ZooChat European Cup Round 1: Dublin vs Duisburg vs Zagreb

[CGSwans]

Three previous Cup entrants, three previous Cup first round losers. One zoo is about to break their duck on... primates. Fairly evenly matched on Zootierliste, so personal trip accounts will go a long way to deciding this one.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Duisburg has the nicest collection by far, but it also has one of the worst primate houses I have seen so it will have to be between the other two, although I am not sure which.

 

[CGSwans]

Duisburg has the nicest collection by far, but it also has one of the worst primate houses I have seen so it will have to be between the other two, although I am not sure which.

My memory on Zagreb’s primate exhibits is hazy, but I think the housing was decent without being truly outstanding (though better than I expected in a southeastern European zoo). Chimps was on the small side.

Urgh, I wish my brain was less foggy at the moment.

 

[snowleopard]

Duisburg has the nicest collection by far, but it also has one of the worst primate houses I have seen so it will have to be between the other two, although I am not sure which.

I suppose that for certain individuals it will come down to how well they like the new orangutan/gibbon exhibit at Dublin Zoo. That enclosure has divided some zoo nerds.

 

[Vision]

Interesting, the first match-up this round in which I've visited all three zoos!

My vote's with Dublin. The new orangutan islands are a little bit disappointing, but all other primate enclosures there are all (in my opinion) very interesting, both for the animals and for the visitors; well-planted islands for the large species that look great and seem to have a lot of climbing/hiding opportunities, and a very interesting small house for the small South American monkeys.
I'd say Dublin is definitely a lot better than Duisburg's very underwhelming primate house, and probably better than Zagreb's very variable, but less consistently good line-up of primate enclosures...

 

[Dassie rat]

Mouse lemurs
Zagreb: Grey mouse lemur

True lemurs
Dublin: Red ruffed lemur
Duisburg: Black lemur
Zagreb: White-fronted lemur

Marmosets
Dublin: Callimico
Zagreb: Emperor tamarin, red-bellied tamarin

Capuchins
Zagreb: Black-capped capuchin

Night monkeys
Zagreb: Lemurine night monkey

Prehensile-tailed monkeys
Zagreb: Black-and-gold howler

Old World monkeys
Dublin: Crested black macaque, collared mangabey
Duisburg: Lion-tailed macaque, mandrill, De Brazza’s monkey, roloway monkey, putty-nosed monkey, king colobus
Zagreb: Mantled colobus, grey langur

Gibbons
Duisburg: Northern white-cheeked gibbon
Zagreb: Lar gibbon

Zagreb has unique species in 8 families, while Dublin and
Duisburg has unique species in 3 families each - an easy win for Zagreb.

 

[dublinlion]

Wow a landslide, that's a surprise. Primates (14 species) and good enclosures are Dublin's strength, so this category was always the best chance of progress. To my eyes the other zoos have more interesting species but with generally inferior housing, so I would have expected a closer vote.

 

[lintworm]

Wow a landslide, that's a surprise. Primates (14 species) and good enclosures are Dublin's strength, so this category was always the best chance of progress. To my eyes the other zoos have more interesting species but with generally inferior housing, so I would have expected a closer vote.

I would change "good enclosures" to "good-looking" enclosures and this is by far Dublins best category and not so much of the competitors. If for example Gaiazoo would have been in this group, Dublin would have clearly lost....

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

It's shame Duisburg is out so quickly. On other categories it would at least stand a chance. Duisburg is a not a bad zoo overall, but it hardly stand a chance against almost any candidate on primates.