Belfast Zoo Belfast Zoo News 2023

To start a new thread for this year, four Belfast Zoo-bred red squirrels have been released into Castle Ward estate, marking the zoo's 7th release site and 35th zoo-bred squirrel to be released into the wild in Northern Ireland.

Lucky number seven – Castle Ward is our seventh release site for red squirrels!

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For those who don't know, Castle Ward is located around where Strangford Lough enters the sea, and is actually across the water from Portaferry, where the Exploris aquarium can be found.

 

Belfast Zoo welcomed their 40th giraffe calf on Sunday 5th February. The calf, a female, is the 5th offspring for mother Neja, and the first for father George (Ballygeorge).

Belfast Zoo gets an early Valentine’s gift as 40th endangered giraffe calf is born

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A couple days late, but the baby giraffe has been named Ballysally (or Sally for short).

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A black-and-white colobus monkey named Zuri was born on 20 December 2022.

Belfast Zoo

 

Male sun bear Indera has now left Belfast for Paradise Wildlife Park (as reported on the PWP thread), where he will join female Kyra from Chester in the new Sun Bear Heights.

This now leaves Belfast with 30-year old female Bora. I don't think Belfast is going to continue with sun bears after she passes.

 

The sloths have moved back into the rainforest house (having previously been living in the gorilla house), with a new and improved area for them.

Refurbished Rainforest House reopens with new “Sloth Snug”

 

0.1 moloch gibbon named Odeya has arrived to pair with male Hilo. From doing some quick research, she seems to have come from Tierpark Hellabrunn.

Belfast Zoo

 

It appears that cheetahs are making a comeback to Belfast Zoo!

Belfast Zoo

 

A one-year-old female Northern Cheetah named Mia has arrived from Fota Wildlife Park and there are plans to soon acquire a male in the summer: https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-05-25/worlds-fastest-cat-returns-to-belfast-zoo

 

0.1 southern pudu named Emilia arrived from Chester Zoo in June.

Also, 0.1 pancake tortoise named Cici was born in May.

Belfast Zoo news

 

From the zoo's FB page:

"We are delighted to announce that we will be moving our lions to the new kingdom of the Barbary lion habitat!

From Monday 31st July, our lions will not be on show to allow them time to adapt to their new home.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused. Please keep an eye on our social media channels and website where we will announce the opening of the new Kingdom to visitors".

Belfast Zoo

 

The lions have now moved into their new habitat. So far, no opening date has been given, as the zoo have said that they won't be on show as they adapt to their new home.

Belfast Zoo

 

Kingdom of the Barbary Lion will open on Monday August 7th.

Belfast Zoo

 

Where is it in the zoo?

 

Where the tigers used to be (no. 39 on the map).

 

Any plans for the current lion exhibit?

 

When I visited last year, I was told that the enclosure might become home to Malayan tapirs. If that's the case, it would be great to have this species back in the zoo since the last one (Elmer) passed away last year if Zootierliste is anything to go by. And with just two UK holders now, it makes the idea of Malayan tapirs returning to Belfast even more exciting!

 

The capybaras are now in the lions' old enclosure.

Belfast Zoo

This might just be a temporary move, given what I've said in my last post.

 

Kingdom of the Barbary Lion is now officially open! And from what I've seen, the exhibit looks pretty impressive and a significant improvement over the lions' previous enclosure. The manager has said that the exhibit is "the first in a variety of proposed projects which we hope will come to fruition in the future".

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New enclosure with a view opened for Barbary lions in Belfast

 

I wonder how the lions adapted to the large glass windows - there was no glass in their previous enclosure.