Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo news 2013 #4

[Chlidonias]

In my opinion there should have been a primate species there from the beginning but maybe Snow Leopards fitted better with the whole "Himalaya concept" in order to obtain the grant?

this has probably been discussed before but I can't remember (so apologies if it has) -- but I thought it was called Himalaya because of the snow leopard enclosure? Was it in fact the other way around, that the concept came first and they chose the leopards to fit?

 

[Pertinax]

Was it in fact the other way around, that the concept came first and they chose the leopards to fit?

I don't know but I imagine the two aspects went hand in hand- they planned this 'Himalaya' project with Snow Leopards as the focal point.

 

[IanRRobinson]

I don't know but I imagine the two aspects went hand in hand- they planned this 'Himalaya' project with Snow Leopards as the focal point.

There really isn't much Himalayan at all. A Yak cart, a prayer wheel and Panthera uncia.

Lion-tailed Macaques (could they be safely mixed with Entellus Langurs?) would give the option of an Indian theme. With Leicester so near, there would surely be a chance of getting in someone to make the restaurant really good and different

 

[Pertinax]

T
Lion-tailed Macaques (could they be safely mixed with Entellus Langurs?) would give the option of an Indian theme.

Liontailed Macaques can be very heavy on vegetation if there isn't much to start with. I heard a story back in the 1980's that Twycross once had them but quickly moved them out as they were damaging the grassy 'lawn' of the enclosure. But I am not sure if this is correct or not though.

They have had the Sri Lankan Entellus Langurs before too- same stock as ZSL. They do make a good, active display though.

 

[tpw123]

I like the changes as they are low cost and use previously unused enclosures

 

[zoogiraffe]

I like the changes as they are low cost and use previously unused enclosures

I wouldn't call the old sealion enclosure unused,and that was when the zoo had sealions in it!

 

[tpw123]

I mean the most recent ones ie this autumn

 

[zoogiraffe]

I mean the most recent ones ie this autumn

In that case I think we will have to agree to disagree,as I think all the ones since the Giant Tortoise,with the exception of the Yellow-throated Marten,are not as good as what went before and that pains me to give credit to the old mangement,but in this case they did a better job than the current mangement!

 

[stulch]

Well the only place near Himalaya that could house the Muntjac is the New England Wader Aviary,so putting the Muntjac in to it would make perfect sense to Twycross ,as they like animals to have no links at all with the enclosure name they are kept in!

If I remember the map correctly from looking last night that's exactly where they're labelled. As you stand directly in front of the entrance doors to Himalaya (i.e. from the car park) they are labelled at the front on the left hand side of Himalaya. Dangerous to presume but I would imagine you are now going to be able to see that part!

 

[gentle lemur]

I wonder how many other zoos will copy the brilliant idea of a muntjac aviary?
The ideal species to replace the snow leopards would surely be Tibetan macaques - if they were available and if Twycross 'did' macaques.

Alan

 

[IanRRobinson]

I wonder how many other zoos will copy the brilliant idea of a muntjac aviary?

Flying Muntjac? Well, that would be something worth travelling many miles to see....

 

[Falconhoof]

I suspect this will bug people until the zoo annouces just what they are going to do,thank goodness we only need to wait until the next half term for phase 1 to open!

Intentional pun?

 

[TARZAN]

I can understand members questioning the logic of having snow leopards as the exhibit in the entrance complex of this zoo given that this zoo labels itself a world primate centre and therefore a species of ape or monkey would perhaps be more appropriate. On the other hand, it is a good enclosure for the snow leopards and the zoo have been successful with their breeding of them, they currently have their second litter of cubs, I think there are other parts of the zoo requiring attention before we start altering what is in Himalaya!

 

[TARZAN]

In that case I think we will have to agree to disagree,as I think all the ones since the Giant Tortoise,with the exception of the Yellow-throated Marten,are not as good as what went before and that pains me to give credit to the old mangement,but in this case they did a better job than the current mangement!

Fair comment, but I don't have to tell you that the previous management inherited a far healthier bank balance that what the current management had when they took over, as for the various improvements they have made in the last year, it has been interesting to see what they have done with little money to do it with and it has improved the image of the zoo, although there is still a long way to go. One improvement they have made, however, I have my reservations about, putting the prairie dogs in the old pets corner paddock, the mound of earth they have is not big enough and is not deep enough.

 

[BjoernN]

Do you know the name of bonobo BANJAs son, born in february 2013?

 

[zoogiraffe]

Intentional pun?

Well I will let you guess if it is a Intentional pun or just a big double bluff!

 

[Pertinax]

I wonder how many other zoos will copy the brilliant idea of a muntjac aviary?
The ideal species to replace the snow leopards would surely be Tibetan macaques - if they were available and if Twycross 'did' macaques.

For authenticity's sake, I think they would need a snow machine to blow flurries of snow at intervals over the Macaques- but visitors would probably complain about that.

You should still be able to view the muntjac when washing your hands in the Gentleman's.

 

[zoogiraffe]

For authenticity's sake, I think they would need a snow machine to blow flurries of snow at intervals over the Macaques- but visitors would probably complain about that.

That was on the very first plan for the Snow Leopard enclosure,but had to be dropped on the grounds of cost.

 

[tpw123]

Does anyone know when

The muntjac are put on show
The kangaroos and emus are going to be on show
How many of these animals there will be
What the bugs will be about. Will they be like cheaters large bugs
Is it the bush dogs with the babies
Have the tapir and capybara moved to their new enclosure

 

[tpw123]

Sorry to post again.

I visited the zoo today these are a few news updates and questions

I spoke to the keeper about the bush dogs. There are two babies not sure what sex yet unfortunately I did not see them.

I spoke to another keeper who told me the capybara and tapir would be moved next week and they would introduce another female to the tapir to act as a mentor on how to be a tapir. Then they will bring a male tapir in. He also said the kangaroos and emu won't be a permanent exhibit and they are planning to build a new gibbon complex.

I saw one giant tortoise on top of other mating. Also saw the same thing with sloths and otters.

Definitely only one hyena at the zoo. Also still only one rhea in the enclosure.

Saw lots of new signage round the zoo and unfortunately could not see muntjac.