Planckendael Planckendael News 2022

Perseus6 said:
I went to Planckendael the 7th of September and I have a couple of updates, sorry they are late.
Asia:
- Asian elephants: Kanvar is still crate training but the EEP has not assigned a new destination for him yet. In the mean time he will be allowed to attempt to produce offspring with May Tagu or Kai Mook. Whenever Suki and Tun Kai Are in cycle Kanvar will be moved to his bull paddock.
-Sumatran Orangutans and rest of the enclosure: One of the 3 in the non breeding group finally went outside for the first time( I don't know if it was Vilmos, Karo or Moni), but returned after touching the water not even making it over the bridge. They will probably adapt the bridges by having a bridge or branch at height as well.
The Reeves's muntjacs had trouble adapting to the island being stressed but are doing much better.
The small claw otters are doing well however have not yet swam far.
The gibbons are enjoying the new enclosure and regularly sing.
The red pandas will definitely not join the complex anymore due to the female Pia having difficulties climbing.
The Celebes crested macaque are housed behind the scenes in a spacious enclosure but will join the complex once their inside enclosure is built.
Africa:
-Spotted hyenas: After giving birth the Luena did not feed so the keepers gave her small pieces extra. Now Luena is feeding well but her partner Bongo is to stressed to feed. So Bongo is allowed outside first for an hour or so before Luena joins. Bongo also gets small pieces supplemented. The pups are doing well.
-Kordofan Giraffe, mountain zebra and Mhorr gazelle:
The 4 Mhorr gazelles males were anesthetized and given thorough health checks. One male will leave for Frankfurt, and new ones will probably arrive.
The Mountain Zebra Luena has left for a zoo In France and will be allowed to breed. The remaining mother and daughter got a health check and have trouble with their hind legs and will remain in Plankendael, with no plan to ever breed.
The giraffes will probably not breed for the next couple of years.
Grévy's zebra: The Grévy's zebra are still being introduced to the Addax.
Ostriches will arrive soon somewhere.
Australia:
-Tasmanian devil: The last Tasmanian devil died so the enclosure was set off with some fences. Tasmanian devils will return but this will probably take some time because new import is necessary. Hopefully the couple in Prague produce offspring.
-Koala's: If a suitable couple of Koalas is retrieved for the KMDA breeding will happen in Planckendael. Tin Tookie has just been moved to Planckendael because of his hip dysplasia and the keepers in Planckendael have more experience with this then those in Antwerp as well as the enclosure has more vertical options.
The keepers were hoping to get a new Wombat but are enjoying the new echidna space.
North America:
-Claw monkey island: The Golden-headed lion tamarin's were doing well as parents and the two siblings got left alone while the parents went to say hello to the White-faced saki's. The saki's are still not allowed full access to the outside. They can not get to the high trees but can get outside the building already. The saki's are also doing better and are less shy then in July
-Patagonian mara: They were working in the Mara enclosure, I took some pictures see below. No clue why tho.
Behind the scenes:
-Black panther (Jaguar): Zora Is still alive and kicking.
-Spectacled Bears: The two Spectacled bears Tinka and Zamora are still doing well and awaiting return to Antwerp.
Click to expand...

I visited today.

The construction in the Patagonian mara exhibit seems to have finished, and it looks like they constructed a few new shelters for the maras.

Construction workers were installing the sliding doors between the indoor and outdoor aviaries for the new aviary between the entrance and exist of the orangutan greenhouse (which will house wrinkled hornbill, Sclater's crowned pigeon and common hill myna).

Two other construction workers were doing some adjustments to the bridge between the greenhouse and the orangutan island on the restaurant side.

I saw a male Edward's pheasant in the mixed Asian aviary near the lions (which already housed Demoiselle crane, Blue peafowl and Asian azure-winged magpie, among others). However the signage for this aviary seemed to be gone, so presumably they are updating it.
 
The Antwerp Zoo Foundation, the nature conservation organization of the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (KMDA in Dutch) which manages Zoo Antwerpen and Zoo Planckendael, and the province of Antwerp (which both zoos are located in) will cooperate to conserve and stimulate biodiversity and protect bonobo habitat in the Lomako-Yokokala nature reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The province will invest 875,850 euro from now until 2025, helping protect up to 362,500 hectares of forest. The project will be co-managed with the location population.

HLN article "Provincie investeert 875.850 euro in Congolees natuurreservaat" (2022-10-04)

Gazet van Antwerpen article "Antwerp Zoo Foundation ontvangt bijna miljoen euro voor bescherming van belangrijk leefgebied van bonobo’s" (2022-10-04)
 
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Plankendael's male white-cheeked gibbon Paultje died on Monday at the age of 48, having lived at Planckendael since 1997. He was the oldest living male gibbon in a European zoo.

The female gibbon Paquita will now stay with the orangutan group consisting of the young male Vilmos and the older female Moni and Karo, who live on the restaurant side of the complex. Earlier this year I saw the gibbon exhibit connected to the exhibit for the orangutan family group, but apparently they have since joined the other group.

Zoo Planckendael Facebook post
 
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