The pole from the old bear pit at Bristol Zoo, 6 March 2011

We don't know why it's been done - maybe the base was rotting and was unsafe. There're many places that would just have got rid of it so I'm just glad to see it back (ditto the old gorilla cage fronts, which have also reappeared).

Did you notice any evident upcoming developments at Bristol for this coming season?

Re the old Gorilla cage fronts(the 'Spanish grille')- I remember the Gorillas in that house. They could stick their heads out through the latticework 'bars'.

Nothing particular - a few new things since I was last there in March - new aviaries near the Monkey Temple, pudu moved in with the prairie marmots, new Variegated Spider Monkeys and a few other switcharounds. No sign of anything particular for this year though that I can recall.

As an aside, does anyone know if the Pallas' Bats have been on display at all? Exhibit was empty on Monday. I've a feeling they've been on show and moved off but not certain of that.

I saw just one Pallas' bat in the enclosure when I visited during the Christmas break (although I'm sure there were more that I couldn't make out).

Thanks. Wonder what the story is there.