Marwell Wildlife Review of my Marwell visit 29/08/09
- Thread starter Gary
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I'll answer, as I asked this very same question to a keeper a few months back.
Apparently, not any time soon. The African Valley's fencing is not suitable to contain the rhinos, and they have no plans to go round and upgrade them, seeings as they've only just finished it. It'd be too expensive at the moment when the rhino's are fine where they are. I'd assume that the Kudu will stay put too, although I don't know either way.
As for the viewing platform, I recall MD saying there was to be a second viewing platform up near the giraffe house?
And that would now be the Warthog house.
Marwell never had gerenuk in the collection; none have been exhibited in the UK for many years.
There is a photograph of a gerenuk at Belle Vue, Manchester, in Gerald Iles’ book At Home in the Zoo. The Manchester animals died more than 50 years ago and I don’t think there have been any in the UK since.
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Thanks Huxley, exactly what I was going to say as that's what I got it an e-mail where I asked about it. A new rhino house is something coming soon on the agenda anyway, so it's possible that the kudu could move to the valley to make room for it, but that's totally speculation. Another more small reason why no rhinos is due to the theming; it's supposed to contain animals you can find in Kenya, so Southern White Rhinos don't really fit in. Personally, I'd like them to copy what they've done at Boras Zoo and mix african elephant cows with the animals in the valley, but of course that's a distant dream. And they'd have to expand the area and upgrade the fencing. 
And yes, the masterplan map in the education centre shows a second viewing area near the giraffe house.
As for the wildlife fairs, they were mentioned in The Story So Far, and the guests included Sir Peter Scott, David Attenborough, David Bellamy and Johnny Morris amongst others. They had to stop them after they coudn't find a sponsor for a third fair. A shame, as they sounded fantastic.
And yes, the masterplan map in the education centre shows a second viewing area near the giraffe house.
As for the wildlife fairs, they were mentioned in The Story So Far, and the guests included Sir Peter Scott, David Attenborough, David Bellamy and Johnny Morris amongst others. They had to stop them after they coudn't find a sponsor for a third fair. A shame, as they sounded fantastic.
I think the most likely next inmates will be the roan antelope due to many valley plans that include them in the mix, but other than that it's all a bit unknown. If the rest of the east african savannah antelope move in, then that's also the Kudu and Nyala (I don't imagine they'd keep both Roan and Sable together) and then there's also new species, which I spect could possibly be things like Eland, Blue Wildebeest or Lechwe. Of course, this is just speculation, and Marwell could completely suprise us.
Questions from Marwell
Visited the other day and have a few questions, maybe Marwell Dalek or someone could answer;
1. There are only two female Warthogs now(mother & daughter?) Did the male die? Is another on the way?
2. Only three female Mountain zebras nowadays(same as a year ago) Are they going to get a new male in, or are they phasing them out?
3. Why is the lake in the valley so enormous? Might they keep Common Hippo in it- otherwise I can't see the reason for its enormous size.
4. What is the work being done in the Pygmy hippo outdoor enclosure(or adjacent to it)
5. I saw quite a few empty enclosures this visit- why so?
6. Peccaries- there seemed to be just three instead of the big group previously. Where have they all gone?
Interesting to see the new Black wildebeest- the male is extremely quiet- totally unlike his predecessor but there is plenty of time for him to become territorial and aggressive(but then maybe he won't)
Visited the other day and have a few questions, maybe Marwell Dalek or someone could answer;
1. There are only two female Warthogs now(mother & daughter?) Did the male die? Is another on the way?
2. Only three female Mountain zebras nowadays(same as a year ago) Are they going to get a new male in, or are they phasing them out?
3. Why is the lake in the valley so enormous? Might they keep Common Hippo in it- otherwise I can't see the reason for its enormous size.
4. What is the work being done in the Pygmy hippo outdoor enclosure(or adjacent to it)
5. I saw quite a few empty enclosures this visit- why so?
6. Peccaries- there seemed to be just three instead of the big group previously. Where have they all gone?
Interesting to see the new Black wildebeest- the male is extremely quiet- totally unlike his predecessor but there is plenty of time for him to become territorial and aggressive(but then maybe he won't)
1. I don't know about what happened to Hercules the male warthog, but it's definately more likely that he died. He arrived as a young adult at the zoo back in 1999, so I imagine he was getting on.
2. I don't think Marwell are planning to phase out the Hartmann's as they have always been quite proud of having the three species of zebra (unless they're changing the view for management reasons), though it is concerning a new male hasn't been brought in. I'll have to ask about this on my next visit.
3. There have been plans in previous masterplans to keep nile hippo in it, though I'm not sure whether this idea has changed.
4. I didn't see any when I visited on Monday, but I imagine it would be renovating the fencing, as they've been doing this with most of the hoofed animal enclosures recentley.
5. Marwell is currently reviewing it's animal plan, so there's a lot of empty enclosures hanging about.
6. That's odd, cos I'm certain I saw more than three on Monday. They was either a very quick change (such as a move) or, more likely, the rest were resting in the den which is off-show to the public.
2. I don't think Marwell are planning to phase out the Hartmann's as they have always been quite proud of having the three species of zebra (unless they're changing the view for management reasons), though it is concerning a new male hasn't been brought in. I'll have to ask about this on my next visit.
3. There have been plans in previous masterplans to keep nile hippo in it, though I'm not sure whether this idea has changed.
4. I didn't see any when I visited on Monday, but I imagine it would be renovating the fencing, as they've been doing this with most of the hoofed animal enclosures recentley.
5. Marwell is currently reviewing it's animal plan, so there's a lot of empty enclosures hanging about.
6. That's odd, cos I'm certain I saw more than three on Monday. They was either a very quick change (such as a move) or, more likely, the rest were resting in the den which is off-show to the public.
M.D. Thanks for the very prompt answers.
I'm wondering if they might phase out the Hartmann's zebras- they aren't a very good display compared to the others and I reckon very few people even notice them anymore.
The peccaries I probably didn't see for the reason you give, there were certainly only three in the main area.
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I didn't see the Vicuna either, where are they now? I noticed the hardstandings near the S.H Oryx house were empty. And what lived in the large empty enclosure above the Australia area?
I'm wondering if they might phase out the Hartmann's zebras- they aren't a very good display compared to the others and I reckon very few people even notice them anymore.
The peccaries I probably didn't see for the reason you give, there were certainly only three in the main area.
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I didn't see the Vicuna either, where are they now? I noticed the hardstandings near the S.H Oryx house were empty. And what lived in the large empty enclosure above the Australia area?
There were lots of peccaries when I was there last weekend-they must have been indoors unless something radical has happened in the interim.
I think the empty enclosure you mean is the same one I queried-where the Babirusa used to be. There is also the empty one attached to the building where the frogs are currently.
I think the empty enclosure you mean is the same one I queried-where the Babirusa used to be. There is also the empty one attached to the building where the frogs are currently.
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The vicuna were in the black wildebeest yard up until recentley when they had to move for the wildebeest. Usually, hoofstock without a 'permanant' home move to the hardstanding opposite the scimitar-horned oryx yard that you mentioned, and along with the anoa and arabian oryx the vicuna have been long time residents there in the past. However, there's no sign of them there as you say or anywhere else in the park for that matter, so they've probably either moved off-show or to another collection.
As for that area, the ankole moved lived there for many years until they moved to the old roan antelope paddock opposite in 2007. The intention then was that the house and paddock where they were was to become phase II of the Australian Biome, with the grey kangaroos and emus moving in the following year. However, they found they didn't have enough funding and it has been put on hold. The enclosure had the camels in it for about six months recentley so they could introduce Marmaduke to Wacker.
As for that area, the ankole moved lived there for many years until they moved to the old roan antelope paddock opposite in 2007. The intention then was that the house and paddock where they were was to become phase II of the Australian Biome, with the grey kangaroos and emus moving in the following year. However, they found they didn't have enough funding and it has been put on hold. The enclosure had the camels in it for about six months recentley so they could introduce Marmaduke to Wacker.
The roan antelope had previously been very hard to find and spot; they were in the current waterbuck hardstanding between Cafe Graze and Aridlands. When I approached they're enclosure when they were in there, they were so unused to seeing visitors that they scattered the moment they saw me.
I've also often noticed how antelope and deer in zoos tolerate close approach where they expect to see people, but if someone approaches from an unfamiliar point, they freak out (natural flight reaction).
Strange they haven't got a male for themselves. How long have they been without one?