Welsh Mountain Zoo Welsh Mountain Zoo 27/09/09

Maguari

Maguari

Never could get the hang of Thursdays.
15+ year member
Premium Member
A few updates from a quick wander around Welsh Mountain yesterday:

- a new exhibit is under construction on the site of the old Tortoise and Cactus house. The porcupines will be moving into this new enclosure where they will be joined by... Meerkats. Bit dull, but in truth, they're so popular and so hardy and compact that it's not surprising everywhere's got 'em. Says due to open 'later in 2009'.

- the old condor aviary by the entrance road (most recently home to the caracaras) is being doubled in size by extending it outwards towards the road; nothing to say if the caracaras will be going back in or if something else will be happening.

- there are now Red Squirrels in the old Pine Marten exhibit as well as their normal enclosure. Absolutely loads of the things. The group in the old exhibit have been joined by a little group of Red-legged Partridge, which is a nice addition.

- the invert enclosures in the Reptile House have been boarded over.

- bit of friction 'twixt otter and panda - the Red Panda was being chased fairly doggedly by the whole group of Short-clawed Otters, who do not seem to approve of the panda coming down to ground level.

- Snow Leopard cubs out and about and feasting on what actually looked more like the remnants of a crow than a chicken - think Mum had been hunting!


Think that's about it - photos uploading now and the post with the thing I have inevitably forgotten will follow shortly! :D
 
Last edited:
Sounds cool, I really have to visit but it's miles away and no-one I know is interested enough to make the trip with me lol.
I remember when I visited Hamburg, Animal told me that there was a binturong in the orang exhibit but that got killed by the otters, same with a monkey at Bronx (?) zoo. They also pick on the bears at South lakes! Seems as though they're not an ideal species to be mixed with anything!
 
Thanks Maguari for the updates. Despite being my closest zoo, I rarely get to visit these days.
The Meerkat/Porcupine enclosure actually looks really nice by their standards. Im actually pretty pleased their getting Meerkats, its a nice little sign they're catching up with the times imo.
Good to hear the old Condor aviary's being expanded. It wasnt good enough for CaraCaras let alone Condors in its old state.
Shame about the problems with the Pandas & Otters. I wonder where the Pandas will be moved too assuming the zoo do something about it.
 
ZooMania said:
Shame about the problems with the Pandas & Otters. I wonder where the Pandas will be moved too assuming the zoo do something about it.
Click to expand...

I think that depends on whether it's a regular problem - I just happened to see it today but that might be the first time it's ever come up.
 
Ash said:
Sounds cool, I really have to visit but it's miles away and no-one I know is interested enough to make the trip with me lol.
I remember when I visited Hamburg, Animal told me that there was a binturong in the orang exhibit but that got killed by the otters, same with a monkey at Bronx (?) zoo. They also pick on the bears at South lakes! Seems as though they're not an ideal species to be mixed with anything!
Click to expand...

Otters/Red Panda was acombination we would have considered for our zoo here one day. One of you told me that Welsh Mountain Zoo exhibited the species together but zoo management have never replied to my emails as to how the combination worked out. Now, thanks to you, I know!!

So, here's another question. Has anyone ever seen Red Pandas and Binturong sharing an enclosure? If so, where? And what were your impressions as to how the mix was working?

Thanks.
 
Ha go me for helping a zoo, give me a job and I'll help some more :D
Seriously though, I've never seen it but I don't see why it wouldn't work. Exhibit would need to be big but both species seem pretty docile.
 
Haha that's Euan at Whipsnade, he's bigger than me now so I may have some problems :p
 
Maguari said:
- bit of friction 'twixt otter and panda - the Red Panda was being chased fairly doggedly by the whole group of Short-clawed Otters, who do not seem to approve of the panda coming down to ground level.
Click to expand...

No surprise. Short-clawed otters gang-up on their keepers coming into clean and feed let alone other animals in the exhibit. They can be very territorial particularly in a family group. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top