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Joburg Zoo Johannesburg Zoo Review and Walk-through

Discussion in 'South Africa' started by Nix, 31 Mar 2022.

  1. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    In this thread I'll be covering each part of Johannesburg Zoo in as much detail as possible, the bad, the good and the Great!
     
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  2. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    Part 1: Entrance and Heart of Africa

    Turning into the Zoo's parking lot from Jan Smuts Ave. you enter a 2-leveled parking lot, with sensors above the spaces indicating whether it is open or not by red and green lights.
    In the left-top corner of the parking lot lies the Entrance, on which a gift shop has recently been added, Paying the 110 Rand entrance fee ($7,50) you enter immediately seeing the most unneeded part of the zoo. An "amusement park" with carousals and mini-rollercoasters, by the state of these machines, they clearly aren't often used making them affectively useless to the zoo.

    Here you have two options turn left, or right. Left will take you to the "Heart of Africa" a central african themed area, right will take you to "Amazonia" a south-american themed area.

    Turning left, you will have two simple fence enclosures with a large piles of rocks in the middle, these contain barbary sheep and Marabou stork, respectively.
    Continuing straight, you find a row of large aviaries with hideously green mesh.
    These contain Blue Crane, Marabou Stork, Red Duiker, Wattled Crane, Saddle-billed stork and Southern Ground Hornbill.

    On your immediate left you can turn into a dead-end path, with two overgrown exhibits for Wattled Crane and 4 small aviaries for parrots: Senegal Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Blue-fronted Amazon, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo and Black-winged Jardine. If you look through the holes of a wooden fence you might spot a backstage exhibit for Southern Ground Hornbill.

    Back on the main path, you find a large steel aviary, which once housed Siamang, now houses Mantled Guereza! This beautiful exhibit, with a mock rock waterfall and many climbing opportunities, is a perfect home for these african primates.

    Scaling the slope next to Guereza enclosure, takes you to a large thatch building overlooking the Western Lowland Gorilla enclosure, This spacious well planted exhibit is home to a 34 year-old lone silverback named Makoko, The zoo is on a waiting list to receive a female.
    Exiting the building, down the slope, offers you one last view into the enclosure via a glass window.

    Averting from the main path you follow a road with precious gardens on one side and large primate exhibits on the right, these are beautifully planted with large enriching climbing frames.
    They contain: Diana Monkey, Mona Monkey, Black-rested Mangabey, Red-tailed Geunon, DeBrazza's Monkey and L'Hoest's Monkey.
    All these enclosures also have viewable indoor exhibits of similar size.

    Across from these exhibits, is a large building, with a orange concrete exterior. This is the Western Chimpanzee indoor building. It's rock walls and and pebble flooring provide a wonderful atmosphere as if walking through a zoo in the early 1900s.
    The relation to the 1900s stops at the exhibits itself, they are tall with many climbing frames, and enrichment opportunities.
    There are five of these indoor enclosures, two of them having once been home to sumatran orangutans.
    Exiting the building, you can turn immediately left onto a small dead-end boardwalk over a water moat, on one side is a medium sized, well-planted, enclosure with tall orange concrete walls, with patterns of plants and and swirls carved into them. This exhibits contained Sumatran Orangutans until 2015 when the last one died, nowadays it is used as separation for the Chimps.
    One the other side of the moat is a sneak peak into the large Chimpanzee enclosure, which we will be revisiting later.

    Leaving the boardwalk, you turn onto a path known as the "cat walk" it, which is rather out of placed in this section. Firstly is a rather uninteresting enclosure for meerkats which we'll be moving on from to the small mammal enclosures, these enclosures for carnivorans and small mammals are very large and tall, with much foliage and wooden platforms for climbing. Each of them have indoor viewing and outdoor glass-viewing.
    They contain: Fennec fox, Margay, Cape Porcupine, Honey badger, Black-footed Cat, African Wild Cat, Caracal, Ring-tailed lemur and DeBrazza's Monkey.

    Turning towards the bird-of-prey sector, you are met with a 1900s style bearpit, which once contained Polar Bears and Snowy owls but now contain Nepalese Red Pandas, this exhibit is definitely not suited for Red Pandas and, seeing that it provides no sun and has no foliage whatsoever.
    It would be good if the pandas returned to their previous home in the Carnivore rows.

    Past the red panda pit, you see 3 enormous aviaries containing Verreaux's eagle, King Vulture, Cape Vulture and White-backed vulture.
    The King Vulture aviary once contained Andean Condor which have since moved to Lory Park Zoo.
    At the back of these exhibits you'll see the huge enclosure for Pygmy Hippos, which is more like a English garden then a hippo exhibit, I personally love this style but it is not the most natural, though the controversy it does provide the only underwater hippo viewing in the country. Across from the Pygmy hippos is a beautifully planted exhibit for Dwarf Crocodile. Next to this exhibit is the entrance to the reptile house which we will be visiting in the next part.

    Backtracking a bit you reach a spacious lawn with an exhibit for Prevost's Squirrel in the middle of it.
    Across from the lawn is the restaurant next the Chimpanzee Exhibit, The restaurant seating provides beautiful views into the Chimp enclosure, via huge glass windows.
    Moving left, into a roofed over viewing area, of the gigantic chip exhibit, with large prettily carved orange-concrete walls, it is not the most natural chimp enclosure in the world, but is definitely one of the most beautiful exhibits of it's kind.
    Across from the Exhibit, is a small aviary for chattering lourie and a outdoor exhibit for African bullfrog as well as a research and breeding centre for Pickergill's Reedfrog.
    Following the path back from we're you came you turn right to a rather unimpressive, Cape Clawless Otter enclosure, It is small, uninteresting, with a tiny mock-rock pool.
    Back to the large lawn we enter a forested area known as "The Forest floor" Here lives European Wild boar, Sitatunga, Blue-winged Kookaburra and a male mountain bongo, who has returned to the zoo after not being on display for 3 weeks (I presumed he was dead, until I saw him in late March).
    Climbing onto a boardwalk you get a great view of the Bongo Exhibit on one side and the Kookaburra exhibit on the other, At the end of the boardwalk is the European Wild Boar enclosure which once held red rive hogs.
    Getting off the boardwalk, you are confronted by a large pond, which is home to a mute swan family, across from them is the Exhibit for Sitatunga, It is natural and large with a spacious water feature.

    That's it for the first part of this tour and review! I will be covering the Spice Route section and the reptile house in the next part.
    Thank you all for reading!
     
    Last edited: 31 Mar 2022
  3. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    More then a year since my last post I thought it might be wise to rehash this thread...

    The Spice Route and Reptile House:

    Picking up where we left off, getting off the boardwalk, and exiting the "Forest Floor" Section, you head into the Reptile House past the Pygmy Hippo Enclosure. Before entering the house an outdoor enclosure with a pool confronts you, This pool was once the summer home for the Zoo's West African Dwarf Crocodile, but now houses African Helmeted Turtle. Immediately left of the turtle pool is, the entrance to the Reptile house and a view over a separation paddock for the Pygmy Hippos.
    Turtle Pool:
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    Pygmy Hippo Seperation Yard:
    IMG_1550.JPG
     
  4. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    Reptile House

    The Reptile House is a large room, with a beautiful wooden roof and large open doors on three sides of the building. The building contains 9 Enclosures for 9 reptile species. Formerly, it focused on strictly African Herps, the introduction of a female Burmese Python broke that streak.

    The archway that makes up the entrance to the building has two terrariums in each pillar, one for Puff Adder and another for Mole Snake.
    Like all of the other exhibits in this house, the enclosures are extremely natural-looking with a lot of foliage and natural elements.

    On the Right side of the building another 4 terrariums for Jameson's Mamba, Blanding's Tree Snake, Forest Cobra, and Burmese Python can be found.
    The Python Enclosure was formerly the winter exhibit for the West African Dwarf Crocodile.

    On the left side of the building, there are 3 enclosures for Rinkhals, Ball Python, and West African Gaboon Viper.

    IMG_3770.jpg

    Burmese Python Enclosure, formerly WA Dwarf Crocodile:
    IMG_1551.JPG
    Gaboon Viper Exhibit, formerly home to Burmese Python: IMG_1557.JPG


    Exiting the Reptile house, the old 1970s entrance that is no longer in use is seen to the left, on your right, the Spice Route continues, and in front of you a large enclosure for Greater Flamingos and Lesser Flamingos.

    IMG_9360.JPG
     
  5. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    Continuing the Spice Route

    The Spice Route is an area of the zoo dedicated to animals of Asian, North African, and Malagasy descent, With the idea that Spice traders would have encountered these animals on their travels those many years ago.

    Turning Right from the Flamingo enclosure a large wetland stands to your left, the zoo in fact uses this to filter water, which is quite an interesting process. Going straight from there, the Wild Boar enclosure will be to your right. 7 animals arrived from East London Zoo in 2021 in exchange for a male Impala. On your left, is a large sprawling enclosure for 2 female Blackbuck and a herd of Water Buffalos.

    Water Buffalo and Blackbuck:
    IMG_1558.JPG


    Wild Boar Enclosure (Formerly home to Red River Hog)
    IMG_1540.JPG
     
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  6. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    Location:
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    Continuing down straight, the Forest Floor Section will appear to your Right which provides a large view into the Sitatunga Exhibit which is large, lush sprawling with wet foliage and shared with a pair of male Grey Duikers, and the Scimitar Oryx Enclosure to your Left.

    Sitatunga and Duiker Exhibit, the zoo only houses two female Sitatunga. (Could have been more... If you know you know...) :

    IMG_1615.JPG

    Scimitar Oryx Yard, the zoo has kept and bred this species since the 60s and contributed often to rewilding efforts. DSC_0044 (2).JPG
     
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  7. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    Moving further along the main path, you're confronted with two options, left toward the two more antelope enclosures or Right to the Malagasy area. We'll loop the antelope enclosures and backtrack to the Madagascar section.

    Two Antelope Enclosures, formerly holding Bontebok and Fallow Deer, have been incorporated more into the Spice Route theme over the years, with one now holding Arabian Oryx and the other Axis Deer. Two generic large grassy pens with lots of shade and space.

    Arabian Oryx, the zoo first kept this species in the late 60s but these animals were phased out until in 1996, a bull and two cows were imported from Hai-Bar Wildlife Reserve in Israel. DSC_0302.JPG DSC_0321.JPG


    Axis Deer, a male and several females.
     
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  8. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    Now Backtracking to one of my favorite zones, the Malagasy and gibbon area, housing, Crowned lemurs, Mongoose Lemurs, Red-bellied Lemurs, Black-and-White Ruffed Lemurs as well as Lar Gibbons.
    Though before reaching the main enclosures a large nearly century old-enclosure that houses Buff-cheeked Gibbons appears like a skyscraper up front.

    Buff-cheeked Gibbon: The Zoo has had stunning success with this species amounting to two births in the last 5 years, one of which was this year. They currently have 1 female, two males, and an unsexed baby.
    IMG_3193.JPG

    The Madagascar building opened in the early 2000s to replace the old bear grottos that formerly stood in its place. The building features top and bottom viewing for enclosure almost oversized for their inhabitants. Truly world-class.
    IMG_3854.jpg

    The Zoo imported a pair of crowned Lemurs from the UK earlier this year. IMG_0099 (2).JPG
     
  9. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    Southern Safari

    The Old Zoo

    Johannesburg Zoos is over a century old, celebrating its 119th Anniversary in March of this year. As with all zoos originating from the Edwardian Era, or even further back, several old structures still exist and maintain use as modern zoo facilities. Joburg is especially good at maintaining History having developed the old Carnivore Grottos into exquisite Primate enclosures and the Old Pachyderm enclosures still remain with most of their intended inhabitants having never been of two bad a quality.

    Old Pachyderm Half Circle

    This "Original Zoo" portion takes the shape of a circle with the pachyderms on one half and primates on another.

    In the past, this section was exclusively dedicated to pachyderms. However, things have changed, not only is pachyderms no longer a recognized term, but now it accommodates not only pachyderms but also various bird species.

    Heading down the Stairs towards the African Elephant Enclosure a large open-pan view of the elephant enclosure is visible.

    DSC_0067.JPG
    Here shown is the original Portion for the Elephants.

    This Half-circle was split into 6 enclosures, for both African Rhinos, Hippos, and of course Elephants. Nowadays only Elephants, Hippos, and a few birds remain. With the arrival of 2 new elephants in 2018, The Rhino enclosure was incorporated into the Elephant Enclosure now functioning as one large exhibit. because of its size, several large trees and foliage have been maintained.

    The  Elephant House at the Johannesburg Zoo (1).jpg
    The creation of the Elephant Enclosure in the 1970s replaces this 1915 House. (Credit: Victor Hearn)

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    Lammie, the zoo's oldest female cow.

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    Mopane, a 23-year-old cow, arrived in 2018.

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    Ramadiba, the zoo's only bull.

    Continuing straight next to the Elephant Enclosure you'll encounter the Sasol Aviary on your right, which will be covered in an upcoming post. For now, on your left, You are met with 3 Enclosures, One for a variety of waterfowl (Southern Screamer, Black Swan, Trumpeter Swan, Nene, and Spur-winged Goose.)
    Next to this Aviary, are two enclosures for Common Hippopotamus. One of which, was formerly home to Capybara. After the male Hippo killed a mate, he was separated from the remaining female and moved to this exhibit. Directly adjacent to him is the female's Pool.
    The Female's enclosure forms an L-shape with the male's exhibit situated in the nook.

    DSC_0191.JPG
    The male's exhibit, formerly housing Capybara.

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    The Zoo's female Hippo.

    Thanks for taking the time to read, next post we'll deep dive into the history of the other half of the Circle, notably Baboon Bend.
     
  10. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    Southern Safari

    Baboon Bend and White Rhino Enclosure

    Baboon Bend and the adjacent White Rhino enclosure certainly place as one of my favorite areas in the zoo. The Baboon used to be a row of classical Rocky Grottos for big cats, far too small for its inhabitants.

    The White Rhino Enclosure is a relatively recent addition to the zoo. Having been constructed in the early 2000s originally to house a herd of Giant Eland. However, with the former Rhino yard being incorporated for elephants, the Rhinos were moved here in 2020.
    (You can read more here about the history of Giant Eland at Joburg)

    _DSC0057 (2).jpg
    The Zoo is currently home to three White Rhinos - a male and two females.


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    A favorite of mine, the Southern Mountain Reedbuck, which share their enclosure with the Rhinos.

    Comparison to then and now:

    As stated above this is by now means an old enclosure, but it has undergone many changes since its establishment, especially in inhabitants. The Giant Eland are likely the animal missing form the zoo that I most sorely miss.

    [​IMG]
    2011 (Image by @Nick@Amsterdam)

    IMG_1763.JPG
    2023
     
  11. Nix

    Nix Well-Known Member

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    Baboon Bend

    Directly across from the path to the White Rhinos starts the Baboon Bend, the second half of the circle making up one of the original structures at the zoo.

    The area starts off with a grassy enclosure housing Striped Hyenas, in its history it's housed many large carnivores ranging from Leopard to Jaguar.

    Next up is a large open exhibit for Bat-eared Fox, it has housed Aardwolf previously.

    IMG_3228.JPG
    A General View. On the left in the foreground is the enclosure for the Striped Hyenas and in the back, the Bat-eared Foxes.


    Now here the fun begins, Baboon Bend's namesake.
    The Zoo is currently home to 3 species of baboon and Mandrill, 2 of which are rare in captivity. Starting up, the largest of the three Baboon Enclosures for Chacma Baboon.

    IMG_1573.JPG
    Joburg is the only WAZA-registered zoo to house this Chacma Baboon.

    The Zoo has good success with breeding Mandrills.

    That's it for today, next up I'll continue with the Baboon Bend
     

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