That sounds way too long to me.....If it is true that the Persian leopards were never kept on that south road, that would mean the Amur leopards were kept there for three years (according to zootierliste)
That sounds way too long to me.....If it is true that the Persian leopards were never kept on that south road, that would mean the Amur leopards were kept there for three years (according to zootierliste)
Well...as noted in my posts my memory did also agree with what you say here to some extent (although I don't remember the sign)....but I have no evidence of the Persian being kept there, and okapis seemed certain...so....So the Persian Leopard was never kept there? From my infernal of those comments, there were both species at the Zoo at the time, and at one point the last Persian Leopard was in that enclosure on the South Road? This is consistent with my memory, as I remember a sign on that enclosure saying the Persian Leopard had recently passed away. I am happy to defer to superior knowledge, though!
It does to me, too. According to ZTL the last Persian leopard died in 2005, which aligns with me remembering seeing a sign saying it had died. It makes sense to me that the Persian leopard was kept on the south road, whilst the breeding pair of Amur’s had the new exhibit, currently occupied by cloudies.That sounds way too long to me.....
I recall from memory that the new enclosures for Amur Leopard and Snow Leopard were opened in 2004. [coincedentally the jaguar enclosure was also pulled down the same year] So it wouldn't make sense if the leopards stayed at South Road till 05 if the erstwhile enclosure was opened in 04, fully functional....It does to me, too. According to ZTL the last Persian leopard died in 2005, which aligns with me remembering seeing a sign saying it had died. It makes sense to me that the Persian leopard was kept on the south road, whilst the breeding pair of Amur’s had the new exhibit, currently occupied by cloudies.
That does change things.I recall from memory that the new enclosures for Amur Leopard and Snow Leopard were opened in 2004. [coincedentally the jaguar enclosure was also pulled down the same year] So it wouldn't make sense if the leopards stayed at South Road till 05 if the erstwhile enclosure was opened in 04, fully functional....
I quote from the Marwell zoo news autumn 2004, the female Persian Leopard that was in one side of the new Leopard enclosure, has been moved to the holding area on south road, known as the former Lion house.![]()
This map dates to 2000. It seems to show that the Persian Leopards lived in an area about the same spot where the Amur Leopards did for many years and the Clouded Leopards do so today.
The date of 2002 on the aforementioned picture is interesting given it was about the time that the Amur Leopards arrived to Marwell. On maps I could find from 2004/5, the lion enclosure, which I assume at that time was unoccupied, was unlabeled.
So my supposition is that if it was that leopards were kept at South Road at all, it was not for a long period of time - either it was that the Amurs were kept shortly after arrival, or the Persian was kept there not long before death.
Seems we have gone full circle here.I quote from the Marwell zoo news autumn 2004, the female Persian Leopard that was in one side of the new Leopard enclosure, has been moved to the holding area on south road, known as the former Lion house.
Are you sure about the date of this map? There were certainly no lions at Marwell in 2000, and for some years before that.![]()
This map dates to 2000. It seems to show that the Persian Leopards lived in an area about the same spot where the Amur Leopards did for many years and the Clouded Leopards do so today.
The date of 2002 on the aforementioned picture is interesting given it was about the time that the Amur Leopards arrived to Marwell. On maps I could find from 2004/5, the lion enclosure, which I assume at that time was unoccupied, was unlabeled.
So my supposition is that if it was that leopards were kept at South Road at all, it was not for a long period of time - either it was that the Amurs were kept shortly after arrival, or the Persian was kept there not long before death.
web.archive.org/web/20060925135530/http://www.marwell.org.uk/images/general/pdf/06AnnualReview.pdf
This report from 2005, for the interested, has a few words about the Persian Leopard. At time of death the female animal was sixteen and was suffering from kidney failure at death. I recall also interesting was what I found about the Malayan tapirs - apparently both developed similar illness around the same time. It was decided that this was from a bone-marrow deficiency, but the reason remained unclear.
This map dates to 2000. It seems to show that the Persian Leopards lived in an area about the same spot where the Amur Leopards did for many years and the Clouded Leopards do so today.
The picture shows the original Leopard enclosure on the same site as the later Leopard enclosure (which now houses Clouded Leopard). This original enclosure housed Persian Leopards.The date of 2002 on the aforementioned picture is interesting given it was about the time that the Amur Leopards arrived to Marwell.
A few pics that might help/ be of interest.....
Sadly, I don't have any of the 'Lion House' when it housed Leopards.
I'm pretty sure I have an almost complete set of Marwell guides, so will check when I have time. I think this map has been dated incorrectly by the website from which it has been sourced. I started visiting Marwell regularly from 1997, and I never saw a lion there.Here is another map from 2000 - http://www.leszoosdanslemonde.com/zoos/europe/royaume_uni/winchester/maps/winchester_plan_2000ca.jpg
![]()
This also shows Asiatic Lions there, as well as the incredible diversity of species Marwell has gone out of. I have another map from 2005 at home, I keep promising to upload but keep forgetting. I will try and remember tonight - sorry all!
Other maps of Marwell - and indeed many other zoos - can be found here: Index of /zoos/europe/royaume_uni/winchester/maps however sadly there are none from between 2000 and 2010, which would help settle this debate.
That would be excellent, thank you. I would be very interested in seeing the maps from the 90s and early 00s - it appears this is when Marwell had its most diverse collection.I'm pretty sure I have an almost complete set of Marwell guides, so will check when I have time. I think this map has been dated incorrectly by the website from which it has been sourced. I started visiting Marwell regularly from 1997, and I never saw a lion there.
The last Asiatic Lion died at Marwell in 2001 Tara died of liver failure, source Marwell Annual Report 2001.Are you sure about the date of this map? There were certainly no lions at Marwell in 2000, and for some years before that.
Firstly, sorry to hear of your poor health. I used to take my girlfriends with me on my zoo visits the one that enjoyed the visits as much as me,well we got married and are still married 47 years laterMost of my memories predate this, when the lions were still there, and the snow leopards were in the original wooden house, plus the pigsties (?) holding the wild boar and the peccaries plus the original siamang cage. I used to visit with my dear departed Nan well into my teens, and I probably bored her silly with my enthusiasm.
Of course, when I discovered girls, my visits to the zoo dropped off a bit!
Unfortunately the the millennium coincided with the emergence of my health problems, which severely curtailed all physical activity for some years, but I have been back a few times through the "Cretney years" when frankly I was a bit disappointed.
Sadly I didn't get my planned visit in this month as Covid has been kicking me in the ass for the last 3 weeks, with after affects, but maybe if the weather holds, I can get an autumnal visit in, and get a personal update.