Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo news 2012 #1

[mazfc]

So it seems that oumbie and boulas are to go to Longleat, according to information on the longleat thread. This will leave the 2 females in one group and the older female (biddy?). Presumably now they'll be moved into one group and try to find a placid, fertile male to get another group going. Sounds like the best solution imho, the group as it stands clearly wasn't working, and asante should porbably stay where she is with a female she knows.

Oh I really hope oumbie doesn't go. That would be so sad. From what I've seen Asante had less issue with him that she does with ozala. When she was in with boulas Biddy seemed to have a problem with her too.

I was there on Sunday and she was happy on the floor with oumbie inside but when ozala came in she shot back off the ground again. It's must be such a dilemma for them as she is always the square peg.

 

[Shorts]

I was also there on Sunday, the new arrival in the the old Aardwolf enclosure is Kirks dik-dik.

Nice addition, though not as nice as Aardwolf -I've always liked that row of enclosures.

 

[Shorts]

The martens are in a semi-off-show exhibit close to the owls, cranes and wildcats, just where the path goes through to the far end of the elephant paddock.

As anyone here seen them recently as I've seen no activity in the enclosure (admittedly I didn't have a great view) during my last two visits and prior to that they were always very active?

 

[mazfc]

I'm going on Sunday so I'll have a wander over And see if I can see them

 

[adrian1963]

Going on May 19th with the club we started anything interesting to look out for except the Kirk's Dik Dik and the wetlands area looks interesting

 

[mazfc]

Going on May 19th with the club we started anything interesting to look out for except the Kirk's Dik Dik and the wetlands area looks interesting

The tufted deer were very active last weekend, well worth a look.

 

[Waddi]

so, what's the most likely replacement male gorilla? an aspinall?

 

[zoogiraffe]

so, what's the most likely replacement male gorilla? an aspinall?

We could be very much jumping the gun over this as Twycross have not confirmed anything,and on the Longleat thread it was stated that the info might not be correct!!

 

[Pertinax]

We could be very much jumping the gun over this as Twycross have not confirmed anything,and on the Longleat thread it was stated that the info might not be correct!!

Agree. I think people just need to wait and see what will happen in this case- the information about all this has not come from any official source so far.

 

[Pertinax]

Was thinking green mile could be converted into an enclosure for Fossa to compliment the Lemurs of Madagascar.

I would prefer to see those cages completely demolished. They have no place in a modern Zoo. The site/area could then be redeveloped for new species in time. I hope that's what they plan.

 

[TARZAN]

Was thinking green mile could be converted into an enclosure for Fossa to compliment the Lemurs of Madagascar.

I would prefer to see those cages completely demolished. They have no place in a modern Zoo. The site/area could then be redeveloped for new species in time. I hope that's what they plan.

Agree, demolition certainly, they might be big enough to hold smaller animals but they are really old as well, certainly well past their sell by date, what would be interesting to discuss, however, is what would members like to see built on this site and what animals housed there.

 

[pipaluk]

I would prefer to see those cages completely demolished. They have no place in a modern Zoo. The site/area could then be redeveloped for new species in time. I hope that's what they plan.

I'm not saying i don't agree with you that some time in the not too distant future they should be demolished,but think in the shorter term these enclosures would provide better accomodation (inside particularly) than many of the monkey/gibbon cages. If the criteria you are applying to the green mile needing demolition were applied across the site,twycross would have very few primate enclosures left standing!

 

[Pertinax]

but think in the shorter term these enclosures would provide better accomodation (inside particularly) than many of the monkey/gibbon cages. If the criteria you are applying to the green mile needing demolition were applied across the site,twycross would have very few primate enclosures left standing!

I was thinking chiefly of the outdoor enclosures, with the ugly prison-like heavy mesh and metal etc. designed for holding the powerful Chimps. I would like to see them razed to the ground a.s.a.p. but agree that with a bit of renovation the indoor areas would be okay for smaller primates, perhaps with new airier/more visitor friendly outside areas replacing the soon-to-be defunct ones?

I have no idea what the zoo plan regarding that whole area though. Anyone?

 

[pipaluk]

I was thinking chiefly of the outdoor enclosures, with the ugly prison-like heavy mesh and metal etc. designed for holding the powerful Chimps. I would like to see them razed to the ground a.s.a.p. but agree that with a bit of renovation the indoor areas would be okay for smaller primates, perhaps with new airier/more visitor friendly outside areas replacing the soon-to-be defunct ones

Similar to the way London used the old sobell indoor area & built a more modern outside enclosure for the mangabeys, i would buy into that idea, & it would probably be cheaper than starting from scratch.

 

[Pertinax]

Agree that could work. Indoor areas are always the most expensive so with ready -made ones there, adding new modern-style outdoors with light mesh would work along the lines of the Mangabey enclosure at London which is a good example as you said.

 

[Pertinax]

Oh I really hope oumbie doesn't go. That would be so sad. From what I've seen Asante had less issue with him that she does with ozala. When she was in with boulas Biddy seemed to have a problem with her too.

I was never aware Asante and Ozala had any differences, they have lived together a long time now and always look relaxed together IMO. However its possible both Ozala and Biddy have become 'possessive' of their respective males which might cause Asante to be pushed away. I would be surprised if Oumbie left now that he's bred with Ozala, though it could be a way of trying to improve Asante's lot, but it would be a game of chance whether another male would be any better with her.

 

[pipaluk]

Agree that could work. Indoor areas are always the most expensive so with ready -made ones there, adding new modern-style outdoors with light mesh would work along the lines of the Mangabey enclosure at London which is a good example as you said.

Glad we seem to have come to a compromise on this,though what the zoo chooses to do is anyones guess, i just cant see the point in demolishing what would be decent indoor accomodation for smaller primates (including the square old chimp enclosures)when so many at the zoo only have ones fit for marmosets!

 

[zoogiraffe]

I was thinking chiefly of the outdoor enclosures, with the ugly prison-like heavy mesh and metal etc. designed for holding the powerful Chimps. I would like to see them razed to the ground a.s.a.p. but agree that with a bit of renovation the indoor areas would be okay for smaller primates, perhaps with new airier/more visitor friendly outside areas replacing the soon-to-be defunct ones?

I have no idea what the zoo plan regarding that whole area though. Anyone?

I have heard too many plans been mentioned for that area over the last 5 years,none of which have ever seen any sign of seeing the light of day,the last one I heard was all that area and alot more would become a New Gorilla enclosure!!

 

[mazfc]

I was never aware Asante and Ozala had any differences, they have lived together a long time now and always look relaxed together IMO. However its possible both Ozala and Biddy have become 'possessive' of their respective males which might cause Asante to be pushed away. I would be surprised if Oumbie left now that he's bred with Ozala, though it could be a way of trying to improve Asante's lot, but it would be a game of chance whether another male would be any better with her.

I think it's been since Ozala lost Okanda that things have been different.

 

[mazfc]

Glad we seem to have come to a compromise on this,though what the zoo chooses to do is anyones guess, i just cant see the point in demolishing what would be decent indoor accomodation for smaller primates (including the square old chimp enclosures)when so many at the zoo only have ones fit for marmosets!

As a very regular visitor I truly believe that the sooner the green mile is gone the better. Inside is definitely not better that the monkey houses. The ceilings/roofs in Particular are in poor condition - leaking etc. The small monkey team have worked wonders to transform the indoor enclosures with I imagine only a small budget.