ZOO Antwerpen Zoo Antwerpen news 2023

Since Antwerp wasn't on the list to visit next month while in Belgium again, we'll probably get to see them somewhere in the UK then this year.

Seems as before I moved to the UK in 2018 a lot of animals that were to my interest have gone now, and I'm glad I managed to go many times during 2016-2018.
 
The African penguin, refurbishments are done. After covid the penguins stayed more at the back of the enclosure. Only when the park was closed they went for a swim, but once people even employees arrived they would go back to the back of the enclosure. For now the enclosure will stay netted however once the bird flue regulations have been lifted the netting might be removed again. The nets also help against the seagulls. In the meantime the Flamingos will remain in Planckendael.
Source GVA: Pinguïns in Antwerpse Zoo overwinnen pleinvrees in vernieuwd perk: “Ze zaten vaak weggedoken na corona”
 
Antwerp Zoo is going to move its common seals to other zoos. The reason they state, is that the current seal housing is not up to wellfare standards. At the moment, the Zoo keeps to groups of common seal in two different enclosures: the former sea otter enclosure and the pelican pond, the latter of which was set to only temporarily house the seals while the actual seal enclosure was used for California sea lions during construction work at the sea lion enclosure. It is expected for the seals to return to the Zoo once the sea lions have moved away (which has been planned for some years, but has been delayed due to a complex set of different factors). A breeding group of Dalmatian pelicans will return to the pelican pond, while the former sea otter enclosure will get new inhabitants that have not been announced yet.

Source: Mijnzoo.be (online platform for members of the Zoo)
 
Valvas said:
Antwerp Zoo is going to move its common seals to other zoos. The reason they state, is that the current seal housing is not up to wellfare standards. At the moment, the Zoo keeps to groups of common seal in two different enclosures: the former sea otter enclosure and the pelican pond, the latter of which was set to only temporarily house the seals while the actual seal enclosure was used for California sea lions during construction work at the sea lion enclosure. It is expected for the seals to return to the Zoo once the sea lions have moved away (which has been planned for some years, but has been delayed due to a complex set of different factors). A breeding group of Dalmatian pelicans will return to the pelican pond, while the former sea otter enclosure will get new inhabitants that have not been announced yet.

Source: Mijnzoo.be (online platform for members of the Zoo)
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No more marine mammals at Zoo Antwerpen, I find that a bit sad. I didn't think the seal exhibits were that bad, but I guess I am not fully aware of current standards.

It will be exiting though to see what they do with the outdoor exhibit at Vriesland. I am kind of hoping for some type of seabird, but I'm afraid that would require too much work on the exhibit. I think getting sea otters again is at all realistic,unfortunately. I do hope that the exhibit will keep its cold/temperate coasts theme.

The article also didn't mention what they plan to do with the old seal (formerly also elephant seal) exhibit.
 
KevinB said:
No more marine mammals at Zoo Antwerpen, I find that a bit sad. I didn't think the seal exhibits were that bad, but I guess I am not fully aware of current standards.

It will be exiting though to see what they do with the outdoor exhibit at Vriesland. I am kind of hoping for some type of seabird, but I'm afraid that would require too much work on the exhibit. I think getting sea otters again is at all realistic,unfortunately. I do hope that the exhibit will keep its cold/temperate coasts theme.

The article also didn't mention what they plan to do with the old seal (formerly also elephant seal) exhibit.
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Actually, it is stated in the article that they currently want the seals to return to Antwerp in some years. It is not explicitly stated how and where, but I expect it to be likely that seals will return in their original enclosure (be it with maybe some modifications) once the sea lions have moved out of it. I just suspect that it wasn't ideal anymore to keep the seals in the pelican pond (which was meant as a temporary solution anyway) due to the departure of the sea lions taking longer than expected.
 
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Large Article in the Gazet van Antwerpen today. It stated the reduction in fruit for their great apes in the KMDA so Planckendael as well. They will buy 5 scales to help monitor health. The apes will only receive 2 pieces of fruit as a reward. The article noted the increase in activity and fleeing and calmness in the group an a reduction in stress scratching and aggression. It also noted some preferences in food of individual animals. Also more clarity on the Jubilee complex, the Spectacled bear enclosure (with nose bears and spider monkeys) is added into the plan with a coverage of 451 m² and a pond of 95 m² and another enclosure of 629 m² with a pond of 80 m² for the outside enclosures. They needed to submit a new permit. Apparently the tigers will have 2 outside enclosure one of 900 m² and one of 640 m². And outside enclosures downstairs of 295 m² with a pond of 50 m² for claw monkeys and armadillos. At the higher platform their should be room for the snow leopards, but it seems they're not priority anymore. The old sea lion enclosure will become an aquarium for sea turtles, species will depend on EAZA with a projection room. A new addition will be a basement area with a breeding room for jellyfish (and storage and technical space all behind the scenes). The trees will remain. The demolition will take approximately 4 months. The building will take 2.5 years before the animals could move in. Exact budget is unknown, but in 2019 it was 15-18 million euros.
Source: Mensapen in Zoo worden op groentedieet gezet: “Minder fruit en dus minder suiker, geeft minder agressie”
Full article might not be available.
 
KevinB said:
The documents of the permit application mentioned in the GVA article can be found here (until June 22nd):

https://omgevingsloketinzage.omgevi...041246/inhoud-aanvraag/tXfWHdvWRxq3CEkKwQVJbw
https://omgevingsloketinzage.omgevi...anvraag/tXfWHdvWRxq3CEkKwQVJbw/dossierstukken
https://omgevingsloketinzage.omgevi...vraag/tXfWHdvWRxq3CEkKwQVJbw/plannen-en-fotos
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Very cool to look at the plans definitely check it out, I loved to see the decay in the pictures, showing the empty sea lion enclosure and old aviaries, was really cool.
Going through the plans the permit does include the snow leopards but I don't know if they will finish this at the same time..
 
Perseus6 said:
Very cool to look at the plans definitely check it out, I loved to see the decay in the pictures, showing the empty sea lion enclosure and old aviaries, was really cool.
Going through the plans the permit does include the snow leopards but I don't know if they will finish this at the same time..
Click to expand...

This is going to be a massive project, basically the largest project in the zoo since the original construction of the Jubilee complex in the 1960's. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets opened in a couple of phases, if that turns out to be possible. It is going to take years anyway, they are basically going to entirely demolish (apart from some facades and most of the large trees) and rebuild the jubilee complex.

To be honest, while I like much of the stuff that is included in this project, I wished they wouldn't have chosen to include two big cat species, and wouldn't have chosen tigers. Snow leopards and a smaller cat species, or a mountain ungulate species, would I think have been a bit more appropriate.
 
I'll be visiting antwerpen zoo for the first time next week, on zootierliste it says they still have one eastern lowland gorilla. What's the deal with this gorilla? Is it still on show and with the other gorillas, and if so, how do i differentiate the species?
 
Canihelpyou? said:
I'll be visiting antwerpen zoo for the first time next week, on zootierliste it says they still have one eastern lowland gorilla. What's the deal with this gorilla? Is it still on show and with the other gorillas, and if so, how do i differentiate the species?
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Yes, it is still onshow and housed with the Western Gorillas.

She is a female by the name of Amahoro. She can be told apart by her lighter and longer fur, and a different face. Once you see them side-by-side, it will be fairly obvious that one is quite different to the others.

Enjoy your visit!
 
Kalaw said:
Yes, it is still onshow and housed with the Western Gorillas.

She is a female by the name of Amahoro. She can be told apart by her lighter and longer fur, and a different face. Once you see them side-by-side, it will be fairly obvious that one is quite different to the others.

Enjoy your visit!
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Thank you!
 
Kalaw said:
Yes, it is still onshow and housed with the Western Gorillas.

She is a female by the name of Amahoro. She can be told apart by her lighter and longer fur, and a different face. Once you see them side-by-side, it will be fairly obvious that one is quite different to the others.

Enjoy your visit!
Click to expand...
Canihelpyou? said:
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Amahore is certainly not one of the gorilla’s with lighter fur. She is easily recognizable because she is about as large as a silverback, but with very dark fur (also lacking the hints of brow common in Western females) . The other females are much lighter and smaller.

eastern-gorilla-gorilla-beringei-graueri-amahoro.601768

She is indeed still kept with the Western gorilla’s, and usually not difficult to spot.
 
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