2 new female Spider Monkey have arrived and are onshow in Monkey Jungle The Crowned Lemur have 2.0 offspring who are now 7 weeks old Wild type Budgie are now onshow in the Wallaby walkthrough. Though not yet free flying Blue tree Monitor are now onshow in the reptile house and a Dung Beetle exhibit has been created in Bug World The Red Titi have also vacated Zona Brazil are now in an enclosure near the Wallaby house
Now being accused of the same thing as other zoo's that try and branch out into non zoo activities - Bristol Zoo accused of causing undue stress to animals with hen parties and stag dos
Secret footage shows Bristol Zoo staff claim night party event causes animals 'stress' | Bristol Post CAPS were at the zoo on the night, and have released this video footage about the night.
Was just reading some of the comments on their Facebook about this- an enormous number of responses- almost 100% vehemently criticising the Zoo for laying on these events. Many of them are not satisfied by the Zoo's placatory statement about it either. Some people are threatening to contact Born Free etc over it too. It seems as usual that any suggestion of animal cruelty motivates the British public to outrage. In the video the Lions appear to be pacing in a slow, relaxed manner indicating that their stress, if there was such, was at a comparatively low level. However the music/noise did seem very loud and though they were not mentioned, I also wonder what stress was involved for many of the other species in the zoo, particularly the Monkeys, Gorillas, birds etc. which would normally be resting/sleeping at this time. Profit is obviously the motivation here but I do question the sense of putting on such events in a small zoological garden like Bristol, particularly when it backfires on them in terms of bad publicity.
How many of these people that leave comments actually attended the evening and if they did where was there concern before attending such an event? And secondly how many of those have actually been to Bristol Zoo? Not many I expect. I don't agree with loud events there but not been to one so have to take the trust that the keepers are satisfied that it does not adversely impact on their charges.
One wouldn't have needed to be Nostrodamus to predict the negative publicity that would follow such an event. Thus, even if there was no detrimental impact on the animals, it does seem, at best, to have been rather naive to organise such a shindig in a small zoo such as Bristol, and, at worst, a .ove that was crassly shortsighted.
1.0 pudu has left the collection. This was the last baby to be born. The father passed away whilst the mother was pregnant. A red panda has been born and can be seen carried round by mum. The Pygmy hippo house is now closed as they prepare for a birth. Female spider monkeys seem to be settling down. Does anyone know where they come from, and whether there are intentions to breed?
The younger female (b. 2008) came from Frankfurt; the older one (b. 1995) came from Doué-la-Fontaine. I certainly hope they are intended to breed! The world needs more Ateles hybridus
From 100's of eggs imported, 6 Lord Howe's stick insects have made it to adulthood and for the first time outside of Australia, laid eggs. Great news yes, but 6 adults from all those eggs, is that to be trumpeted??? Bristol Zoo - Back from extinction
Considering this is the first time anyone outside Australia has managed to raise adults to the point of breeding, definitely.
Another article about the Lord Howe's stick insects at Bristol : Rare stick insects breed at Bristol Zoo - BBC News
The Pygmy hippo calf went on show this afternoon. It is a 3 week old male, which Hopefully will be an important addition to the future conservation.
Their last one died in early December last year, aged around six weeks. Hopefully this one will do better.
Update on baby gorilla Afia, still hoping she'll get into the group with Romina. Baby blog: Afia at 30 weeks