Female black rhino "Mala", born 24.12.2011 at Magdeburg in Germany was transferred to Port Lympne on 7 April 2014. She will stay there untill the new rhino enclosure at Folly farm will be finished. Any idea when that will be?
Probably sometime in 2015 i would guess. There has been no mention of them wanting rhinos so the fact they are supposedly getting black's is excellent news!
I hope it's correct, according to an article on "Mala's" departure in a German newspaper she will be transferred to Folly Farm one day ... http://magdeburgersonntag.info/artikel/mala-geht-auf-reisen-0509
Great new for the place and you now have to wonder just how long Manor House can keep going,given that its species list is smaller and its cost more expensive to get into than Folly Farm!!Also excellent news that atlast this place has announced that they are getting them seeing as they have spent well over 18 months researching just what is required to house the species and with much consulting with the studbook!!
I can only second that last observation. I am glad it has finally worked out and that Folly Farm will finally house this magnificent species thanks to all the hard work put in by all involved.
Short update Although their has yet to be any official announcement from Folly Farm themselves regarding the Rhino, this week a planning application for a large Mammal building at Folly Farm was given the go-ahead by Pembrokshire Council... I think its fair to say that the project might be happening Fingers crossed
Any further particulars as in ... is it just only for rhinos or like Magdeburg and Ebeltoft other species in a myriad exhibit setting?
The Planning Application indicates that the development , along with additional car parking spaces , is on recently acquired land behind the current main parking area ( and probably behind the tapir lake ) . Plans show a house with 4 internal enclosures , the largest of which has an indoor visitor viewing area . I did not see any reference to what species are to be exhibited .
..and today the worst kept secret in the UK zoo world was finally confirmed. Work on the Rhino exhibit is about to start and should be completed by the Summer. Once its finished, Folly Farm will receive 1.2 - consisting of male, Nkosi from Port Lympne (age 4) three year old female, Mala mentioned earlier in the thread and a 2nd female in the form of Manyara from Chester (none breeding) Folly Zoo News | Folly Farm announces Black Rhino Conservation Project
.... and it appears holder Number Six may be on the horizon too if Flamingo Park are also to go into them. BTW breeding at Paignton seems to have stalled, after the successful first birth- 'Zuri' who was sent to Chester- there has not been another. The current bull is not the same one that fathered Zuri( that was Kingo) and maybe that's the problem.
I visited last week , there were quite a lot of visitors on a sunny mid-week day . Apart from some pegs in the field no sign of construction of the new Rhino exhibit . Lots of other developments in the Zoo though . I was impressed with the Lion exhibit opened last year , see photos in gallery . I would have preferred the outside areas for small South American primates to have been covered , the climbing opportunities on a small open-top enclosure have to be limited . Two large aviaries were under construction - for Chilean flamingos and a mixed African bird exhibit ( influenced by Tsavo at Chester ? ) . The large white-throated monitor in the Giraffe House has been replaced by dwarf mongoose . They are marketing jointly with Heatherton an outdoor multi-sports activity centre ( which is across the road from Manor House Wildlife Park ) . Meanwhile Manor House are marketing with Oakwood which has rollercoasters and other rides .
Nkosi and Manyara will now arrive in September. Mala's move has been postponed due to a skin problem Folly Zoo News: Folly Farm reveal first images of new Kifaru Reserve enclosure which will be home to critically endangered Eastern Black Rhino
Black Rhinos, Nkosi and Manyara have finally arrived - the exhibit will be open to the public from tomorrow (24th October) There's some photos on the parks Facebook for anyone who wants a sneak peek
