Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2019

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BeakerUK

BeakerUK

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Well that was one of the more frustrating visits I have had to Twycross. They have put up various fences as mentioned, which means that I had a terrible time trying to get around. I kept having to backtrack on myself, kept ending up at dead ends, and was getting really cross with the whole thing. It used to be relatively straightforward to meander your way around and see, well everything I wanted to see. Now, I was going forwards and backwards all the time. I gave up on going inside Chimpanzee Eden because we'd gone via the gorillas and were faced with the exit only. I couldn't face going all the way around the other side to end up in the same place. Every single monkey house had the indoor areas closed, so I missed a whole bunch of small monkeys. I really enjoy watching them inside and this did not help my mood at all.

All very annoying as I had gone today to specifically get a new annual pass (which was a gift from a relative).

I like Twycross and try to be positive about it when others often complain, but today did not leave me feeling very generous.
 
BeakerUK said:
. Every single monkey house had the indoor areas closed, so I missed a whole bunch of small monkeys. I really enjoy watching them inside and this did not help my mood at all.
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This was mentioned recently in relation to the larger house containing the De Brazzas/Dianas and Spectacled Langurs. Temporary or is this a new more permanent policy decision to reduce stress for the inmates from visitor noise and too-close contact? Either way I think they should say.
 
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BeakerUK said:
Well that was one of the more frustrating visits I have had to Twycross. They have put up various fences as mentioned, which means that I had a terrible time trying to get around. I kept having to backtrack on myself, kept ending up at dead ends, and was getting really cross with the whole thing. It used to be relatively straightforward to meander your way around and see, well everything I wanted to see. Now, I was going forwards and backwards all the time. I gave up on going inside Chimpanzee Eden because we'd gone via the gorillas and were faced with the exit only. I couldn't face going all the way around the other side to end up in the same place. Every single monkey house had the indoor areas closed, so I missed a whole bunch of small monkeys. I really enjoy watching them inside and this did not help my mood at all.

All very annoying as I had gone today to specifically get a new annual pass (which was a gift from a relative).

I like Twycross and try to be positive about it when others often complain, but today did not leave me feeling very generous.
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I'm clearly a rebel - I'd have gone in the exit.
 
Zia said:
I'm clearly a rebel - I'd have gone in the exit.
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I did when we went on Boxing Day (signs are for people who can't think for themselves :D).

BeakerUK makes a fair point though, all the blocked off paths are incredibly frustrating.
 
Shorts said:
I did when we went on Boxing Day (signs are for people who can't think for themselves :D).

BeakerUK makes a fair point though, all the blocked off paths are incredibly frustrating.
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We did too on our last visit - I wouldn't if there were hordes of people coming out of the exit but on a quiet day these kind of rules are made for breaking :D

I'm not much looking forward to these blocked paths though... is there a map that shows where you can / can't go now? At least we could have a look before hand and not have to find all of the dead ends in person.
 
Zia said:
I'm not much looking forward to these blocked paths though... is there a map that shows where you can / can't go now? At least we could have a look before hand and not have to find all of the dead ends in person.
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No maps that I'm aware of, it wasn't shown on complimentary maps handed out (apart form an area marked as Tiger development. JC's post (421 above) gives some idea.
 
I can only think of the back of the lemur walkthrough and the elephants old field being true dead ends?
The though of the zoo having a one way system puts me right off going.
 
I was very tempted to go in the exit, but it was pretty busy today and there was quite a steady stream of people coming out of the door. I usually aim to get there for opening time and head straight to the busier places before the crowds reach them, but we were later today as we wanted to have lunch as well. Apparently everyone was taking their small children there today!
 
Shorts said:
No maps that I'm aware of, it wasn't shown on complimentary maps handed out (apart form an area marked as Tiger development. JC's post (421 above) gives some idea.
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Indeed. I didn't even look at the map as I know my way around the place well enough, but when I looked at it on getting home, it doesn't show clearly where you can and can't go. It wasn't at Colchester level frustration for me (mostly because I'd never been to Colchester before and was not familiar with it, plus it's on a hill which didn't help my knee at all!) but it was very annoying as I knew where I wanted to go, but felt like I was continually being stopped from getting there. For example, I usually head from Gibbon Forest to the Orangs, but when I went around to see the indoor Orang area, it was fenced off, and I had to go all the way round the other side. Not a major thing, but when that was happening frequently it was very annoying indeed!
 
Is this temporary whilst some works are carried out in those first areas or is this permenant? From the descriptions it seems like it is very poorly done either way!
 
I have no idea. It didn't seem to be bothering the "normal" visitors at all, as they were just enjoying wandering. Because I like to see specific things, I get annoyed when it isn't straightforward to get where I want to go.
 
BeakerUK said:
I have no idea. It didn't seem to be bothering the "normal" visitors at all, as they were just enjoying wandering. Because I like to see specific things, I get annoyed when it isn't straightforward to get where I want to go.
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It will only be annoying / noticable to regular visitors who have their own routes already mapped out in their heads - everyone else will just happily go with the flow.
 
I'm still annoyed I can't cut through between the Amur Leopard and Siamang enclosures anymore. :mad::D
 
I can't quite figure out why Twycross have felt it necessary after all these years to introduce some sort of one way system for what is a zoo of comparatively small area. For regulars it will just be an unnecessary inconvenience...:(
 
Had my first visit today in the new year been a busy few weeks with work as I live close by and am a member I often drop in if only for an hour or so. Today was no exception to that rule made the last hour of opening so had the place to my self almost, couple of items of note to pass on. The new tiger exhibit is progressing well since my last visit on Boxing Day, the old exhibit is rubble and they have broken ground on the new one. The area is all boarded of but they have given you windows to look through on the progress so will upload some pics in the twycross gallery. The second thing of note is they have appeared to begun on the possible rhino development in the old elephant enclosure by the demolition of the old study centre behind the zebra house. I know on the plans this was ear marked for demolition to extend the paddocks and is now all fenced of also. They have environmental teams in there doing the works so guess the buildings roof at least is probably aspestos hence the specialist are there. All looking good for the future espically if they can get rhino in this year as well will upload pics sone :)
 
J C said:
. All looking good for the future espically if they can get rhino in this year as well will upload pics sone :)
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I imagine the Rhinos are as much a priority as the new tiger enclosure as they won't want a very large building and paddock lying empty throughout the main visitor period in the summer months. Twycross are certainly managing some advances recently with a major new enclosure(giraffe, chimps, tiger) each year for the last three, though on the downside there are still empty enclosures and buildings..
 
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