Bristol Zoo (Closed) Bristol Zoo news 2017

The Desertas Wolf Spiders have bred - a captive first and a major achievement for the inverts team
Rare baby Desertas wolf spiders hatch at Bristol Zoo - BBC News

 

Excellent news. With this, and their work with the Lord Howe Island stick, the BZ invert team really are doing some great work.

 

Also the current studbook holders for the critically endangered Poecilotheria metallica, I believe. An amazing amount of invertebrate conservation work going on.

 

This is why I list Bristol as the best invert section in the UK in my opinion!

 

Another article about this rare breeding-archievement :

Bristol Zoo Gardens First to Breed Rare Spider

 

Have the pudu left now? Aren't there anymore of them around the zoo?

 

Yes unfortunately they have now left the collection and replaced with the Mara

 

That is just a shame, like why can't they keep them in with the Mara? What's wrong with having both of these species in the same zoo? Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous that every zoo in the UK has to have either Mara or Pudu and not both?

 

More Lygodactylus williamsi have hatched:
Critically endangered electric blue geckos hatch

 

I visted early today and had my first experience of a luminated nocturnal house. I haven't seen it mentioned elswhere but i saw five baby Quolls. They were under the nesting box in the front right hand corner.

 

I tried but only had my phone and couldn't get an angle on them against the glass. They were very active and were able to climb onto the mothers (i assume, because it was the only adult animal.) back

 

I don't know bugger all about them, but i'm assuming that being Marsupials and out of the pouch, they'd be older than 30 days. They were bigger than a mouse but smaller than a rat.

 

More like about 12-16 weeks I think.

 

Visited today and had a great first hour in the illuminated nocturnal house. The Cuscus were on fine form and a bit of patience paid off with the Quoll and Aye Aye. Half the reptile area is closed off for maintenance which was a bit disappointing but we did see the multitude of desertas wolf spiderlings (is that the correct term?) and the Lord Howe stick insect so that cheered me up!!

Also got a good view of the baby gorilla - she looks to be doing well.

The one big downer of the day though was the restaurant. We were going to give it a go - went in and were seated - but frankly the place was a bit tatty / dirty and the menu was uninspiring for the price. We ended up leaving without ordering anything and just grabbed a roll at the only other eatery. Not impressed.

 

Another breeding first, Cuora mouhotii, keeled box turtles!

European first as keeled box turtles hatch