Just thought i'd do a quick review of the Welsh Mountain Zoo as the WMZ board is pretty quiet
Now, this was only the 2nd time i've visited WMZ in 6 years so I was esentially seeing everything again for the first time. Also before I get into the review I feel it is worth pointing out that the zoo doesn't really have a conventional layout. It is built into the hillside above colwyn Bay and therefore it is very steep in places. The Car Park is also located in the centre of the zoo. The forested areas also help to create a "maze" and some exhibits can be hard to locate.
Because I was using public transport I used the zoo's excellent shuttle bus service from the local train station. Having heard Chester are now doing a similar system, i'll probably use that quite a bit.
The good:
condor aviary
red panda/otter mixed exhibit
sumatran tiger enclosure
african aviary
brown bear falls
flamingos
penguins
The OK
chimps
sealion rock
Alligator house
gibbon
tamarin
paddocks
the poor
snow leopard
macaw
camel
spider monkey
arctic fox
some of the reptile vivariums
some of the aviaries (blue and gold macaw in the childrens zoo springs to mind)
Possibly my favourite exhibit at WMZ would be brown bear falls. The display enclosure is a bit on the small side (the zoo isn't large anyway), but the bears looked very active and energetic and the enclosure is forested and there is a number of enrichment oppurtunities (mulch pit, pool, hanging barrel). There are 2 off-show enclosures which the bears apparently had access to during the day.
Despite not being my favourite exhibit, the sumatran tiger exhibit is probably one of the best in terms of the animals needs (it's a pain in the backside to see it though due to it's position on the mountain). It is reasonably well planted, has a pool and is on a steep gradient. It has logs and platforms and visitors can see the exhibit by "hiking"up the mountain or viewing the enclosure from a balcony on the cafe.
2 of the more recent WMZ exhibits are the otter/red panda mixed enclosure and the condor aviary. Both are well planted and offer good viewing of the animals on show. The African aviary also appeared to be quite recent and is decent enough
I liked the flamingo lake although this may have been because the school group who seemed to have been following me all day preferred the penguins over the flamingos so I had relative tranquility at this enclosure.
The chimps have a steep grassy enclosure with a number of climbing poles and 3 "viewing coves" (one gives a view of the enclosure, one gives a view of the bay and the other gives a view of a grassy wall
) The enclosure could do with more vegetation though. The indoor display area is pretty good as the visitor area is darkened and the apes have a number of logs and mounds to climb on.
Overall, the Welsh Mountain Zoo is not a great zoo, but it makes for a nice day out and aside from hauling myself up and down a Welsh mountain to unsuccessfully attempt to see a Pine Martin or a Red Squirrel, it is pretty relaxing.
I'll add more if I can get the time.
