3) The black wildebeests (white-tailed gnus) have produced a female calf. The keeper said that, despite the fact Orana was hand-reared, she is showing signs of being a very good mother
Marwell Wildlife My Monthly Updates 2010 #1
- Thread starter Zambar
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mhale
Well-Known Member
Yes, fingers crossed.
Indeed ... I forgot to mention that. The keeper confirmed to me that the male Hartmann's had arrived but that he appeared to be scared of the females at the moment.
The touracos will be there for the free-flight aviary defo, they'll be introducing more species in there as time goes on. When I was cutting foliage in there on my keeper day there wasn't a bird in sight in sight its so bare!
The otters had learnt to climb on to the boardwalk, and had to be chased off on a few occasions. They're currently trying to figure a way of solving this, easier said then done giving that they're Houdini on four legs.
Excellent news about the wildebeest! I heard about her being pregnant a couple of weeks ago, but didn't want to say anything about it here just yet. All the same, terrible news about Paka.
Let's hope Turkus and Suki/Juba let her bloodline carry on in the near future.
The otters had learnt to climb on to the boardwalk, and had to be chased off on a few occasions. They're currently trying to figure a way of solving this, easier said then done giving that they're Houdini on four legs.
Excellent news about the wildebeest! I heard about her being pregnant a couple of weeks ago, but didn't want to say anything about it here just yet. All the same, terrible news about Paka.
Let's hope Turkus and Suki/Juba let her bloodline carry on in the near future.and even better news about the Hartmanns mountain Zebra fingers croosed for some foals at some point then if he stops being shy of the females
He failed to breed with the females at Paignton and has not fathered any young yet,- Paignton being his only previous breeding situation.
I visited last Thursday on my usual approximately annual visit .There were a a few well-behaved school parties , otherwise fairly quiet .
Very few new developments in terms of animal accommodation though the fencing is much improved in many areas . The formal gardens behind the Hall looked good , the area behind the Hall and below Nyala paddock has been opened up , did not look as if it could be a new exhibit though .
Young Ostrich in both Valley and central paddock ( and 3 Oryx calf ) so all Grevy Zebras confined to hard-standings , one youg foal born with several other mares looking very large . The Giraffe were also confined to their hardstand with a quite small calf . Good to see an Arabian Oryx calf , not many of these have been born in the UK recently . A single Mountain Zebra in with Gemsbok , presumably the new stallion , not looking particularly confident .
Unfortunately no sign of the Black Wildebeest , even though I went back several times . The baby Colobus monkey looked good , dad in other enclosure , wonder if he was the problem with recent unsuccessful births - ISIS have it wrong listing 2 males . Several Douroucouli peering out of their box .
Very few new developments in terms of animal accommodation though the fencing is much improved in many areas . The formal gardens behind the Hall looked good , the area behind the Hall and below Nyala paddock has been opened up , did not look as if it could be a new exhibit though .
Young Ostrich in both Valley and central paddock ( and 3 Oryx calf ) so all Grevy Zebras confined to hard-standings , one youg foal born with several other mares looking very large . The Giraffe were also confined to their hardstand with a quite small calf . Good to see an Arabian Oryx calf , not many of these have been born in the UK recently . A single Mountain Zebra in with Gemsbok , presumably the new stallion , not looking particularly confident .
Unfortunately no sign of the Black Wildebeest , even though I went back several times . The baby Colobus monkey looked good , dad in other enclosure , wonder if he was the problem with recent unsuccessful births - ISIS have it wrong listing 2 males . Several Douroucouli peering out of their box .
Sorrry I did not get a chance , the calf was inside the stable block most of the time . The male was chasing one of the two females around the enclosure and stable and the calf was keeping out of the way .
Rather frustrating that there are no details of new births on any of the enclosures .The arrivals/births list at the entrance was dated May , though the volunteer on duty did very well remembering many of the new births not listed .
Just heard the sad news that Antone the Pygmy Hippo has died.
sad news indeed
Will this have a major effect on the Breeding of Hippos at Marwell, and will it affect the breeding program as a whole?
:'(
Went to Marwell today had a lovely day weather was really kind to us black clouds on the way but really sunny when we got there.
as already been said lots of baby animals out and about saw the little Rheas runny about there paddock as Sable Antelope calfs i belive there was 2 or 3. the Arabian Oryx calf was out today managed to get a couple of pictures. could only see the small tail of the Colobus monkey mum was being very protecive of it.
All the Giraffes apart from two where out in the valley field today. the Black Wildebeest where all out in the hardstanding today a keeper said it was the first day that all 3 had been out together (they had been mixed inside tho) the baby is called Leyla (not sure if thats how there spelling it tho) also saw a Nyala calf of just under 2 weeks old that was a shock as every single time i have been this year i have never seen a male.
as already been said lots of baby animals out and about saw the little Rheas runny about there paddock as Sable Antelope calfs i belive there was 2 or 3. the Arabian Oryx calf was out today managed to get a couple of pictures. could only see the small tail of the Colobus monkey mum was being very protecive of it.
All the Giraffes apart from two where out in the valley field today. the Black Wildebeest where all out in the hardstanding today a keeper said it was the first day that all 3 had been out together (they had been mixed inside tho) the baby is called Leyla (not sure if thats how there spelling it tho) also saw a Nyala calf of just under 2 weeks old that was a shock as every single time i have been this year i have never seen a male.
mhale
Well-Known Member
I went to Marwell today. The key points of the visit were:
1) A keeper told me that Summer the Brazilian tapir is due to give birth again soon
2) Wendy and Lola the pygmy hippos now have separate enclosures since Antone's death
3) Indeever and Irina the young snow leopards have now become friendly towards each other (they were snuggled up together)
4) A pair of meerkats now reside in the old cusimanse enclosure behind the snow leopards
5) The green crested turacoes are now in the walk-through aviary, although I didn't personally see them
6) A pair of white-faced saki monkeys and their baby are now onshow alongside the golden lion tamarins (to the rear of the Hall)
7) The new serval enclosure next to the ocelots is finished and a pair of servals are already residing there (Gandalfson and Lecutus)
8) The male Hartmann's zebra is alone on the hardstanding, whilst the females are being kept in an adjoining paddock
9) The colobus monkeys were all together
10) One of the cheetah sisters is now alone in what was the serval enclosure, and Turkus and the other sister are in the main enclosure
New arrivals (since the board was last updated in early May) are as follows:
18/05/10 - Female Oriental short-clawed otter arrived from Dartmoor Zoo
24/05/10 - 3 pairs of black-headed weaver birds arrived from Beale Park
09/06/10 - 25 Imperial scorpions arrived from ZSL
27/06/10 - Male tree shrew arrived from Shaldon Wildlife Trust
15/07/10 - Male Hartmann's zebra 'Bingo' arrived from Paignton Zoo
New births (again, since the board was last updated in early May) are as follows:
12/05/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
19/05/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
22/05/10 - Female sable antelope
22/05/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
23/05/10 - Male sable antelope
23/05/10 - 6 eider duck
25/05/10 - Female waterbuck
26/05/10 - Female dorcas gazelle
26/05/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
27/05/10 - Female Przewalski's horse
30/05/10 - 1 sitatunga
04/06/10 - 3 chipmunks
06/06/10 - 1 mara
07/06/10 - 2 mara
08/06/10 - Male sitatunga
13/06/10 - 1 sitatunga
14/06/10 - Male Przewalski's horse
14/06/10 - 1 mara
15/06/10 - 3 capybara
17/06/10 - Female Grevy's zebra ' Qwara'
24/06/10 - 1 Waldrapp ibis
25/06/10 - Female sable antelope
05/07/10 - 6 ostrich
05/07/10 - 2 male scimitar-horned oryx
05/07/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
07/07/10 - Male Arabian oryx
07/07/10 - 4 common rhea
08/07/10 - Male Colobus monkey
09/07/10 - Female black wildebeest
09/07/10 - 1 male scimitar-horned oryx
14/07/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
17/07/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
19/07/10 - Female nyala
20/07/10 - Male nyala
25/07/10 - 2 common rhea
25/07/10 - 2 mara
27/07/10 - Male sable antelope
29/07/10 - Female waterbuck
1) A keeper told me that Summer the Brazilian tapir is due to give birth again soon
2) Wendy and Lola the pygmy hippos now have separate enclosures since Antone's death
3) Indeever and Irina the young snow leopards have now become friendly towards each other (they were snuggled up together)
4) A pair of meerkats now reside in the old cusimanse enclosure behind the snow leopards
5) The green crested turacoes are now in the walk-through aviary, although I didn't personally see them
6) A pair of white-faced saki monkeys and their baby are now onshow alongside the golden lion tamarins (to the rear of the Hall)
7) The new serval enclosure next to the ocelots is finished and a pair of servals are already residing there (Gandalfson and Lecutus)
8) The male Hartmann's zebra is alone on the hardstanding, whilst the females are being kept in an adjoining paddock
9) The colobus monkeys were all together
10) One of the cheetah sisters is now alone in what was the serval enclosure, and Turkus and the other sister are in the main enclosure
New arrivals (since the board was last updated in early May) are as follows:
18/05/10 - Female Oriental short-clawed otter arrived from Dartmoor Zoo
24/05/10 - 3 pairs of black-headed weaver birds arrived from Beale Park
09/06/10 - 25 Imperial scorpions arrived from ZSL
27/06/10 - Male tree shrew arrived from Shaldon Wildlife Trust
15/07/10 - Male Hartmann's zebra 'Bingo' arrived from Paignton Zoo
New births (again, since the board was last updated in early May) are as follows:
12/05/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
19/05/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
22/05/10 - Female sable antelope
22/05/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
23/05/10 - Male sable antelope
23/05/10 - 6 eider duck
25/05/10 - Female waterbuck
26/05/10 - Female dorcas gazelle
26/05/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
27/05/10 - Female Przewalski's horse
30/05/10 - 1 sitatunga
04/06/10 - 3 chipmunks
06/06/10 - 1 mara
07/06/10 - 2 mara
08/06/10 - Male sitatunga
13/06/10 - 1 sitatunga
14/06/10 - Male Przewalski's horse
14/06/10 - 1 mara
15/06/10 - 3 capybara
17/06/10 - Female Grevy's zebra ' Qwara'
24/06/10 - 1 Waldrapp ibis
25/06/10 - Female sable antelope
05/07/10 - 6 ostrich
05/07/10 - 2 male scimitar-horned oryx
05/07/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
07/07/10 - Male Arabian oryx
07/07/10 - 4 common rhea
08/07/10 - Male Colobus monkey
09/07/10 - Female black wildebeest
09/07/10 - 1 male scimitar-horned oryx
14/07/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
17/07/10 - 1 Humboldt's penguin
19/07/10 - Female nyala
20/07/10 - Male nyala
25/07/10 - 2 common rhea
25/07/10 - 2 mara
27/07/10 - Male sable antelope
29/07/10 - Female waterbuck
lechweoryx
Well-Known Member
Great report mhale!
Very thourough births list
Very thourough births list
I visited Marwell on Monday, the 8th of August. Nothing to add to mhales report really.
All the Giraffes except two younger ones were out in the African Valley. I really do think this is a stunning exhibit. Just wish they would add more viewing platforms now
Altogether I am impressed with how Marwell has improved in the last couple of years. Walking around the place now there are very few old or delapidated enclosures, the place has the feel of somewhere that wants to improve and go places.
One complaint I have is this: The Siamang Gibbon enclosure. I really, really wish they would add more ropes or vines etc into the exhibit. For me the exhibit is themed nicely with the asian style house and tree, but the gibbons are forced to spend too much time on the ground. The Gibbons were not visible on my visit (they must have been inside, though couldnt see them through the viewing window either), but every previous visit they have been outside sitting on the grass at the back of the enclosure.
All the Giraffes except two younger ones were out in the African Valley. I really do think this is a stunning exhibit. Just wish they would add more viewing platforms now
Altogether I am impressed with how Marwell has improved in the last couple of years. Walking around the place now there are very few old or delapidated enclosures, the place has the feel of somewhere that wants to improve and go places.
One complaint I have is this: The Siamang Gibbon enclosure. I really, really wish they would add more ropes or vines etc into the exhibit. For me the exhibit is themed nicely with the asian style house and tree, but the gibbons are forced to spend too much time on the ground. The Gibbons were not visible on my visit (they must have been inside, though couldnt see them through the viewing window either), but every previous visit they have been outside sitting on the grass at the back of the enclosure.
That is good to hear. I just wish they would get on with it- how long has that exhibit been open now in its existing 'empty' state- is it three years (or more)?
Not good management IMO for something that could be rectified VERY quickly.I completely agree with that Pertinax. Like Zambar said this topic is often discussed on here and it sounds a bit like a broken record - but really it was the only bad thing I could pick out from my visit. If they could sort this out the exhibit could give the gibbons good opportunity to 'fly', like they do at Monkey World.
Interestingly on the Marwell Wikipedia page it states that there are plans to increase the African Valley by a further 20 acres and to add a new viewing platform near the Giraffe house. I'm very impressed by this exhibit, and really hope this is true, although I realise Wikipedia is hardly the most trustworthy resource. Do you know if there is any truth to this Zambar?
Also I was after more information on the make-up of the gibbon group at Marwell. As I understand it they no longer breed, so are they just holding surplus animals?
Interestingly on the Marwell Wikipedia page it states that there are plans to increase the African Valley by a further 20 acres and to add a new viewing platform near the Giraffe house. I'm very impressed by this exhibit, and really hope this is true, although I realise Wikipedia is hardly the most trustworthy resource. Do you know if there is any truth to this Zambar?
Also I was after more information on the make-up of the gibbon group at Marwell. As I understand it they no longer breed, so are they just holding surplus animals?
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There definately gonna extend the valley, and it's easy to see where; it's the unused land to the top right of the view from the cafe, and the map already shows it as part of the valley. The reason they are keeping this bit closed off till later is because it is directly adjacent to a bridleway, so once the planting along there has matured enough to screen it from view, it will be opened up to the animals. The masterplan map in the science centre shows a viewing area planned around there, but since there was another redraft at the end of last year, I can't be sure whether it's still planned.
At the moment it's an old pair and two young males which make up a family unit. To be honest I don't know whether they plan to breed them again.
At the moment it's an old pair and two young males which make up a family unit. To be honest I don't know whether they plan to breed them again.
I don't want to sound like a broken record either, but it is the outstanding fault which has been apparent on my recent visits too. I can understand when Zoos experience long delays in building new enclosures(cost), in transfers of animals(paperwork, availability) but kitting out an existing primate enclosure properly is something Marwell could do at any time. That they apparently haven't 'got around to it' yet after about three(?) years is a black mark for them IMO.
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