Blackpool Zoo Blackpool Zoo News 2013

To start this thread off; Anyone know the sex of the baby Gorilla born in November, presumably they must know by now?

 

AFAIK, the keepers know but are not revealing any clues yet. Keeping us all guessing.

 

What is the point of that?

 

Quick visit today (Spent a nice few hours at the Zoo, was quite busy)

- Red Panda is now in the Small Primate House where the Squirrel Monkeys were.

- Peacock Praying Mantis is now on-show in the Elephant/Reptile house. The Rattlesnake has either left or is off-show, the enclosure is now empty.

- I'm pretty sure the Sitatunga have left. Llama are now in their enclosure.

- A few new babies in the Zoo. Donkey, Goat, Lemurs, Spider Monkey, Meerkats.

- The Orang-utan development is in full swing. Looking a huge site!

 

Some good news in the form of a Pileated Gibbon born on the 12th April - some great news for the species and the zoo.

 

YES, it would be nice to see a rise in numbers throughout the UK. Perhaps even the recent loss at Paignton can be compensated with newborns from here and Twycross.

 

Update from this weekend:

- Another Prevost's squirrel is now on-show near the Small Primates house. A lovely species.

- Three (very) new Meerkats have been born. Not sure when but very tiny!

- The Iberian wolf enclosure has got a lot of foliage now. The grass has grown a lot, some visitors had trouble spotting the wolves today.

- Orangutan exhibit is really coming on. The 'ramp' has taken shape and is very similar to Chester's RoRA.

- A new platform has been constructed within the Amur tiger enclosure. Nice to see the enclosure more heavily planted and not looking so plain.

Think that's it, the Zoo must've took a lot of money this weekend - packed. My (not amusing) highlight was a Seagull dropping their faeces on my hair.

 

I always thought that was supposed to be 'lucky' and means you're going to win the lottery or something Although it's happened to me and I haven't Much worse was a child vomiting onto my head from the balcony at an ice hockey match in Guildford - but that's another story

The new orang enclosure sounds promising.

 

When is the Orang house due for completion? Planning atrip but want to wait until Vicky and the gang are back

 

No exact date has been put in place yet but it is expected to be around July/August time. I have not yet seen the construction of the Orang house and I am very excited to visit the zoo when it has been completed!

 

The speckled pigeons have been replaced with tambourine doves (Turtur tympanistra)

Counted four bongos, then someone pointed out there were five.

 

I think a change of name is definitely in order!...

 

Yes indeed Cannotcountbongo springs to mind

 

Do any members know how the orang house is coming on, and is there any indication when it will be open?, thanks.

 

Prehaps not for a while... see Zoogiraffes recent pictures in the Blackpool gallery
http://www.zoochat.com/193/view-construction-new-orang-house-328354/

 

I was told the house will be open before the end of 2013. I have attached a photo of the current development so far:

 

Thank you Nisha and Jordon for the information and also to Mr. Zoogiraffe for his photo, I was planning on making a visit late August/early September but thought I would wait to see if the orang house would be complete first,

 

From snippets I have heard, I think next year is more likely now.

 

Thats what I am hearing as well!

 

This death takes them to 3.1...

Quote from the zoos Facebook: We are very sad today to report the loss of our Hartmann's zebra, Bety. She sustained a kick from another member of the herd which fractured her jaw and, despite the best efforts of her dedicated keepers and the veterinary team, the decision was taken to put her to sleep yesterday afternoon.