visit to marwell

volvox

volvox

Well-Known Member
I'm about to visit Marwell Wildlife next week... can anyone recommend good things to see? Especially animals unique to the collection? I'm sure this has been covered elsewhere, but I can't find the thread, sorry! I asked a similar question when I visited Colchester zoo and the answer really made a difference to my day, it was just more interesting trying to find unique animals rather than (or rather as well as!) wandering around aimlessly.
 
volvox said:
I'm about to visit Marwell Wildlife next week... can anyone recommend good things to see? Especially animals unique to the collection? I'm sure this has been covered elsewhere, but I can't find the thread, sorry! I asked a similar question when I visited Colchester zoo and the answer really made a difference to my day, it was just more interesting trying to find unique animals rather than (or rather as well as!) wandering around aimlessly.
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Although not unique, the Secretary Bird and Fossa were highlights for me.
 
Oh! a fossa, I'd love to see a fossa (or are there several?). Brilliant. I've never seen one. And I'm very fond of birds so I shall certainly look out for the Secretary Bird (when I was little there was one in my Rupert Bear books and I found it very confusing, I thought there was some secret about the bird that made it a secretary, perhaps it lived in an office or something... I was an imaginative child!).
 
volvox said:
Oh! a fossa, I'd love to see a fossa (or are there several?). Brilliant. I've never seen one. And I'm very fond of birds so I shall certainly look out for the Secretary Bird (when I was little there was one in my Rupert Bear books and I found it very confusing, I thought there was some secret about the bird that made it a secretary, perhaps it lived in an office or something... I was an imaginative child!).
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There were a pair of Fossa when i visited last year. Magnificent creatures.
 
volvox said:
I'm about to visit Marwell Wildlife next week... can anyone recommend good things to see? Especially animals unique to the collection? I'm sure this has been covered elsewhere, but I can't find the thread, sorry! I asked a similar question when I visited Colchester zoo and the answer really made a difference to my day, it was just more interesting trying to find unique animals rather than (or rather as well as!) wandering around aimlessly.
Click to expand...

Marwell hold a fair few hoof stock species and in June/July last year opened the 'Savannah Tracks' exhibit to house there three (1.2) cheetahs.

Zebras; they hold
Chapmans (E.chapmani)
Grevy's (E.grevyi)
Hartmann's Mountain (E.z.hartmannae)

Other rarities;
African Wild Ass
Amur Leopards
Black Wildeebest
Fossa (Not rare but lovely of course!)
Greater Kudu
Mishmi Takin


I've never been, but during the next year or two I will certainly look into visiting...
 
mhale said:
Sadly, the female died in the latter half of last year :(
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That's a shame indeed, there is only a few number of collections in the UK which hold this beautiful animal, last breeding success was Lakeland (Or Newquay) I think though these did not survive. Current numbers in the UK (Think these are 90-95% correct);

Africa Alive; 1.1
Belfast; I think it again will be 1.1 however not 100% sure.
Chessington; 1.1
Folly Farm; 1.1
Lakeland; 1.1
Marwell; 1.0
Newquay; 1.1 (Have these bred?)
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
That's a shame indeed, there is only a few number of collections in the UK which hold this beautiful animal, last breeding success was Lakeland (Or Newquay) I think though these did not survive. Current numbers in the UK (Think these are 90-95% correct);

Africa Alive; 1.1
Belfast; I think it again will be 1.1 however not 100% sure.
Chessington; 1.1
Folly Farm; 1.1
Lakeland; 1.1
Marwell; 1.0
Newquay; 1.1 (Have these bred?)
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For Fosa on show in public collections I think you are pretty much spot,but there is about the same in private hands,with most of them being part of te studbook for them!Also Newquays pair have bred in the past but not sure when the last time was.
 
I usually go round the zoo anti-clockwise from the entrance so to avoid the huge morning crowds at Into Africa. From the entrance I go right past the gift shop and round to the Giant Anteaters and so on. Don't miss the snow leopards, the lemur area, the gibbon area, the tropical rainforest and also the ocelot exhibit near the back of the zoo is great too. There are various little gems to look out for but generally everything can be seen in a days visit and its not too hard to miss anything. Hope you enjoy your visit.
 
Thank you, JamesB, that's a good tip to go anti-clockwise. Snow leopards and ocelots! Have never seen either of those ("my" zoo is London) so will keep a special look-out.
 
The Snow Leopards had cubs last year, I believe they are still there but rather big now! They will probably be easier to spot as there are more of them now. The zoo also has a free road train which saves you walking around all day, I tend to use it to go back to things I want to see again. They also have a baby Giraffe at the moment, so look out for that too!
 
We very much enjoyed our visit to Marwell yesterday – in spite of the varied weather (including hailstorms!!). We were there from 10.00 am till closing time and saw everything that was visible (sadly not the snow leopard cubs, just the male was out and about). The fossa was wonderful, very active, though we worried that he didn't look very happy, running up and down frantically, but perhaps that's just how they are.

Particularly liked the bat eared foxes which I've never seen before, and they DID look happy! And very interesting to see the red pandas at the very top of their very tall tree - now I understand why they didn't stay at London Zoo where there isn't a suitable tree. The huge field for the giraffes, ostriches and waterbucks is very attractive. The sulawesi macaques were completely invisible for some reason, and Tropical World was closed for maintenance, sadly. LOVED the wallaby walkthrough!! Saw little Ruby. Penguin pond a bit feeble (but then I'm used to London's which is huge). The mix of lemurs is very nice and I really liked that area with the windy walkways all under cover (it was pouring at the time). Have never seen a capybara before so was very taken with them, they are so haughty looking. Anyway, generally had a lovely day and now planning our next "zoo crawl"!
 
Glad you had a good day! I've only ever seen the Fossa asleep, so I cannot comment on that.

The Macaques are quite often invisible, with their indoor housing being in a silly place too. Its odd, since they refurbished the island they seem to be more happier indoors. I also really like the lemur area, usually lots going on, especially when they had the young Gentle Lemurs, they were a lot of fun to watch! I agree with the penguin pool, its a bit something or nothing now, it really needs a refurbishment.
 
Penguin Pool.

JamesB said:
Glad you had a good day! I've only ever seen the Fossa asleep, so I cannot comment on that.

The Macaques are quite often invisible, with their indoor housing being in a silly place too. Its odd, since they refurbished the island they seem to be more happier indoors. I also really like the lemur area, usually lots going on, especially when they had the young Gentle Lemurs, they were a lot of fun to watch! I agree with the penguin pool, its a bit something or nothing now, it really needs a refurbishment.
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JamesB, The Penguin pool and housing are as we speak in the process of being refurbished ! due to fully open in time for the 40th Birthday of Marwell in May.
 
Are they really? Oh, I had no idea! Glad they are actually doing something for the birthday. Have you got anymore details of the refurbishment?

Edit: I see their website features quite in-depth plans. I see why they have moved the Mara now! I like the cave idea, I was thinking recently how much nicer it would look with a bit of theming. I do enjoy the under water viewing however its always quite dirty. Looking good.
 
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