Marwell Wildlife Marwell Zoological Park 2023

NMM said:
I think the first point was something they used to say when John Knowles was running the zoo. Not sure bears were included in the statement and I do believe I have read that they had bears* at one point. That would have been before my time though. With the space Marwell have if they decided they really wanted a particular species it would just be a question of funding and building a suitable enclosure.

I recall that many people expected gorillas to be the next major development after the African Valley. When they started redeveloping one paddock shortly afterwards some thought it would be the gorilla enclosure. That redeveloped paddock is now the Fur Feathers and Scales walkthrough aviary, red panda enclosure and wallaby walkthrough.

* Checked Zootierlise after posting and sun bears are in the former species list for Marwell.
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A pair of Sun Bears arrived from what was then Weyhill Wildlife Park, now its the Hawk Conservancy Trust, it was 1972, they were housed in what was then the area where the old tropical house is now temporary. They did not settle and the following year were sent to Rhenen Zoo in Holland, its the only time Marwell has had bears. There are plans for the future for carnivore species at Marwell which I am sure will be announced in the future.
 
mad_gemma said:
Thriving opened this morning - I was the first member of the public in there. Very nice, pretty looking. Not a massive number of species in there ATM but plans for it to increase. Nice to see something new :)
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Would be nice to see photos if you took Amy please!
 
TNT said:
Would be nice to see photos if you took Amy please!
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I posted a video which I've posted on my insta (sorry, I can't get it to upload on here, but my insta is in my profile description) so you can have a look around :)
 
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okapis said:
A pair of Sun Bears arrived from what was then Weyhill Wildlife Park, now its the Hawk Conservancy Trust, it was 1972, they were housed in what was then the area where the old tropical house is now temporary. They did not settle and the following year were sent to Rhenen Zoo in Holland, its the only time Marwell has had bears. There are plans for the future for carnivore species at Marwell which I am sure will be announced in the future.
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The Sun bears were not a deliberate acquisition either. Weyhill contacted Marwell asking (begging) to take them as they didn't have secure enough housing and were on the verge of escaping (or maybe they already had). At Marwell they were kept in one of the ex-tiger quarantine cages, and dug big holes in the shingle. Very unsuccessful and Marwell moved them on pretty swiftly.
 
So I have now seen pictures of the Thriving Through Nature exhibit .. And it's okay in my eyes.
Some comments of mine -
-The ceiling is rather unattractive. I am aware whatever inside probably wouldn't care about this, but compared even to the new tropical house it is very synthetic looking. The support pillars are very conspicuous, and the UV lighting [for reptiles I believe] is rather conspicuous.
Hopefully by autumn when I am more likely to make a visit it will be somewhat more stocked than it is now. At the moment, there is not very much there as far as I am aware.
Though I find it interesting how apparently there are now agama in this enclosure ... so maybe something new will come to where they were in Aridlands before?
 
dillotest0 said:
So I have now seen pictures of the Thriving Through Nature exhibit .. And it's okay in my eyes.
Some comments of mine -
-The ceiling is rather unattractive. I am aware whatever inside probably wouldn't care about this, but compared even to the new tropical house it is very synthetic looking. The support pillars are very conspicuous, and the UV lighting [for reptiles I believe] is rather conspicuous.
Hopefully by autumn when I am more likely to make a visit it will be somewhat more stocked than it is now. At the moment, there is not very much there as far as I am aware.
Though I find it interesting how apparently there are now agama in this enclosure ... so maybe something new will come to where they were in Aridlands before?
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There is no ceiling, it is the roof. This is the old tropical house and while the structure has been repaired and cleaned - and the space re-landscaped - the original construction would remain.
 
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Finally got it to let me post some photos (no idea why it wasn't.. ho hum!)

I like the space - sure, it's a tad empty atm but there are plans for it to grow and develop! The hyrax are currently hiding near the back a fair bit atm as they're getting used to seeing people again. I was told the agama are from the last litter of babies (they've just had another one) so those numbers will grow too, and the other animals will arrive when they do. It's not perfect, but I for one am glad to see something new and well done to the team that made it happen!
 

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Willem123 said:
Yorkshire wildlife park is the largest without apes.
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Taking on Apes in a zoo is a big and expensive step. They need specialised and expensive housing, staff who are already experienced in managing them etc. I think that is why new builds for Apes are few and far between. When Wingham took on Orangutans they were the first new holder in UK for many years. Previously Paignton had been a new holder, but again the first for many years. Despite talk of intention by several zoos over the years, there have been no new holders of gorillas in the UK for decades. That might change if Chester and/or Colchester actually get them.
 
Pertinax said:
Despite talk of intention by several zoos over the years, there have been no new holders of gorillas in the UK for decades. That might change if Chester and/or Colchester actually get them.
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In the current plans for both collections I believe. Chester also has held gorillas in the past, mind you it was over 35 years ago at this point.
 
Sorry if already mentioned, but in presuming Guinea Pigs, Marmosets and Tamarin enclosure will be in the old, rundown exhibit next to Cold Blooded Corner.. Hopefully if it is then they will look into restoring the area (planting, repainting, reuse of old building including a gift shop/donation centre)... The building with the tarantula and snails needs a bit of a redesign too! The general area (furthest part of the zoo) seems to gradually be inproving, but Old Red Panda, macaque and meerkat still remain unused and Zebra and Banteng paddocks are lackluster to say least. Area includes species:

Red Necked Wallaby, Parma Wallaby, Potooro, Sun Conure, Partial Snail, Red Panda, Himilayan Monal, Banteng, Somali Wild Ass (lone individual), Bush Dog, Mountains Zebra and the Walkthrough aviary + cold Blooded Corner.
 
HelloCrossy67 said:
Sorry if already mentioned, but in presuming Guinea Pigs, Marmosets and Tamarin enclosure will be in the old, rundown exhibit next to Cold Blooded Corner.. Hopefully if it is then they will look into restoring the area (planting, repainting, reuse of old building including a gift shop/donation centre)... The building with the tarantula and snails needs a bit of a redesign too! The general area (furthest part of the zoo) seems to gradually be inproving, but Old Red Panda, macaque and meerkat still remain unused and Zebra and Banteng paddocks are lackluster to say least. Area includes species:
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I said that this was just a guess. I don't know where the animals will be.
 
HelloCrossy67 said:
Sorry if already mentioned, but in presuming Guinea Pigs, Marmosets and Tamarin enclosure will be in the old, rundown exhibit next to Cold Blooded Corner.. Hopefully if it is then they will look into restoring the area (planting, repainting, reuse of old building including a gift shop/donation centre)... The building with the tarantula and snails needs a bit of a redesign too! The general area (furthest part of the zoo) seems to gradually be inproving, but Old Red Panda, macaque and meerkat still remain unused and Zebra and Banteng paddocks are lackluster to say least. Area includes species:

Red Necked Wallaby, Parma Wallaby, Potooro, Sun Conure, Partial Snail, Red Panda, Himilayan Monal, Banteng, Somali Wild Ass (lone individual), Bush Dog, Mountains Zebra and the Walkthrough aviary + cold Blooded Corner.
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The last Sun Conure left in 2021.
 
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