Planckendael Planckendael News thread
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I visited Planckendael again today.
There were relatively few visitors early on but towards noon the park began to get quite busy. Especially in the Asian continental area it was pretty busy, but still just below the threshold of too busy, and social distancing could still be maintained. We did skip the area around the train car, the Asiatic lions, Visayan warty pigs and Oriental stork aviary as this area seemed to us a little too crowded for comfort.This area seems a little problematic in terms of crowding and social distancing. Moreover, I think a mandatory face mask is probably appropriate in the Asian zone, in all busy areas in the park or even in the entire park on days like today.
I only saw a corona stewards next to the exhibit housing the Indian rhinoceros calf, but things were done quite well there in terms of queuing and viewing with social distancing.
The Indian rhinoceros calf itself actually seems to be often fairly well visible, and Karamat and Vaiana seem to be regularly found in the front corner of the exhibit and near the pool.
The most important development I saw is that the scarlet macaws, sun conures and crestless curassow living in the old American aviaries near the entrance of the American zone were gone. Their former aviaries were now occupied by an adult Bald eagle and a juvenile Striated caracara. Signage said these birds are used in Planckendael's raptor show (which currently does take place but with limited capacity according to the park's website). The spectacled owls and military macaws were still present, the latter I did not see but did hear.
The departure of the parrots is a little sad I think, but the departure of the crestless curassow maybe even a little bit more so. I kind of hope they are not out of the collection but behind the scenes, and will show up again elsewhere. With the raptor show birds now being publicly viewing during non-show hours for the first time I kind of also hope that they will make the old aviaries on the other side of that area, which have been behind a wooden fence for several years now (and where I believe the show birds were previously housed), publicly viewable again.
Another development I saw is a dug out pit and a crate with wood near the entrance of the callitrichid island and the lower viewing area for the prairie paddock. I think something new is going to be constructed here.
In the Humboldt penguin exhibit in the South American aviary two new pieces of brown canvas had been suspended to provide shading, one in the corner near the entrance of the aviary and one above the beach area on the other side of the aviary.
In the African zone the lemur walk-through was closed.
I did not see any other important developments.
There were relatively few visitors early on but towards noon the park began to get quite busy. Especially in the Asian continental area it was pretty busy, but still just below the threshold of too busy, and social distancing could still be maintained. We did skip the area around the train car, the Asiatic lions, Visayan warty pigs and Oriental stork aviary as this area seemed to us a little too crowded for comfort.This area seems a little problematic in terms of crowding and social distancing. Moreover, I think a mandatory face mask is probably appropriate in the Asian zone, in all busy areas in the park or even in the entire park on days like today.
I only saw a corona stewards next to the exhibit housing the Indian rhinoceros calf, but things were done quite well there in terms of queuing and viewing with social distancing.
The Indian rhinoceros calf itself actually seems to be often fairly well visible, and Karamat and Vaiana seem to be regularly found in the front corner of the exhibit and near the pool.
The most important development I saw is that the scarlet macaws, sun conures and crestless curassow living in the old American aviaries near the entrance of the American zone were gone. Their former aviaries were now occupied by an adult Bald eagle and a juvenile Striated caracara. Signage said these birds are used in Planckendael's raptor show (which currently does take place but with limited capacity according to the park's website). The spectacled owls and military macaws were still present, the latter I did not see but did hear.
The departure of the parrots is a little sad I think, but the departure of the crestless curassow maybe even a little bit more so. I kind of hope they are not out of the collection but behind the scenes, and will show up again elsewhere. With the raptor show birds now being publicly viewing during non-show hours for the first time I kind of also hope that they will make the old aviaries on the other side of that area, which have been behind a wooden fence for several years now (and where I believe the show birds were previously housed), publicly viewable again.
Another development I saw is a dug out pit and a crate with wood near the entrance of the callitrichid island and the lower viewing area for the prairie paddock. I think something new is going to be constructed here.
In the Humboldt penguin exhibit in the South American aviary two new pieces of brown canvas had been suspended to provide shading, one in the corner near the entrance of the aviary and one above the beach area on the other side of the aviary.
In the African zone the lemur walk-through was closed.
I did not see any other important developments.
Thanks for your interesting report on Planckendael. A question please:
When I was last at Planckendael, nearly two years ago, I was told the slender-horned gazelles would shortly be leaving the collection. However, I note that they are still listed on ZooTierlist. Are they still there and, if so, how many are there?
Thanks for your speedy response.
The slender-horned gazelle exhibit has been inaccessible since late 2019, so before Covid, due to a change that was made in the visitor route through the park.
From what I understand there are only female slender-horned gazelles left now. I have heard someone say that the gazelles might at some point be transferred to the rhinoceros paddock at Antwerp, but I'm not sure whether that is accurate at all.
Planckendael now does have Mhorr gazelles on display.
In other news:
A secretary bird has hatched at Planckendael. Perhaps this is why the lemur walk-through, next to which the secretary bird aviary sits, was closed earlier this week (though it was open the week before).
ZOO Planckendael
Thank you for answering my question. They're the only slender-horned gazelles I've ever seen in Europe; it's very sad it's now an all female group.
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Unfortunately another escape occurred at Planckendael last month.
On July 18th two addaxes escaped, but the story only became public now. They succeeded in pushing open the door of their stable, then jumped the fence.
One ended up in the zebra paddock, one in the savanna paddock. The animals were never outside of an enclosed area and keepers succeeded in leading them back to their enclosure, so they didn't have to be caught or sedated. The animals were also uninjured.
Although the animals were never in a public area, the zoo opened an hour and a half late that day. Visitors were wrongly told there was a technical defect, which the zoo admits was a communication error.
Sadly I could only find the full story in a subscription only article from Gazet van Antwerpen or Het Nieuwsblad.
Twee antilopen ontsnapt in Planckendael
Antilopen ontsnappen uit verblijf: vierde ontsnapping in twee jaar voor Planckendael
The GvA article also mentions that this was the fourth escape at Planckendael in two years, after lioness Rani (shot dead), a crested macaque (sedated and captured the same day) and the birds from the South American aviary (quite a few of those have been recaptured, but some are still out or missing). Planckendael's spokeswoman in the article pointed out that the circumstances were always different and that extra measures to avoid escapes of dangerous animals have been taken.
Of course it is unfortunate that this escape occurred, and I also find it regrettable that they chose to not communicatie accurately on the day itself, and did not make this public until now. I don't think they took the best route in terms of public perception and communication by doing so.
I personally don't think too much drama should be made about the escape, animals showing fear and flight responses is something that can happen, and you cannot always predict what an animal might do in such a situation. The animals never entered a public area, no animals were injured and no people were ever put in danger. I do however think they should thoroughly check the addax areas to ensure there aren't any things that should be fortified or modified. They got lucky this time, and something like this should preferably not happen again.
I also hope Planckendael will not get too much trouble from the animal welfare authorities or from zoo detractors for this one.
On July 18th two addaxes escaped, but the story only became public now. They succeeded in pushing open the door of their stable, then jumped the fence.
One ended up in the zebra paddock, one in the savanna paddock. The animals were never outside of an enclosed area and keepers succeeded in leading them back to their enclosure, so they didn't have to be caught or sedated. The animals were also uninjured.
Although the animals were never in a public area, the zoo opened an hour and a half late that day. Visitors were wrongly told there was a technical defect, which the zoo admits was a communication error.
Sadly I could only find the full story in a subscription only article from Gazet van Antwerpen or Het Nieuwsblad.
Twee antilopen ontsnapt in Planckendael
Antilopen ontsnappen uit verblijf: vierde ontsnapping in twee jaar voor Planckendael
The GvA article also mentions that this was the fourth escape at Planckendael in two years, after lioness Rani (shot dead), a crested macaque (sedated and captured the same day) and the birds from the South American aviary (quite a few of those have been recaptured, but some are still out or missing). Planckendael's spokeswoman in the article pointed out that the circumstances were always different and that extra measures to avoid escapes of dangerous animals have been taken.
Of course it is unfortunate that this escape occurred, and I also find it regrettable that they chose to not communicatie accurately on the day itself, and did not make this public until now. I don't think they took the best route in terms of public perception and communication by doing so.
I personally don't think too much drama should be made about the escape, animals showing fear and flight responses is something that can happen, and you cannot always predict what an animal might do in such a situation. The animals never entered a public area, no animals were injured and no people were ever put in danger. I do however think they should thoroughly check the addax areas to ensure there aren't any things that should be fortified or modified. They got lucky this time, and something like this should preferably not happen again.
I also hope Planckendael will not get too much trouble from the animal welfare authorities or from zoo detractors for this one.
I visited Planckendael once more yesterday, August 15th, 2020.
I did not see any important new developments compared to my previous visit on July 21st. The most important thing I saw was that the two snow leopards were again together. A keeper was observing the cats and the cats were being reserved around each other and not getting close. I think (and kind of hope) they might be trying to have the snow leopards breed.
The zoo wasn't very busy and following the safety measures regarding Covid-19, such as social distancing, generally wasn't an issue at all. I also noticed that the majority of visitors seemed to be following the safety measures better compared to several weeks ago. I did see a small group of visitors not wearing their face masks correctly.
Admittedly wearing a face mask during the entire visit, both indoors and outdoors (except when sitting down to eat or drink) indeed isn't very pleasant, but I still vastly prefer visiting a zoo this way to not being able to visit one.
I did not see any important new developments compared to my previous visit on July 21st. The most important thing I saw was that the two snow leopards were again together. A keeper was observing the cats and the cats were being reserved around each other and not getting close. I think (and kind of hope) they might be trying to have the snow leopards breed.
The zoo wasn't very busy and following the safety measures regarding Covid-19, such as social distancing, generally wasn't an issue at all. I also noticed that the majority of visitors seemed to be following the safety measures better compared to several weeks ago. I did see a small group of visitors not wearing their face masks correctly.
Admittedly wearing a face mask during the entire visit, both indoors and outdoors (except when sitting down to eat or drink) indeed isn't very pleasant, but I still vastly prefer visiting a zoo this way to not being able to visit one.
Who grow the group to a total of 18, the same as in la Vallée des Singes.
While the new building extension seems really good I don't understand a such large group in Planckendael as there is just one island outdoor and not of a great size. To compare, la Vallée has two outdoor enclosures of 8.000 and 3.000 square meters (the building is 900 square meters).
The island at Planckendael is really not that small either. Also the new climbing structures they have added give the island a lot of vertical structure, allowing quite a lot of fussion-fission, together with the different indoor exhibits. The new building at Planckendael was constructed specifically with a substantial enlargement of the group in mind. That said, admittedly it would not be bad if they constructed a second island or outdoor exhibit. If there isn't room for a second island something like a large cage structure could for example also be an outdoor option.
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Today I visited Planckendael again, my fifth visit since the park reopened in May.
I got pretty luck today, as I saw both the European beaver (for the first time in many years!) and the male Congo peafowl (my first since the species went off-show at Antwerp several years ago). I also saw the bush dogs again, the first time in those five visits. One of my favorites, the addax, were however not in the outdoor exhibit, and as the lemur exhibit was closed I was also sadly unable to see the secretary birds.
There haven't been many important changes or novelties since my last visit.
The most important change I saw is that the road from the parking lot to the entrance along the vulture aviary was closed, according to signage due to "urgent construction work" on that exhibit. From the parking lot I however saw that the vultures are still in the aviary, and besides some pruning of trees and shrubs around the aviary I could not see any ongoing works. For arriving visitors there was a detour to the entrance over the small parking lot.
With regards to pruning, they have been busy with that. For example a large portion of the willow trees in the parking lot have been pruned.
In the beaver exhibit the vegetation had been mowed .The cheetah exhibit was also being mowed, so the cheetahs were off-exhibit.
In the parking lot, just outside the tunnel connecting the park to the large parking lot, I saw a wild common wall lizard crawling around, my second of 2020 (and very possibly ever) and my very first at Planckendael.
I got pretty luck today, as I saw both the European beaver (for the first time in many years!) and the male Congo peafowl (my first since the species went off-show at Antwerp several years ago). I also saw the bush dogs again, the first time in those five visits. One of my favorites, the addax, were however not in the outdoor exhibit, and as the lemur exhibit was closed I was also sadly unable to see the secretary birds.
There haven't been many important changes or novelties since my last visit.
The most important change I saw is that the road from the parking lot to the entrance along the vulture aviary was closed, according to signage due to "urgent construction work" on that exhibit. From the parking lot I however saw that the vultures are still in the aviary, and besides some pruning of trees and shrubs around the aviary I could not see any ongoing works. For arriving visitors there was a detour to the entrance over the small parking lot.
With regards to pruning, they have been busy with that. For example a large portion of the willow trees in the parking lot have been pruned.
In the beaver exhibit the vegetation had been mowed .The cheetah exhibit was also being mowed, so the cheetahs were off-exhibit.
In the parking lot, just outside the tunnel connecting the park to the large parking lot, I saw a wild common wall lizard crawling around, my second of 2020 (and very possibly ever) and my very first at Planckendael.
KevinB already saw it but here the öfficial"video of the arrival of the Congo peacock at Plackendaell 
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KevinB already saw it but here the öfficial"video of the arrival of the Congo peacock at Plackendaell
I'm not sure why they are only posting about this now. I first noticed and reported on signage for the Congo peafowl being present during/after my June 12th visit. It might be that the animal is only now starting to really show itself.
That said, the weaver bird aviary where this animal is housed isn't that well suited for it, as it is way too open for a rainforest species.
I also have to add to my previous message that there was also ongoing work in the bonobo house. All the planters in the house have been emptied, both the soil and plants having been removed. It is unclear to me why that would be necessary in a building only opened last year.
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I visited Planckendael again today, my 7th visit post-lockdown and my 8th in 2020. It seems that I am compensating for a total lack of Dutch zoos this year with more visits to my 'local' zoo.
Today finally we had some quite nice weather again (at least for part of the day), after weeks with lots of rain and wind, and given the uncertainty of the current Covid-19 situation and how it will progress in the coming weeks, I decided to take the chance and visit Planckendael. It wasn't warm today, but it was sunny this morning, allowing many of the animals to be outdoors (or at least have the chance to be outside). There were quite a few people in the park but it was still pretty well doable to keep things save.
The most important developments I noticed are the following:
Earlier this week Planckendael posted the clip below on its YouTube channel, talking about why the Congo peafowl is important for the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (= Planckendael, Antwerp Zoo, Serpentarium Blankenberge and De Zegge Nature Reserve) and Planckendael (Antwerp was one of the first to keep and breed the species, they had held the breeding program studbook since 1985, and the species has been kept and bred at Planckendael for several years now). The video mentions that a female from Copenhagen is expected to arrive for the male now on display in the weaver bird aviary.
While I welcome the public visibility of this species, I still find it regrettable that the species is now housed in the ill-suited and overly open weaver bird aviary, which probably contributes to the male showing himself only rarely. I continue to hope a more suitable aviary will be constructed, or the weaver bird aviary will be made more suitable in the future.
On a final note: I know I am far behind with posting my Planckendael pictures, as I am still working on processing and posting pictures from my second post-lockdown visit. I have had other priorities at times, and I don't always have the energy to process and post pictures. But I do intend to post as much as possible of the good and decent stuff, as soon as I can manage.
Today finally we had some quite nice weather again (at least for part of the day), after weeks with lots of rain and wind, and given the uncertainty of the current Covid-19 situation and how it will progress in the coming weeks, I decided to take the chance and visit Planckendael. It wasn't warm today, but it was sunny this morning, allowing many of the animals to be outdoors (or at least have the chance to be outside). There were quite a few people in the park but it was still pretty well doable to keep things save.
The most important developments I noticed are the following:
- Two Black-crowned crane chicks have hatched in the African waterfront aviary. The parents seem to be taking good care of them.
- In the African antilope area the Scimitar-horned oryx and Arabian oryx (both of them now unfortunately single individuals I believe) have again switched places. The Arabian oryx is now next to the Mountain bongos, the Scimitar-horned oryx next to the ostriches and opposite the hyenas. In the Arabian oryx paddock I saw low wooden palisades, suggesting to me hiding opportunities for a smaller species than the Arabian oryx as I cannot come up with another potential goal.
- In the old aviaries near the entry of the American section another switch has occurred. The aviary that recently housed a bald eagle for a few months (former scarlet macaw/grey-winged trumpeter aviary) now houses a pair of Cinereous vultures (side note: I saw another pair above the wood fence in the off-show aviary opposite this one). I find this aviary to be quite small for cinereous vultures, even more so than for a bald eagle. In the aviary next to it, which recently housed a striated caracara, the crestless curassows and guira cuckoos previously housed here seem to have returned (but were locked up inside still). The sun conures also previously housed here do not seem to be coming back however. While I personally welcome the return of the curassows especially, I wonder why there is so much switching going on in such a short time. I don't think this is ideal for the birds.
- In the aviary near the snow leopards I saw two Nicobar pigeons sitting on top of the viewing hut. Perhaps birds rehomed from the now sadly closed Asian greenhouse? The species was not yet signed.
- I noticed a sign for a Reeves' muntjac next to the red panda exhibit. Planckendael already has muntjacs with the rhinos, and now apparently one with the panda also. However given the relatively small size of the exhibit, the relatively low fence and the lack of a true stable for the muntjac (only a crate is present) I don't find the exhibit that ideal for a muntjac.
- In the aviary housing Demoiselle cranes and Blue peafowl I saw a Sclater's crowned pigeon, another species formerly displayed in the Asian greenhouse. Again unsigned.
- I saw several juvenile Inca terns that I believe to have been born this year, and the Inca tern flock also seemed to me to be larger than earlier this year, so either Planckendael has bred some this year despite the February escape and recaptures, or has received additional birds from another zoo.
- In the South American I also saw a Black-necked stilt again for the first time since the February bird escape.
Earlier this week Planckendael posted the clip below on its YouTube channel, talking about why the Congo peafowl is important for the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (= Planckendael, Antwerp Zoo, Serpentarium Blankenberge and De Zegge Nature Reserve) and Planckendael (Antwerp was one of the first to keep and breed the species, they had held the breeding program studbook since 1985, and the species has been kept and bred at Planckendael for several years now). The video mentions that a female from Copenhagen is expected to arrive for the male now on display in the weaver bird aviary.
While I welcome the public visibility of this species, I still find it regrettable that the species is now housed in the ill-suited and overly open weaver bird aviary, which probably contributes to the male showing himself only rarely. I continue to hope a more suitable aviary will be constructed, or the weaver bird aviary will be made more suitable in the future.
On a final note: I know I am far behind with posting my Planckendael pictures, as I am still working on processing and posting pictures from my second post-lockdown visit. I have had other priorities at times, and I don't always have the energy to process and post pictures. But I do intend to post as much as possible of the good and decent stuff, as soon as I can manage.
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I visited Planckendael again today for my 31st birthday (yes, I sure am going there a lot this year -but Planckendael is the nearest place to me and I feel pretty safe going there).
The most important developments compared to October 10th are the following:
The most important developments compared to October 10th are the following:
- The preparations for Planckendael's winter event, the Dino Lights festival, have started. The first dino-shaped light structures or parts thereof have shown up near the entrance and in the European area. In the event area next to the small parking lot there were also a bunch awaiting installation. And I saw two trucks with containers in the small parking lot, presumably delivering more light structures. I find this a little bizarre, but apparently Planckendael does have trust in being able to actually organize the light festival, despite the current Covid-19 situation. However it remains to be seen what our federal government will decide with regards to events as they review the existing protocols this week (and in general what that review will mean for tourist attractions) to know what will be possible, but I don't think it will be very much. That said, the light festival isn't supposed to start until November 27, so hopefully by then the situation will have improved somewhat.
- A sign on the dusky pademelon exhibit said new animals are being introduced. I did not see any pademelons though.
- The pond of the new water-themed African area playground has been drained, the playground is temporarily not accessible anymore.
- A few trees were cut down next to the road from the parking lot and the vulture aviary to the entrance, including some large ones. In the bison and wapiti exhibit I saw two freshly cut logs of impressive size.
- There was a sign explaining the cinereous vulture pair currently housed in the former macaw aviary is housed there temporarily while a new aviary in the off-show breeding center. I did indeed see ongoing construction of an aviary behind the Vicuña and Darwin's rhea paddock.
- I also have an update on what I saw in the Arabian oryx paddock on October 10th. Apparently (some of) the Slender-horned gazelles have moved to the Arabian oryx paddock and are thereof on show again. Presumably the wooden palisades I previously mentioned are for them. There was a tall open door and the Arabian oryx signage was still present, so I think the two species are housed together now. I saw only two Slender-horned gazelles, I have no idea how many they have left now. Signage for the slender-horned gazelles was not yet present. But it was quite pleasant to see this species once more, before they sadly disappear from European zoological collections.
- In the beaver exhibit the old lodge, long ago built by the beavers, has been removed entirely. The water level in the exhibit was also much lower than before. I'm not sure what is going on there.