Welsh Mountain Zoo WMZ News 2012

[Parrotsandrew]

Yes i believe so, the military macaws are going to be in the display with the blue and gold macaws.

Thank-you Mzungu. I am very fond of the hybrids and have two adoptions of them in memory of my parents, so I'd be very sorry to see them go. The more Macaws the merrier for me. I have an old guidebook open at the moment at the page where there is a photo of a mixed group of Macaws including a Military. I really must make an effort to get across.

 

[SMR]

I wasn't insisting on knowing anything, but when you offered JR a tour it implied you were a member of staff and I wanted to avoid any confusion.

Have you thought about other variables atall Sir? such as disabled accessability to the squirrel and aviaries? from my visits i dont think you could manage it, unless you were pushed down the exit drive - rather dangerous dont you think?

I've commented previously on the poor state of the paths in some areas of the zoo and the negative impact on disabled and/or elderly visitors. One would expect the zoo to address such shortcomings as part of any new constructions, although the path to the new lemur walk-in currently leaves a lot to be desired in terms of accessibility.

Your enthusiasm about WMZ and your love for the place is appreciated, ZooChat always benefits from hearing everyone's (differing) point of view.

 

[AgileGibbon]

I agree that the accessibility leaves something to be desired, but they do offer free entry and free wheelchair hire for disabled visitors. We have loaned a wheelchair when visiting and have found most of the zoo accessible, with the exception of areas which are so steep that a ramp would be useless. Seeing as the zoo is built on a mountain, that is hardly their fault

 

[Mzungu]

I wasn't insisting on knowing anything, but when you offered JR a tour it implied you were a member of staff and I wanted to avoid any confusion.

I've commented previously on the poor state of the paths in some areas of the zoo and the negative impact on disabled and/or elderly visitors. One would expect the zoo to address such shortcomings as part of any new constructions, although the path to the new lemur walk-in currently leaves a lot to be desired in terms of accessibility.

Your enthusiasm about WMZ and your love for the place is appreciated, ZooChat always benefits from hearing everyone's (differing) point of view.

Thanks for the understanding SMR

The path down to the Lemurs from the penguins is indeed one to shake the bones out of anyone using it on a wheelchair from the budger holes, but as AgileGibbon states, when the zoo is for free to wheelchair users i guess it takes a very fussy customer to complain. The alternative to using this path is to use the much smoother path down past the chimpanzee viewing windows or down past the tigers. Another reason why the location is the zoos downfall.

As you may know however the chimpanzee path is very steep with the risk that the wheelchair user could end up taking flight into the new lemur enclosure.

The map for the zoo does also highlight a path thats appropriate for wheelchair users and the unfirm. I guess the people who would be complaining are those with children who are over 3 and still use a pushchair as they have to pay to get in.

Again, i appreciate your understanding. I dont like to see the place getting condemned as inadequate in all aspects.

 

[karoocheetah]

On a slightly different tack - do you know if WMZ plan to breed the Snow Leopards any time soon - since they lost the cubs in 2009 they have not bred as far as I am aware - is this a stud book edict? A decision by the zoo? or just plain bad luck?
Anyone in the know?

 

[Javan Rhino]

On a slightly different tack - do you know if WMZ plan to breed the Snow Leopards any time soon - since they lost the cubs in 2009 they have not bred as far as I am aware - is this a stud book edict? A decision by the zoo? or just plain bad luck?
Anyone in the know?

I don't know unfortunately Karoo, though I must confess I'm more interested in if the Margays breed

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

The last I heard is that the female snow leopard will be coming into season in early Spring, they will be be mixed then that was a few weeks ago.

 

[Mzungu]

On a slightly different tack - do you know if WMZ plan to breed the Snow Leopards any time soon - since they lost the cubs in 2009 they have not bred as far as I am aware - is this a stud book edict? A decision by the zoo? or just plain bad luck?
Anyone in the know?

plain bad luck i gather. She just hasn't had anymore for one reason or another. Im really looking forward to seeing if they have them this spring/summer.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I must confess I'm more interested in if the Margays breed

Seconded

 

[TeaLovingDave]

The last I heard is that the female snow leopard will be coming into season in early Spring, they will be be mixed then that was a few weeks ago.

They were mixed today, and at it like the proverbial clappers

Whilst we are on that general subject area, the two margays seem to get along reasonably well together, as they are not seperated.

I liked WMZ - certainly it isn't another Edinburgh or Chester, but it is a nice place. Watched the bears for a prolonged period of time and we didn't notice any form of stereotyping behaviour. Same goes for the red panda - however he did indeed have a bald patch on his tail.

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Cheers TLD.- Hope you enjoyed your visit, interesting about the Margays and Snow Leopards hopefully cubs in the summer.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Hehe - well, I'm not going to hold my breath. Be nice if it happens but obviously you never know.

 

[johnstoni.]

It is strange how some collections get more stick than others for relatively similar enclosures. I've never heard Thrigby or Dudley criticised for their snow leopard enclosures anything like the way people describe the WMZ. The WMZ enclosure appears larger than some of the enclosures used by Howletts and PL in even recent years for their snow leopards. Similarly, there are plenty of examples of bad enclosures for spider monkeys, yet WMZ seems to get more attention. Maybe because these are old cages, I don't know?

That said, the argument that the terrain prevents moated islands from being constructed doesn't really stand up given the advent of hotwired primate enclosures. I agree that it would be relatively inexpensive to hotwire round a few trees and create exceptional gibbon and spider monkey accommodation.

 

[Waddi]

the paddock closest to the penguins could be hot wired with a custom built indoor sleeping area with viewing windows, filled with climbing equipment, and could provide new accommodation for the Gibbons.

 

[lufcjaguar]

I was at the Welsh Mountain Zoo last Thursday and something kicked off in the Chimpanzee house. Saw a couple of keepers running looking worried. Then when the chimps finally come out one of the big males was covered in blood. It also looked like he had bites and cuts to his head with bad damage to his ear. Does anybody know what had happenend and are they all ok.

 

[Mzungu]

the paddock closest to the penguins could be hot wired with a custom built indoor sleeping area with viewing windows, filled with climbing equipment, and could provide new accommodation for the Gibbons.

Are you aware at how exposed and windy that area is?

 

[Mzungu]

I was at the Welsh Mountain Zoo last Thursday and something kicked off in the Chimpanzee house. Saw a couple of keepers running looking worried. Then when the chimps finally come out one of the big males was covered in blood. It also looked like he had bites and cuts to his head with bad damage to his ear. Does anybody know what had happenend and are they all ok.

Just chimpanzees being chimpanzees! nothing strange about a chimp having cuts and bruises. If anything, itll be one of them stepping out of line and getting put in his place.

 

[John Dineley]

Are you aware at how exposed and windy that area is?

Tell me about it. We used to have mountain goats in that area and there is very little shelter. It's totally unsuitable for primates.

 

[Mzungu]

Tell me about it. We used to have mountain goats in that area and there is very little shelter. It's totally unsuitable for primates.

just had a little chuckle at us both saying that, then realising that there are now lemurs in a newly built enclosure just round the hill from the paddock where conditions are arguably the same ahah.

 

[John Dineley]

just had a little chuckle at us both saying that, then realising that there are now lemurs in a newly built enclosure just round the hill from the paddock where conditions are arguably the same ahah.

That side of the zoo really is exposed as you get the wind straight off the Irish Sea. Nice in the summer not so nice in the winter I still recall taking hay down to the paddocks there in the middle of winter.