ZOO Antwerpen Zoo Antwerpen news 2023

[KevinB]

At the Laafsekikkers it was reported that according to a message on the members website Mijnzoo three male markhors will soon arrive at Zoo Antwerpen and move into the former takin exhibit.

Nieuwstopic Zoo Antwerpen (2023) - Pagina 10 - Laafsekikkers.be

While I still regret the loss of the takin, I will say markhors are a pretty decent replacement.

 

[Perseus6]

I went to Antwerp zoo today, some small and two major updates.
Buffalo aviary: Ramses (Buffalo) Moved to Beekse Bergen last week to become a breeding male with his own herd of 6 females.
The Ruppels vulture young died. It's parents were fist time parents and very uneasy, but skilled so the keepers are hopeful for next year.
Next species all had one young at least: Lilac-breasted roller, Hadada ibis and Violet turaco.
The crested guinea fowl had multiple young.
Asian elephants: Assams move has been postponed until further notice. The addition of the new perk has been a godsend, The elephants can rest easily on the slope, adding multiple feeding stations and so on. Plus they now have the option to fully separate the two bulls.
Sea lions: Zoe had a reduced appetite, once again If Kees and Silver die she and Luna will move.
Seals: The ones from vriesland will move to Neeltje jans and the 4 in the pelican pond will move to Poland.(Already known)
Koalas: I heard Planckendael intends to import a female form San Diego to start breeding with the new male Bouddi. Once that happens the Tree kangaroo will move to the old guereza exhibit. (This still needs to be refurbished)
North American porcupine: Will have to move because their enclosure does not conform with new laws.
Markhors: were on show.
In the pictures you see the 2 warthogs that are in the pig building(no clue on origin or so on). And a future tunnel from the great ape building to the outside perk (more on later).
Monkey building: Ring tailed lemur male died leaving one female, they're looking into possibilities of moving her so she doesn't have to remain alone.
Exploring options on the Mandrills to move.
Ape building: The chimp group merged, Chita will get a sperm sample taken and get tested. Yet more hybrids are allowed since the existing females are still off contraception.
Big news:
The owl faced monkeys will move to the gorilla enclosure in September. They will get a indoor room all to themselves and entrances and exits for themselves. And a bridge will be added into the outdoor enclosure. This is a bad idea since Amahoro lived with Chimps in her past and a past introduction resulted in injury for the monkey.

Other big news due to budgetary reasons the sea turtle exhibit from the jubilee complex has been postponed, since covid the project doubled in price. So we'll see what will and wont get build from it.

 

[Rensrobert]

I went to Antwerp zoo today, some small and two major updates.
Buffalo aviary: Ramses (Buffalo) Moved to Beekse Bergen last week to become a breeding male with his own herd of 6 females.
The Ruppels vulture young died. It's parents were fist time parents and very uneasy, but skilled so the keepers are hopeful for next year.
Next species all had one young at least: Lilac-breasted roller, Hadada ibis and Violet turaco.
The crested guinea fowl had multiple young.
Asian elephants: Assams move has been postponed until further notice. The addition of the new perk has been a godsend, The elephants can rest easily on the slope, adding multiple feeding stations and so on. Plus they now have the option to fully separate the two bulls.
Sea lions: Zoe had a reduced appetite, once again If Kees and Silver die she and Luna will move.
Seals: The ones from vriesland will move to Neeltje jans and the 4 in the pelican pond will move to Poland.(Already known)
Koalas: I heard Planckendael intends to import a female form San Diego to start breeding with the new male Bouddi. Once that happens the Tree kangaroo will move to the old guereza exhibit. (This still needs to be refurbished)
North American porcupine: Will have to move because their enclosure does not conform with new laws.
Markhors: were on show.
In the pictures you see the 2 warthogs that are in the pig building(no clue on origin or so on). And a future tunnel from the great ape building to the outside perk (more on later).
Monkey building: Ring tailed lemur male died leaving one female, they're looking into possibilities of moving her so she doesn't have to remain alone.
Exploring options on the Mandrills to move.
Ape building: The chimp group merged, Chita will get a sperm sample taken and get tested. Yet more hybrids are allowed since the existing females are still off contraception.
Big news:
The owl faced monkeys will move to the gorilla enclosure in September. They will get a indoor room all to themselves and entrances and exits for themselves. And a bridge will be added into the outdoor enclosure. This is a bad idea since Amahoro lived with Chimps in her past and a past introduction resulted in injury for the monkey.

Other big news due to budgetary reasons the sea turtle exhibit from the jubilee complex has been postponed, since covid the project doubled in price. So we'll see what will and wont get build from it.

That is alot of big news. Alot of changes are being made to the Antwerp zoo. I dont know if they are al good, only the future can tell. Are there any rumors to what will happen to the small monkey house once the monkeys that are required outdoor space leave the building?

 

[Perseus6]

That is alot of big news. Alot of changes are being made to the Antwerp zoo. I dont know if they are al good, only the future can tell. Are there any rumors to what will happen to the small monkey house once the monkeys that are required outdoor space leave the building?

Indeed rumors are the monkey building would get demolished and turned into a greenhouse type building. However that would be supper far of into the future, like 10-... years. Perhaps it would be turned into a small mammals house instead, plenty of rumors, but the future will tell. Everything is still iffy and plans often change.

 

[Rensrobert]

O

Indeed rumors are the monkey building would get demolished and turned into a greenhouse type building. However that would be supper far of into the future, like 10-... years. Perhaps it would be turned into a small mammals house instead, plenty of rumors, but the future will tell. Everything is still iffy and plans often change.

I think it is better for now to turn it into a small mammal house. Unfortunate to see al those monkey species go, something I associate the zoo with. I hoped that either antwerp or plankendael would build a new mandril enclosure. I look forward to which animals they will get. I have another question . there was a monkey enclosure which housed tamarins outside, it was destroyed. Why, and was it connected to the enclosures in the small mammal house?

 

[KevinB]

O

I think it is better for now to turn it into a small mammal house. Unfortunate to see al those monkey species go, something I associate the zoo with. I hoped that either antwerp or plankendael would build a new mandril enclosure. I look forward to which animals they will get. I have another question . there was a monkey enclosure which housed tamarins outside, it was destroyed. Why, and was it connected to the enclosures in the small mammal house?

The indoor exhibit for that callitrichid exhibit was in the winter garden (the current seasonal butterfly house). I believe the reason for its demolition was a combination of them needing the outdoor area immediately next to the winter garden for the new ticket and member card checkpoint, of heritage protection rules discouraging the hiding of the exterior of protected buildings, and of the heating needed for housing callitrichids in the winter garden being negative for some of the rare plants in there.

I agree fully that an exhibit for a forest-dwelling smaller African primate would be a good fit at Planckendael.

Indeed rumors are the monkey building would get demolished and turned into a greenhouse type building. However that would be supper far of into the future, like 10-... years. Perhaps it would be turned into a small mammals house instead, plenty of rumors, but the future will tell. Everything is still iffy and plans often change.

It looks like they are gradually starting to empty the small monkey house and making plans for the future of this location, which is welcome as that building is really not up to current standards. I think a rainforest house with smaller mammals and maybe some smaller primate species would be a decent fit for that location.

 

[Perseus6]

O

I think it is better for now to turn it into a small mammal house. Unfortunate to see al those monkey species go, something I associate the zoo with. I hoped that either antwerp or plankendael would build a new mandril enclosure. I look forward to which animals they will get. I have another question . there was a monkey enclosure which housed tamarins outside, it was destroyed. Why, and was it connected to the enclosures in the small mammal house?

KevinB is correct.
Mandrills will certainly leave the collection. If no zoo can be found they will go behind the scenes at Planckendael. They only have 4 females that are difficult so they're kept in pairs.
They decided to gradually reduce species kept and increase space for the remaining monkeys. It has to do with animal welfare and regulations sadly monkeys need outdoor enclosures, so the current building can't give them what they need / deserve. I would be hopeful for a small mammal house but I would love another night building. Anyway this is all years off. Fist off the Jubilee complex will be completed, perhaps some changes at vriesland( filling the old sea otter enclosure in a way). Then Planckendael will renovate their entrance and build a new rhino perk, and perhaps finally start renovating Europe, their were also talks of an extra building in Australia or renovating America more, as well as building extra aviaries in the bird breeding center to start a breeding program for hooded vultures. So all that has to happen and perhaps even more before they would finally do the monkey house project.
Which will only be the case if their aren't any disasters in between like the more temple that had to get renovated due to storm damages.
That being said I don't know the timeline of the projects, I do know they usually alternate between the Antwerp zoo and Planckendael for projects. And as you can read this will all take time and money. So we shall see and focus on what we do know.

 

[KevinB]

KevinB is correct.
I would be hopeful for a small mammal house but I would love another night building. Anyway this is all years off. Fist off the Jubilee complex will be completed, perhaps some changes at vriesland( filling the old sea otter enclosure in a way).

As someone who really misses the Nocturama at Antwerpen, I would welcome a nocturnal part of the new building, but of course all of that is speculation right now.

Out of curiosity, is anything know about possibilities or ideas for filling/repurposing the old sea otter and soon-to-be former seal exhibit?

 

[Perseus6]

As someone who really misses the Nocturama at Antwerpen, I would welcome a nocturnal part of the new building, but of course all of that is speculation right now.

Out of curiosity, is anything know about possibilities or ideas for filling/repurposing the old sea otter and soon-to-be former seal exhibit?

I've personally only heard zoo fans speculate that they would get another sea otter. I haven't heard anything official.
Personally I would love to see another sea otter, but I would love to have the penguins get an outdoor exhibit somehow so if they could renovate the building expanding and adapting, I think that could be nice.

 

[Rensrobert]

I have also heard a rumor about sea birds. The enclosure would get the same species like blijdorps bass rock already has. Would be incredible if they would get sea otters , maybe they could work together with Blijdorp. Both enclosures are empty.

The indoor exhibit for that callitrichid exhibit was in the winter garden (the current seasonal butterfly house). I believe the reason for its demolition was a combination of them needing the outdoor area immediately next to the winter garden for the new ticket and member card checkpoint, of heritage protection rules discouraging the hiding of the exterior of protected buildings, and of the heating needed for housing callitrichids in the winter garden being negative for some of the rare plants in there.

I agree fully that an exhibit for a forest-dwelling smaller African primate would be a good fit at Planckendael




It looks like they are gradually starting to empty the small monkey house and making plans for the future of this location, which is welcome as that building is really not up to current standards. I think a rainforest house with smaller mammals and maybe some smaller primate species would be a decent fit for that location.

Thank you, I dindt know for sure why they did it and I was doubting whether it was the garden or the small monkey house.
I hope they will go for the nocturnal house. There are enough south american rainforest, but I think they will go for the rainforest. I hope they kinda look at Colognes rainforest for inspiration.
I hope and also dont think they will wait that long with giving this house new inhabbitans. For example the ring tailed lemur enclosure, owl faced monkeys, mandrill enclosures will be emptied soon. Maybe give the mandrill enclosure to the spider monkeys. Temporarily until the enclosure in the jubileumcomplex is done. The way that they could use the enclosures for the animals is pure speculation ofc.The old guereza enclosure will get the tree kangaroo from planckendael. the Owl faced monkeys will get an enclosure in the primate house and they will share the outdoor with the gorillas.

 

[KevinB]

I have also heard a rumor about sea birds. The enclosure would get the same species like blijdorps bass rock already has. Would be incredible if they get it, maybe they could work together with Blijdorp. Both enclosures are empty.


Thank you, I dindt know for sure why they did it and I was doubting whether it was the garden or the small monkey house.
I hope they will go for the nocturnal house. There are enough south american rainforest, but I think they will go for the rainforest. I hope they kinda look at Colognes rainforest for inspiration.
I hope and also dont think they will wait that long with giving this house new inhabbitans. For example the ring tailed lemur enclosure, owl faced monkeys, mandrill enclosures will be emptied soon. Maybe give the mandrill enclosure to the spider monkeys. but yeah the way that they could use the enclosures for the animals is pure speculation ofc.The old guereza enclosure will get the tree kangaroo from planckendael. the Owl faced monkeys will get an enclosure in the primate house and they will share the outdoor with the gorillas.

I would love a seabird exhibit, though it would probably require quite a lot of work on the exhibit.

I kind of expect them to temporarily fill the empty monkey exhibits with callitrichids. That has been kind of the trend for some years now - the smaller exhibits on the owl-faced monkey side of the building that were emptied of larger monkeys were then adapted to house callitrichids. But starting January 1st 2029 callitrichids will also be legally required to have an outdoor exhibit. The only other option I think would be small mammal species like the cloud rats they had in the ape house small mammal wing for a while.

 

[KevinB]

I visited Zoo Antwerpen today, the only major update in addition to what was discussed in this thread earlier this week is that I spotted a Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni) on a nest in the parrot aviary already housing Grey-breasted conures and Ultramarine grosbeaks. Socorro dove was not yet signed at this aviary, so presumably it is a new addition.

 

[Philipine eagle]

I would love a seabird exhibit, though it would probably require quite a lot of work on the exhibit.

I kind of expect them to temporarily fill the empty monkey exhibits with callitrichids. That has been kind of the trend for some years now - the smaller exhibits on the owl-faced monkey side of the building that were emptied of larger monkeys were then adapted to house callitrichids. But starting January 1st 2029 callitrichids will also be legally required to have an outdoor exhibit. The only other option I think would be small mammal species like the cloud rats they had in the ape house small mammal wing for a while.

It's all happening really fast, don't you think? Colobus are already gone, and within 2 years spider monkeys are moving to the Jubileum complex, owl-faced guenon to the Manape house and mandrill replaced/phased out. So at the beginning of 2025 this place is empty, which makes me thinking that they already know what they are going to do with it. They cannot replace the monkeys with a lot of other mammal species. Perhaps a temporary nocturnal house, should be easily done without big money.

Key role will be the houses they already bought behind the monkeyhouse.
Total surface of these houses and the present monkeyhouse is about 4000m².

 

[Pertinax]

The owl faced monkeys will move to the gorilla enclosure in September. They will get a indoor room all to themselves and entrances and exits for themselves. And a bridge will be added into the outdoor enclosure. This is a bad idea since Amahoro lived with Chimps in her past and a past introduction resulted in injury for the monkey.

I don't like to hear this... with such a numerically rare species in Europe now. This is a shy sensitive guenon- they are unlikely to thrive longterm with the gorillas. Far better IMO to give them a decent enclosure on their own than make them share, even if they have their own space and entrance/exit design. Gorilla mixes seem to work better with Mangabeys which are bolder than Guenons, apart from what you say about Amohoro's past. I fear they will lose them gradually now.

 

[KevinB]

I don't like to hear this... with such a numerically rare species in Europe now. This is a shy sensitive guenon- they are unlikely to thrive longterm with the gorillas. Far better IMO to give them a decent enclosure on their own than make them share, even if they have their own space and entrance/exit design. Gorilla mixes seem to work better with Mangabeys which are bolder than Guenons, apart from what you say about Amohoro's past.

Unfortunately I read that the group at Antwerp will not be breeding anymore, the female is currently on birth control due to her having had several youngsters with a hereditary form of rachitis, and the most recent young (Xavier) having to be euthanized for that reason. So it looks like we will eventually be saying goodbye to the owl-faced monkeys at Antwerp (and perhaps in European zoos in general).

I just hope that process won't be sped up by a questionable move to the gorilla exhibit. Admittedly Amahoro has gotten older and they have added an outdoor area to gorilla exhibit since they last tried to mix them with the owl-faced monkeys, but I'm not sure how big a difference that would make.

Admittedly the owl-faced monkeys are pretty badly in need of more space and possibly some outdoor space, but I don't really get why they couldn't for example move them to the current mandrill exhibit, if they plan to move that species out. Or even set up a new (temporary) exhibit at Antwerp or Planckendael.

 

[Rensrobert]

It's all happening really fast, don't you think? Colobus are already gone, and within 2 years spider monkeys are moving to the Jubileum complex, owl-faced guenon to the Manape house and mandrill replaced/phased out. So at the beginning of 2025 this place is empty, which makes me thinking that they already know what they are going to do with it. They cannot replace the monkeys with a lot of other mammal species. Perhaps a temporary nocturnal house, should be easily done without big money.

Key role will be the houses they already bought behind the monkeyhouse.
Total surface of these houses and the present monkeyhouse is about 4000m².

Yeah I feel the same way, they have been going really fast with this. That is a good amount of space to realise something. I hope this project will start in 2025.

I don't like to hear this... with such a numerically rare species in Europe now. This is a shy sensitive guenon- they are unlikely to thrive longterm with the gorillas. Far better IMO to give them a decent enclosure on their own than make them share, even if they have their own space and entrance/exit design. Gorilla mixes seem to work better with Mangabeys which are bolder than Guenons, apart from what you say about Amohoro's past. I fear they will lose them gradually now.

I hope they will rotate them in the outside enclosure and not actually mix them. Or am I wrong in thinking they will get there own enclosure in the ape house? With the wrong gorilla they dont mix well. I think that's why blijdorp eventually decided to get rid of their guenons mix with gorilla. There is still an EEP wright, I tought Leipzig was the studbook holder? How important are the two males? Otherwise I would transfer the males or bring in a female. They need new individuals, I think otherwise that we will once again see another cool monkey species leave Europe. I wanted to argue that antwerp wants to keep iconic antwerp species. Then I looked at how long they keep mandrills and well the argument has no leg to stand on.

 

[Philipine eagle]

I'm struggeling where they will be kept inside and still viewable for the public.Would they give up one of the chimps' large indoor enclosures for the guenons?

Imo they missed an opportunity when building the new okapi stable against the Great Apes complex. Then they should have also housed the owl-faced guenons here. An air tunnel would have allowed them to easily get to the okapi enclosure at the back of the Moorish temple. Since a new building has been put up against it, an aviary - in the style of the parrot aviary - would have also been possible here.

Now I don't think this species still has a future in Antwerp. The choice for A-species is obvious.

 

[Pertinax]

I'm struggeling where they will be kept inside and still viewable for the public.Would they give up one of the chimps' large indoor enclosures for the guenons?

Imo they missed an opportunity when building the new okapi stable against the Great Apes complex. Then they should have also housed the owl-faced guenons here. An air tunnel would have allowed them to easily get to the okapi enclosure at the back of the Moorish temple. Since a new building has been put up against it, an aviary - in the style of the parrot aviary - would have also been possible here.

Now I don't think this species still has a future in Antwerp. The choice for A-species is obvious.

I'd definately rather see them housed with a 'safe' species like Okapi than gorillas, if they have to mix them with something. Okapi are pretty static (I love Okapi too..) and would ignore monkeys I'm sure. But I don't know how it would work enclosure-wise as surely the Okapi don't have a covered outdoor area?.

 

[Pertinax]

There is still an EEP wright, I tought Leipzig was the studbook holder? How important are the two males? Otherwise I would transfer the males or bring in a female. They need new individuals, I think otherwise that we will once again see another cool monkey species leave Europe. .

I doubt the two males would find another place easily, at least as breeders. There are so few groups now.

 

[Jarne]

I doubt the two males would find another place easily, at least as breeders. There are so few groups now.

One of them is also the son of the breeding female, if she isn’t allowed to breed chances are he isn’t either. So that only leaves the breeding male. And there is an excess of males.

In all honesty, the program was already on the edge of being doomed for years. The loss of a full breeding lineage in an already genetically impoverished population alongside the loss of one of the few breeding groups might just accelerate the inevitable. It would be nice though if in time Antwerp would redirect their focus on one of the still viable populations (Diana, Roloway, Brazza or L’Hoest) or get something like mangabeys (three programs in dire need of holders), a species of Colobus or Angolan talapoin.