ZOO Antwerpen Zoo Antwerpen News 2025

Thanks for the quick answer. Have to be honest I personaly found the whole operation an unnecessary risk, but well.

Always thought they could have put them together with the okapis or bongos.

Is their pair still of a breeding age. Mean if I remeber correctly the genetic diversity got so worn out over the years, that I think the offsprings from antwerpen but I am not sure did not surive. Would they be young enough to repair them.

Generaly speaking do I sometimes feel as if european parks could manage their species a bit better, instead of wasting some of the potential due to incompatible pairing, mean it surely should not always fail over the absence of a coordinated breeding programe.

Parts of me might just struggle to make peace with losing some species, but in other regards would I find it sad that there would be a handfull or two of institutions keeping a certain species but only one or two individuals. Think they should then bring all of them to one or two places, either give it one last shot or at least have a better social dynamic.
 
They currently have the former breeding pair and one of their (near) adult offspring. This pair will no longer breed after at least two cases of a genetic bone disorder in their young, which cost the life of their last offspring. Re-paring these individuals might just result in further spreading the hereditary disorder in the small population, so I don't think that will happen.

Bringing populations of rare species together in a few facilities carries the risk of loosing the species even more quickly in the case of, say, infectious disease, parasites or adverse environmental effects.
 
Oh, ok. Just for clarification, when I said, that I would think one should bring the few individuals to one or two facilities, I meant in different parts of the same parks to avoid such incidences like accidentas for example krefelds fruit bat fire case or a disease outbreak.

If the species would rebounce they could be redistributed to several institutions again. Though I do firmly believe, that zoos should go more for larger numbers of the same species, and I am just as little of a fan of losing more species as the next zoochater, but I think some situations embody more of an unnecessary risk like having single individuals wait longer times for a mate rather than being able to quickly rearrange their pairing.

And regarding some species that were already on the verge of disappearing from zoos, I would argue that if the individuals are not too old to cope with the stress of transport and new introductions, they would benefit.

Can understand if people would want to argue that this way more people could see the species, and mabye its projection, but I always feel sad seeing single individuals or just a couple. It just creates a feeling that the captive population is not going to survive either way.

Mean like I said I am not entirely sure but would not it be more worth the shot to take that risk, trying to introduce them than having the illusion the species would do better. Thats what it often felt to me when I read a handfull keep them, but in actuality would the population rather only make up one or two groups. Maybe if the numbers are that low the entire plan is not effective from the start on. Personaly would I have to admit that I would have that have the cake and it desire to see relatively regularly new species and at the same larger herds groups flocks. Just a thought process.

Like, in het echte leven in de zoo, did they say antwerpen keeps only three bongos and I just thought, they should keep larger numbers, because that felt a bit too far off from the natural herd size. Maybe zoos should realy start to keep numbers that allow a better long term success. Sometimes that might not be possible, there are several factors like the finances, but otherwise Idk maybe we are still in a transition zone.
 
I would like to say the Owl faced guenons have adapted to the introduction. It was rough at the start, but this introduction was done with care and slowly not being shy to go a few steps back when things went wrong. The introduction was set up and followed up by scientists and was fully monitored by masters students and of course the keepers were involved. The largest issues were the guenons being to shy and panicked often colliding with the enclosure. Personally I wasn't a fan of the introduction at the start but the end result does benefit the welfare of the guenons having a large outside enclosure. You should also be aware that as KevinB mentioned the current individuals are surplus animals not actively participating in the breeding program. The pair is to old to breed(Their last young Vincent was already a geriatric birth) and the offspring may or may not have clearance down the line. Sadly the Owl faced guenon population in captivity seems doomed unless import would happen and zoos aren't willing to invest in this species which limits holders in breeding and so on.

About the bongos the breeding was an accident but I did not see the interview and I'm certain if it were possible the calf would have been saved. Also optimal herd size is between 6-14 but you should realize again these are surplus animals and the enclosure has limited space so it might need an upgrade for a larger herd size.

Sadly it's not common practice to build a puppet resembling the mother to raise chicks. The box with the pictures is more then what most zoos do leading to the perpetual need for hand raising.

A lot of your ideas aren't bad it's just a case of financing as it is so often. You need space and certain individuals are not contributing to a breeding program. I agree certain species management is not optimal but others is very well done. Sometimes it's not a management issue but a practical or political issue.
 
LARTIS said:
They also fed the southern bald ibis chicks without any disguise for some time,and only after a few days or so added printed pictures, but is not it common practice to build a puppet that vaguely resembles the species?
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It depends. Some bird spieces like raptors or cranes will sexualy imprint irreversibly on species they see during certain sensitive period when they are chicks. But other species like flamingos or pelicans will bond and mate with their own species without problem even if they were hand-raised by humans. I think ibises belong to the second group - so they dont need puppets.
 
Is anything known about the Costa's hummingbirds that Antwerp recently received according to ZTL? Are they on-show? And if, where? And where do they come from, San Diego or somewhere else?
 
EliasNys said:
Is anything known about the Costa's hummingbirds that Antwerp recently received according to ZTL? Are they on-show? And if, where? And where do they come from, San Diego or somewhere else?
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I have no information about it, but are we sure it isn't just the former holding from the 1980's that has accidentally been added to the current holdings? Even though Zootierliste also lists San Diego among the current holders, the site itself states that they don't keep the species anymore since 2023.
 
EliasNys said:
Is anything known about the Costa's hummingbirds that Antwerp recently received according to ZTL? Are they on-show? And if, where? And where do they come from, San Diego or somewhere else?
Click to expand...

I was about to share that, actually. It was only added to ZTL today, but there was an update on both Antwerp and San Diego on the same day (again, that being today), so there could be a chance that's a sign the animal(s) came from the San Diego Zoo. ZTL doesn't list any other information and it can be inaccurate, especially since there isn't currently a proper source listed. But... the bird house did recently get a big cleanup so...
 
EliasNys said:
Is anything known about the Costa's hummingbirds that Antwerp recently received according to ZTL? Are they on-show? And if, where? And where do they come from, San Diego or somewhere else?
Click to expand...
Mr Gharial said:
I was about to share that, actually. It was only added to ZTL today, but there was an update on both Antwerp and San Diego on the same day (again, that being today), so there could be a chance that's a sign the animal(s) came from the San Diego Zoo. ZTL doesn't list any other information and it can be inaccurate, especially since there isn't currently a proper source listed. But... the bird house did recently get a big cleanup so...
Click to expand...

It has since been removed from ZTL and was probably added by mistake
 
Little update on a very busy easter holiday:
  • The bird house renovation consisted of adding new sand and painting a few things, I saw quite a lot of chicks. There were 2 Spangled Cottinga fledgling, one in the south american enclosure and the other in the former? White-rumped Shama enclosure.
  • I saw a Blue-crowned Laughingtrush in the wader aviary which seemed weird. (perhaps temporary)
  • I did not see the Yellow-crowned Bishops or Black-bellied Sandgrouse in the africa aviary or anywhere else.
Père Damian's Deer said:
I have some updates from my lovely sunny visit today:
  • I did not see the female Eider Duck and the sign has been removed so only the Scaly-sided Mergansers inhabit the enclosure with the sturgeons.
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  • I saw the female Eider in the Vriesland Penguin enclosure. (the Mergansers might be breeding, because I saw a new nest box)
  • One of the Marabous was already trying to make a nest (and this walkway is open again), all the species have returned except the sole Egyptian Vulture.
  • The Owl-faced monkeys and Gorillas seemed to tolerate eachother quite well today.
 
Updates:

  • The butterflies are back again.
  • There is an introduction taking place between one Emperor Tamarin and the Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins.
  • I saw 5 Okapis so another male must have arrived recently.
  • The Violet Turacos are momentarily offshow because they are raising a chick.
  • Works on the future Pygmy Hippo outdoor and indoor enclosure are in full flow.
  • The Zoutpansberg Girdled Lizard (formerly in the Chameleon enclosure) are now living in the Jamaican Boa (who have left) enclosure.
 
 
Updates from a very enjoyable day:
  • The enclosure at the end of the Monkey house will finally be repurposed, replacing signage about Golden-headed Lion Tamarins in the wild. This will most likely be home to Naked Mole-rats.
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  • There was a transport box in the Okapi enclosure on the side of the Macaw aviary.
  • I saw 2 eggs in the Marabou nest, multiple eggs for Pied Avocet.
  • The pool for the future Harbour Seals is being filled, hinting at a possible arrival in the near future.
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  • The seperation between the Pygmy hippo enclosures is being made. The flowerbed near the path to the asian elephants will probably be repurposed for enclosure space.
    full
 
Some updates from my visit to Zoo Antwerpen today:
  • They had several Attacus atlas in the hatching closet in the butterfly garden.
  • Père Damian's Deer said:
    The enclosure at the end of the Monkey house will finally be repurposed, replacing signage about Golden-headed Lion Tamarins in the wild. This will most likely be home to Naked Mole-rats.
    Click to expand...
    I noticed a diet for naked mole-rats on the whiteboard in the kitchen of the small monkey house today, so I think we can safely assume this species will go into that new display.
  • A Sumatran laughingthrush in one of the reconstructed aviaries behind the okapis is nesting.
  • The ruffs were doing their courtship displays, quite interesting to see. The pied avocets had at least 5 nests.
  • In the viewable okapi indoor exhibit some grasses and shrubs were planted, some were still fenced off from the okapis with electric fence tape.
  • In several areas around the zoo they were bringing palms and other plants in large containers outside, the succulent garden between the bird house and the bongos was also being planted again with cacti and agaves. They were using forklifts and a truck with a crane arm for this. They were also digging palms in pots into the ground in the "Congo lawn" area between the ape house and the bird house.
  • Abdim's storks, African spoonbills and Yellow-billed storks are nesting in the savanna aviary.
  • I saw a little parade of keepers carrying, as far as I saw, carrying four juvenile ostriches, roughly Demoiselle crane sized, from the rhinoceros/zebra exhibit towards the Egyptian temple. I did not see where they came from or went, and I don't know where these ostriches will go either. There was a camera crew with them, presumably for Flemish commercial TV station VTM's series "Het Echte Leven in de Zoo".
  • There was a hollow log in the scaly-sided merganser and sturgeon exhibit for a breeding attempt, the eider duck is temporarily in the penguin exhibit in Vriesland.
  • In Vriesland I was not able to find the Macaroni penguins anywhere in the exhibit during my last two visits. They are still signed though, so does anyone know whether they are still there or currently off-show?
  • The African spurred tortoise paddock in the winter garden of the reptile house is currently split into three sections with wooden boards.
  • The new and extended viewing area on top of the (soon-to-be pygmy) hippopotamus house is really nice, what would complete it would be some (covered) benches.
  • They are actively doing construction work both inside the soon-to-be pygmy hippopotamus (former common hippo) house and to create outdoor exhibits for the pygmy hippos.
  • In the bird house the Australian mixed indoor aviary is currently being give a big spring cleaning, the inhabitants are temporarily off-show.
  • The pool in the pinniped exhibit was mostly filled again, but the filtration does not seem back up and running yet and the water is already getting quite green soupy.
 
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KevinB said:
Some updates from my visit to Zoo Antwerpen today:
  • They had several Attacus atlas in the hatching closet in the butterfly garden.

  • I noticed a diet for naked mole-rats on the whiteboard in the kitchen of the small monkey house today, so I think we can safely assume this species will go into that new display.
  • The ruffs were doing their courtship displays, quite interesting to see.
  • In the viewable okapi indoor exhibit some grasses and shrubs were planted, some were still fenced off from the okapis with electric fence tape.
  • In several areas around the zoo they were bringing palms and other plants in large containers outside, the succulent garden between the bird house and the bongos was also being planted again with cacti and agaves. They were using forklifts and a truck with a crane arm for this.
  • Abdim's storks, African spoonbills and Yellow-billed storks are nesting in the savanna aviary.
  • I saw a little parade of keepers carrying, as far as I saw, carrying four juvenile ostriches, roughly Demoiselle crane sized, from the rhinoceros/zebra exhibit towards the Egyptian temple. I did not see where they came from or went, and I don't know where these ostriches will go either. There was a camera crew with them, presumably for Flemish commercial TV station VTM's series "Het Echte Leven in de Zoo".
  • There was a hollow log in the scaly-sided merganser and sturgeon exhibit for a breeding attempt, the eider duck is temporarily in the penguin exhibit in Vriesland.
  • In Vriesland I was not able to find the Macaroni penguins anywhere in the exhibit during my last two visits. They are still signed though, so does anyone know whether they are still there or currently off-show?
  • The African spurred tortoise paddock in the winter garden of the reptile house is currently split into three sections with wooden boards.
  • The new and extended viewing area on top of the (soon-to-be pygmy) hippopotamus house is really nice, what would complete it would be some (covered) benches.
  • They are actively doing construction work both inside the soon-to-be pygmy hippopotamus (former common hippo) house and to create outdoor exhibits for the pygmy hippos.
  • In the bird house the Australian mixed indoor aviary is currently being give a big spring cleaning, the inhabitants are temporarily off-show.
  • The pool in the pinniped exhibit was mostly filled again, but the filtration does not seem back up and running yet and the water is already getting quite green soupy.
Click to expand...
Are they adding underwater viewing for the pygmy hippos or keeping the existing viewing space? Either way I'm excited to see what the future holds for the Hippo House - seeing it firsthand was a wonderful experience!
 
StoppableSan said:
Are they adding underwater viewing for the pygmy hippos or keeping the existing viewing space? Either way I'm excited to see what the future holds for the Hippo House - seeing it firsthand was a wonderful experience!
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It did not look like they are going to include an underwater viewing area.
 
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