Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo news 2012 #2
- Thread starter adrian1963
- Start date
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Such a shame that this zoo now has to try and secure funds,to do this project,when less than 10 years ago they would have had enough money sat in the bank doing nothing.
mazfc
Well-Known Member
Charlotte (lottie) was in the Green Mile until recently with coco, mongo and noddy. She was moved in with Ricky, when jomar (m) was reintroduced to Jambo and co. (Jambo had ousted Ricky from the group as far as I know).
In the green mile currently are: benji with Rosie and little Tuli. Then Louis and choppers in a pair. The group moving to meet Ricky are from the Greek mile (mongo, noddy and coco).
The two larger groups are now: a group of 8 (Jambo, Flynn and jomar with Tojo, Josie, victoria, lottie and genet).
Then the group that Danny and tommy are currently meeting: kip, Peter and William with joly, holly and Samantha.
Such a shame that this zoo now has to try and secure funds,to do this project,when less than 10 years ago they would have had enough money sat in the bank doing nothing.
Indeed, and sadly ironic that the "World Primate Centre" boasts, some of the worst Chimpanzee enclosures in the UK (the move to a too small ex-Gorilla enclosure is not really much of a step up).
I hope Twycross' steep price rises and various marketing efforts are paying off because otherwise I can't see them getting all the primate housing sorted out for at least five years.
Such a shame that this zoo now has to try and secure funds,to do this project,when less than 10 years ago they would have had enough money sat in the bank doing nothing.
Clamouring for some good zoo and animal management.
This latest move leaves us gobsmacked.
Clamouring for some good zoo and animal management.
This latest move leaves us gobsmacked.
Well I'm no big fan of Twycross but they are making some improvements and hopefully this will allow them to get rid of the old stuff and they have to put the chimps somewhere in the meantime.
So the (potential) 'Ricky' group are the ones in the oldest Gorilla house.
The group of 8 including Jambo are the ones that have just moved to the 'revamped' Gorilla House near the elephants(with Boulas & Biddy as neighbours)
Kip/William/Peter etc are the group in the Chimpanzee colony house.
Is that right?
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
"World Primate Centre" or not, IMHO they could save themselves an awful lot of trouble by re-homing their Gorillas, and going back into them when funds allow.
I'm not arguing that the Chimps shouldn't have their housing improved, but it's pretty obvious money is tight at Twycross. The Orang facility must surely be up for urgent attention - it's now forty years old. Something is going to have to give.
I'm not arguing that the Chimps shouldn't have their housing improved, but it's pretty obvious money is tight at Twycross. The Orang facility must surely be up for urgent attention - it's now forty years old. Something is going to have to give.
How so? In my opinion the Gorillas are the Twycross Great Apes least in need of new housing or other change. When Boulas goes to Longleat and Biddy joins the others, they will be reduced to the one small group(1.3) in adequate (if not very attractive) housing built not that long ago. Asante being an individual problem of her own.
Its the Chimps and Orangutans which really need new purpose-built enclosures.
Hopefully, when Boulas goes to Longleat things may improve for Asante when Biddy joins the others in the new gorilla house, fingers crossed, this will allow even more accommodation for the chimps in urgent need of better accommodation. The amount of money that was in the bank ten years ago would have paid for Twycross's very own Budongo Trail and Realm of the Red Ape, and still probably a few million left for the elephant house improvements and new pets's corner, improvements which I personally have the highest regard for. Instead, money has been spent on fancy walkways, refurbishing Norton Grange and the controversial Himalaya, all at great expense, it may look impressive to see a smartly dressed lady sitting at a desk in an art gallery, it's just a pity you can't say the same for Benji and co. still languishing in that green mile, as well as money that has been spent, what about the three million pounds that evaporated in Lehman's?, what improvements could that money have been spent on?. As well as the zoo's liquid assets which it no longer has, what about another great asset of this zoo, the many long serving, loyal staff members, many of whom no longer work at this zoo today.
Does anyone know whether Joe's old inside area in the house the chimps have moved into will be left empty as a 'buffer' zone between them and the Gorillas until the latter are able to leave this house?
mazfc
Well-Known Member
I'm going on Wednesday and have a look. Boulas and biddy were in the small outdoor area last week
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
@ Tarzan The building of Himalaya was paid for by a grant not from zoo funds!!
I visited on Monday 14th May and I was surprised to still see them in their normal place as on the map it stated there were now penguins there.
I assume long term they are planning to have penguins there.
sealion
Well-Known Member
Ok, thanks. Are there plans to remove them from the park altogether?
This grant from the East Midlands Devolopmemt Corporation, was it 100%, if not , at what percentage was it granted, i.e. how much did the zoo pay towards it if the grant that you inform us of was not indeed 100%.
wild watch
Member
has been a while since I logged on. apologies to Josh, accidently deleted e mail!!. last visit 2 twycross was 2 wks ago approx. met an actual bona fide gorilla keeper!!!. Boulas's move depended on test results and health cheks which were imminent. both males were stressed out because of the workmen noise but the girls were cool.FYI the keepers are also stressed out that boulas is moving. He is very prone to stress and as we all know enough stress can kill a gorilla.But this move had to come- the zoo cant have two brothers in a breeding group. I am intrigued by earlier comments re finances at twyc. They are a registered charity i think? how does that benefit them? or does it in fact hold them back? In comparison to other zoos they seem... er.. different ( trying to be polite there!!!) through chatting to people connected with the zoo it does seem that all is far from well. It's definately not a cohesive group there and I'm talking about the humans not the captives! If a zoo is struggling is it better for us to step up our support or let it fall- which is the best for the inmates I wonder? any thoughts u guys???
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Believe the Grant was 100% which is why the zoo had to remove some of the things that were planned,that didn't fit with the wording of the grant,which is a pity because of working Snow Machine in the Snow leopard enclosure could have been alot of fun!!
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
As somebody that has seen how this zoo is run from the inside,before the TZA were kicked out of the zoo,all I'm going to say is only one person need's to be removed from the zoo for things to change for the better!
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