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ZooParc de Beauval A masterplan for Beauval

Discussion in 'France' started by kiang, 14 Apr 2015.

  1. kiang

    kiang Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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  2. amur leopard

    amur leopard Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Plans that have gone ahead:
    • Lions
    • Cheetahs
    • Wild dogs
    • Hippo aviary with all of the mentioned species except the Goliath herons and a few of the ibis species.
    • Pygmy hippo exhibit (though not outdoor as apparently planned)
    • The circular greenhouse, though with lots added as well as removed from apparent original plans
    • Komodo dragons
    • False gharials
    • Giant tortoises
    • Fruit bats (though not Livingstone's)
    • Doucs (not quite yet but hopefully soon)
    • Lion-tailed macaques
    • Brown bears
    • Arctic wolves
    • Giant otters
    • Kirk's dik-diks
    Extra species and developments not mentioned in the masterplan:
    • New enclosure for meerkats
    • Naked mole rats
    • Bongos
    • Harpy eagles
    • New enclosure for manatees
    • Bolivian squirrel monkeys and tamanduas
    • The massive walkthrough aviary coming soon
    Developments that haven't happened (yet? :D):
    • The whole aquarium idea thing
    • The new plains exhibits (which aren't necessary imo but it's always nice to have gerenuks)
    • Bush dogs
    • Proboscis monkeys
    • Goliath herons
    • Shoebills
    • Dholes
    • Lorises
    • Saltwater crocs
    • Perenties
    • All the sharks

    That is a decent conversion rate, and Beauval's building attitude suggests that they're not done yet with this masterplan. I wouldn't count on the aquarium taking place, but proboscis monkeys, given the suggestions that this species might just be ready to creep back into European zoos, along with lorises? and a few of the other suggestions might not quite be over just yet. I reckon they've probably abandoned the African plains thing, much as I would like to see gerenuks. Shoebills might not entirely be discounted due to their more small scale nature, and there is a sizeable free area South of the hippo area which could be used and goes well with the nearby theming.
    However, we now have both hippo species, giant otters, harpy eagles (who have arrived at the zoo according to ZTL) and many more, and it probably won't stop there. :)
     
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  3. Valentin

    Valentin Well-Known Member

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    I will respond without revealing my information.

    So: Yes, Beauval is still following its master plan with a few changes, but it remains very similar to what we had in 2015.
    I think they did not put everything in this master plan because Ms. Françoise Delord told me about a space for manatees in 2016 so they probably had the idea in 2015.

    The development of this zoo is quite incredible.
    And it is not finished a priori.

    I think the aquarium is still relevant. Rodolphe Delord likes the impressive infrastructure, so an aquarium would have its place at the zoo. Ditto in 2016 Françoise Delord told me about whale sharks: projects that have since been abandoned but in my opinion they still have the idea of the aquarium in mind.

    The African plains are the project we hear the most about with this dome even if I think that the Sahelian plain could be rejected, the African plain becomes necessary because currently the plain is too steep to let out the animals in case of frost or heavy rain. A plain African safari would be nice and would likely attract people.

    Yes, the area south of the hippos could accommodate an aviary for these beautiful birds and that would correspond roughly geographically.

    Beauval will welcome the doucs so I think this is only the first step and that the proboscis monkeys will follow at least that seems logical.
     
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  4. Brum

    Brum Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I think the "Loris" mentioned in the masterplan are actually lories and/or lorikeets, as it also mentions a rainbow lorikeet walkthrough in the same paragraph whilst there's no mention of nocturnal prosimians anywhere. ;)
     
  5. Valentin

    Valentin Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I was hesitant to say it too. An exhibition with loris (nocturnal prosimians) and lorikeets seemed strange. :)
     
  6. amur leopard

    amur leopard Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Ah right :D
    It was the breeding complex with off-show exhibits that made me think it would be a loris, although of course it did sound strange. Not sure what I thought the reason for combining them would be.
     
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  7. Valentin

    Valentin Well-Known Member

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    The cohabitation would have been ... original.:D
     
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  8. HOMIN96

    HOMIN96 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Where did those suggestions appear? I mean douc sure could be a good training species for proboscis, so it does seem logical, but there is still a long way from having doucs in few zoos to bringing in new somewhat similar, but still very specific species.
     
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  9. amur leopard

    amur leopard Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Well, one zoo in the UK was offered Proboscis monkey but refused, and now Beauval have them in their masterplan...
     
  10. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    Yes and the collection that offered them to the UK zoo, turned down Beauval when they offered to house the group that was offered to the UK!
     
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  11. amur leopard

    amur leopard Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    That's interesting. Guess it must be Chester then. :)
     
  12. Antoine

    Antoine Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    The giving zoo was well inspired in my opinion !
     
  13. Valentin

    Valentin Well-Known Member

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    Do you know why they refused?
     
  14. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    Yes thank you I do!I am not saying as it was a private chat between two old friends having a good catch up!
     
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  15. Valentin

    Valentin Well-Known Member

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    OK I understand.;)
     
  16. Valentin

    Valentin Well-Known Member

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    If you think about it a little you can tell yourself that Beauval was refused at the time because they probably did not have the means to welcome and keep them properly.

    After we know that they are planned in the masterplan, Françoise Delord confirmed it to me in 2016 and they have a lot more means now.
    In addition, the imminent arrival of the doucs should show whether or not beauval can maintain a fragile species.
     
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  17. Cat-Man

    Cat-Man Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    These plans are certainly impressive; I can’t believe Whale Sharks were even discussed! the place is making a firm claim to be the zoo capital of the world.
     
  18. Valentin

    Valentin Well-Known Member

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    The whale sharks were discussed, but the fact that the animals presented came from capture at sea stopped the discussion.

    Yes the plans are impressive and some projects are not even mentioned.
    However, I hope that Beauval will make more immersive and more natural installations. According to Rodolphe Delord that those towards which we are moving.
     
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  19. Cat-Man

    Cat-Man Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Any rumours regarding the projects which have not been mentioned?
     
  20. Valentin

    Valentin Well-Known Member

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    Rumors and information ...