Hello from Belgium:)!

Hello from Belgium:)!
06-01-2008

Hi everyone!

I'm new on the forum. I'm Marc, 22 years old, live in Gent (city in Flanders, the Dutch or Flemish speaking part of Belgium). I'm working as a nurse in a hospital in my city. I'm very fascinated about zoo's and wildlife conservation. Today, more than ever it's necessary to work on that!

My favourite zoo is the Antwerp Zoo, the only 'real' zoo in Belgium. Maybe that is because every Belgian visit the zoo min. 1 time in his life. Everyone you know has been there already and that's a nice feeling . It's a bit part of our life. It's a real city zoo, next to the Central Station of Antwerp. The Zoo attracts every year more visitors and invests every year for millions of euro's. I think it's a great example of how a zoo's must invest these days.
There also is a great atmosphere, beautiful garden, romantic... I like it there . Belgium is no zoo country but I think we can be proud on our only zoo we have. They also got the EAZA research award in 2006.

Greetz!

Marc.

06-01-2008

Welcome to the forum marc

06-01-2008

Yes Welcome Marc

06-01-2008

Hello..!

I am quite new too but it is a lot fun here and you will learn a lot..!

Jezzaâ„¢

06-01-2008

Wow I've just post this and already 3 reply's! Busy forum .

Pics Antwerp Zoo:
http://www.zoobeat.com/9/antwerp-zoo...05/index3.html

06-01-2008

Hi Marc from me too

If a visitor had only one spare day in Belgium would you recommend they visit Antwerp Zoo or Planckendael?

(This could be me in a few months, although I have already been to Antwerp which I thought was ok)

06-01-2008

@Marc: Doesn't Plankendael count as a 'real' zoo? I went to both Antwerpen Zoo and Plankendael last year, and I was quite impressed.

Nice to have another belgian on the forum. Welcome!

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

06-01-2008

Hi and welcome to zoobeat, marc!!

06-01-2008

Difficult question . Planckendael is also a very nice park. It's difficult to compare with the Antwerp Zoo, wich is a real city zoo and much smaller but, still very interessting! Maybe it depends on what you prefer:

Planckendael = larger, greener, less species but they have Koala's .
Zoo Antwerp = smaller, older, better atmosphere, nice architecture, beautiful garden, more species, easy to go by train.

Anyway, both parks are from the same society so you support both parks when you visit only one, so that's good .

06-01-2008

Yeah Planckendael is a zoo but here we never call it like that . It's always 'animal park'. Next years Planckendael will get girafs, elephants, penguins...they will get more species. Glad you liked both parks!
But aren't conditions for a park to call it a 'zoo'?

06-01-2008

I would call Plankendael a zoo, since it has many smaller exhibits as well as the large open ones. They also have a huge tropical house and nice Australian theme (possibly the best in Europe). But you could call it an animal park too. Let's just say it's a judgement call

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

06-01-2008

I've been to Ghent on our school French Exchange, and should be going again in March.

I loved Antwerp zoo, and I plan to visit again.

Does Antwerp still have it's white lipped peccaries?

Oh, and welcome to this wonderful forum.

06-01-2008

Haha ok, for me the Antwerp Zoo is more zoo zoo at this time .

@ Writhedhornbill: I think the Antwerp Zoo never had them. Maybe you mean Planckendael, there you can find them.

07-01-2008

Hi Marc,

Welcome.
In regard to Planckendael: do You think koalas will lure the predominantely Australian users here into a zoo? That's almost like an Australian advocating an Australian zoo to an American because of the zoo keeping raccoons...

07-01-2008

Yeah but you know, Koala's are not common in European zoo's .
It's a special attraction.