Dudley Zoological Gardens Small Update

C

chizlit

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Was at the zoo yesterday (Wed 2 Sept), it was a busy day, I think their figures are going to be up this year dispite another bad summer weatherwise, in fact there was a major storm in the afternoon, and some people were asking for a refund because they didn't get the chance to see all the zoo (well that was their story!)

New arrivals at the zoo are burrowing owls, first time I've ever seen these (or even heard of them!), they are very small.

The ongoing work at the small primate house is still ongoing! Seems to be taking a long time.
I also noticed work on the indoor Orang quarters....... Don't know what was happening, but the brickwork was being done and there were bits of wood lying around, hope they are not thinking of keeping them there for much longer.

For the first time I actually got to see 4 of the red squirrels, they are so beautiful.

Any questions and I'll try to answer.
 
chilizit the burrowing owls have been at the zoo settling in since late jun-mid july, they were offshow when i was there
 
Im pretty sure you cant its offshow for visitors but as many improvements that can be made is great for the Orangs :)
Its going to take time to build the new enclosure anyway so any improvements made to the new house is all good - Its definately not looking as bad as it was.
 
monkeyworld said:
I know this is a weird question but can you see in the inside orang-utan quarters ?
Click to expand...

It's not a weird question at all.The orang indoor quarters used to be open to the public, but for at least the last 5 or so years it has been shut to the public, don't know if they thought the inside became unsafe for the public or they didn't think the layout was suitable for the public to see who knows.
 
erhm.. chilizit is corect, but you can see into the kitchen which goes onto the first indoor pen

and they have 2 baby squirrel monekys 1 is 2 weeks old and the other is 4 weeks old
 
chizlit said:
It's not a weird question at all.The orang indoor quarters used to be open to the public, but for at least the last 5 or so years it has been shut to the public, .
Click to expand...

I think the indoor house has been closed for more like 15-20 years now.

Its is very dingy inside, both the corridor and the insides of the enclosures etc- people would complain if they saw it.
 
Pertinax said:
I think the indoor house has been closed for more like 15-20 years now.

Its is very dingy inside, both the corridor and the insides of the enclosures etc- people would complain if they saw it.
Click to expand...

Pertinex, I think your 15 years is more likely than my five or so years.
Do I remember correctly that the flooring had a slope to it? Maybe if it got wet and leaked it became dangerous for the public to walk inside.
 
It may have. It is a smooth concrete floor.

But I think its the overall state, particularly the inside animal enclosures, that made them close it. One of the last times I went in there was when the chimps were still there- there were metal grilles over the glass where they had cracked it. It looked awful.
 
Went to the zoo today and I have to say that it did look really good!
Latest news I can report is that the pathway by the Orang house is now shut off and work is moving ahead, and is due to be completed by March 2010, to me it lookes like the viewing area is being extended back to give more room for the public.
However the really good news for me is the plans for the outside are to fill in the moat which will double the size for the outside section.
Now although I'd like them to have somewhere else better to live this is the best option for now in my view.
 
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