Yesterday a third Elan antilope was born at Amersfoort, again in view of the visitors ! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_y80fgAfqo&feature=player_embedded
Nice video-clip about the new Orchid praying mantisses ( comments are in Dutch ) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qUrKrx8D9U
Dierenpark Amersfoort already had a group of 5 Aldabra giant tortoises in its collection but now 4 more animals have been obtained. These animals are still young ( between 8 and 12 years old ) and with the new ones Amersfoort has the biggest group in the Netherlands.
First egg of the year laid at the last year opened biggest aviary of the Netherlands ( 3000 squer meters ). One of the 3 pairs of Griffon vultures laid it .
I really do hope they can set an example for other zoos to follow. Most sadly keep giants in twos and threes with never the chance of having an exciting visual nor any real credible chances of any reproduction with giants Not that it is in dire need in Aldabran giants …, although I could think of quite a few examples where Aldabrans bred from zoos could make a difference on some of the Indian Ocean islands where local taxa have alas gone extinct at our hands and where an ecological niche needs refilling to regenerate and do habitat restoration properly. Jersey's Durrell do what they preach … there (although sadly no giants on site at the zoo).
Griffon vulture hatched ( video in Dutch ) : https://www.facebook.com/DierenParkAmersfoort/videos/828936450477352/
Video ( in dutch ) about the new planned Siamang enclosure : https://www.facebook.com/DierenParkAmersfoort/videos/902508553120141/
New Siamang-enclosure finished. Video about the construction and end-result : https://www.facebook.com/DierenParkAmersfoort/videos/923733674330962/
For the first time at Amersfoort a Prehensile-tailed skink has been born. The group now contains 6 specimens.
