WMZ News 2012 » Welsh Mountain Zoo

31-01-2012

It's a massive project (big even by larger zoos standards) for the welsh mountain zoo, and this is their biggest project since the sealion pool. I honestly hope it goes well for WMZ as i love the place and its history.

Im glad you dont reject the zoo to the depths as some like to, i guess it all comes down to the half cup full/empty approach eh. We brits are bloody good at complaining after all

31-01-2012

That we are - and also note my first post that I said I think the zoo is excellent [for it's size and circumstance]. There isn't a single flawless zoo in the world, so when I point out enclosures I'm not a fan of or think need improving then it isn't so much a complaint, it's just where I think are the current flaws

31-01-2012

I read your comments and i whole heartedly agree with you if your views. You represent the good in zoo chat aha. However its the comments by SMR which i dont agree with.

"the one thing it has for it is its location"

It is rather funny in fact, that his is the zoos downfall and the root of all his slatings. If the zoo wasnt on such geographically undulating ground then both the Gibbons and Spider monkeys would have island enclosures (as envisaged by Robert Jackson so ive read). Also i believe the zoo would house a group of Elephants which was turned down due to unsuitable land. And lastly, due to its location, the zoo is paired competetively to Chester which as you all know is regarded very highely.

I would be more that happy to give you a tour around the zoo if you're visiting this summer, Javan Rhino.

31-01-2012

I think missed that fact that the chimps were in their old cage :-)

31-01-2012

Well the zoo did have elephants - where the camels are now. Also the actual location is rather stunning to be honest.

31-01-2012

The zoo is now a charity and has been for many years.

31-01-2012

I've been to WMZ many times, including in the summer. What I took issue with, if people care to re-read this thread from the start, was JR's assessment of it being "excellent", a word that I see has cropped up again. Orangeperson is quite correct, "It could be worse" is hardly the same thing.

Suggesting that instead of criticising, people should donate to improve facilities is one thing but sustaining and improving the zoo, any zoo, is the reason people pay an entrance fee. There are enclosures at WMZ that could be greatly improved with a modest amount of funds, so it's difficult to understand why, instead of concentrating on areas such as the horrible snow leopard and monkey cages that are crying out for attention, they have just built a new lemur walk-in and are attempting to embark on a huge project in the form of the tropical building and learning centre.

Despite the enviable geographic location, many opportunities to use the surroundings are wasted at WMZ. For example, consider how Dudley have adapted an area of woodland to create what is an excellent lemur walk-through, and compare that to the development of the walk-in at WMZ, which uses an open, gale-swept field instead of one of the wooded area alongside, which are home to just a handful of ugly old squirrel and corvid cages.
For the record, most zoos rely heavily on summer and school holiday visitors, Chester included. One of the reasons Chester has embarked on some major indoor projects is to try and even out the number of visitors in winter vs. summer.

31-01-2012

Are you a member of WMZ staff Mzungo?

31-01-2012

Mzungu*

A local and avid visitor who has grown up visiting the place, if you insist on knowing.

31-01-2012

Have you thought about other variables atall Sir? such as disabled accessability to the squirrel and aviaries? from my visits i dont think you could manage it, unless you were pushed down the exit drive - rather dangerous dont you think?

I believe that people pay to visit a zoo in order to pay the wages of the staff, and also to feed the animals - improvements can be made from whatever is left over which is simple economics of a business. Please remember that all zoos are businesses where the customer has to be thought about equally, if not more than the animals. besides - no customers = no money to fund animals.

Please bare that in mind zoochat should be talking about all aspects of a zoo, not just the animals - otherwise this site should be called captiveanimalchat.com

Im not trying to start an arguement, im just sticking up for a zoo close to me both geographically and emotionally.

Mzungu.

31-01-2012

Thank-you Mzungu. I am very fond of the hybrids and have two adoptions of them in memory of my parents, so I'd be very sorry to see them go. The more Macaws the merrier for me. I have an old guidebook open at the moment at the page where there is a photo of a mixed group of Macaws including a Military. I really must make an effort to get across.

31-01-2012

I wasn't insisting on knowing anything, but when you offered JR a tour it implied you were a member of staff and I wanted to avoid any confusion.
I've commented previously on the poor state of the paths in some areas of the zoo and the negative impact on disabled and/or elderly visitors. One would expect the zoo to address such shortcomings as part of any new constructions, although the path to the new lemur walk-in currently leaves a lot to be desired in terms of accessibility.

Your enthusiasm about WMZ and your love for the place is appreciated, ZooChat always benefits from hearing everyone's (differing) point of view.

Attached Images

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31-01-2012

I agree that the accessibility leaves something to be desired, but they do offer free entry and free wheelchair hire for disabled visitors. We have loaned a wheelchair when visiting and have found most of the zoo accessible, with the exception of areas which are so steep that a ramp would be useless. Seeing as the zoo is built on a mountain, that is hardly their fault

31-01-2012

Thanks for the understanding SMR

The path down to the Lemurs from the penguins is indeed one to shake the bones out of anyone using it on a wheelchair from the budger holes, but as AgileGibbon states, when the zoo is for free to wheelchair users i guess it takes a very fussy customer to complain. The alternative to using this path is to use the much smoother path down past the chimpanzee viewing windows or down past the tigers. Another reason why the location is the zoos downfall.

As you may know however the chimpanzee path is very steep with the risk that the wheelchair user could end up taking flight into the new lemur enclosure.

The map for the zoo does also highlight a path thats appropriate for wheelchair users and the unfirm. I guess the people who would be complaining are those with children who are over 3 and still use a pushchair as they have to pay to get in.

Again, i appreciate your understanding. I dont like to see the place getting condemned as inadequate in all aspects.

01-02-2012

On a slightly different tack - do you know if WMZ plan to breed the Snow Leopards any time soon - since they lost the cubs in 2009 they have not bred as far as I am aware - is this a stud book edict? A decision by the zoo? or just plain bad luck?
Anyone in the know?