Danish zoos » Odense Zoo

24-03-2008

great photos by the way

24-03-2008

They used two massive transport-crates that can still be seen at the zoo. A closed one for the old bull and and open one for the females and young bull. The house has it's own road leading up to it from the outer wall of the zoo, so the elephants were driven out of the zoo through Gate 3, and the back in through the Elephant Gate.

I asume they will be let outside once the house opens, or perhaps later this summer.

@kiang: Thanks

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I am Toddy, the zoo-enthusiast from Denmark!
Different zoos visited: 77
Favourite animals: Aardvarks and manatees.
Website: www.zoos.dk

24-03-2008

WOW nice new enclosures. Such a change from the old house, and a big change for Cheing Mai...in the old place for over 40 years!!

I think the old house is going to be kept, as its so old and to show visitors how they used to live - i don't know why they would want to mind you!! i may be wrong though.

24-03-2008

Chieng Mai actually lived in the old house for 47 years . He turns 50 next year

The old house is going to stay. It is an historical building, nearly 100 years old. It is either going to be used as a museum or a restaurant, but it's days of holding live animals are numbered. The three babirusa/pig hybrids still live there.

What I like the best about the new house is the glass domes. They give the elephants much more light indoors than ever before, and it just gives the house a nice feel to it.

__________________
I am Toddy, the zoo-enthusiast from Denmark!
Different zoos visited: 77
Favourite animals: Aardvarks and manatees.
Website: www.zoos.dk

02-04-2008

Today Aalborg Zoo recieved a new male polar bear to join their two females, Victoria (11) and Malik (7). The new male in question is Felix (7), the former breeding male in Nürnberg Zoo and father of the famous Flocke (Knut 2). Neither of the females have ever been mated, so their offspring would be very valuable.

@jelle: I got a reply from Knuthenborg about their 1.2 onagers. Their male is from Hagenbeck, the adult female is from Whipsnade and the other female is a foal born at Knuthenborg last year. Still waiting to hear from Ree Park.

__________________
I am Toddy, the zoo-enthusiast from Denmark!
Different zoos visited: 77
Favourite animals: Aardvarks and manatees.
Website: www.zoos.dk

17-04-2008

The elephants in Copenhagen in their new enclosure

17-04-2008

Seeing that scene again is very emotional for me. I almost cried when I saw them in their new enclosure for the first time . It is just so much better than what they are used to. The females from Thailand are especially happy about the new waterhole, while the older females really enjoy the sand.

News from the danish zoos:
- Aqua Freshwateraquarium just opened a new enclosures for nutrias.
- The following zoos just got new websites: Copenhagen Zoo, Givskud Zoo and Scandinavian Wild Animal Park.

__________________
I am Toddy, the zoo-enthusiast from Denmark!
Different zoos visited: 77
Favourite animals: Aardvarks and manatees.
Website: www.zoos.dk

17-04-2008

1. So, true!!! The new exhibit is a true Elephant Conservation Center with so many essential facilities for the elephants now which were seriously lacking before. Despite Kobenhavn Zoo's good breeding record, I always thought that the high infant mortality had something to do with the less than ideal facilities.

I see 5 elephants on film. I suspect that is matriarch Ida, her companion Inda, the two younger Thailand elephant females Surin and Kungrao and Ida's latest calf Gandhi (born 20/3/2006)?
Am I correct: the bulls Chieng Mai and Tonsak live separate lives?

Toddy, any indications yet that the younger Thailand imported females are displaying breeding behaviour with the magnificent bull at Kobenhavn? Will the bull now be totally separated from the matriarch herd (as this would be more natural) and the females in oestrus travel to him to be mated? Do Kobenhavn have protected or free contact with the eles?

2. Mighty fine that new websites are coming up!!! Sadly, no parallel information in even just the one foreign language (my understanding of Danish is ok, but I can never fully understand the news items as that would entail me studying over a dictionary for ages). Perhaps, you can suggest management at Kobenhavn, Give and the Scandinavia Park to improve this situation somewhat?????

17-04-2008

The new house will be such a massive elephant theme, with so many exhibitions about elephants that you can't avoid learning something just by passing through. The thing that I like most about the house, is how bright it is with the huge glass domes as roof.

You are right. But it's actually Inda who is the matriarch of the herd and the biggest of the females. Ida is the breeding female. Kungrao is easy to know due to her high forehead. Also, Surin is slightly smaller.

The males and females live seperated, unless when they are supposed to mate. There are three outdoor enclosures. One for the females, and two for the males. Then Chieng Mai are let into the females enclosure when Ida is ready to mate. I think it is the plan is for the females from Thailand to mate with Tonsak when he is ready, since Chieng Mai's genes are already well representated through Irma and Chang. Copenhagen now uses protected contact, but has used free contact up until the elephants moved. Personally, I think they should have continued with free contact.

Well, Givskud Zoo and Scandinavian Wild Animal Park have pretty good sections in english, while Givskud even has some information in swedish, norwegian, german and dutch. Don't know what happened with Copenhagen though...

__________________
I am Toddy, the zoo-enthusiast from Denmark!
Different zoos visited: 77
Favourite animals: Aardvarks and manatees.
Website: www.zoos.dk

30-04-2008

I just added a new photo collection to my gallery-site with photos of the elephants in Copenhagen and pictures of the main enclosure. Enjoy!

__________________
I am Toddy, the zoo-enthusiast from Denmark!
Different zoos visited: 77
Favourite animals: Aardvarks and manatees.
Website: www.zoos.dk