They did have the Purple-faced langurs, but the last ones went to Cotswold Wildlife Park.
Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2010
- Thread starter mr primatology
- Start date
They did have the Purple-faced langurs, but the last ones went to Cotswold Wildlife Park.
Might it be that Twycross Zoo is funding some form of elephant conservation project on Sri Lanka?
Twycross' Twitter reports that 1.2 Black-fronted (sic) Monitors are now on show in the Bonobo House - would guess they mean Black-throated (Varanus albogularis ionides) - if so would think it likely these are the trio from The Palms, Stapeley.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Well given that in one of the Zoo magazines for members they called Black-crowned Night Heron`s,Blue-crowned Night Heron`s my guess would be that yet again Twycross have created a new species again!!
Twycross (and the UK's) last Red-tailed Guenon (Cercopithecus ascanius - subspecies debatable - probably whitesidei) was moved to the Owl & Monkey Haven on the Isle of Wight last week.
This collection seems to have become a bit of a dumping ground for odd primates - with the result that they are building up a very interesting collection!
This collection seems to have become a bit of a dumping ground for odd primates - with the result that they are building up a very interesting collection!
I believe it has been there rather longer than that.
Apparently this Monkey has quite an interesting history, he was acquired as a pet by someone in, I think, North Africa, before eventually being gifted to Twycross, so he's been about a bit.
Interesting. There is a sign on the enclosure stating that he arrived last Wednesday (and went on show on Saturday): presumably not a new sign!
2009 financial report is available and identifies a 'Molly Badham Primate Enclosure' a 'major project to design and build a state-of-the-art great ape complex, which will include animal exhibits, a veterinary hospital and nutrition centre' as next on the agenda.
'The next big development project for the zoo will be several connected state of the art landscaped enclosures for the very species that were the inspiration for Twycross Zoo way back in the early 60's, our chimpanzees. Planning for the first phase of this ambitious project will take place during the year (ie 2009).'
'The next big development project for the zoo will be several connected state of the art landscaped enclosures for the very species that were the inspiration for Twycross Zoo way back in the early 60's, our chimpanzees. Planning for the first phase of this ambitious project will take place during the year (ie 2009).'
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Well I`m not going to hold my breath that this will happen anytime soon,its been talked about for about the last 5 years atleast.
1. What happened to the "Asian Carnivore" exhibit?
2. Why focus on grand, all or nothing (for one species) gestures? I'm sure a fraction of the likely cost of such a proposal could sort out pretty much all the outdated gibbon & monkey houses. If it's not careful the place is going to end up a complete curate's egg.
3. I'll believe it when it when I see it. Somehow I cannot see they grants (without which the non-entrance entrance building would not have occured) being quite so free-lowing in the future.
Also, I notice from the accounts that Twcross appears to have no president at the moment. That seems strange, are there any implications from this?
With respect to your good selves, why may I ask is there such a negative attitude towards Twycross here? Whilst I admit there is currently no "Realm of the red ape" or "Budongo trail" on site, I think you will find that the new chimp exhibit will soon materialise. In my opinion what is currently lacking at Twycross is to a certain extent made up for by the good animal husbandry of the keepers, influenced by the previous management, who I did note were once disrespectfully referred to as " The old dears". Well I am sure that if the red river hogs had been in the care of "The old dears" instead of Edinburgh we would not have been discussing their unfortunate demise at length on this site. Could we please have a more positive attitude towards Twycross as it would appear that they cannot win, they are accused of doing nothing and when they do something it is criticised and pulled to pieces. I have always found Twycross to be a friendly zoo and look forward to visiting in the future and seeing their future developments.
Gloss it all over ..., nah cannot be helped! 
Well, if you cannot stand the heat you should not stand in the kitchen!
Twycross Zoo portrays itself as the primate zoo of the world, yet it is not.
And as our esteemed forumsters have told you the Great Ape House has been talked and balked about for the last 5 years. There is much to criticise there ... for the discerning zoo enthusiast.
For what it is worth:
* 1) for a fraction of the cost of the entrance development the entire zoo could have had state-of-the-art primate exhibits.
* 2) read the Annuals and care to discover the financial state of the zoo and its management?
Well, if you cannot stand the heat you should not stand in the kitchen!Twycross Zoo portrays itself as the primate zoo of the world, yet it is not.
And as our esteemed forumsters have told you the Great Ape House has been talked and balked about for the last 5 years. There is much to criticise there ... for the discerning zoo enthusiast.
For what it is worth:
* 1) for a fraction of the cost of the entrance development the entire zoo could have had state-of-the-art primate exhibits.
* 2) read the Annuals and care to discover the financial state of the zoo and its management?
With respect to yourself too, and apologies to those who I've espoused to so many times before (on and off forum), my "negative" attitude to Twycross is borne out of the frustration of seeing a collection with so much potential continually punching below it's weight.
Compare Twycross with Marwell, Paignton, and Colcester, all of which have similar visitor numbers (although historically less), and ask yourself whether Twycross has developed as well as it could have done? Similarly some of the lesser visited places, such as Newquay, have changed greatly and for the better, over the last 10 years. Over a similar timespan Twycross have created an OK Leopard enclosure, redeveloped the reptile house into a Tropical House which delivers an unsatisfying visitor experience (which will be redeveloped again soon, poor forward planning), a fantastic "Pets Corner" which is isolated from the main zoo and missed by many (again poor forward planning), a good (now it's matured) walk-through bird enclosure with poor labelling, an expensive extension to the Elephant enclosure (with a messed up far side walkway that was closed a few days after opening and took ages to rectify and re-open (again poor planning) and an "entrance building" with a major "exhibit" that can't be seen. Over all this time the Monkey, Gibbon and old Chimp enclosures have remained barely adequate. It's no good having a few good looking exhibits if everything else is decades out of date (and I haven't started on the Sealion enclosure).
I've just been analysing their accounts for last year (2009). Do you realise that they would have made a significant loss if it wasn't for the (I assume one-off) grant they received? Seriously, I can't imagine them being able to fund any major development any time soon -there's a recession on and anecdotal feedback I'm receiving suggests that many think the new entrance prices (which have leapt about £5 in 3 years) are steep. If you study their accounts they have £100,000 set aside for this exhibit, that'll barely cover the architects fees, where's the rest coming from?
No argument there, the keepers work hard and good -though it's a shame they've lost a number of experienced keeers in the last couple of years.
That's not really that relevant to the point you're making but suffice to say that different people have different opinions on aspects of animal husbandry -which doesn't necessarilly make one right and one wrong.
Finally, just for the record, I love Twycross -it's my local zoo, since childhood. I just wish it didn't take one step back for every two steps forward.
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But then they wouldn't have got a very generous development grant for establishing a "community facility" for the surrounding area
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Well said Shorts yet again you have managed to say what i feel about Twycross so much better than i ever could,the only difference is that for me Twycross is not my local zoo but is though one that for various reason`s do care for lot despite how my comments my seem.
If the current management are doing such a bad job and zoo finances are so low , how is it that they are still there? Obviously it could not have been easy for anyone to follow in the footsteps of the previous directors who left the zoo in a healthy financial state and a happy contented staff, what then has gone wrong?
Actually TARZAN there is a lot wrong in there too.
And for the record: for its sheer potential as a primate zoo most of us here - incl. meself - do care about this zoo. It could have been so much better, greater under better management that actually cares for animals and staff on the ground.
And for the record: for its sheer potential as a primate zoo most of us here - incl. meself - do care about this zoo. It could have been so much better, greater under better management that actually cares for animals and staff on the ground.