Pakawi Park Olmense Zoo News

Clip showing the feeding of the palm-nut vulture chick

Pakawi Park on Instagram: "️✨ Pakawi Praat is gelanceerd! Dankzij jullie stemmen kreeg onze educatieve videoreeks een naam, Pakawi Praat kwam als favoriet uit de bus ,bedankt allemaal! In deze allereerste aflevering stellen we jullie graag voor aan een wel héél bijzondere bewoner… onze baby palmgier! ✨Een kleine gier met een groots verhaal.Benieuwd? Bekijk het filmpje en laat ons weten wat je ervan vindt! Heb je zelf nog vragen, tips of onderwerpen die je graag in Pakawi Praat wil zien? Laat het hieronder weten of stuur ons een berichtje! DELEN=LIEF #PakawiPraat #PakawiPark #palmgier #educatie #dierenweetjes #uniek #babybeestjes"

Birth of two binturong pups on June 25th

Pakawi Park on Instagram: "✨ ! ✨ Op 25 juni werden wij compleet verrast door de geboorte van beermarters in ons park! En dat is héél bijzonder, want beermarters zijn zeldzaam in Europese dierentuinen én onderdeel van het Europese kweekprogramma (EEP) waar wij trots aan meewerken. De trotse ouders, Mayumi en Zupa, wonen sinds 2021 bij ons. Ze kregen de perfecte klik en nu dus… een tweeling! Met de kleintjes gaat het fantastisch – onze dierenarts heeft ze deze week helemaal gezond verklaard. ✅ Fun fact: Beermarters zijn geen beren en geen marters. Ze behoren tot de civetkatten, hebben een grijpstaart, een voorliefde voor fruit en… ze ruiken naar versgebakken popcorn! Nog een weetje: bij beermarters is het bijna onmogelijk om precies te voorspellen wanneer de geboorte zal zijn, omdat ze een uniek voortplantingsmechanisme hebben: embryonale diapauze. Dat betekent dat het bevruchte embryo even “pauze” houdt tot de omstandigheden perfect zijn. Voor nu blijven de jongen vooral nog in en rond het nest bij mama Mayumi, maar in de komende weken zullen jullie ze steeds vaker zien klauteren, spelen en ontdekken. En het mooiste? Ze hebben nog geen naam! Binnenkort kunnen jullie meebeslissen in onze naamgeving-poll. . #PakawiPark #Beermarter #ZooBabies #EEP #AnimalLove #WildlifeConservation #popcornsmell"
 
According to a Pakawi Park newsletter I received today the chimpansees will finally go into their new outdoor exhibit this coming Saturday.
 
I was recently in Pakawi... A short update.

At the entrance to the greenhouse, we can also see that work is finally underway to enlarge the aviaries on the side (small, dark).

Deeper in the tropical greenhouse itself, the reptile tunnel is currently closed to visitors. It is undergoing much-needed renovation. In recent years, it has become increasingly dilapidated. The largest enclosure was already being supported by iron posts.

In the greenhouse itself, we also see various animal species disappearing, led by the white-headed lemurs. These are now behind the new Monkey Islands.
 
Gorilla Gust said:
I was recently in Pakawi... A short update.

At the entrance to the greenhouse, we can also see that work is finally underway to enlarge the aviaries on the side (small, dark).

Deeper in the tropical greenhouse itself, the reptile tunnel is currently closed to visitors. It is undergoing much-needed renovation. In recent years, it has become increasingly dilapidated. The largest enclosure was already being supported by iron posts.

In the greenhouse itself, we also see various animal species disappearing, led by the white-headed lemurs. These are now behind the new Monkey Islands.
Click to expand...
The Pakawi zoo is now on a more positive road and timeline to new and improved facilities and animal exclosures. Glad the new chimpanzee habitat is finally open after 6 long years, however there is criticism over the bare habitat and that it is a small island with a brick wall (some critical voices call it a new "Berlin Wall")!!!!
SOURCE: Nieuw chimpanseeverblijf in België wordt uitgekotst: ‘Reconstructie van Berlijnse Muur’

The greenhouse closed for now as it is dilapidated and/or updated step by step and some of its nearby inhabitants like the white-headed lemurs getting out of monkey "cages" to primate islands nearby.

Finally, whereas I am sort of sad an animal sanctuary comes in again, I am glad she is moving elsewhere. Where this new project in Portugal really goes wrong is to claim that at last Tembo (at 40 years of age) will live a full and free life.... how preposterous and untrue this claim really is!!!
SOURCE: Oude olifant in Belgisch dierenpark gaat naar nieuw project in Zuid-Europa

I much rather have it she (at 40 years of age) be sent to a zoo already having African elephants on site and with several zoos expanding their facilities is there no room for an elderly African elephant grouping anywhere .... I really doubt it!
 
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Gorilla Gust said:
I was recently in Pakawi... A short update.

At the entrance to the greenhouse, we can also see that work is finally underway to enlarge the aviaries on the side (small, dark).

Deeper in the tropical greenhouse itself, the reptile tunnel is currently closed to visitors. It is undergoing much-needed renovation. In recent years, it has become increasingly dilapidated. The largest enclosure was already being supported by iron posts.

In the greenhouse itself, we also see various animal species disappearing, led by the white-headed lemurs. These are now behind the new Monkey Islands.
Click to expand...

How easily can the lemurs be seen at Monkey Island?

Glad to hear they are expanding some of the aviaries - hopefully they will also do improvements in structure and furnishings as size is not everything, especially not for intelligent species like large parrots.

It is good they are renovating the reptile corridor, although it has been quite disturbing to see it going backwards so quickly, suggesting it was just not built well. Hopefully they will also fix some of the exhibits that were not exactly great and bring back an interesting collection.

Removing the primates from the greenhouse could be opportunity to give some of the birds - or the callitrichids - improved spaces.

Kifaru Bwana said:
The Pakawi zoo is now on a positive road to new and improved facilities and animal exclosures. Glad the new chimpanzee habitat is finally open, the groenhouse closed / updated and some of its nearby inhabitants like the white-headed lemurs transferred out to monkey islands. Finally, whereas I am sort of sad an animal sanctuary comes in again (I much rather have it she be sent to a zoo already having African elephants ..., any reason why not?) it is good that F Tembo is exported elsewhere ...!
Click to expand...

Although I have not personally visited Pakawi Park in several years, and I still don't really feel like I want to or will visit again anytime soon, I am rather doubtful about them truly being on a positive road. Just look at some images of the new chimpanzee exhibit, and more broadly the new primate exhibits in general, - for something so long awaited and needed, the result is just plain disappointing and substandard.

I am happy to hear they are doing renovations, but as far as I'm concerned the results will have to be seen to believe they will be true and permanent improvements. They will need to do more and do substantially better for me to believe they are truly on a good path into the future.

Also the very questionable nature of the current owner still looms over the zoo.

It is good for them though to move out the elephant and not get new elephants. I'm not personally too fond of them working with the animal rights organization GAIA - admittedly not the most radical or unreasonable one of those - to place the African elephant in a sanctuary type facility. But finding placement for older ex-circus elephants in zoos might not be the easiest. And the Portuguese sanctuary does seem to be a true sanctuary with good intentions that will be a good place for the elephant to retire.From what I read the zoo is also making the move conditional on the elephant having company at the sanctuary, which is good.
 
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KevinB said:
How easily can the lemurs be seen at Monkey Island?

Glad to hear they are expanding some of the aviaries - hopefully they will also do improvements in structure and furnishings as size is not everything, especially not for intelligent species like large parrots.

It is good they are renovating the reptile corridor, although it has been quite disturbing to see it going backwards so quickly, suggesting it was just not built well. Hopefully they will also fix some of the exhibits that were not exactly great and bring back an interesting collection.

Removing the primates from the greenhouse could be opportunity to give some of the birds - or the callitrichids - improved spaces.



Although I have not personally visited Pakawi Park in several years, and I still don't really feel like I want to or will visit again anytime soon, I am rather doubtful about them truly being on a positive road. Just look at some images of the new chimpanzee exhibit, and more broadly the new primate exhibits in general, - for something so long awaited and needed, the result is just plain disappointing and substandard.

I am happy to hear they are doing renovations, but as far as I'm concerned the results will have to be seen to believe they will be true and permanent improvements. They will need to do more and do substantially better for me to believe they are truly on a good path into the future.

Also the very questionable nature of the current owner still looms over the zoo.

It is good for them though to move out the elephant and not get new elephants. I'm not personally too fond of them working with the animal rights organization GAIA - admittedly not the most unreasonable one of those - to place the African elephant in a sanctuary type facility. But finding placement for older ex-circus elephants in zoos might not be the easiest. And the Portuguese sanctuary does seem to be a true sanctuary with good intentions that will be a good place for the elephant to retire.From what I read the zoo is also making the move conditional on the elephant having company at the sanctuary, which is good.
Click to expand...
@Kevin, rest assured ... I feel the same way as you. And yes, for all intense purposes I have not visited in a good while now! I do regularly at least annually visit either Zoo Antwerpen or Planckendael though. Have similar misgivings as Pakawi with Monde Sauvage and I really do hope that new animal husbandry / curatorial manager Tim Bouts can move mountains at Pakawi!
 
Pakawi has commented on the reptile corridor renovation. They will be installing new stronger, safer and more energy efficient glass, floor heating, new pools, new lighting, new ventilation systems for healthier and more efficient air circulation and spraying systems to align the humidity in the different terrariums with the needs of the different reptile species.

Pakawi Park

Brown bear Arnold has died at the age of 26 years and 10 months, he had lived at Pakawi since 1999, since 2008 in the current bear forest exhibit, until 2023 he lived with his brother Alex. One bear, Bull, now remains at Pakawi.

Pakawi Park
 
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