Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2011 #1

[Rothschildi]

Why I'm not against "art in zoos", which can inform and improve visitor experiences, I consider it fairly low down on the list of things Twycross need to focus on. Somewhere (way) below improving enclosures, getting decent labelling throughout and sorting out the roads and car park once and for all.

Would the money for said art come from the same budget as say money for animal enclosures? Are zoo's not run by many departments that have individual budgets? Perhaps the extension of art through the zoo will go hand in hand with enclosure renovations if the money is coming from 2 different budgets.

 

[Shorts]

Would the money for said art come from the same budget as say money for animal enclosures? Are zoo's not run by many departments that have individual budgets? Perhaps the extension of art through the zoo will go hand in hand with enclosure renovations if the money is coming from 2 different budgets.

I understand the concept of separate budgets but it's important to remember that a £1 spent on an "arts budget" is a £1 denied from the "enclosure budget".

In my opinion, the enclosures should be a higher priority and are likely to yield more visitor satisfaction. Like many local authorities at the moment, hard decisions should be made about utility per money spent and I don't think Twycross has the financial luxury of having sufficient money to waste on what I see as pointless things which add little to the visitor or animasl experience.

Unless you know of an influx of (non restricted use) cash which is going to improve/build enclosures in the near future?

 

[mazfc]

Visited today, was fairly quiet as weather had been given as bad but turned out to be a glorious day.

A few bits of news 0:0:3 mara were born 4 or 5 days ago. Very cute little things indeed. The whole group were shut in together today to get to know the babies. I have never seen baby mara before and I was amazed at how active and coordinated they were.

The snow leopards were out enjoying the sun. I've found the best time to see them is after 3, and today was no exception. They are getting on extremely well (as I've noticed on my last few visits) and were rubbing heads in that lovely friendly way of cats everywhere. They are spending a lot of time together. I do hope we hear the pitter patter of tiny claws in the next few years. Does anyone have any idea when the pair will be older enough to breed, are they now?

Had a really good look at the brown spider monkeys today. They were out enjoying the sun, and one was taking a great interest in the gibbons. I thought one looked older and relatively weaker than the other two (though I'm speculating here as I don't know anything about this species).

Molly the baby orang looks amazing - really strong and having a good look round at the world, at one point from mums head!! Batu the male was touching the baby very gently today, and mum maliku was very relaxed about this.

The baby bonobos are going from strength to strength, though my friend and I thought Molly was already as big as them.

All in all a good visit. It's to go to a zoo at the weekend in the sun and not inundated

 

[Rothschildi]

I understand the concept of separate budgets but it's important to remember that a £1 spent on an "arts budget" is a £1 denied from the "enclosure budget".

I totally agree that enclosure renovations should preceed art across the zoo or other visitor related projects. I have no idea if a large organisation such as Twycross has to spend £X amount on visitor related projects per year or if indeed the cash is divided up how they see fit.

 

[TimeToTalk]

Surely it's only viable to have an 'arts budget' if you've got pots of cash available? I know for a fact that Twycross is broke, so how can an 'arts budget' EVER be justifiable. Someone mentioned chasing a grant for arts, I think you're absolutely right there. But how long can the place keep going with hand outs alone?

 

[Chlidonias]

Surely it's only viable to have an 'arts budget' if you've got pots of cash available? I know for a fact that Twycross is broke, so how can an 'arts budget' EVER be justifiable. Someone mentioned chasing a grant for arts, I think you're absolutely right there. But how long can the place keep going with hand outs alone?

you know "for a fact" that Twycross is broke?!

 

[TARZAN]

you know "for a fact" that Twycross is broke?!

Could it now be time to talk in a mysterious way?

 

[zoogiraffe]

Could it now be time to talk in a mysterious way?

What has been said by TimeToTalk is something that a few of us have known for well over 18 months now!But none of us on here are in a position to sort out the problem in Twycross,only the staff in the zoo can do that now,I`m willing to bet that some of them may regret not taking the chance to remove a major problem when they had the chance quite awhile back!

 

[TimeToTalk]

What has been said by TimeToTalk is something that a few of us have known for well over 18 months now!But none of us on here are in a position to sort out the problem in Twycross,only the staff in the zoo can do that now,I`m willing to bet that some of them may regret not taking the chance to remove a major problem when they had the chance quite awhile back!

In that case you will know, to which major problem I'm refering. I unfortunately do not believe that the current staff are in any position to rectify the situation at the moment. The most potent oppourtunity for change may have passed, which is something that fills me with great sadness. I should make it clear that I am not in the 'Bash Twycross' brigade. I would just like to see some justice done for the hard working people who built that Zoo, who have been treated appalingly by the Major Problem. I very much hope that the Time To Talk will be soon.

P.s - I'd like to be less mysterious, but I don't want to get my butt sued! lol.

 

[zoogiraffe]

In that case you will know, to which major problem I'm refering. I unfortunately do not believe that the current staff are in any position to rectify the situation at the moment. The most potent oppourtunity for change may have passed, which is something that fills me with great sadness. I should make it clear that I am not in the 'Bash Twycross' brigade. I would just like to see some justice done for the hard working people who built that Zoo, who have been treated appalingly by the Major Problem. I very much hope that the Time To Talk will be soon.

P.s - I'd like to be less mysterious, but I don't want to get my butt sued! lol.

I do indeed,and as for the oppourtunity I know the one you mean,as a result of it I lost all respect i used to have for certain staff at Twycross,that backed away from the chance to remove the problem before any more damage was done!

As for being sued I can understand your caution,lets just hope that the Time is soon when the true story of what is happening at Twycross can be told!!

 

[TimeToTalk]

I agree that since the current 'Director' took over, the Zoo has undergone a massive transformation, however these have not always been for the better, mostly due to poor forward planning (as someone here quite rightly pointed out) which has overall cost the Zoo HUGE sums of money to rectify.
Few would argue that the Zoo NEEDED that Giant 8 Million Pound Wacky Warehouse they built when the Zoos chimpanzee, giraffe, gibbon & lion (to name a few) enclosures are in such a poor state? When they had perfectly useable cafe facilities before (and before you jump at me about the old 'out of date cafe' - for which 'Himalaya' is the replacement – It’s still there as a staff cafe which opens to the public on bank holidays and busy days- Progress eh??)
Every pound that is diverted away from the animals and towards the latest ‘get rich quick scheme’ is a pound wasted. And while I totally accept that change is necessary and modernisation is Vital – I would like to see a more measured approach.
I wonder if anyone could tell me why the Zoo might require an ‘Art gallery’ selling items worth up to £20,000? For commercial reasons? Twycross never needed an art gallery to support the Zoo before - it used to survive under it’s own steam, or is it that the poor financial handling of the zoos affairs mean that ever more elaborate ways of recouping money have to be thought up?
So I bring my original thought back to the idea that the management of the Zoo itself has everything to do with the animals.

Quite right! I do hope that you do not get shot down in flames for making this observation. Zoo management is of paramount importance to all Zoo lovers.

 

[Pertinax]

since the current 'Director' took over, the Zoo has undergone a massive transformation, however these have not always been for the better, mostly due to poor forward planning which has overall cost the Zoo HUGE sums of money to rectify.

I wonder if anyone could tell me why the Zoo might require an ‘Art gallery’ selling items worth up to £20,000? For commercial reasons?

I've visited Twycross many times, both before and after the management changed hands. I can't say I have seen any 'massive transformation' since then, apart from the newer Elephant paddock extension and Sri Lankan walkways, Borneo Longhouse(a curious 'non-animal' exhibit) and the recent Himalaya Entrance Hall and Pet's corner developments. Nearly all of the rest of the Zoo just looks exactly the same as before to me.

The idea of them pushing Art does seems strange too, considering their 'bread and butter' trade, which probably makes up by far the greatest segment of their visitors, is cash-strapped families with young children on a 'cheap day' out- hardly the target market for most Art ventures.

 

[TARZAN]

I've visited Twycross many times, both before and after the management changed hands. I can't say I have seen any 'massive transformation' since then, apart from the newer Elephant paddock extension and Sri Lankan walkways, Borneo Longhouse(a curious 'non-animal' exhibit) and the recent Himalaya Entrance Hall and Pet's corner developments. Nearly all of the rest of the Zoo just looks exactly the same as before to me.

The idea of them pushing Art does seems strange too, considering their 'bread and butter' trade, which probably makes up by far the greatest segment of their visitors, is cash-strapped families with young children on a 'cheap day' out- hardly the target market for most Art ventures.

One hundred per cent in agreement with that, however there are two pieces of artwork I would dearly like to see at Twycross Zoo, firstly a bronze statue outside the gorilla house of a standard of Guy's at London in memory of Joe, secondly a bronze statue of Molly Badham holding a chimpanzee of a similar standard to what is at Jersey in memory of Mr.Durrell, ideally outside a new chimpanzee facility., hopefully in time for this zoo's 50th anniversary in two years time.

 

[Diesel_the_Dog]

One hundred per cent in agreement with that, however there are two pieces of artwork I would dearly like to see at Twycross Zoo, firstly a bronze statue outside the gorilla house of a standard of Guy's at London in memory of Joe, secondly a bronze statue of Molly Badham holding a chimpanzee of a similar standard to what is at Jersey in memory of Mr.Durrell, ideally outside a new chimpanzee facility., hopefully in time for this zoo's 50th anniversary in two years time.

I'm afraid a statue of Miss Badham will never happen while the present director is there. Your more likely to see her erect a statue of herself!

It would be most fitting for the Zoo to remember BOTH Miss Evans and Miss Badham, as they were jointly responsible for starting and maintaining a PROFITABLE zoo for more than 40 years. It should also be remembered that The TZA (Twycross Zoo Association) did so much voluntary work for decades before being kicked out by the new management, with presumably, the permission of the current zoo council. Shame on them all!!

 

[TARZAN]

I'm afraid a statue of Miss Badham will never happen while the present director is there. Your more likely to see her erect a statue of herself!

It would be most fitting for the Zoo to remember BOTH Miss Evans and Miss Badham, as they were jointly responsible for starting and maintaining a PROFITABLE zoo for more than 40 years. It should also be remembered that The TZA (Twycross Zoo Association) did so much voluntary work for decades before being kicked out by the new management, with presumably, the permission of the current zoo council. Shame on them all!!

I certainly had not forgot about Miss Evans, as fortunately she is still with us unlike Miss Badham and Joe who should never be forgotten at Twycross. I cannot comment on what happened to the volunteers at Twycross, however what I can say is thank heavens for a volunteer at London, who on her passing left a substantial amount to the zoo which financed Gorilla Kingdom, a marvelous gesture.

 

[Pertinax]

however what I can say is thank heavens for a volunteer at London, who on her passing left a substantial amount to the zoo which financed Gorilla Kingdom, a marvelous gesture.

I was unaware of that. Is there a plaque acknowledging her, or maybe if it was only a significant contribution and not the full amount, it wouldn't justify that.

Paignton's Ape House is named after a wealthy benefactor who contributed the full(?) amount of its cost. Jersey's original Gorilla House was funded in similar fashion.

 

[TARZAN]

I'm afraid a statue of Miss Badham will never happen while the present director is there. Your more likely to see her erect a statue of herself!

It would be most fitting for the Zoo to remember BOTH Miss Evans and Miss Badham, as they were jointly responsible for starting and maintaining a PROFITABLE zoo for more than 40 years. It should also be remembered that The TZA (Twycross Zoo Association) did so much voluntary work for decades before being kicked out by the new management, with presumably, the permission of the current zoo council. Shame on them all!!

Why were the Twycross Zoo Association kicked out? chasing people who are good enough to give their services voluntarily seams very strange, and after so many years of loyal service.

 

[TARZAN]

I was unaware of that. Is there a plaque acknowledging her, or maybe if it was only a significant contribution and not the full amount, it wouldn't justify that.

Paignton's Ape House is named after a wealthy benefactor who contributed the full(?) amount of its cost. Jersey's original Gorilla House was funded in similar fashion.

Yes there is a plaque in her memory situated in gorilla Kingdom her name was Delaine Welch a lawyer and volunteer at London Zoo. The plaque is adjacent to the one Prince Philip unveiled on the exhibits opening. There is also a tree in this lady's memory situated on the Cotton Terraces,

 

[Diesel_the_Dog]

Why were the Twycross Zoo Association kicked out? chasing people who are good enough to give their services voluntarily seams very strange, and after so many years of loyal service.

I'm not a member of the TZA but I have heard stories through a friend of mine, who knows a member.

Hopefully, a TZA member will read this post and tell us why they were removed.

I could just tell what I heard but it would be far better if we heard it from the TZA rather than risk chinese whispers distorting the truth.

Believe me, if what I heard is true, then there have been some very dirty dealings done, to a body of people who deserve far better treatment!

 

[zoogiraffe]

I'm not a member of the TZA but I have heard stories through a friend of mine, who knows a member.

Hopefully, a TZA member will read this post and tell us why they were removed.

I could just tell what I heard but it would be far better if we heard it from the TZA rather than risk chinese whispers distorting the truth.

Believe me, if what I heard is true, then there have been some very dirty dealings done, to a body of people who deserve far better treatment!

The only comment I will make with regards the TZA is that they have been very badily treated by the current Zoo Mangement,and for the time been I will refrain from saying just how badily and in what ways!!

But I will say that what ever Diesel_the_Dog has heard I`m willing to bet is not even half of it!!