ZooParc de Beauval Zooparc de Beauval News 2020
- Thread starter Sneeuwpanter
- Start date
Yes - exactly what I was thinking in fact. It has undertaken a meteoric rise in the past 10 years in this respect. Here's a little timeline of African developments (with red font indicating a development that wasn't uniquely African):
1980: The park opens with a large collection of (partly African) birds.
1989: First few big cats arrive (first lions?)
1992: First chimpanzees housed in La Serre tropicale des Grands Singes
1993: Vivarium opens with, among other species, Nile crocodiles
1997: Gorillas arrive
1998: White lions arrive, African savanna built.
2000: White rhinos arrive
2003: Elephants arrive
2004: New vivarium
2005: Okapis
2006: Somali asses arrive
2013/14?: Lesser kudus and bongos
2016: Hippos, nyalas, red river hogs, cichlids
2017: Terre des Lions (+ African wild dogs, meerkats and others)
2018: Cheetahs
2019/20: Equatorial Dome (with pygmy hippos and other African species among others)
We have seen a distinctive trend over the years. Firstly, the speed of developments is eye-watering. On average, an African development is built every 2 years at Beauval (of all different sizes). Also, if we look at where they were in 2013/14, the 'African area' of the zoo was in the bottom left corner with the elephants and the okapis along with the apes, with the savanna isolated in the top right and a few other isolated exhibit scattered all over. Now, the African area is mainly the top left! The development in this area in recent times has been so fast that every year we have had something new. This contrasts with, for example, London zoo, which have hit a downwards trend in the past 30 years which they can't seen to pull themselves out of.
TheEthiopianWolf03
Well-Known Member
As someone who has only visited North American zoos specifically zoos in the Pacific coast are there any unique animals that would be of interest to me or any other foreign zoochatter? I have always planned on making the London-Paris trip one day and I have heard this particular zoo is one of the best in Europe from not just this thread but from many sites and a few friends that visited it.
The 'special' animals at Beauval are (for Americans):
Both species of hippo, Persian leopards, okapis, doucs (hopefully), harpy eagles, moustached guenons, giant pandas, Goodfellow's tree kangaroo, Antillean manatees and lots more. I'm sure I will think of more in due course.
@TheEthiopianWolf03 It depens of what you mean by unique !
Rare or uncommon species could be (a more complete list - sorry @amur leopard
) : queensland koalas, giant pandas, goodfellow's tree kangaroos, matschie's tree-kangaroos (off-show - the last in Europe with Kolner Zoo), tasmanian devils, okapis, antillean manatees, moustached guenons, giant otters, javan langurs, beisa oryx, malayan tapir, hog deers, indian rhinos, southern lesser kudus, javan mouse deers, harpy eagles, pesquet parrots (2 pairs), cuban trogon (unique to Europe), andean cocks of the rock, white-bellied sea eagle (1 animal - unique to Europe), philipine cockatoos, javan rhinoceros hornbills, palm cockatoos, red-tailed black cockatoos, blue-throated macaws, siberian cranes, wattle cranes, long-crested eagles, great blue turacos, green broadbill, southern bald ibis, hadada ibis, african openbills, crested myna, pink-headed fruit-dove, godlen parakeets, arrau river turtles, lace monitors, boelen's python, borneo earless monitors, central vietnamese flowerback box turtle, false gharials, giant asian pond turtles, gorongosa girdled lizard, hilaire’s side-necked turtle, komodo dragons, west indian iguanas...
Rare or uncommon species could be (a more complete list - sorry @amur leopard
) : queensland koalas, giant pandas, goodfellow's tree kangaroos, matschie's tree-kangaroos (off-show - the last in Europe with Kolner Zoo), tasmanian devils, okapis, antillean manatees, moustached guenons, giant otters, javan langurs, beisa oryx, malayan tapir, hog deers, indian rhinos, southern lesser kudus, javan mouse deers, harpy eagles, pesquet parrots (2 pairs), cuban trogon (unique to Europe), andean cocks of the rock, white-bellied sea eagle (1 animal - unique to Europe), philipine cockatoos, javan rhinoceros hornbills, palm cockatoos, red-tailed black cockatoos, blue-throated macaws, siberian cranes, wattle cranes, long-crested eagles, great blue turacos, green broadbill, southern bald ibis, hadada ibis, african openbills, crested myna, pink-headed fruit-dove, godlen parakeets, arrau river turtles, lace monitors, boelen's python, borneo earless monitors, central vietnamese flowerback box turtle, false gharials, giant asian pond turtles, gorongosa girdled lizard, hilaire’s side-necked turtle, komodo dragons, west indian iguanas...
@TheEthiopianWolf03 It depens of what you mean by unique !
Rare or uncommon species could be (a more complete list - sorry @amur leopard
Excellent list! I think that about gets all of them, although I didn't see Persian leopards there, and Matschie's tree kangaroos are relatively common in American zoos given the AZA is focusing on them. On the other hand Goodfellow's tree kangaroos are rare, if not non-existent in North America while relatively common here. The US only really has Amur or hybrid/non-subspecific leopards so Persian leopards might be quite nice to see. Doue just downriver from Beauval has two more leopard subspecies (Sri Lankan and Javan) could be interesting from an American point of view as well.
I was yesterday in Beauval for the reopening. I have not so much time today to say a lot but the harpy eagles seem to fit well in their aviary and it was really a pleasure to watch them. Otherway, the old manatees pool has been refurbished and the result is quite good in my opinion. More to come !
So all good news I guess! I guess all we can do now is wait for two things: for the harpy eagle aviary plants to grow more to make it more suitable, and secondly for the doucs to arrive.
So, some news from my tuesday's visit :
* In the gorillas greenhouse :
- the two dwarf crocodiles (new species) took the place of the albino alligators in the upper enclosure near the past manatees pool. They are young from Doué la Fontaine and we must wait they grow up to see them (the enclosure is large for them now).
- the past manatees pool has been refurbished for stingrays and caimans. The refurbishment is quite nice. They kept the shape of the pool but replace some glass by a large curve glass in the center. A small island has been created in the center to modify the landscape.
The main pool house adults white-blotched river stingrays, three young spectacled caimans (new species), Hilaire’s side-necked turtles and fishes not labelled. The second pool house other stingrays and in the future a smooth-fronted caiman (new species) who is now (until he grow up) in the reptile house (in the former caiman lizards terrarium). Some young white-blotched river stingrays are now growing in the past piranhas pool in the upper level.
* Elephants complex :
The six "girls" were together and it seems that all is going better day after day. Good news, Akili could come possibly during this month. In Peaugres they are training him to go in the crate for the transfer. I know more about the transfer : Peaugres can't keep Akili as he has relationship problems with one of the cow.
* Birds House :
One pair of Pesquet parrots and another individual were missing. For now, there is only one on show. The pair has been replaced by a toco toucans pair (new species but hold in the past). In the same way only a great blue turaco was in the freeflight area and the second andean cock of the rock was missing (they still have a pair in an aviary with two-toed sloths and azara's agutis).
Outdoor, there's only one white-bellied sea eagle left. I suppose the second has died unfortunately.
* Great apes greenhouse :
The red-bellied tamarins arrived last year have been transfered in an aviary in the marmosets and tamarins row (near the orangutans). Previously they were on the other side of the building, near the chimps. No more pied tamarins on show. It's been more than six months they weren't present so I assume they left the zoo.
* Australia house :
Just saw one of the two Goodfellow's tree-kangaroos' joey in the pouch.
* Tropical Dome :
- harpys were viewable easily. One was moving more than the other. After seeing them in, the aviary is larger than I was thinking. I am stil afraid for winter with the cold wind !
- in the entrance tunnel new frogs species are labelled : blue-legged mantellas (7 zoos in Europe), red rain frogs (2 zoos in Europe), dyeing dart frogs (labelled "Dendrobates tinctorius tumucaque"), splashback poison frogs and red-eyed tree frogs.
- the sand fiddler crabs disappeared from the west indian iguanas terrarium but now there are Leach's Anoles in (new species - 4 zoos in Europe).
- greater blue-eared glossy-starlings joined the Aldabras' giant tortoises walkthrough aviary.
In this same aviary I saw for the first time two coconut crabs in a special area (they were flying in the air
). The Rodriguez flying foxes can now be seen more easily and sometines are flying at the end of the day.
- no date for the moment for the arrival of the doucs. Hard mission mission to bring them back.
Their future outdoor aviary was still under construction.
- I saw the male false gharial not far from the viewing window. A keeper told me that they can't clean the enclosure now because it started to be less convenient with them.
- the Beauval Nature's Camp was under works. Some small terrariums were added but no more info for the moment.
Earless monitors, scorpions...are still missing. I suppose they will go in the camp in the near future.
That's all for the moment. Photos to follow on the gallery
* In the gorillas greenhouse :
- the two dwarf crocodiles (new species) took the place of the albino alligators in the upper enclosure near the past manatees pool. They are young from Doué la Fontaine and we must wait they grow up to see them (the enclosure is large for them now).
- the past manatees pool has been refurbished for stingrays and caimans. The refurbishment is quite nice. They kept the shape of the pool but replace some glass by a large curve glass in the center. A small island has been created in the center to modify the landscape.
The main pool house adults white-blotched river stingrays, three young spectacled caimans (new species), Hilaire’s side-necked turtles and fishes not labelled. The second pool house other stingrays and in the future a smooth-fronted caiman (new species) who is now (until he grow up) in the reptile house (in the former caiman lizards terrarium). Some young white-blotched river stingrays are now growing in the past piranhas pool in the upper level.
* Elephants complex :
The six "girls" were together and it seems that all is going better day after day. Good news, Akili could come possibly during this month. In Peaugres they are training him to go in the crate for the transfer. I know more about the transfer : Peaugres can't keep Akili as he has relationship problems with one of the cow.
* Birds House :
One pair of Pesquet parrots and another individual were missing. For now, there is only one on show. The pair has been replaced by a toco toucans pair (new species but hold in the past). In the same way only a great blue turaco was in the freeflight area and the second andean cock of the rock was missing (they still have a pair in an aviary with two-toed sloths and azara's agutis).
Outdoor, there's only one white-bellied sea eagle left. I suppose the second has died unfortunately.
* Great apes greenhouse :
The red-bellied tamarins arrived last year have been transfered in an aviary in the marmosets and tamarins row (near the orangutans). Previously they were on the other side of the building, near the chimps. No more pied tamarins on show. It's been more than six months they weren't present so I assume they left the zoo.
* Australia house :
Just saw one of the two Goodfellow's tree-kangaroos' joey in the pouch.
* Tropical Dome :
- harpys were viewable easily. One was moving more than the other. After seeing them in, the aviary is larger than I was thinking. I am stil afraid for winter with the cold wind !
- in the entrance tunnel new frogs species are labelled : blue-legged mantellas (7 zoos in Europe), red rain frogs (2 zoos in Europe), dyeing dart frogs (labelled "Dendrobates tinctorius tumucaque"), splashback poison frogs and red-eyed tree frogs.
- the sand fiddler crabs disappeared from the west indian iguanas terrarium but now there are Leach's Anoles in (new species - 4 zoos in Europe).
- greater blue-eared glossy-starlings joined the Aldabras' giant tortoises walkthrough aviary.
In this same aviary I saw for the first time two coconut crabs in a special area (they were flying in the air
). The Rodriguez flying foxes can now be seen more easily and sometines are flying at the end of the day.- no date for the moment for the arrival of the doucs. Hard mission mission to bring them back.
Their future outdoor aviary was still under construction.
- I saw the male false gharial not far from the viewing window. A keeper told me that they can't clean the enclosure now because it started to be less convenient with them.
- the Beauval Nature's Camp was under works. Some small terrariums were added but no more info for the moment.
Earless monitors, scorpions...are still missing. I suppose they will go in the camp in the near future.
That's all for the moment. Photos to follow on the gallery
Thank you very much Antoine for all this info.
The dwarf crocodiles are already presented or behind the scenes?
This redesign of the manatee basin is very pleasant and the species planned or which are already there are quite interesting. Do you know if this island will be used for a species or if it is only an addition to change a little?
Small question: I have seen several times one of the harpies not posed one of its legs. Do you know the problem?
Still a lot of changes in the dome to come then.
The dwarf crocodiles are already presented or behind the scenes?
This redesign of the manatee basin is very pleasant and the species planned or which are already there are quite interesting. Do you know if this island will be used for a species or if it is only an addition to change a little?
Small question: I have seen several times one of the harpies not posed one of its legs. Do you know the problem?
Still a lot of changes in the dome to come then.
Beaval and London Zoo are at opposite ends of the Zoo development spectrum really. Beauval together with Paira Daiza in Belgium are two former bird parks that have grown at an astonishing rate in recent decades, to become among the top echelon in European zoos. London Zoo, on the other hand, is a once former great zoo of antiquity, now sadly engaged in a long drawn-out decline.
I really hope ZSL find a way to pull out of the plummet they are experiencing right now and gradually start to find ways around the problems presented by lack of space and building costs. Perhaps starting by taking a few lessons from zoos like Vienna or Antwerp would be a good start, then acquiring a species that can bring them out of the ashes.
I hadn't thought of the parallels between Pairi and Beauval, thanks for pointing that out!
According to this Facebook page https://fr-fr.facebook.com/Beauval.Didy/ yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle Podocnemis unifilis have now joined the white-blotched river stingrays, spectacled caimans and Hilaire’s side-necked turtles in the past manatees' exhibit.
This is another new species for the park (the number of new species is amazing this year with the opening of the tropical dome) and I am really happy to see a such increase of reptiles species !
This is another new species for the park (the number of new species is amazing this year with the opening of the tropical dome) and I am really happy to see a such increase of reptiles species !
First birth of a hippopotamus in Beauval.
4 years after their installations Kvido and Bolinhas gave birth to a small female this weekend.
The baby is called Gloria.
Une 1ère pour le ZooParc de Beauval ! - Beauval Actus
4 years after their installations Kvido and Bolinhas gave birth to a small female this weekend.
The baby is called Gloria.
Une 1ère pour le ZooParc de Beauval ! - Beauval Actus