Rotterdam Zoo Rotterdam Zoos Future Plans...
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UntBwe
Well-Known Member
Last Saturday I was at Rotterdam Zoo for a special 'behind the scenes' tour. We were able to visit the construction sites of 'Arctica' (polar bears, polar foxes, etc.), the new Savannah house, and the new girafs house.
For pictures look here:
'Arctica': Blijdorp_Bouw Arctica_26-04-2008 pictures from friends & fun photos on webshots
Savannah house: Blijdorp_26-04-2008_Bouw Savannekas pictures from friends & fun photos on webshots (the person on the 3rd and 4th photo is Mr Dorresteijn, the director of the zoo.)
Girafs house: Blijdorp_26-04-2008_Bouw giraffenstal pictures from scenery & nature photos on webshots
For pictures look here:
'Arctica': Blijdorp_Bouw Arctica_26-04-2008 pictures from friends & fun photos on webshots
Savannah house: Blijdorp_26-04-2008_Bouw Savannekas pictures from friends & fun photos on webshots (the person on the 3rd and 4th photo is Mr Dorresteijn, the director of the zoo.)
Girafs house: Blijdorp_26-04-2008_Bouw giraffenstal pictures from scenery & nature photos on webshots
Trebaruna
Well-Known Member
a bit more info on the new upcomming projects that go with the photo's UntBwe posted;
The savannahouse will have enclosures for nilecrocodiles (and the 2 old african slender-snouted crocodiles already living in the zoo will move here to. They will live in a separate part). Also enclosures for locusts, klipspringer, hyraxes, elephantshrews etc. Carmine bea-eaters will fly around freely.
The new giraffe-savanna will be a combined exhibit with reticulated giraffes, greater kudu, mhorrgazelles and a new species of ungulate. (it has not been told yet what species, only that it is rare in european zoos. Only around 3 zoos seem te have it... mountain reedbuck? yellowbacked duiker? cuviergazelle? black-faced impala? we'll see).
These 2 projects should be opened around october/september.
Next to the giraffehouse a giant baobab is planned. It will be a combined look-out point and inside-enclosure for the spotted hyenas. The outside-enclosure for hyenas will be along the rail way track between the giraffes and henri-martin house (where originaly the hippos were planned, so the plan of keeping those has probably been abandonned)
When the giraffes have moved their current enclosure will not be used for the indian rhinos as the plann used to be (or at least not in first instance). On that site they will (temporarily) keep species like zebu and nubian goats. I think those will be there untill they finish (and get approvall of) their planns what to do with that piece of zoo.
The first enclosure in "Arctica" will open on juli the second. That will be the enclosure for polarbears (only the female bear enclosure should be finished by that date). Enclosure for lemming, snowhare, polarfox, owls etc and the other bear-enclosure will be build later on.
The savannahouse will have enclosures for nilecrocodiles (and the 2 old african slender-snouted crocodiles already living in the zoo will move here to. They will live in a separate part). Also enclosures for locusts, klipspringer, hyraxes, elephantshrews etc. Carmine bea-eaters will fly around freely.
The new giraffe-savanna will be a combined exhibit with reticulated giraffes, greater kudu, mhorrgazelles and a new species of ungulate. (it has not been told yet what species, only that it is rare in european zoos. Only around 3 zoos seem te have it... mountain reedbuck? yellowbacked duiker? cuviergazelle? black-faced impala? we'll see).
These 2 projects should be opened around october/september.
Next to the giraffehouse a giant baobab is planned. It will be a combined look-out point and inside-enclosure for the spotted hyenas. The outside-enclosure for hyenas will be along the rail way track between the giraffes and henri-martin house (where originaly the hippos were planned, so the plan of keeping those has probably been abandonned)
When the giraffes have moved their current enclosure will not be used for the indian rhinos as the plann used to be (or at least not in first instance). On that site they will (temporarily) keep species like zebu and nubian goats. I think those will be there untill they finish (and get approvall of) their planns what to do with that piece of zoo.
The first enclosure in "Arctica" will open on juli the second. That will be the enclosure for polarbears (only the female bear enclosure should be finished by that date). Enclosure for lemming, snowhare, polarfox, owls etc and the other bear-enclosure will be build later on.
Last edited:
Trebaruna
Well-Known Member
a "small" construction in blijdorp. In taman indah (elephant/rhino/etc house) an area of plants has been cleared to make room for the rhinos. (for those familliar with blijdorp, it's the piece between the aquarium and the existing rhino-enclosure). Whether it is to make a second indoor enclosure or to expand the existing one, i don't know.
(Daugther Sophie has been seperated from Namaste for a while now, because she kept drinking. and Namaste is due to give birth in August. at the outside enclosure the 2 entrances to the pool have been blocked already, so maybe there is chance that the birth will be earlier?)
Blijdorp has planns for a walkthrough enclosure with vultures and marabu storks on the site where the marabu are now (next to the henri martin house).
Also planns for a new meerkat-enclosure are made (now they live in "europe") They will be moved towards the giraffehouse.
The organisation "friends of blijdorp" will fund one of these 2 projects.
(Daugther Sophie has been seperated from Namaste for a while now, because she kept drinking. and Namaste is due to give birth in August. at the outside enclosure the 2 entrances to the pool have been blocked already, so maybe there is chance that the birth will be earlier?)
Blijdorp has planns for a walkthrough enclosure with vultures and marabu storks on the site where the marabu are now (next to the henri martin house).
Also planns for a new meerkat-enclosure are made (now they live in "europe") They will be moved towards the giraffehouse.
The organisation "friends of blijdorp" will fund one of these 2 projects.
Trebaruna
Well-Known Member
And then there is the giraffehouse;
On the right you see a path, that will divide the giraffe-savanna and the hyenas
The work is now mainly inside. Working on the roof etc. Here you can see where the visitorwindow will be.
Here you can see the visitorarea sticking out. If you follow the path to the left (so you don't go to the giraffes, you will go to the croc-house)
and one crappy shot of the first thing you'll see when you enter the croc-house form the aviary-side. Those sort of enclosures are probably for the hyraxes, shrews etc.
On the right you see a path, that will divide the giraffe-savanna and the hyenas
The work is now mainly inside. Working on the roof etc. Here you can see where the visitorwindow will be.
Here you can see the visitorarea sticking out. If you follow the path to the left (so you don't go to the giraffes, you will go to the croc-house)
and one crappy shot of the first thing you'll see when you enter the croc-house form the aviary-side. Those sort of enclosures are probably for the hyraxes, shrews etc.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Thanks, Trebaruna, for taking us on your behind the scenes tour.
Very interesting!
Very interesting!
Trebaruna
Well-Known Member
I don't think it was already mentioned here, but the last species for the new savanna will be the cuviergazelle! (so reticulated giraffe, greater kudu, mhorrgazelle and cuviergazelle)
Lately there are mainly small changes visible;
like plants on the boardwalk etc.
The polarbear enclosure should be opened for visitors by next weekend.
Lately there are mainly small changes visible;
like plants on the boardwalk etc.
The polarbear enclosure should be opened for visitors by next weekend.
Trebaruna
Well-Known Member
Yesterday the polarbear enclosure and the savannahouse opened for the visitors. I went to blijdorp this morning to check it out.
I'll start with the polarbearthing;
Arctica is still one big buildingsite, but 1 enclosure is finished; Female bear Tania is walking around already.
next to the bison you see both the bearenclosures behind eachother. The front one is still under construction
Visitors go through a tunnel. Inside you have windows where you look into the bear-enclosures
(to the right is an educational area)
The first enclosure is still under construction
The second bearenclosure is with underwaterview
(its deeper than visible on the picture. And the water will get clearer once the filter is working properly) Tania lives here.
When you go outside again you get an overview or the area. You can see both bear-enclosures again
(on the left is the night-enclosure for Tania)
A lemming-enclosure will be made between visitors and bears.
Polarfoxes will come on the left (sort of on top of the visitorstunnel). And polarhares will get an enclosure somwhere between foxes and restaurant.
So its far from finished, but you can see bears again in blijdorp
I'll start with the polarbearthing;
Arctica is still one big buildingsite, but 1 enclosure is finished; Female bear Tania is walking around already.
next to the bison you see both the bearenclosures behind eachother. The front one is still under construction
Visitors go through a tunnel. Inside you have windows where you look into the bear-enclosures
(to the right is an educational area)
The first enclosure is still under construction
The second bearenclosure is with underwaterview
(its deeper than visible on the picture. And the water will get clearer once the filter is working properly) Tania lives here.
When you go outside again you get an overview or the area. You can see both bear-enclosures again
(on the left is the night-enclosure for Tania)
A lemming-enclosure will be made between visitors and bears.
Polarfoxes will come on the left (sort of on top of the visitorstunnel). And polarhares will get an enclosure somwhere between foxes and restaurant.
So its far from finished, but you can see bears again in blijdorp
Trebaruna
Well-Known Member
And then there is the savannahouse, or better said "the crocodileriver".
You enter the house when you've passed through the aviary with migratory birds.
First you enter a small circular building where you have a couple of smaller enclosures for elephantshrews+pancake tortoises, Sudan plated lizards, long-eared hedgehogs.
when you leave this building you walk on a sort of an bridge
On the right is a large enclosure for klipspringer, hyraxes and spurred tortoises. You can also look into this enclosure trhough a window from the building;
(just a small part)
On the other side of the bridge are the crocodiles. Now with only 2 nilecrocs. More individuals will come, making a total of 7.
(left and right of the rock are enclosures that can be separated)
A bit further there is a separate enclosure for the 2 old slender-snouted crocodiles. They haven't been moved yet. (Also the klipspringers and spurred tortoises haven't arrived yet according to the signs. I missed more than those 3 species, but maybe that was a coincidence.)
oposite to the slendersnouts there is a large enclosure for porcupines;
And thats the end of it. When you go outside you're near the giraffehouse
You enter the house when you've passed through the aviary with migratory birds.
First you enter a small circular building where you have a couple of smaller enclosures for elephantshrews+pancake tortoises, Sudan plated lizards, long-eared hedgehogs.
when you leave this building you walk on a sort of an bridge
On the right is a large enclosure for klipspringer, hyraxes and spurred tortoises. You can also look into this enclosure trhough a window from the building;
(just a small part)
On the other side of the bridge are the crocodiles. Now with only 2 nilecrocs. More individuals will come, making a total of 7.
(left and right of the rock are enclosures that can be separated)
A bit further there is a separate enclosure for the 2 old slender-snouted crocodiles. They haven't been moved yet. (Also the klipspringers and spurred tortoises haven't arrived yet according to the signs. I missed more than those 3 species, but maybe that was a coincidence.)
oposite to the slendersnouts there is a large enclosure for porcupines;
And thats the end of it. When you go outside you're near the giraffehouse
Trebaruna
Well-Known Member
this is under the lower part what you see left in the toppicture. It's the visitorarea. There will be a bridge in the future on the other side that goes towards hyenas.
This is seen from the main road. There are 2 glasshouses. The high one is the crochouse, the lower one is the butterflyhouse
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
Rotterdam zoo looks great, I'm going to have to go As soon as I can!
Toddy
Well-Known Member
No fair! I went to Rotterdam 4 days ago, so I just missed it
Well, at least I got a great view of a four day old indian rhino calf
Swedish Zoo Fan
Well-Known Member
I also missed it!
Given recent events in Parc paradiso, my small wish is turning marabou pools next to giraffes into walk-through, netted aviary for shoebills and purple gallinules.
Jurek please,
The marabou storks in European zoos really are in need of decisive action to make the large population out here breed regularly. Secondly, I do hope the crowned crane pair will not be forgotten either. For both species it is lots better that they have separate aviaries for them to breed in. For the marabous that is assured with the vultures next year. I am not sure about the crowneds????
Shoebills are a rarity that do not even conform to the habitat or African savannah experience at Blijdorp.