Belfast Zoo » Belfast Zoo

02-01-2008

Hi A1 and welcome to this forum.

I guess I'm the resident 'Gorilla buff'- though I'm interested in many other species also. Can you tell us anything about the current situation with the Gorillas at Belfast? Here's a few specific questions...

1. I think some moves may be planned in the coming moths- possibly female 'Bikira' might leave and another female be brought in to replace her?

2. Is 'Boulas' to return to Port Lympne and do you know why he hasn't bred during his time at Belfast?

3. Is 'Gugas' now a silverback or has he not reached that stage yet? Do you have any photos of Gugas as he looks now, which you could post?

4. Any other 'Gorilla news' most welcome.

Cheers...

02-01-2008

hi

As far as I know your right about Bikira leaving though the last I heard it had been postponed for what reason im not sure. I had heard we were to get at least one new female which would be great but again I heard that there have been complications with this.

Boulas is to return but I dont think they have any room for him. I cant be 100% why he hasnt bred. There are sevaral theories perhaps him coming from a bachelor group has affected his fertility though as far as I know no such tests have been done and im not sure this is plausable. He regularly mates with all three females. Kamili however is on a constant diet and she still remains overweight, delilah is in her forties and on the pill and well bikira im not sure why.

The presence of kukuma who as im sure you know is a neutered adult male may have an impact on stress levels but as far as i know he gets on well with boulas often playing with him.

Gugas is not silverback yet but regularly mates all females also, he has a love hate relationship wit boulas.

It would be amazing to get our new group breeding again because nothing really beats a fully functioning gorilla family group! i hope this helps!

do you work with gorilla or are you an enthusiast?

Cheers

Al

02-01-2008

AI, Where will the tree kangaroos be coming from?

02-01-2008

not sure as yet, krefeld hold the studbook and a number of animals are avalable from oz i think

02-01-2008

Yay... I just found out more about the Belfast Gorillas in two minutes than I have done for about ten years!... and yes, I'm just a longterm enthusiast... To give you an idea of how long... I can remember 'Delilah' as a little baby at Bristol Zoo I visited Belfast once a longtime ago but have seen various pix of the gorilla house and enclosure.

That's a really interesting resume you've given me. I think 'Bikira' may be going to Valencia(Spain) and you may get either 'Ukiwa' or 'Grace' (born at Dublin) from Wuppertal Zoo as a replacement female.

I've always presumed Boulas must be infertile and if, as you say, he mates all three females, that only seems to confirm it. I'd also presumed it may be difficult to reintegrate him into his old group at PL and thought he might have to end up living alone if he goes back there...

Its a mystery to me to why the Belfast group hasn't bred for a long time now but hope these changes (if they happen) will restart breeding again.

02-01-2008

... and thanks for too...

03-01-2008

I would really like to visit Belfast Zoo and your summary Al only whets my appetite even more!

My interest is mainly in zoo architecture and new zoo developments. Do you know when the bird park development will be finished, and also when the tropical house will be complete? Any other developments on the cards? Does the zoo have a masterplan?

I really hope the zoo keeps the old 12 acre site and makes use of the area for future expansion or off-show breeding facilities.

03-01-2008

Hi Chris

Unfortunately the zoo does not have a masterplan.



I cant really give an exact date when either the bird park or tropical house will be finished but will def be this year!


We have had trouble trying to maintain a high enough temperature in the tropical house to move up our sloth and birds.
The first development of the bird park is nearly finished. It consists of one large avairy at the front and three smaller ones to the bck. The front will house blue-crowned laughing thrush,pink pigeon, luzon bleeding heart dove,java sparrow, bali starling and edwards pheasant. The back ones are for red-crested turaco, violecus turaco and white browed coucals.


An encloure towards the top of the zoo is currently being refurbished for two male white-nosed coati.

I hope this is of interest to you. Im particularly interested in enclosure design and mixed species exhibits. Animal wise anything than is rare in zoos is of interest as well as small mammals and small carnivores.

Im sure if you keep posted you'll see alot of very nice species arriving at belfast over the next few years!

Bears and Elephants at Belfast.
03-01-2008

Hi again...

Can you tell us anything about the current situation with bears and elephants at Belfast?

1. Do you still have 1.1 Sun Bear and 2.1 (or is it 3.1?) Spectacled Bear?

2. Has Belfast bred either of these species in the past- either successfully or otherwise(DNS)?

3. Do you know where the Spectacled bears came from originally?

4. Are there any plans to try to breed from the two younger elephants(the mother and daughter) or move them to a breeding group in future? Other plans for the elephants?

Thanks a lot for the gorilla information- very informative...

03-01-2008

Hi AI,

Belfast Zoo has really become an unusual species gem in the zoo community in Europe. Really quite interesting developments, shame no Masterplan exists!

Are the new bird house and tropical house themed on any particular habitats? It seems the bird house inhabitants are either rare and endangered species or those that deserve more attention from zoo-aviculturists.

Do I stand corrected ... or did Chris79 mention an extension area to Belfast Zoo. Or is this the original zoo complex? Any concept plans for this latter area in the not too distant future (given all these plans with new species like Goodfellow's tree kangaroos (good this unusual species is making a comeback of sorts in EAZA zoos)?

Also, I remember reading lately that .. the troubled Krefeld Zoo Asian elephants might come to Belfast once theirs' have moved to Ostrava Zoo.

What has happened to the nice Mhorr gazelle herd at Belfast (now just down to a female) ... It is a shame that there no longer is a breeding herd here. Any plans for fresh imports?

Cheers,

Jelle

03-01-2008

Our sun bears have never bred or even attempted! the male victor was rescued from an indonesian village and has some sterotype behaviour!

Off the top of my head I know that at least one of our original bears came from leipzig and perhaps one fron stutgart but I cant be 100% on that! we have bred them twice with the first young female going to japan and the second who is male remains at the zoo with his parents and is now 12yrs old! we could have bred more but the female minke was put on an implant for a number of years!


regarding elephants indeed the two breeding females visesh and mother johti are due to head to ostrava leaving us with a single antisocial female tina. there was talk of us receiving all of the krefeld animals but due to a polictical decision we may only be receiving one! though things tend to change!

The bird collection will house species in themed flights. The first as aforemntioned contains species that are endangered and are of which are in managed programmes.

Other species that are hoped to be added over the next year include northern helmetd currasow mixed with an aracari spp, tawny frogmouth,wonga pigeon and blue winged kookaburra, congo peafowl, vonder deckens hornbill, monserrat oriole, white faced scops owl and many others have been mentioned! we are predominatly a mammal collection so it is great the we are finaly investing money into this area of the collection.

The old zoo sight is around 12acres abd would ideally be used for off show breeding, however any extra funding available is needed to undertake needed renovations in the already existing zoo, that together with money needed for staff wages has meant that this is not important!

I have a wishlist of species that I would love see come to belfast over the next few years and always try to convince the curators and manager how great they are.


I look after the mhorrs gazelle, she is due to leave to barcelona zoo as we are going out of this beutiful species. We lost the rest of the herd to several freak accident and due to blue tongue etc it has delayed us getting anymore in! we are looking to aquire blesbok and lesser kudu to replace them!

03-01-2008

The Mhorr Gazelle is a subspecies of the Dama Gazelle isnt it??

Its great to see you enlarging your bird collection aswell

03-01-2008

AI,

I think the elephant bit you are referring to is the fact that suddenly the Krefeld municipality imagined it a better idea to keep all 3 at the zoo (however this at the cost of the well functioning black rhino breeding group ... that desperately deserves an enlarged exhibit at the zoo).

Well if you get everyone to vote ... I am afraid they always vote in favour of the mega fauna. Thus the whole conservation education bit gets under the deep blue sea .. so to speak. Municipal zoos being dependent on politics for funds means they have to go the other way .. too.

I still think it is a shame the whole Mhorr herd is almost completely defunct. Understandable that the singleton is now moving to Barcelona Zoo (perhaps a more conducive environment for this arid climate ungulate). At least she now has a chance again to breed. Perhaps you agree with me that European wildlife transport and vet laws should be more relaxed to allow the transfer of otherwise healthy and TESTED species (from one zoo to another)! By the way, I wish if you intend on holding onto the elephants that their exhibit be upgraded once the 2 related elephants leave for Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Lest us now focus on the future: Goodfellow's tree kangaroo. Are you getting the 2nd pair from Krefeld? Is it perhaps possible to also try to acquire the Matschie's tree kangaroo (the ASMP/ARAZPA region is going out of this species ... and Adelaide Zoo still keeps them .. but they are on a phase out standing). Might be worthwhile to contact Adelaide Zoo management at information@zoossa.com.au (general enquiries).

Anyhow, your suggestions for Mappin species wise ... Is that not a better option for Belfast Zoo to go into?

Do you get any city funding at all (for new exhibits and stuff)?

03-01-2008

I've never been to Belfast - or indeed Ireland - but the zoo sounds positivley mouthwatering! I think it should go on my 'will get there eventually' list... which keeps on growing I'm afraid.

Still, good work with the sifakas, and really great news on the tree kangaroos! From what I've read Belfast is obviously a bit of a trendsetter, so hopefully other UK zoos will follow by getting this species.

03-01-2008

we are highly funded by the city council but annual funding budget generally does not give enough money to upgrade some areas as much as we would like! The elephant enclosure does need improved but as does many other areas that are good but could be better. I think is however the case for the majority of collections!

Giant panda and golden monkeys would indeed be very nice but not on plans im afraid!

the eaza region is to concentrate on goodfellows and aza is concentrating on the matchetts! personally i prefer the later! not sure where as yet but i think we are top ofthe list touch wood! very exciting!