Twycross zoo » Twycross Zoo

11-01-2008

I second the above. They need to sack their old architect, and probably change builders as well. The newer chimp/gorilla blocks that are just red brick walls with little windows in them are horrible. While the overall feel of the place is quite nice you really get the impression of a lack of imagination

11-01-2008

I imagine you're talking about the original chimpanzee cages near the House? There is also a chimp'colony' building which isn't any worse(or better) than the other Ape houses- which are all remarkably similar and very unimaginative in design... also some chimps nowadays live in the original gorilla house(near the zoo entrance) too.

But the original chimp cages are a real eyesore- possibly the worst in the Uk- I'm amazed they are still in evidence at the zoo.

Does anyone having any news on;

1. The Elephant 'AI' programme.

2. What's going to be done about a new male for the 2nd gorilla group after Sekondi's death last year.

11-01-2008

Yes, sorry should have been more specific......meant the original chimp block.

Newer ape enclosures are definitely an improvement but, as you stay, still lack imagination compared to other institutions.

11-01-2008

These designs are no doubt traceable in part to the two old dears who ran the zoo for so long- they were not professional zookeepers in the true sense, but rather had a 'pet shop' mentality, even as their animal collection grew larger. Consequently they deployed builders and architects to build simple exhibits which are functional(?) rather than 'attractive' or aesthetically pleasing, hence the large amount of red-brick walling- ugh....

11-01-2008

I thought it was just me that thought the place had a lot of red walls lol, anyway is it me or is there leopard enclosure a tad on the small side, or is that the same most place's ??? Anyone know the company or designers etc who made it ???

11-01-2008

I'd agree with that. I find it hard to believe it orignially had tigers in! I've only visited the once and it was just after they'd got the leopards. They'd been there about a month and they already seemed a bit sick of it.

I have to say I thought the giraffes deserved better too- there exhibit was small and boring.

My favourite exhibits at Twycross were the marmoset/tarmarin exhibits. They were very simple cage style enclosures, and again quite small, but they were quite densely vegetated which made up for the size in some ways.

Do Twycross still have harbour seals?

11-01-2008

I would agree on this also......

I suppose it is all relative but given the climbing preference of this species I would have thought height would be important in an enclosure for leopards. Compare this to say Marwell's leopard enclosure and you can see what I mean.

11-01-2008

No dont have seals no more, where the seals were there is a dophin thing like feture in the center of the pond.

The leopards enclourse got remade after the tigers left, as i remember that is a new roof that green roof it has.

I too agree i love the marmoset/tarmarin encloures due to the amount of plants in there.

11-01-2008

I think the Leopard enclosure(remodelled from the Tigers) is actually one of Twycross's better exhibits- its properly landscaped and with plenty of topography for the inmates. Not too high admittedly, but in other respects I think its fine, more like the sort of enclosure you'd expect in a quality collection.

I'm hoping when they do a new Asian Lion enclosure, it will be equally well done(or better...) I think their most recent enclosures are a distinct improvement.

11-01-2008

I hope zoonewboy you dont mind but seen you posted a pic of the enclousre to the gallary just posting it here, also is this your own picture ??



The tigers wall use to be soild all the way around i swear it did, and the whole thing is new apart from the indoor part is this true ???

11-01-2008

i think the enclosure will eventually house a baboon species drill or mandrillwhich i cant remember! nice to see this group of species represented here!

11-01-2008

Yeah I quite like the Leopard exhibit. I think the lion exhibit is awful and seriously needs re building in a bigger area.

11-01-2008

No problem. Good idea to post here also. I put it up for that reason but forgot to put link to thread in......

Yes, It is my own photo....

So AL are you saying the leopards are only termporary residents of this enclosure and it was actually built with something else in mind??

11-01-2008

The Amur Leopards are here to stay. Very soon the zoo will be getting a new female in once the cubs are slighter bigger.

I remember the old Tiger enclosure very well. The indoor area is the same as it is now. The fencing was like the Lions one.

There are plans on something for the Lions, Dholes and Otters.

James B

11-01-2008

That's correct. The Tiger enclosure occupied exactly the same site but was a simple enclosure like the Lions', with a meshed fence. I think the Tigers were two male Sumatrans which were brothers.