Bioparc Valencia Zoo report

Chlidonias said:
The exhibits look great from the average visitors' point of view but look closer and they are just rather poor stage scenes from the animals' point of view of having to live in them 24 hours a day
Click to expand...

There is an awful lot of rockwork and fakerock/concrete walls which must have used up a great deal of the available space,making the animal areas that much smaller as a result. They do all look very much like 'stage sets.'

What strikes me in particular is that the enclosures for all the species are virtually identical be it elephant, lion or monkey. Attractive for visitors maybe, but its very obvious little thought has been given for the needs of totally different animal species.:(
 
I wonder how "we all" could show this zoo. That primates need more enrichment than what they have provided so far.

For instance who could l write a letter to? The Owners, Directors .
Including information on primate enrichment. I am sure that if the enrichment made for a more active primate they would listen.
 
As far as i know the director of this zoo is a dutchman who was vice-director (or even director) of Apenheul Zoo in the Netherlands. If anyone has knowledge about primates, it'll be him. I'd say give them a few months at least...
 
Many interesting points in the discussion above.

On another note, just like I asked you, Hupie,about your pictures from Zoo Erlebniswelt: would you please upload the pictures in this thread in the gallery so that they are more accessible for future reference?

Whatever our different views on the zoo, the design etc the pictures are extremely interesting!
 
Just a quick question, I noticed the Fossa are kept on an island (again not enough climbing apparatus) but did you notice if they pace as much as they do when in traditonal cages?
 
jwer said:
As far as i know the director of this zoo is a dutchman who was vice-director (or even director) of Apenheul Zoo in the Netherlands. If anyone has knowledge about primates, it'll be him. I'd say give them a few months at least...
Click to expand...


Okay so he has experiance ;]

Will see what happens over the coming months.
 
'As far as i know the director of this zoo is a dutchman who was vice-director (or even director) of Apenheul Zoo in the Netherlands. If anyone has knowledge about primates, it'll be him. I'd say give them a few months at least...'

From another thread on Valencia:

'Bioparc Valencia is the brainchild of Koen Brouwer, the former director of EAZA. Just like his predecessor he has gone into opening a new zoo (Gaiapark!)'

Are we talking about the same guy?
 
Yes we do, and the fact that the gorilla and chimp enclosures were openend LONG after Koen Brouwer started as director in Valencia does not make me hopeful for the future AT ALL. Either he has no interest to improve things or he has no influence on the company which owns the zoo (that`s the same who built the equally awful Fuengirla Zoo).
 
Not everything are so bad at Bioparc (i think) when it has become EAZA member in only nine months...

New EAZA Members
As of 19 September 2008

Bioparc Valencia, Spain
Full Member

Bioparc Valencia is a brand new zoo, situated in the Turia Gardens, the green lung running through the city of Valencia. It is owned and operated by the same company as Fuengirola Zoo, an EAZA member located in the south of Spain. The first phase of Bioparc focuses on Equatorial Africa, Madagascar and the African savannahs. Future expansions of the zoo may include the Neotropics and South-east Asia. Bioparc was designed following the ‘zoo-immersion’ concept, in which visitors are surrounded by meticulous recreations of the natural habitats being presented.


European Association of Zoos and Aquaria - EAZA


I´m in agreement with the opinion they lack cords and other facilities for to climb, and trees for to give shade at gorillas ,chimps and monkeys...
 
Lets be honest, EAZA membership doesn`t mean that much and the standards that need to be met regarding enclosure size ect. are minimal. There are definately worse EAZA zoos, especially in Spain and east european countires like Hungaria, Poland ect. It`s just so very dissapointing that a brand-new zoo is totally ignoring what gorillas, chimps and other primates need.

Editted to add: that sounds more negative then I wanted it to be - I am glad that the bioparc is an EAZA member and takes part in many EEP`s!
 
Last edited:
Yassa said:
Editted to add: that sounds more negative then I wanted it to be - I am glad that the bioparc is an EAZA member and takes part in many EEP`s!
Click to expand...

Agreed, bioparc is a refreshing new zoo on the European landscape, good to see them bringing in unusual species as the spot necked otter, drill, klipspringer and the proposed duikers species too.

I agree the primate enclosure look a little bare but the park has only been open for a year, give them time, maybe a shade screen could be suspended between the rocks above the enclosure or even camouflaged netting, but i think that wouldn't happen, aesthetics and all that.
 
Why are the people responsible for allowing movement of primates not held responsible? Surely it is these people who could ensure that primates are provided with a suitable level of enrichment.
 
zooman said:
Why are the people responsible for allowing movement of primates not held responsible? Surely it is these people who could ensure that primates are provided with a suitable level of enrichment.
Click to expand...

This is an interesting thread as it shows the danger of leaping to conclusions and making pronouncements based on some photos. We all criticise the anti-zoo lobby when they are quick to make judgements when they do not have all the facts, but here we are doing the same thing. "Zooman" is clearly an interested and intelligent observer, and yet here he is leading a lynch-mob against those who have sent animals to a zoo which, as far as I can tell, he hasn't even visited. An earlier poster described Fuengirola Zoo as terrible; I would wholly disagree: it's possibly got too many animals squeezed in to a small area, but those animals look to be in superb condition, and are doing very well there. I am pretty sure that Valencia will develop into a superb zoo, and i am equally sure that it will have teething problems which it will need to overcome. But having not yet been there, I won't be calling for the head of the director to be put on a pole outside the entrance!
 
We have to agree that we totally disagree on this topic. I have been in Fuengirola and most enclosures are awfully inadequate and/or too small. That the animals look well-cared for and healthy doesn`t change that; actually I expect from EVERY zoo in Europe that they animals are kept healthy, that has nothing to do with enclosure size or quality. I have not been in Valencia yet but just a few days ago I met a friend who was there recently and showed me a ton more pics then those posted here, we discussed the issue lengthly, and my opinion of this zoo and especially the primate enclosures has not changed at all. Pictures not always say everything but they can say a lot.
 
sooty mangabey said:
This is an interesting thread as it shows the danger of leaping to conclusions and making pronouncements based on some photos. We all criticise the anti-zoo lobby when they are quick to make judgements when they do not have all the facts, but here we are doing the same thing. "Zooman" is clearly an interested and intelligent observer, and yet here he is leading a lynch-mob against those who have sent animals to a zoo which, as far as I can tell, he hasn't even visited. An earlier poster described Fuengirola Zoo as terrible; I would wholly disagree: it's possibly got too many animals squeezed in to a small area, but those animals look to be in superb condition, and are doing very well there. I am pretty sure that Valencia will develop into a superb zoo, and i am equally sure that it will have teething problems which it will need to overcome. But having not yet been there, I won't be calling for the head of the director to be put on a pole outside the entrance!
Click to expand...


Okay call me old fashioned butt why cant we "I won't be calling for the head of the director to be put on a pole outside the entrance!" ;)

Would still be interested to hear from people on my origional question of the people responsible for the placement of primates.
 
Yassa said:
Pictures not always say everything but they can say a lot.
Click to expand...

For anybody with good experience of Primate(or any other zoo) enclosures, good photographs of enclosures in zoos not actually visited, will be mostly sufficient to draw accurate conclusions about these enclosures.

If I see photos of Howletts Gorilla cages, or Apenheul's wooded island, they show exactly what you will see if you visit the place, apart from maybe the actual size of the enclosure. So from the good photos of Valencia enclosures I have seen I know pretty much what I would see if I was to make an actual visit and so I can draw adequate conclusions from them.

In Valencia's case,its fairly obvious that the Primate enclosures have been designed with an 'open aspect' making them very attractive for viewers, but at the expense of good(complex)climbing facilities or overhead cover for the primates themselves. If that had been the aim, they would have been designed very differently at the inception, and I wouldn't expect much to change either- even a sympathetic director or management may not be free to make alterations or go against the design policy of the organisation. I fear the enclosures will remain as they are, that is, mainly 'rock & grass' and with a rather 'DisneyKingdom' flavour to them.:(
 
Yassa said:
Lets be honest, EAZA membership doesn`t mean that much and the standards that need to be met regarding enclosure size ect. are minimal. There are definately worse EAZA zoos, especially in Spain and east european countires like Hungaria, Poland ect. It`s just so very dissapointing that a brand-new zoo is totally ignoring what gorillas, chimps and other primates need.

Editted to add: that sounds more negative then I wanted it to be - I am glad that the bioparc is an EAZA member and takes part in many EEP`s!
Click to expand...

I have one question, the EAZA standars policy not are the same for ALL members in ALL countries? i think the response is yes...but I don´t know it with total exactitude.
 
Well l did not need a lynching mob or a letter writing campaign!

Report on Gorilla enclosure.

Opened in July 2008 allot of trees have been planted in and around enclosure. To help enclose the space for the gorillas. In Valencia these will grow quickly but not overnight. They have also seen to include a water play area!

The enclosure itself is allot larger than many gorilla exhibits. I am aware that it’s not about size butt enrichment. But size does count ;]

There off exhibit areas of 12 interconnected holding areas are all enclosed.

Many other European and American collections confine there collections indoors throughout a big part of the year due to poor weather. Valencia’s beautiful climate makes it possible for all animals to be outdoors all day long nearly every day.

Progressively adding more plants as well as other animal species over the coming months will continue to provide the all animals in the gorilla enclosure with interesting social challenges and opportunities.

My research into Valencia Bioparc , leads me to believe that this zoo is laying the foundations as all new zoos must. To setting standards that other zoos will aspire too.

Sooty mangabey
Quote
We all criticise the anti-zoo lobby when they are quick to make judgements when they do not have all the facts, but here we are doing the same thing. "Zooman" is clearly an interested and intelligent observer, and yet here he is leading a lynch-mob against those who have sent animals to a zoo which, as far as I can tell, he hasn't even visited. Quote

You were right Sooty at time of posting. Now inspired by my passion for gorillas and using my resources. I can say l was wrong in my assessment of the standards of Bioparc Valencia. But l would do it all again and probably will. Just love the journey gorillas take me on.

Yassa
Quote Pictures not always say everything but they can say a lot. Quote

Pictures do show allot. It would seem that pictures of a new exhibit are open to interpretation and certainly fall way short of looking at all the factors of what make a good enclosure.

Snowleopard
Quote
“but to see rock hyrax apparently free a few feet from my head” Quote
This quote comes to mind. Describing an enclosure. When after further inspection it became apparent that the rock hyraxes are in an appallingly small space.
We are all usually just seeing and commenting on our experience. When the bigger picture may show us we are completely wrong.

I personally value the opportunity to share the journey with like minded people.
 
Well written Zooman! Your comment in regards to the weather in Valencia is appropriate, as too many zoos of the world lock their animals indoors whenever the sun disappears. That's one of the many reasons why the San Diego Zoo is so amazing, partly because practically every single exhibit is open to the elements and the climate is just about perfect in southern California.
 
Does anyone here have the "key statistics" on the Valencia Bioparc?
That is: (a) Number of Species (b) Number of Specimens
(c) Size -- hectacres (d) Annual Attendance

Thanks!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top