Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo news 2016 #2

Chimpanzee, Choppers has been pts due to ill health - full press release on the zoos facebook
 
Aww that's sad (even though there'll be the usual 'elderly so doesn't matter comments'), I've not seen her for ages although my friends saw her quite recently.

(Although I accept the good innings comment - was saying recently you don't hear that much these days about people - when I was a kid were must have been much more pragmatic about death.)
 
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Interesting how they have reverted to the usual publicity statement for this one, whereas Kip and Jollie's simultaneous deaths were not mentioned by the Zoo at all.
 
Twycross zoo news

We have two pieces of news from Twycross

1. Second baby bonobo at Twycross Zoo in seven months

2. Gibbon Forest now open!
 
Does anyone know if theAmur Leopard cubs have moved now (nearly 2 years old) as I only saw dad and I think mum? Their partitions have a wodden screen obscuring easy viewing of each other, which I hadn't seen before (although it might have been there before the cubs were born.)
 
Does anyone know if theAmur Leopard cubs have moved now (nearly 2 years old) as I only saw dad and I think mum? Their partitions have a wodden screen obscuring easy viewing of each other, which I hadn't seen before (although it might have been there before the cubs were born.)

Arina went to Highland Wildlife Park earlier in the year. Alexei has gone or will be going to Tallinn in Estonia
 
Interesting! Also strange to see that the inside viewing area of the main group seems to be in relatively good shape! I wonder why they've been closed then, considering the keepers were saying the windows have been replaced with mesh...?
 
Interesting! Also strange to see that the inside viewing area of the main group seems to be in relatively good shape! I wonder why they've been closed then, considering the keepers were saying the windows have been replaced with mesh...?

Is this house still(permanently) closed off now?

I can't see any sign of mesh on the windows either unless its on ones not shown.:confused: I doubt mention of the installation of the new more complex climbing equipment in regard to reintroduction schemes is of any relevance to any of Twycross' chimps, at least not anytime in the immediate future, but if this scheme is applied to other groups elsewhere, it could certainly be.


These chimps are getting it better all the time, apart from the few unfortunates which died in recent years and so never got to benefit from all the changes. All they need now is a new house, unification of the two seperate groups together and a couple more breeding-age pure verus females.
 
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Remembering what one keeper told me, they said the windows just weren't safe (too weak or something). But someone on another visit said that mesh had been installed...
In any case the house is definitely closed to visitors.

I personally think they should incorporate new verus females into the smaller group (easier for introductions), build the new home and then introduce the two groups on neutral ground in the new complex. That'd be the plan I'd undertake if I was in charge of this process :)
 
Remembering what one keeper told me, they said the windows just weren't safe (too weak or something). But someone on another visit said that mesh had been installed...
In any case the house is definitely closed to visitors.

I would think that is because of all the increased activity/glass banging etc since this bigger group was formed. The glass could withstand a small quiet group of Gorillas, but the house has never had chimps in it until recently- so mesh has had to be be installed and the house closed. It again demonstrates the need for a proper new exhibit for them if its closed to the public permanently now.

I think any further fresh additions of new animals would need to wait for a new house now.
 
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I still think new verus females should be introduced to the smaller group before both groups are merged just to make things easier, but yes I see your point :)
 
I still think new verus females should be introduced to the smaller group before both groups are merged just to make things easier, but yes I see your point :)


I wouldn't think they have room in the smaller 'colony' building to add any more animals*- the inside area is pretty small.
(* hypothetical situation at present)
If you are going again, you can probably still look through the door windows of the inside area of the bigger group to see what alterations have been done, unless they are blacked out that is.
 
Will do, have a nasty feeling that they've been covered but still good to attempt to do so!

And I don't think that too many females should be brought over; like maybe two or three. I think they could potentially introduce them once both trios are in together, as the space combined is slightly more spacious than the current situation.
But even then I agree with you in that they shouldn't keep (hypothetically) nine chimpanzees together in the Complex for long. So I would say do it closer to when the new exhibit is ready for the chimps to move in if at all.
It would just make the whole introduction simpler, have a group of eight/nine meet a group of 14 in stages.
 
If you are going again, you can probably still look through the door windows of the inside area of the bigger group to see what alterations have been done, unless they are blacked out that is.

I'm pretty sure there was no chance of viewing the indoor area when I was there 2 weeks ago. The door windows were boarded up with chimp pictures
 
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