Marwell Wildlife Marwell Zoological Park 2023

dillotest0

dillotest0

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
The news of Marwell in 2023 begin with an update on Avian Influenza -
marwell.org.uk/zoo-news/avian-infuenza-2023-update
Precautions regarding bird quarantine have been rather successful - flamingos have been let out into their enclosure again - and Marwell's penguin colony at current situation seems to be evolving well. They will be let into their enclosure when appropriate - though hopefully at a time soon from now, to prevent risk of fungal infection.
The Tropical House and bird walkthroughs remain closed for the time being.
 
The inventory for 2022 has been released:
https://www.marwell.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Animal-Inventory-2022.pdf
Acquisitions of invertebrates include Epibolus pulchripes, Stilpnochlora couloniana, and Geosesarma hagen.
An apparent 'crackdown' in regards to fish - the depletions of Tinfoil and Diamond Barb, any species of catfish [Granulated, Marbled and Ripsaw] and Plecostomus. 5 caecillians were born, 1 died. 10 live at Marwell as of 31/12/22. Nothing else noteworthy in regards to amphibians. Reptiles have been similarly unproductive, though Dumeril's Ground Boa has since died; Prehensile-tailed Skinks have arrived.
Only 2 female ostriches remain in regards to birds, and as has already been stated, Marabou have left the collection. 4 White-spotted laughingthrush have arrived. 7 penguins remain - a loss of 6.
Now for the mammals - Aloatran Gentle Lemur have been sent off, though Red-Bellied Lemur and Geoldi's Monkey have both arrived. The White-faced Saki infant has been sexed as male. Arrival of Clouded Leopard and departure of Nyala as reported elsewhere. All zebra species held in groups of five, 1.4.
As speculated elsewhere, Javan mouse-deer have left the collection - in the second time since 2004. Lowland Anoa now numbers only 1 animal - though Dorcas Gazelles seem to be clinging on for now, as are Addax. Only three Bongo and Arabian Oryx, and the departure of Nile Lechwe held in transit. Scimitar Horned Oryx now numbers 7. 7 Banteng now live at Marwell, and the arrival of Beisa Oryx as mentioned elsewhere has occured. No other mammalian arrivals to speak of.
Not terrible ...
 
The I found most surprising was that they currently only have 1 red panda when you consider the size of the exhibit.

I notice the total number of mammals only dropped by 3 over the course of the year. More evidence the decline has halted.
 
NMM said:
New The I found most surprising was that they currently only have 1 red panda when you consider the size of the exhibit.
Click to expand...
The exhibit was originally for coatis, touted as being the 'largest exhibit for coatis in Europe', as a successor to the erstwhile Coati Roundabout. It would open in 2013 to some small degree of fanfare, though in 2016 EU law announced that coatis could no longer be bred or traded within the EU, and the remaining animals left for Jimmy's Farm two years afterwards.
The original Coati Junction has become a 'natural space' since.
 
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dillotest0 said:
The inventory for 2022 has been released:
https://www.marwell.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Animal-Inventory-2022.pdf
Acquisitions of invertebrates include Epibolus pulchripes, Stilpnochlora couloniana, and Geosesarma hagen.
dillotest0 said:
An apparent 'crackdown' in regards to fish - the depletions of Tinfoil and Diamond Barb, any species of catfish [Granulated, Marbled and Ripsaw] and Plecostomus.
Click to expand...
. 5 caecillians were born, 1 died. 10 live at Marwell as of 31/12/22. Nothing else noteworthy in regards to amphibians. Reptiles have been similarly unproductive, though Dumeril's Ground Boa has since died; Prehensile-tailed Skinks have arrived.
Only 2 female ostriches remain in regards to birds, and as has already been stated, Marabou have left the collection. 4 White-spotted laughingthrush have arrived. 7 penguins remain - a loss of 6.
Now for the mammals - Aloatran Gentle Lemur have been sent off, though Red-Bellied Lemur and Geoldi's Monkey have both arrived. The White-faced Saki infant has been sexed as male. Arrival of Clouded Leopard and departure of Nyala as reported elsewhere. All zebra species held in groups of five, 1.4.
As speculated elsewhere, Javan mouse-deer have left the collection - in the second time since 2004. Lowland Anoa now numbers only 1 animal - though Dorcas Gazelles seem to be clinging on for now, as are Addax. Only three Bongo and Arabian Oryx, and the departure of Nile Lechwe held in transit. Scimitar Horned Oryx now numbers 7. 7 Banteng now live at Marwell, and the arrival of Beisa Oryx as mentioned elsewhere has occured. No other mammalian arrivals to speak of.
Not terrible ...
Click to expand...
An apparent 'crackdown' in regards to fish - the depletions of Tinfoil and Diamond Barb, any species of catfish [Granulated, Marbled and Ripsaw] and Plecostomus
Not really a "crackdown". There were the large fish that had been in the original Tropical House so have not been on public show for years. There were held pending a decision on the old Tropical House which Marwell is now planning to convert to a new exhibit - scheduled to open this year - so these fish, not required for the new exhibit, have been placed elsewhere.
 
dillotest0 said:
The exhibit was originally for coatis, touted as being the 'largest exhibit for coatis in Europe', as a successor to the erstwhile Coati Roundabout. It would open in 2013 to some small degree of fanfare, though in 2016 EU law announced that coatis could no longer be bred or traded within the EU, and the remaining animals left for Jimmy's Farm two years afterwards.
The original Coati Junction has become a 'natural space' since.
Click to expand...
touted as being the 'largest exhibit for coatis in Europe'. I had not heard that before - obviously incorrect. Where, and when, was this stated?
 
zooboy said:
An apparent 'crackdown' in regards to fish - the depletions of Tinfoil and Diamond Barb, any species of catfish [Granulated, Marbled and Ripsaw] and Plecostomus
Not really a "crackdown". There were the large fish that had been in the original Tropical House so have not been on public show for years. There were held pending a decision on the old Tropical House which Marwell is now planning to convert to a new exhibit - scheduled to open this year - so these fish, not required for the new exhibit, have been placed elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Is there any news on what the new exhibit will be?

I had no idea that some species were still being kept offshow in the old tropical house. Was there anything else still in there?
 
NMM said:
Interesting. Is there any news on what the new exhibit will be?

I had no idea that some species were still being kept offshow in the old tropical house. Was there anything else still in there?
Click to expand...
These fish had been on the annual stock inventories since the old tropical house closed, but no other former inhabitants of the house - that could have remained in the house - are. :Like you, I assume that these fish had remained in the old Tropical House but do not know that for certain; they could have been housed elsewhere.
 
NMM said:
Interesting. Is there any news on what the new exhibit will be?

I had no idea that some species were still being kept offshow in the old tropical house. Was there anything else still in there?
Click to expand...

There's a new poster outside saying an immersive experience is coming this summer with a photo of a rock hyrax on it.. take that as you will ;) "thriving through nature"

They are also doing up the old bat eared fox enclosure at the moment for something :)
 
mad_gemma said:
There's a new poster outside saying an immersive experience is coming this summer with a photo of a rock hyrax on it.. take that as you will ;) "thriving through nature"
Click to expand...
Part of me now wonders whether this will be a desert-themed exhibit after all - given the choice of animal that, one can presume, they intend to house here, and the general humidity of the house itself, it would make sense for a desert development to take place.
In which case ... doesn't bode well for Aridlands + Desert Carnivores! Both of which are rather lacklustre as desert exhibits anyways ...
 
mad_gemma said:
There's a new poster outside saying an immersive experience is coming this summer with a photo of a rock hyrax on it.. take that as you will ;) "thriving through nature"

They are also doing up the old bat eared fox enclosure at the moment for something :)
Click to expand...
Yes are doing up the old Bat eared fox enclosure for a species that was at Marwell in the past.
 
Longstanding empty exhibits being prepared for new species.

Fantastic news, this is moving from halting the decline to starting to reverse it.
 
Even if they replaced the Bat Eared Fox with same, it would be a net gain!

Hasn't anyone got any more Red Pandas that Marwell could take for a breeding pair? They seem to be doing well elsewhere (even after the tragic event at Longleat).
 
GaryA said:
Even if they replaced the Bat Eared Fox with same, it would be a net gain!

Hasn't anyone got any more Red Pandas that Marwell could take for a breeding pair? They seem to be doing well elsewhere (even after the tragic event at Longleat).
Click to expand...
As far as I’m aware there’s still a waiting list for red panda.
 
This talk of upcoming new exhibits intrigued me enough to pay a visit today and see for myself.

I did notice something else interesting. There does appear to be something in what used to be the indoor quarters for Macaque Island. I am sure I could see something moving around in there as I walked down the hill between the mountain zebras and wallaby walktrough. Obviously you cannot get close to see properly but you can see it from a distance.

They have also added numerous belts in the siamang enclosure. They have been added in such a way to encourage brachiation, so maybe they have been listening. I did wonder if it might have been the siamang in the former macaque quarters, as I couldn't initially see them and thought they might have been moved to allow the work to be carried out. I did though make a second visit to the siamang and that time I did see a couple of them.

dillotest0 said:
Part of me now wonders whether this will be a desert-themed exhibit after all - given the choice of animal that, one can presume, they intend to house here, and the general humidity of the house itself, it would make sense for a desert development to take place.
In which case ... doesn't bode well for Aridlands + Desert Carnivores! Both of which are rather lacklustre as desert exhibits anyways ...
Click to expand...

With regard to this, I think it will have little impact on Aridlands and Desert Carnivores. I don't think the exhibit that used to be Desert Carnivores has been branded as such since the sand cats left. I also noticed Aridlands also now has nothing calling it such. I had not noticed that before but it would not surprise me if it has been like it for some time.

Also, if "Thriving though Nature" is the name of the new exhibit, that is such a vague term it could still be almost anything.
 
NMM said:
This talk of upcoming new exhibits intrigued me enough to pay a visit today and see for myself.

I did notice something else interesting. There does appear to be something in what used to be the indoor quarters for Macaque Island. I am sure I could see something moving around in there as I walked down the hill between the mountain zebras and wallaby walktrough. Obviously you cannot get close to see properly but you can see it from a distance.

They have also added numerous belts in the siamang enclosure. They have been added in such a way to encourage brachiation, so maybe they have been listening. I did wonder if it might have been the siamang in the former macaque quarters, as I couldn't initially see them and thought they might have been moved to allow the work to be carried out. I did though make a second visit to the siamang and that time I did see a couple of them.



With regard to this, I think it will have little impact on Aridlands and Desert Carnivores. I don't think the exhibit that used to be Desert Carnivores has been branded as such since the sand cats left. I also noticed Aridlands also now has nothing calling it such. I had not noticed that before but it would not surprise me if it has been like it for some time.

Also, if "Thriving though Nature" is the name of the new exhibit, that is such a vague term it could still be almost anything.
Click to expand...
The old macaque house has two male siamang gibbons in it brothers born at Marwell.
 
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An announcement has been made in regards to the new exhibit:
New year new (upcycled) exhibit! - Marwell Zoo
The new title is indeed "Thriving Through Nature" - and seems to be rather 'general purpose', albeit with an underlying semi-desert theme. I suppose I will now let Marwell talk -

The new exhibit will have waterfalls, rocks to squeeze through, and lots of scampering critters sure to thrill guests of all ages.


Rock hyrax, freshwater fish, insects, amphibians, and lizards will live amongst herbs, palms, and plants that flourish in semi-desert conditions.


The new exhibit is designed to appeal to the senses with calming water sounds, scented plants, light effects, and textured surfaces.

Development on this exhibit will be interesting to behold indeed.
 
dillotest0 said:
An announcement has been made in regards to the new exhibit:
New year new (upcycled) exhibit! - Marwell Zoo
The new exhibit will have waterfalls, rocks to squeeze through, and lots of scampering critters sure to thrill guests of all ages.

Rock hyrax, freshwater fish, insects, amphibians, and lizards will live amongst herbs, palms, and plants that flourish in semi-desert conditions.
Click to expand...

Dassie rats would be ideal for such an exhibit
 
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