Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
Next summer, two batty Britons will be embarking on a traditional zoological pilgrimage to the European mainland in search of species rarities, curious enclosure design, and nods to zoo history. The route encompasses no fewer than forty-four zoological facilities spread across Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Austria, and Poland.
The two Brits travelling will be yours truly and my dear friend JC (as I’ll refer to him here) who happens to be an ex-Drayton Manor zookeeper and the son of a retired zoo vet. I’ll be handling the species photography and animal notes, while JC, with an eye for design and detail, will be taking charge of enclosure photos and their respective jottings. Between us, a reasonably complete picture of each collection should eventually emerge.
Unfortunately, regular posting during the trip is unlikely, unless of course train and bus delays start occurring and we find ourselves with both time and inclination. More than likely, however, travel fatigue will get the better of us and daily updates will be few and far between in favour of sleep and sanity.
As Oscar Wilde informed us, “Life is too important to be taken seriously.” He was quite right and with that spirit, we prepare to set off on this vast zoological journey brimming with curiosity, enthusiasm, and ready for whatever surprises may await us.
Note: Although our trip is planned between June to August 2026, we’re sharing this little teaser now to keep you all informed and to provide a central place for updates and discussion as our adventure approaches albeit in over a years time.
The two Brits travelling will be yours truly and my dear friend JC (as I’ll refer to him here) who happens to be an ex-Drayton Manor zookeeper and the son of a retired zoo vet. I’ll be handling the species photography and animal notes, while JC, with an eye for design and detail, will be taking charge of enclosure photos and their respective jottings. Between us, a reasonably complete picture of each collection should eventually emerge.
Unfortunately, regular posting during the trip is unlikely, unless of course train and bus delays start occurring and we find ourselves with both time and inclination. More than likely, however, travel fatigue will get the better of us and daily updates will be few and far between in favour of sleep and sanity.
As Oscar Wilde informed us, “Life is too important to be taken seriously.” He was quite right and with that spirit, we prepare to set off on this vast zoological journey brimming with curiosity, enthusiasm, and ready for whatever surprises may await us.
Note: Although our trip is planned between June to August 2026, we’re sharing this little teaser now to keep you all informed and to provide a central place for updates and discussion as our adventure approaches albeit in over a years time.
