Was there recently (after more than ten years) and it isn t THAT bad as you may expect - well, from point of view of laic visitor who don´t know much about animal husbandry (and who didn´t see of-show areas like monkey indoors or giraffe and (former) rhino stables)
Areal as a whole (or most parts of it) made a "used" impression of me - not in a good sense. Rust, cracks and holev in pavement here and there... also, lots of concrete. I guess this is one of main reason of this zoos not good reputation among common visitors? It looks a bit gloomy for me (these long time ago abandoned concrete mini-paddocks next to deer paddock, huh), but I guess animals don´t care much if their fence is a bit battered - but it may suggests also lack of funding which IS real problem...
There are also some new exhibits (I mean built or refurbished in last decade or so), they seemed nice or ok at least for me. Also, those older big exhibits of hoofstock in upper part of zoo seemed ok for me - enough space, some trees - of course, I didn´t see stables, which are likely less ok.
Then there are those more... controversial parts...
Carnivore house - I guess that lion, snow leopard, tiger and malay bear paddocks are ok? Manchurian leopards paddock seem really small to me (yeah, watch gallery, even if its little less baren now ). Outdoor is probably ok in terms of space, but I am not sure, if its ideal for this subspecies (glassfronted, south-oriented exhibit). Maybe it would be possible to made some more natural, bigger exhibit in some colder part of zoo?
Elephant paddock. I can´t say I like outdoor exhibit but guess its ok. Indoor could be ok also - but yeah, too small. Keep only one elephant is... well. And for more than one is this place insufficient. I can imagine as elephant house would be refurbished for orangutans, as new director suggests - if there would be enough money for it, of course.
So yeah, orangutans - not AS terrible as I was expecting but still bad. One of things which should be changed asap. But again, money...
Which bring as to monkeys. This exhibit is really ugly, but I guess that outdoor paddocks aren´t that bad especially for some "climbing" species - gibbons, guenons... only if there would be more space for them. Get rid of some species and make more space for others and while not ideal, it could work maybe? But again, I don´t now how looks indoor or in how bad shape is that building as a whole...
And what I am saying doesn´t apply for mandrils. Their paddock is really, really bad and I hope they get better one asap. Well, there isn´t big chance on it, is it?
Surprisingly, what seemed worst to me, weren´t orangs or monkeys or elephants what really buffled me were owls. Living in small, glass fronted aviaries (next to wolverine) - especially two snow owls - with at least four younglings, that was, really, really bad. Damn, I guess that there are no money for new elephant or orangutan house (these may be challenges for facilities in better condition than Ústí) - but how costly and difficult is to build few sufficient owl aviaries? Is really Ústí doing THAT bad? Heck, they were able to build meercat exhibit quite recently, new owl paddock can´t be much more difficult...
There are also some new exhibits (I mean built or refurbished in last decade or so), they seemed nice or ok at least for me. Also, those older big exhibits of hoofstock in upper part of zoo seemed ok for me - enough space, some trees - of course, I didn´t see stables, which are likely less ok.
Then there are those more... controversial parts...
Carnivore house - I guess that lion, snow leopard, tiger and malay bear paddocks are ok? Manchurian leopards paddock seem really small to me (yeah, watch gallery, even if its little less baren now ). Outdoor is probably ok in terms of space, but I am not sure, if its ideal for this subspecies (glassfronted, south-oriented exhibit). Maybe it would be possible to made some more natural, bigger exhibit in some colder part of zoo?
Elephant paddock. I can´t say I like outdoor exhibit but guess its ok. Indoor could be ok also - but yeah, too small. Keep only one elephant is... well. And for more than one is this place insufficient. I can imagine as elephant house would be refurbished for orangutans, as new director suggests - if there would be enough money for it, of course.
So yeah, orangutans - not AS terrible as I was expecting but still bad. One of things which should be changed asap. But again, money...
Which bring as to monkeys. This exhibit is really ugly, but I guess that outdoor paddocks aren´t that bad especially for some "climbing" species - gibbons, guenons... only if there would be more space for them. Get rid of some species and make more space for others and while not ideal, it could work maybe? But again, I don´t now how looks indoor or in how bad shape is that building as a whole...
And what I am saying doesn´t apply for mandrils. Their paddock is really, really bad and I hope they get better one asap. Well, there isn´t big chance on it, is it?
Surprisingly, what seemed worst to me, weren´t orangs or monkeys or elephants what really buffled me were owls. Living in small, glass fronted aviaries (next to wolverine) - especially two snow owls - with at least four younglings, that was, really, really bad. Damn, I guess that there are no money for new elephant or orangutan house (these may be challenges for facilities in better condition than Ústí) - but how costly and difficult is to build few sufficient owl aviaries? Is really Ústí doing THAT bad? Heck, they were able to build meercat exhibit quite recently, new owl paddock can´t be much more difficult...
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