Man... which are the only animals currently at park?
Montpellier Parc Zoologique Montpellier news
- Thread starter Nisha
- Start date
Here https://zoo.montpellier.fr/sites/default/files/zoo_map_january_2022_english_0.pdf the current map in english for this year.
So are still at the zoo : Scarlet ibis, Brazilian teal, Great green macaw, Emperor tamarin, Black and gold howler, Vicuna, Brazilian tapir, Nandu, Maned wolf, Addax, Grévy’s zebra, Hartmann’s zebra, Girafe, Mhorr gazelle, Red necked wallaby, Banteng, White rhinoceros, Cheetah, Asiatic lion, Bharal. No more
Don't forget the white rhinos will leave in the future to enlarge giraffe space...
Absolutely gutted at what is happening to my 'home' zoo. It's been threatened for a while but this is really bad news for sure - as I understand there is going to be action to attempt to save the zoo and recover much of its collection but for now it's looking really bleak. Keeping an eye out for any updates for now but I fear the zoo will either have to implement a rather hefty entrance fee (probably thus slicing visitor numbers in half) or close down...
That's... wow. The only word I can use to describe this is depressing.Here https://zoo.montpellier.fr/sites/default/files/zoo_map_january_2022_english_0.pdf the current map in english for this year.
So are still at the zoo : Scarlet ibis, Brazilian teal, Great green macaw, Emperor tamarin, Black and gold howler, Vicuna, Brazilian tapir, Nandu, Maned wolf, Addax, Grévy’s zebra, Hartmann’s zebra, Girafe, Mhorr gazelle, Red necked wallaby, Banteng, White rhinoceros, Cheetah, Asiatic lion, Bharal. No more
Don't forget the white rhinos will leave in the future to enlarge giraffe space...
I hope they at least keep these species if the town hall is set on keeping the zoo... But again, very very sad news.
What does that mean new project for zoo to survive?
You cannot survive on no peanuts and free entry zoo if Montpellier Zoo is municipal then wholly the Council is inept and a direlection of duty to be a good caretaker of the park, its animals and staff?
Also, not having produced a document for opening the zoo, a legality... What bureacracy in the face of lack of animal welfare, improvements, new exhibits, good funding and allowing for good leadership! That so?
What next? Answers?
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For further context to this rather sad situation, here is the zoo's map in 2011..
Nothing really new since the last message which is bad news in my opinion.
The greenhouse will probably remain closed, despite being quite recent, it aged pretty badly du to conception flaws.
As for the rest of the zoo, it is a real shame and we do not know exactly what would be needed to ensure compliance with rules. In my opinion, a minimal investment and probably some departures would be enough to fix the main issues but the political party at the head of the city is reluctant to put any money in the zoo.
The greenhouse will probably remain closed, despite being quite recent, it aged pretty badly du to conception flaws.
As for the rest of the zoo, it is a real shame and we do not know exactly what would be needed to ensure compliance with rules. In my opinion, a minimal investment and probably some departures would be enough to fix the main issues but the political party at the head of the city is reluctant to put any money in the zoo.
I'm headed there today, it's such a shame to see the gradual decline of what was a favourite zoo of my mine. Am I right in thinking that most of the park closures (greenhouse aside) relate to risk of forest fires so those animals do still remain in the collection?
I'd personally be in favour of adding a few smaller, charismatic 'filler' species that would do well in the climate to inject some life into the collection again - porcupines, meerkats, warthogs, African penguins, ostrich...
It seems to have recovered slightly - new map linked below.
https://zoo.montpellier.fr/sites/default/files/plan_parc_lunaret_octobre_2023.pdf
I can't seem to find much news on it but fingers crossed it'll remain open for the foreseeable.
https://zoo.montpellier.fr/sites/default/files/plan_parc_lunaret_octobre_2023.pdf
I can't seem to find much news on it but fingers crossed it'll remain open for the foreseeable.
Great news from Montpellier :
- first birth of a southern white rhinoceros July 20th. The baby is a male borned to 8,5 years old mother Nola and 13,5 years old male Troy.
- birth of a southern cassowary chick July 10th.
- birth of a brazilian porcupine June 23rd.
Naissance exceptionnelle d'un bébé rhinocéros au zoo de Montpellier - France Bleu
- first birth of a southern white rhinoceros July 20th. The baby is a male borned to 8,5 years old mother Nola and 13,5 years old male Troy.
- birth of a southern cassowary chick July 10th.
- birth of a brazilian porcupine June 23rd.
Naissance exceptionnelle d'un bébé rhinocéros au zoo de Montpellier - France Bleu
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
It changes from the long succession of depressing news of the latest months if not years.
24 Jan 2025 : Birth of 3 cheetas (2,1), mother : BASTET, born at the zoo 03 Jul 2018.
jopif
Well-Known Member
I just created an account to share some news about the Lunaret Zoo in Montpellier, where I recently moved for my studies.
The zoo, which has gone through some difficult times over the years, is about to undergo a major transformation. As part of a large urban project to remodel the northern green area of the city, the zoo will be integrated into a 172ha natural park. This transformation is linked to the construction of the new tramway Line wich will provide direct access to the zoo.
A large portion of the current zoo — mainly the forested areas with high wildfire risk — will be closed to the public. In its place, a new, more sustainable and animal-friendly zoo will be developed.
Here are my understanding about the future zoo :
- Naming of a new director
- 30 Million € investment (15 more for the transformation of other parts of the green area)
- Larger, better-designed enclosures and buildings to meet animals physical and psychological needs
- More mixed-species habitats and a focus on species adapted to the Mediterranean climate
- Prioritization of endangered species involved in international conservation programs
- Protection and enhancement of local biodiversity
- No information about the reopenning of the tropical greenhouse
- Still free access (and easier to access with urban transportation)
In an article produced by France 3, a map is provided to present what the zoo should look like when it reopens. We see that many species currently present in the zoo are removed and only one seems to reappear: the black howler monkey. I do not know if the other species will be temporarily out of reach of the visitor because on the website of the city of Montpellier we see concept photos of upcoming exhibits and a map that seems to imply the reopening of a redeveloped area to the east of the park.
Montpellier : le futur grand parc de Lunaret, le poumon vert de la métropole sur 172 hectares
Grand Parc de Lunaret.
Additionally, a new Wildlife Hospital will be built across from the zoo (on the site of the former ice rink), scheduled to open in late 2025.
Personally, I think this is very good news for the future of the park, especially if the idea of using Mediterranean landscape is exploited to its full potential. However, the project remains cloudy, especially regarding the tropical greenhouse.
I hope this post, based on a lot of assumptions, will give you a better idea about the future of the zoo.
The zoo, which has gone through some difficult times over the years, is about to undergo a major transformation. As part of a large urban project to remodel the northern green area of the city, the zoo will be integrated into a 172ha natural park. This transformation is linked to the construction of the new tramway Line wich will provide direct access to the zoo.
A large portion of the current zoo — mainly the forested areas with high wildfire risk — will be closed to the public. In its place, a new, more sustainable and animal-friendly zoo will be developed.
Here are my understanding about the future zoo :
- Naming of a new director
- 30 Million € investment (15 more for the transformation of other parts of the green area)
- Larger, better-designed enclosures and buildings to meet animals physical and psychological needs
- More mixed-species habitats and a focus on species adapted to the Mediterranean climate
- Prioritization of endangered species involved in international conservation programs
- Protection and enhancement of local biodiversity
- No information about the reopenning of the tropical greenhouse
- Still free access (and easier to access with urban transportation)
In an article produced by France 3, a map is provided to present what the zoo should look like when it reopens. We see that many species currently present in the zoo are removed and only one seems to reappear: the black howler monkey. I do not know if the other species will be temporarily out of reach of the visitor because on the website of the city of Montpellier we see concept photos of upcoming exhibits and a map that seems to imply the reopening of a redeveloped area to the east of the park.
Montpellier : le futur grand parc de Lunaret, le poumon vert de la métropole sur 172 hectares
Grand Parc de Lunaret.
Additionally, a new Wildlife Hospital will be built across from the zoo (on the site of the former ice rink), scheduled to open in late 2025.
Personally, I think this is very good news for the future of the park, especially if the idea of using Mediterranean landscape is exploited to its full potential. However, the project remains cloudy, especially regarding the tropical greenhouse.
I hope this post, based on a lot of assumptions, will give you a better idea about the future of the zoo.
jopif
Well-Known Member
Erratum :
The budget allocated to redesigning the zoo is actually 24 million euros. The France 3 article I previously quoted seems outdated, so the information about the return of the black howler monkey is probably no longer accurate.
More info :
If the map on the City of Montpellier’s website is correct, the tour route will be significantly reduced, and the enclosures for Asiatic lions, cassowaries, and bharals (which used to be among the best) will no longer be accessible. Unless the map has been simplified, it's hard to tell.
I've read elsewhere that the lions enclosure is supposed to be enlarged, but it’s unclear whether that refers to the current enclosure being expanded or a new, larger one being built elsewhere.
On the other hand, the entire eastern part of the zoo (where the onagers, iberian wolves, and abyssinian ground hornbills used to be) appears to be closed to the public, probably permanently or for an extended period.
It’s also likely that many of the animals currently in the park will be relocated. Photos on the city’s website suggest the creation of a new African savannah exhibit with a wooden walkway. In the image, we can see giraffes, mhorr gazelles, and another antelope-like species, possibly addax (I assume this habitat could also include nile lechwe, arabian oryx, onager, or eland which are already in the zoo).
The budget allocated to redesigning the zoo is actually 24 million euros. The France 3 article I previously quoted seems outdated, so the information about the return of the black howler monkey is probably no longer accurate.
More info :
If the map on the City of Montpellier’s website is correct, the tour route will be significantly reduced, and the enclosures for Asiatic lions, cassowaries, and bharals (which used to be among the best) will no longer be accessible. Unless the map has been simplified, it's hard to tell.
I've read elsewhere that the lions enclosure is supposed to be enlarged, but it’s unclear whether that refers to the current enclosure being expanded or a new, larger one being built elsewhere.
On the other hand, the entire eastern part of the zoo (where the onagers, iberian wolves, and abyssinian ground hornbills used to be) appears to be closed to the public, probably permanently or for an extended period.
It’s also likely that many of the animals currently in the park will be relocated. Photos on the city’s website suggest the creation of a new African savannah exhibit with a wooden walkway. In the image, we can see giraffes, mhorr gazelles, and another antelope-like species, possibly addax (I assume this habitat could also include nile lechwe, arabian oryx, onager, or eland which are already in the zoo).
jopif
Well-Known Member
A friend saw the Abyssinian ground hornbills in the giraffe–mhorr gazelle enclosure yesterday. I’m not sure if this is a regular occurrence, but it was great to see such an intelligent bird sharing space with larger animals it (maybe?) can’t harm. It also reflects the zoo's intention to encourage more mixed-species habitats and eventually close off the eastern section.
It also means the hornbill cannot fly. Is it better for his well being than a large aviary?
The point is the term "large". If there would be only a small(er) aviary like in most zoos I have seen and keeping them so, then the solution with a "large" field exhibit (and cutted wings) would be a better solution for this mostly ground dwelling bird imo. On the other hand I muss confess that I don't know which of those ways leads to better breeding results.
jopif
Well-Known Member
It does mean they cannot fly, but they likely never were able to, if you look at their previous enclosure (visible down there). They had a lot of enrichment devices there, but I still think adding them to a large African plain savanna is a nice thing. I still haven’t seen if this type of animal device exists elsewhere, even though I think it does.
Picture of the enclosure in 2011 (Caracal were aparently there at the time) @Maxime
Enclosure they moved in (picture by @Gavial)
In my personal opinion, a flighted animal should be able to fly in a zoo setting. Pinioning birds is incredibly outdated for my taste.