Yes - at least according to Clin's own writings, he would rather have called it Ashover Zoological Gardens (though not 'zoo' of course!).
Welsh Mountain Zoo Welsh Mountain Zoo
- Thread starter CZJimmy
- Start date
Yes - at least according to Clin's own writings, he would rather have called it Ashover Zoological Gardens (though not 'zoo' of course!).
About ten years ago I said to a keeper at a Yorkshire collection that I was not interested in conservation. She replied neither was she; she just wanted to keep birds, so I'm not the only one. This was somebody a good many years younger than me too. On the other hand, much as I'd like to dismiss zoo conservation as just a sop to the antis, I realise zoo staff actually believe in it. Fair enough, but all I want to do is, as Johnstoni mentions, marvel at animals. I don't care if they are endangered or not and I just want to see an interesting collection whether large or small. My favourite animals at the WMZ are the hybrid Macaws and long may the remain there.
As far as hitting animals goes, I just think the tale from Flamingo Park is a funny story because it is in complete contrast to today's po-faced political correctness. I once read, and I can't remember where *, A D Bartlett's account of thrashing Jumbo not long after he arrived at Regent's Park. I believe he had been playing up and was thrashed until he submitted and was then hand-fed. If someone related a similar story today there would be a major hoo-ha of course (like there was over the beating of Annie, whatever the reason for it - I don't know whether this was established), but then it was perfectly acceptable and Bartlett is still regarded as a great zoo figure. I should say I don't go around hitting animals with implements even if they have bitten me (as one of my Senegal Parrots does now and again - I do call her an uncomplimentary name) or have poked me in the eye as a Capuchin Monkey did when I worked at Sewerby Zoo. That was through the wire as my colleague and I were looking at a female carrying a stillborn baby and not concentrating on the male. We did used to go in with the monkeys though to get them inside to clean the outside cage. This involved waving a mop at them until they went in (this was this century by the way), but one day the male ran up the mop and bit my same colleague
- she didn't hit him with a shovel either (before or after going to hospital).* I've remembered and checked it - "London Zoo from old photoraphs 1852-1914", by John Edwards.
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The thing with the WMZ is that they lack flat land (hence the name). the founder Robert jackson envisaged building an island for gibbons at the zoo however it was clear it would be that easy due to the lack of a suitable area.
And as for spending the money given for a lemur enclosure, you cant just take money given for the building of a lemur exhibit by a kind person who has deceased and spend it on something else, thats just immoral!
Im sure jake the gibbon and smokey the spider monkey will get their new enclosures soon enough, jake is a good 20 odd years old so im sure he will get another cage in his life time. The zoo is doing as good as it can with what little money (compared to its rival chester) as it can, bare that in mind!
And as for spending the money given for a lemur enclosure, you cant just take money given for the building of a lemur exhibit by a kind person who has deceased and spend it on something else, thats just immoral!
Im sure jake the gibbon and smokey the spider monkey will get their new enclosures soon enough, jake is a good 20 odd years old so im sure he will get another cage in his life time. The zoo is doing as good as it can with what little money (compared to its rival chester) as it can, bare that in mind!
Going back to the point of the thread, here are some updates and some observations from todays visit:
- Sea Lion show is much better than SeaQuariums, talking about the individual animals and their history, as well as giving information about the 3 pinniped types, their threats in the wild and what we can do to help. No cheap tricks involved.
- Looked for the Puerto Rico crested anole that is listed on both zootierliste and their own website, however there was no sign and when I asked a keeper she seemed confused and said that they only had the Knight anole.
- I don't know if it's a new addition, but it wasn't listed on the ID boards: There is a Common Hoopoe in the African Aviary, which I found fascinating as I love these birds and this was the first one I'd seen.
- I believe somebody on the forum asked about the number of bears at the zoo, I saw all 3 today (one was by the water, one was at the other end of the enclosure and the other was just in the doorway to the dens).
- There is currently a Common seal in the rescue area.
- One of the Przewalski's horses looked very round, I don't really want to speculate but I guessed it was pregnant - This is not confirmed, just what I thought.
- Saw cottontop tamarin twins that are still clinging to the adults.
- A board by the Children's Farm mentions that the zoo are half-way towards having the funds for the new tropical house.
- Work is progressing on the Lemur Walkthrough.
- Old Arctic fox exhibit is a small lawn with a couple of picnic tables and some trees.
- There no longer seems to be a Bosc/Savannah monitor in the Reptile House. One of the vivarriums had a note saying it was empty.
- An unidentified frog or toad (toad I think) is in the corner vivarium nearest to the exit (mixed with the African land snails).
- Saw just about everything species wise today for the first time, including the margay and the European polecat.
- My only complaint was the lack of directional signs. By the wallaby/sheep exhibit, we started down a path that led into some woodland and there seemed to be no exhibits here - as we discovered about 10 minutes down the path. It's a nice stroll, but there could be something that just says 'woodland walk - no exhibits' so that if pushed for time like we were you weren't wasting time looking for everything.
Think that's close to everything - any questions? I will post photos in the gallery next week some time
- Sea Lion show is much better than SeaQuariums, talking about the individual animals and their history, as well as giving information about the 3 pinniped types, their threats in the wild and what we can do to help. No cheap tricks involved.
- Looked for the Puerto Rico crested anole that is listed on both zootierliste and their own website, however there was no sign and when I asked a keeper she seemed confused and said that they only had the Knight anole.
- I don't know if it's a new addition, but it wasn't listed on the ID boards: There is a Common Hoopoe in the African Aviary, which I found fascinating as I love these birds and this was the first one I'd seen.
- I believe somebody on the forum asked about the number of bears at the zoo, I saw all 3 today (one was by the water, one was at the other end of the enclosure and the other was just in the doorway to the dens).
- There is currently a Common seal in the rescue area.
- One of the Przewalski's horses looked very round, I don't really want to speculate but I guessed it was pregnant - This is not confirmed, just what I thought.
- Saw cottontop tamarin twins that are still clinging to the adults.
- A board by the Children's Farm mentions that the zoo are half-way towards having the funds for the new tropical house.
- Work is progressing on the Lemur Walkthrough.
- Old Arctic fox exhibit is a small lawn with a couple of picnic tables and some trees.
- There no longer seems to be a Bosc/Savannah monitor in the Reptile House. One of the vivarriums had a note saying it was empty.
- An unidentified frog or toad (toad I think) is in the corner vivarium nearest to the exit (mixed with the African land snails).
- Saw just about everything species wise today for the first time, including the margay and the European polecat.
- My only complaint was the lack of directional signs. By the wallaby/sheep exhibit, we started down a path that led into some woodland and there seemed to be no exhibits here - as we discovered about 10 minutes down the path. It's a nice stroll, but there could be something that just says 'woodland walk - no exhibits' so that if pushed for time like we were you weren't wasting time looking for everything.
Think that's close to everything - any questions? I will post photos in the gallery next week some time
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Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
Where the Sumatran Tigers together JR?
Yup, they were together and as far as I'm aware they always are (or at least they always have been when I've visited)
.I doubt they will be breeders though, as I believe is mentioned in another thread I think they're hybrids?
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
Thankyou.
I think their hybrids not 100% sure, they were at Thrigby before so maybe.
I think their hybrids not 100% sure, they were at Thrigby before so maybe.
