I don't know, though I saw both of them last week (at least I don't think they received new ones), both were very vocal and the male was very active, more than usual. The female stayed in the same bush (between Saguaro cactus and pond, next to the visitors path), but I am not sure whether she was on/near a nest....
Last week 2 White-throated dwarf-geckos ( Gonatodes albigularis ) have hatched behind the scenes . The population at Burgers now is 2 breeding-pairs and 5 young ones. When the behind-the scene population is large enough, the animals will be released into the Mangrove hall.
That was already posted by @Timmiegun a few days ago . On another note, Socorro dove 7 & 8 of the year have hatched.
The two socorro pigeons are very cute to watch and the parents are taking amazing care for them. On another note: The cactusmice are also having young behind the scenes!
Two updates from the twitter feed - A Roan antelope was born (and several White-bearded gnu are close to bursting) - Behind the scenes they keep a second pair of Catbirds and their first chick just left the nest.
Updates from my walk around the park today: - I noticed a third trumpeter bird - In the pheasantry now houses some species of white-eye. Not sure if it is the same species as the Bush. - the young Tragopan was not visible. - The young screaming Piha is not scared of visitors getting up close (kids hands reaching up to 5cm) Not sure if he is just lazy with flying away or what the deal was.
Today 3 Giant shovelnose rays ( guitarfish ) - Glaucostegus typus - were born in one of the public displays. The young have been seperated and will be raised behind the scenes .
From Facebook : "WORLD FIRST FOR BURGERS’ OCEAN: SUCCESSFUL USE OF CONTRACEPTION IN FISH On Monday 17 December 2018, renowned professional magazine Journal of Fish Biology publishes a scientific article that makes a world first Arnhem, Monday 17 December 2018 – Biologist Max Janse and veterinarian Henk Luten of Royal Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem have, for the first time in the world, successfully applied contraception to a fish species. On Monday 17 December 2018, the renowned scientific Journal of Fish Biology will publish an article about the remarkable feat that has ground-breaking consequences for the international breeding programmes of fish species. A unique situation in Arnhem International breeding programmes for shark and ray species aim to maintain genetically healthy aquarium populations so that no more animals need to be taken from the wild. As far as protected species are concerned, animals may be released into the wild in the future. The zoo in Arnhem had a unique situation with their spotted eagle rays from the Aetobatus ocellatus species, of which Burgers’ Ocean is the largest breeder in the world. The genetic material of two of their hugely successful breeding females threatened to dominate the European population of eagle rays. Contraception for fish One of the adult females was successfully moved to another European public aquarium with eagle rays in their collection. The other female had a birth control implant successfully inserted in her left pectoral fin. Scientific literature shows that there has been only one earlier—unsuccessful—attempt to insert a birth control implant in two female river stingrays of the Potamotrygon falkneri. One of the females continues to produce young after the birth control implant was inserted. Ground-breaking work In many mammalian species, contraception using birth control implants has been successfully used for many years. In fish species, this is the first time that this method has been successful. This breakthrough has far-reaching consequences for the European breeding programmes of various fish species. With this extra method of population management, the programmes can be managed in an even more targeted way. "
So today I had a chill visit in the park. It was crowded due to the Pasar Malam event but we saw some animals that usually don't show themselves, such as the lungfish that made a nice appearance in the waters. Also some fish that we've not seen before in the Ocean, but couldnt ID them
