (the nearest Marwell have come to a real reptile house). The walk-through tamarin exhibit is another failure. The animals never use the main part of the enclosure (ie where the peiple are) and can usually only be viewed around the corner in the more traditional part of the enclosure.
5. I was also told recently that the new mixed valley exhibit will initially feature no carnivores and no new species. Priority will be given to those species that can be given easy access (Roan, Sable, Zebra, etc).
6. Anteater enclosure quite nice although a little on the small size. Would be nice to see Capybara/ rhea paddock re-developed into a series of enclosures for South American species. Has always been a bit of an eye-sore in my opinion.
7. Why are Marwell flamingos so pale, do they not feed carotene in the diet?? Flamingo enclsoure looking very nice though.
8. Gibbon/ Asia enclosure looking really good and gibbons very active (not no anoas in sight.....surprise!!). Old gibbon cage now gone (where?).
Anyone got any thoughts.....???
Sorry if this sounds a little negative, I am a member at Marwell and have supported them for getting on for 20 years, but am just starting to get a tiny bit frustrated with the direction the place is going in.
Visited Marwell last weekend, first visit for a couple of months.
Rather than another review of sorts, just thought I would post the things that came into my head while I was there.....
1. Still no Squirrel Monkeys (or anything else) on island on Black Swan Pond. Anyone know what happened there.....?
2. I was told that Marwell lost the first Takin born in the UK (although they now have a second youngster). What's the story there?
3. Marwell did used to have two groups of Roan, one of which I believe was pure bred (those by the macaques.....now Ankole). These were moved on to make way for Ankole who in turn were moved to make way for the Australian 'Biome'.
4. Although when I first visited the Australian 'Biome' & Close Encounters I thought there was real potential for a nice exhibit, I now really think that this area has been poorly thought out and executed and is a waste of prime zoo space. The walk-through wallaby area could not look less Australian and currently looks like an old bit of overgrown wasteland with a path through it. The wallabies may be there but you can't see them for weeds. The parma wallably/ kookaburra area is a big improvement but again lacks something, despite the close proximity of the animals its all a bit sterile. The reptile area is the exception and is a nice exhibit (the nearest Marwell have come to a real reptile house). The walk-through tamarin exhibit is another failure. The animals never use the main part of the enclosure (ie where the peiple are) and can usually only be viewed around the corner in the more traditional part of the enclosure.
5. I was also told recently that the new mixed valley exhibit will initially feature no carnivores and no new species. Priority will be given to those species that can be given easy access (Roan, Sable, Zebra, etc).
6. Anteater enclosure quite nice although a little on the small size. Would be nice to see Capybara/ rhea paddock re-developed into a series of enclosures for South American species. Has always been a bit of an eye-sore in my opinion.
7. Why are Marwell flamingos so pale, do they not feed carotene in the diet?? Flamingo enclsoure looking very nice though.
8. Gibbon/ Asia enclosure looking really good and gibbons very active (not no anoas in sight.....surprise!!). Old gibbon cage now gone (where?).
Anyone got any thoughts.....???
Sorry if this sounds a little negative, I am a member at Marwell and have supported them for getting on for 20 years, but am just starting to get a tiny bit frustrated with the direction the place is going in.
already knew about roan antelope moving, i think they went to port lympne, if im right?
and ive not visited for a while and im very excited about seeing the gibbon enclosure and wallaby exihbit!
good news for the anteaters, do you think they will breed?
thanks for news!
and ive not visited for a while and im very excited about seeing the gibbon enclosure and wallaby exihbit!
good news for the anteaters, do you think they will breed?
thanks for news!
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
Visited Marwell last weekend, first visit for a couple of months.
Rather than another review of sorts, just thought I would post the things that came into my head while I was there.....
1. Still no Squirrel Monkeys (or anything else) on island on Black Swan Pond. Anyone know what happened there.....?
2. I was told that Marwell lost the first Takin born in the UK (although they now have a second youngster). What's the story there?
3. Marwell did used to have two groups of Roan, one of which I believe was pure bred (those by the macaques.....now Ankole). These were moved on to make way for Ankole who in turn were moved to make way for the Australian 'Biome'.
4. Although when I first visited the Australian 'Biome' & Close Encounters I thought there was real potential for a nice exhibit, I now really think that this area has been poorly thought out and executed and is a waste of prime zoo space. The walk-through wallaby area could not look less Australian and currently looks like an old bit of overgrown wasteland with a path through it. The wallabies may be there but you can't see them for weeds. The parma wallably/ kookaburra area is a big improvement but again lacks something, despite the close proximity of the animals its all a bit sterile. The reptile area is the exception and is a nice exhibit (the nearest Marwell have come to a real reptile house). The walk-through tamarin exhibit is another failure. The animals never use the main part of the enclosure (ie where the peiple are) and can usually only be viewed around the corner in the more traditional part of the enclosure.
5. I was also told recently that the new mixed valley exhibit will initially feature no carnivores and no new species. Priority will be given to those species that can be given easy access (Roan, Sable, Zebra, etc).
6. Anteater enclosure quite nice although a little on the small size. Would be nice to see Capybara/ rhea paddock re-developed into a series of enclosures for South American species. Has always been a bit of an eye-sore in my opinion.
7. Why are Marwell flamingos so pale, do they not feed carotene in the diet?? Flamingo enclsoure looking very nice though.
8. Gibbon/ Asia enclosure looking really good and gibbons very active (not no anoas in sight.....surprise!!). Old gibbon cage now gone (where?).
Anyone got any thoughts.....???
Sorry if this sounds a little negative, I am a member at Marwell and have supported them for getting on for 20 years, but am just starting to get a tiny bit frustrated with the direction the place is going in.
Squirrel monkeys - if you read the inventory you will see the last of these died in 2007. There were 2 in spring of last year.
Takin - the first calf, a male, died last year, before the female was born.
Roan antelope - If Marwell did indeed have a separate, pure group, they did not go to port lympne. The port lympne animals are also hybrids and were probably a couple of years' offspring from the current marwell group. The whipsnade animals are not hybrids and marwell may have consilidated this group by sending their pure animals around the same time as London.
Gibbon exhibit - I think both the anoas that were present in early 2007 died, and have since been replaced (Check the inventory)
Anteaters - there is no reason that they shouldn't have been given access to the larger rhea paddock....for some reasons the marwell inventory lists a large number of common rheas being acquired last year, instead the anteaters could have used that space along with a smaller number of the birds. As has been said elsewhere on this forum, feel sorry for the vicunas, they seem to be allowed the benefit of grass at chester, edinburgh, belfast, but not marwell. I agree that this area is slightly haphazard, but then both trains run right through the area so it will never really work as a cohesive group of exhibits.
Were there still free-ranging lion tamarins opposite the warthogs?
Were there still porcupines in the indoor colobus enclosure?
Fantastic news about the Okapi, in my opinion the best thing about this collection by far.
Hi
I can try and answer some of your queries:
1. Still no Squirrel Monkeys (or anything else) on island on Black Swan Pond. Anyone know what happened there.....?
According to recent animal list the Squirrel monkeys have all died. I don't know if they plan to replace them or put another species on the Island.
2. I was told that Marwell lost the first Takin born in the UK (although they now have a second youngster). What's the story there?
The 1st (male) young born did die - I think they found a tumor - but I will have to check.
3. Marwell did used to have two groups of Roan, one of which I believe was pure bred (those by the macaques.....now Ankole). These were moved on to make way for Ankole who in turn were moved to make way for the Australian 'Biome'.
1 group is now at Port Lympe and the other is up by the new Restuarant. They are breeding from the group they have at Marwell - but I am not sure if they are pure-bred.
4. Although when I first visited the Australian 'Biome' & Close Encounters I thought there was real potential for a nice exhibit, I now really think that this area has been poorly thought out and executed and is a waste of prime zoo space........
There is a phase 2 of this Biome to be completed next year (where the Ankole house is). Hopefully this will improved the overall feel of the area. I think this area is OK - but not overly exciting and I often walk pass.
5. I was also told recently that the new mixed valley exhibit will initially feature no carnivores and no new species. Priority will be given to those species that can be given easy access (Roan, Sable, Zebra, etc).
I have also heard this - it will be some time before new animals are introduced into the Valley. The Hartmann hardstanding has recently been re-developed for Grevy - I suspect that the animals housed here will be given access to the Valley field (but I could be totally wrong!)
6. Anteater enclosure quite nice although a little on the small size. Would be nice to see Capybara/ rhea paddock re-developed into a series of enclosures for South American species. Has always been a bit of an eye-sore in my opinion.
I heard the Anteater will be given access to the Capybara/rhea paddock when they have settled in. They are currently trying to mix the Anteater - but the female isn't too impressed by the male
7. Why are Marwell flamingos so pale, do they not feed carotene in the diet?? Flamingo enclsoure looking very nice though.
The old flamingos left last year and were replaced by a different species (I will check which). The new species are lighter in colour - I think this is normal.
8. Gibbon/ Asia enclosure looking really good and gibbons very active (not no anoas in sight.....surprise!!). Old gibbon cage now gone (where?).
I have seen the Anoas many times - I think you were unlucky. But I agree the Gibbon enclosure looks v good.
The old enclosure was going to be moved into the quarantine area. There are no plans to build anything new on this site.
Sorry if this sounds a little negative, I am a member at Marwell and have supported them for getting on for 20 years, but am just starting to get a tiny bit frustrated with the direction the place is going in.[/QUOTE]
I think that Marwell has great potential and some good plans for the future - but it will take a considerable amount of time and money. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next 5-10 years.
I can try and answer some of your queries:
1. Still no Squirrel Monkeys (or anything else) on island on Black Swan Pond. Anyone know what happened there.....?
According to recent animal list the Squirrel monkeys have all died. I don't know if they plan to replace them or put another species on the Island.
2. I was told that Marwell lost the first Takin born in the UK (although they now have a second youngster). What's the story there?
The 1st (male) young born did die - I think they found a tumor - but I will have to check.
3. Marwell did used to have two groups of Roan, one of which I believe was pure bred (those by the macaques.....now Ankole). These were moved on to make way for Ankole who in turn were moved to make way for the Australian 'Biome'.
1 group is now at Port Lympe and the other is up by the new Restuarant. They are breeding from the group they have at Marwell - but I am not sure if they are pure-bred.
4. Although when I first visited the Australian 'Biome' & Close Encounters I thought there was real potential for a nice exhibit, I now really think that this area has been poorly thought out and executed and is a waste of prime zoo space........
There is a phase 2 of this Biome to be completed next year (where the Ankole house is). Hopefully this will improved the overall feel of the area. I think this area is OK - but not overly exciting and I often walk pass.
5. I was also told recently that the new mixed valley exhibit will initially feature no carnivores and no new species. Priority will be given to those species that can be given easy access (Roan, Sable, Zebra, etc).
I have also heard this - it will be some time before new animals are introduced into the Valley. The Hartmann hardstanding has recently been re-developed for Grevy - I suspect that the animals housed here will be given access to the Valley field (but I could be totally wrong!)
6. Anteater enclosure quite nice although a little on the small size. Would be nice to see Capybara/ rhea paddock re-developed into a series of enclosures for South American species. Has always been a bit of an eye-sore in my opinion.
I heard the Anteater will be given access to the Capybara/rhea paddock when they have settled in. They are currently trying to mix the Anteater - but the female isn't too impressed by the male
7. Why are Marwell flamingos so pale, do they not feed carotene in the diet?? Flamingo enclsoure looking very nice though.
The old flamingos left last year and were replaced by a different species (I will check which). The new species are lighter in colour - I think this is normal.
8. Gibbon/ Asia enclosure looking really good and gibbons very active (not no anoas in sight.....surprise!!). Old gibbon cage now gone (where?).
I have seen the Anoas many times - I think you were unlucky. But I agree the Gibbon enclosure looks v good.
The old enclosure was going to be moved into the quarantine area. There are no plans to build anything new on this site.
Sorry if this sounds a little negative, I am a member at Marwell and have supported them for getting on for 20 years, but am just starting to get a tiny bit frustrated with the direction the place is going in.
[/QUOTE]I think that Marwell has great potential and some good plans for the future - but it will take a considerable amount of time and money. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next 5-10 years.
Sorry if I have covered the same ground as Johnstoni - we must have been typing at the same time
Were there still free-ranging lion tamarins opposite the warthogs?
No - these have been moved to Encounter Village in a walk-through area. Teh old house has been demolished.
Were there still porcupines in the indoor colobus enclosure?
Porcupines are still kept in with the colobus. I think young have been born recently
Anoa
Marwell had 2 v elderly anoa (1 male and 1 female). 2 females came from Whipsnade last year. 2 have since died (unsure which)
Were there still free-ranging lion tamarins opposite the warthogs?
No - these have been moved to Encounter Village in a walk-through area. Teh old house has been demolished.
Were there still porcupines in the indoor colobus enclosure?
Porcupines are still kept in with the colobus. I think young have been born recently
Anoa
Marwell had 2 v elderly anoa (1 male and 1 female). 2 females came from Whipsnade last year. 2 have since died (unsure which)
They are Greater Flamingos which are naturally paler than the Chilean or Caribbean.
Sorry if I have covered the same ground as Johnstoni - we must have been typing at the same time
Were there still free-ranging lion tamarins opposite the warthogs?
No - these have been moved to Encounter Village in a walk-through area. Teh old house has been demolished.
Were there still porcupines in the indoor colobus enclosure?
Porcupines are still kept in with the colobus. I think young have been born recently
Anoa
Marwell had 2 v elderly anoa (1 male and 1 female). 2 females came from Whipsnade last year. 2 have since died (unsure which)
Would love to know which anoa they currently have. I hope and rather suspect the old couple died ... and then the new females were moved in. I also hope that the planned import of anoa ex Sulawesi/Jawa (Surabaya) will happen some time soonish!!!
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
You were right that Port Lympne recieved roan antelope from Marwell, nobody disputed that, but as ISIS list Port Lympne's Roan as generic animals, along with the current marwell herd, it is logical to conclude that these 'hybrids' that went to port lympne in 2006/2007 were the surplus animals from the big group at Marwell. The current group at Marwell produce up to 6 or 7 calves in most years, so it would appear that some marwell-bred hybrids went to stock the african experience at Port Lympne. You may well have seen two groups of Roan for a time at Marwell but I suspect any pure animals left the collection some time before that. As ZSL and Marwell have often held 'their' ungulates collectively, the remainder of any pure Roans at Marwell would have most likely ended up at Whipsnade, which still list a small group of pure Roan antelope in their collection.
Thanks for info all, much appreciated.
Yes, I can read the inventory myself but find that it is often out of date and says nothing regarding what might be being planned in the near future, or what is going on behind the scenes. I don't always get to talk to the people I know there as often as I used to.....
I don't actually mind that Marwell hold 'hybrid' Roan (the pros and cons to conservation efforts of dividing species into never-ending geographically based sub-species/ populations of ever-decreasing individuals and genetic diversity when no-one (least of all another Roan) can actually tell the difference without a PCR to hand is perhaps for another time....). What bothers me is the use of a prime-paddock/ house for the Ankole when it may have been the right time to go-out of all the domestic species (after all the other domestics have recently left the collection) to accomodate the Australian Biome. The central paddock could then be used for another antelope species or two. A large area which could be used for conservation which is basically just 'filled' with Ankole. Send them to a farm I say......
Incidentally, there were no porcupines in with the colobus (or at least I didn't see any). Signs were still there though so probably just 'out back'.
Re-phrasing my previous questions, does anyone know the plans for the Black Swan Pond island?
Or why a tumor should be found in such a young takin? Seems a little strange, a parental/ genetic problem?? Not the first takin lost my Marwell.....
My comments regarding the anoa were perhaps directed at those who know Marwell well and have compared viewing anoa at other collections. For example, it is difficult to visit London and not see their anoa wheras I have never seen one at Marwell (probably very unlucky but have to say that have seen everything else without too much effort. If I had never seen one at all, I would probably have put more effort into it!!)
Yes, I can read the inventory myself but find that it is often out of date and says nothing regarding what might be being planned in the near future, or what is going on behind the scenes. I don't always get to talk to the people I know there as often as I used to.....
I don't actually mind that Marwell hold 'hybrid' Roan (the pros and cons to conservation efforts of dividing species into never-ending geographically based sub-species/ populations of ever-decreasing individuals and genetic diversity when no-one (least of all another Roan) can actually tell the difference without a PCR to hand is perhaps for another time....). What bothers me is the use of a prime-paddock/ house for the Ankole when it may have been the right time to go-out of all the domestic species (after all the other domestics have recently left the collection) to accomodate the Australian Biome. The central paddock could then be used for another antelope species or two. A large area which could be used for conservation which is basically just 'filled' with Ankole. Send them to a farm I say......
Incidentally, there were no porcupines in with the colobus (or at least I didn't see any). Signs were still there though so probably just 'out back'.
Re-phrasing my previous questions, does anyone know the plans for the Black Swan Pond island?
Or why a tumor should be found in such a young takin? Seems a little strange, a parental/ genetic problem?? Not the first takin lost my Marwell.....
My comments regarding the anoa were perhaps directed at those who know Marwell well and have compared viewing anoa at other collections. For example, it is difficult to visit London and not see their anoa wheras I have never seen one at Marwell (probably very unlucky but have to say that have seen everything else without too much effort. If I had never seen one at all, I would probably have put more effort into it!!)
were the anoas housed in the enclosure next to the babirusa and peccary because im pretty sure i saw one once!
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
I think the anoas left that part of the zoo when the takin enclosure was constructed to accompany the snow leopard exhibit. Ironically this strip of woodland was the most suitable place for the anoa to be housed. For a time, they were housed in one of the small yards by the arabian oryx, where the vicuna used to be kept, presumably awaiting the construction of the new gibbon area where the current anoa are now kept.