WMZ News 2012 » Welsh Mountain Zoo

03-08-2012

Slightly random article about one of the chimps who apparently used sign language in an attempt to get a visitor to release him... Luckily the request was denied
Video: Chimp seeks zoo visitor's help to escape enclosure - Telegraph

03-08-2012

in one of his books (Menagerie Manor perhaps) Gerald wrote about a pair of macaws that were kept wing-clipped out in the open, until one day a particularly obese woman sat on one of the macaws as they sat on a low wall and killed it....

04-08-2012

Zoo names condor Wiggo after Olympic gold medalist Bradley Wiggins - Need to Read - News - Daily Post North Wales

Just found this excellent piece of news,which i'm pretty certain is the first time that they have ever bred Andean Condors.

Welsh Mountain Zoo
04-08-2012

Re Macaws at Jersey; they have had no macaws of any species for many years. Flight-restricted macaws were there in the days when this was much more acceptable. They do not even have pinioned ducks any more -- all are full-winged in aviaries apart from two elderly Shelduck. Flamingos and cranes are otherwise the only flight-restricted birds on site.

Welsh Mountain Zoo
04-08-2012

Addition to my last post; Durrell's Red-breasted and Swan Geese are also pinioned.

05-08-2012

Re free-flying Macaws, I made my first ever visit to the Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry Centre yesterday. Still on cloud nine, especially over the Green-wings flying high above the trees in the "Winged Winners" displays. I'm planning to post a report and photos in time.

Back to the WMZ - good news re the Condors.

05-08-2012

Have you been to Tropical Birdland in Desford, Leicestershire? They have all sorts free flying there including many macaws.

05-08-2012

IMO that's the only way Macaws should be exhibited-or at least having the opportunity for that sort of flight on a daily basis, if not all the time.

06-08-2012

Unfortunately not, much as I should like to as I've read lots of good things about it. It was a place I was planning to visit when I passed my driving test, but then of course I did not take up driving so I have continued to rely on public transport with the addition of my folding bicycle for the last four years (it was in action on Friday from Kiveton Park station to the Tropical Butterfly House). I think I should have to stay somewhere near to Desford to be able to go there - maybe one day.

Welsh Mountain Zoo
06-08-2012

The only UK zoo that I know has managed Pertinax's 'ideal' above, was Rode. Even their breeding pairs were allowed free flight in rotation; couldn't all be allowed out at once because of fighting. There are all sorts of issues with free-flying Macaws. Birdworld had to ground theirs because of complaints about the noise. At least one collection in the past had trouble with them ripping holes in wire netting and letting things out. Also, there is a fine line between keeping birds at liberty and 'releasing them to the wild' [which is illegal, and the reason why Edinburgh no longer has its long-established free-flying Night Herons, and almost nobody has free-flying Budgerigars {which make a fantastic show} any more]. Then of course, there's the Ruddy Duck, about which some of us could argue all night [or I would given half a chance]. While we're on the subject of free-flying species that have become naturalised [which we aren't really], why do people have a 'down' on Canada Geese? Hw can anything that weighs 14 pounds and is delicious, possibly be a nuisance?
Back to Macaws; I find flight-restriucted pasrrots nearly as offensive as flight-restricted Vultures.

Welsh Mountain Zoo
06-08-2012

Sorry about all the 'misprunts' in the last bit.

06-08-2012

A council official from this area had a problem with Tropical Birdland's free-flying parrots the other year! I was told he visited the place whilst on holiday and then wrote to its local council (i.e. zoo licensing authority) to complain the birds were a risk to the inevitable health and safety. Good job that from what I've read and heard most visitors love the free-flying parrots

20-08-2012

Few quick notes from a very wet visit today,the zoo now has Chilean Lapwings in the big mixed South American Parrot aviary,also they have added Red-legged Partridge into a couple of the Red Squirrel enclosures.The Reptile House is closed and minus its roof for rebuilding work that should be completed by the end of August,but having seen it today I cannot see how they are goung to achieve that,i would say end of september at the earliest.As a result of the building work the Margay are also off show.The walk-through Lemur exhibit was closed because it was wet.