Dudley Zoological Gardens Dudley Zoological Gardens in 2017

Hopefully I am allowed to post this here. My wife and I will be taking part in the Sponsored Walk on 6th March to help raise funds for the upgrade to the orangutan enclosure. If you would like to sponsor us then here is the link to the just giving page..

Read Martin's story

Thanks!

 

Dudley castle from the air

 

It does give the old castle a different aspect and you don't realise how the old embankment from behind the Meerkat enclosure looks so steep.

 

Does anyone else think that it would be interesting if they moved the giraffes into the bear ravine and built a giraffe house at the left of the enclosure?

 

It would be interesting but I'm not sure it's a good idea. If anything the giraffes would have less space than before and it would be quite expensive. Why do you suggest it?

 

I just wanted to hear what other people thought and whether it would be a good idea for the zoo

 

I would like to see them on grass, but not sure if that's any good for them at all, I'd assume damp and mud would be an issue.

 

That's exactly the reason a lot of places don't keep them on grass. Those places that do tend to keep them on hardstanding for some of the year.

 

From zoo website:
Orang utans have lived in their current exhibit for over fifty years, initially sharing the building with gorillas and chimpanzees.

As part of our overall development plan, we aim to redevelop the facilities for the orang utans over three phases, of which Phase One was completed in 2010 and this increased the heated indoor accommodation for the animals by an additional 700 cubic metres. Phase Two will create an entirely separate outdoor exhibit and Phase Three will see the redevelopment of their existing outdoor areas.

Take A Walk on the Wild Side! - Dudley Zoological Gardens

 

The phrase entirely separate is intriguing. Of course one wonders where it will be. Does this mean across a path in the current peccary enclosure or something more drastic? Could we be looking at the UK's first O-Line?

 

That's what I was wondering, it's been a year since I last visited so I can't picture it well, is there a chance this could finally be a use of the other tecton? If I remember it's directly down the hill from the orangs.

 

any new bird arrivals at the zoo?

 

Could be but I think the current structure of the bear ravine tecton wouldn't lend itself to orang containment. It would probably be more difficult than a completely empty site. Nonetheless it would be good for the eventual plans for that area to be for a high profile species so they may go in that direction.

All of the above is pure speculation of course.

 

I would imagine it will definately be connected to the existing house/building. When its finished they can then redo the existing outdoor areas without (all) the animals needing to use them. Improvements obviously but it appears the actual building is scheduled to stay indefinately even though its not listed like the Tectons, being much more recent.

 

The zoo has received 4 Philippine Sailfin Lizards & 1 Giant Asian Pond Turtle which is sharing enclosure with the West African Dwarf Crocodile. They all came from Chessington. New reps settle in - Dudley Zoological Gardens

 

Both look great but the turtle looked extremely nervous hiding at the top of the waterfall.

The Nile Monitor enclosure is the same size as the Dwarf Crocodile one with the same size pool. When they get over their stagefright they should look awesome.

 

Black lemurs, Florence and Kagani, as well as collared lemur, Fred, have joined Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park, with a male Tokay Gecko who has already joined the resident girls in the Reptile House coming in the opposite direction.

 

Please can everyone always include the relevant link when posting news from the zoo's website or elsewhere, thanks.
Lemurs leave - Dudley Zoological Gardens

 

Work on the new £20,000 yellow breasted capuchin enclosure is underway.

The old outdoor enclosure has been demolished and a new enclosure, roughly twice the size, is currently being built, which will also include new glass viewing windows.

The indoor area will also doubled in size, with the new-look enclosure incorporating the adjacent black and white lemur house.

The black and white lemur pair have been moved to the former black lemur enclosure at the other end of the Small Primate House. The two black lemurs have relocated to Lemur Wood.

Work should be completed within the next few weeks.

Since introducing the species to the zoo six years ago, DZG has been successful as part of the breeding programme and recently two 4 year old capuchins left DZG for Zoo Schwerin in Germany.
Capuchin work underway - Dudley Zoological Gardens