Planckendael animal park, Mechelen, Belgium. » Planckendael

Planckendael animal park, Mechelen, Belgium.
06-01-2008

The RZSA (Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp) has 2 parks: The Antwerp Zoo (since 1843) and since 1956 there also is second park, called Planckendael. Maybe some of you have been there already.

Some pictures:

Azia project:


Australian zone:




Entrance to the South American zone:

06-01-2008

Big Bonobo Island:


Raccoon:

06-01-2008

06-01-2008

Looks good

07-01-2008

The bonobo island and Australian section are absolutely fantastic

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

07-01-2008

They do very well with Indian rhino too, and are supporting an effort to reintroduce Eurasian otter to the low countries, they have an excellent collection of European mammals.

07-01-2008

Yes that's true what you say. I'm glad they do that.
They also doing great research on the Bonobo's thanks to the CRC, center for research and conservation of the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp.

07-01-2008

hi marc,

do antwerp still have their eastern lowland gorilla? have you heard if they are starting their enlargement project yet?

both are amazing zoos!

07-01-2008

Yes they still have them. Together with the enlargement project, wich is already started, the exhibits from the gorilla's and chimps also will change but we still don't know how...

Look at the topic of the Antwerp Zoo, maybe you can find some information there. I also will post news about the evolutions .
http://www.zoobeat.com/9/antwerp-zoo...05/index3.html

08-01-2008

There are suggestions that only 1 gorilla is an eastern lowland and the other a mountain gorilla. Will get back from where this eminated.

Regarding the gorilla house. I guess the 2 old females will be allowed to live out their retirement. Once they have passed away, I am convinced that they will continue with a breeding group of western lowland gorillas. The ape house with chimps will augment the theme of okapi and bush pig.

08-01-2008

Does any one have any pictures of the Eastern gorillas?

08-01-2008

Jelle, just that only one of the 2 gorilla females can be considered "old" (born 1968 -40). The one who is suspected to be a mountain gorilla isn`t even 20 yet....

08-01-2008

I have a couple:
Gorilla beringei beringei - Berggorilla .jpg @ Fotopic.Net
The mountain gorilla

And the eastern:
Gorilla beringei graueri - Oostelijke laaglandgorilla .jpg @ Fotopic.Net

Gorilla beringei graueri - Oostelijke laaglandgorilla 1.jpg @ Fotopic.Net

09-01-2008

OK.

It is just that it now looks a gorilla paella. A renegade old graueri female, a probable beringei female in her best years and a hopelessly ineffective old grumpy silverback gorilla.

What I am thinking of is: A) The graueri female should be allowed to live out her old age in dignity at Antwerpen. B) Is there really no possibility to bring the probable beringei female back to the Congo or Rwanda (the Karisoke Center) for display purposes or even an attempt at re-integration (if she is proven to be a berengei)? C) The gorilla silverback - well I am afraid for his genes - other then sperm collection a.s.a.p. and freeze - he is no use in the long term at Antwerpen.

When A) and B) have been dealt with, set up D) a functioning ssp. gorilla group at Antwerpen.

For now option C) is out-of-the-question while keeping the group together as it is and HIM is infertile anyway.

What do our Belgian forum friends like while thinking of a future gorilla vision?

09-01-2008

I could be mistaking, but I believe the young female is actually born in antwerp and thus an eastern lowland or at least a lowland-"mix"

as far as I know antwerp hasn't had mountain gorilla's for years.

where does this mountain gorilla theory come from? I can't remember such a discussion on the belgian/dutch fora.