Marwell Wildlife Marwell Zoo News 2015

When the African Valley exhibit was created they initially intended to run animals into the area from the existing housing closer to the existing fence-line but this never really happened, partly because they realised that moving animals into the valley would leave enclosures empty whilst they were out there! Some new gates were put in the fence-line and the giraffe had access via the race-way from their hardstand across the Bongo paddock into the valley, but no new housing was built at all to access into the valley at the time or since then. Yes the area is too large, with few animals in it, that has always been the case since it was built.

 

managed to squeeze a vist to marwell today so i thought i would note my observations and questions.

Firstly, All three hippos were seperated and have been for some time now, however in Gloria's pen there is a moving crate so no doubt she will be moving on to another collection soon. If i remember correctly, i believe i read somewhere shes going to Edinburgh though im not 100% sure.

Secondly, work on the new wild explorers exhibit is coming along great and it looks to be on track for it's grand opening next month. One question, when will he young male white rhino from Dublin zoo be arriving to join the two resident female white rhinos Kiri and Sula?
I have also seen the plans for the new tropical house and the new amphitheatre - they look incredible! Much better then the current one and it all be great to see new species presented at marwell as many slowly they have disapeared from the current tropical house.

Talking about the masterplan, Does any one know the whole of marwells masterplan? Obviously wild explorers and the new tropical house but what else can we look forward to over the next coming years??

 

It seemed a great idea to utilise all that space, but with insufficient planning, somehow it turned out to be a white elephant instead.

 

Update on the young Rhino from Dublin seems like he will be coming later in the year after Wild Explorers is open,the Nyala have been moved out to the valley field and there house and area is now used by Addax.

 

Wild explorers opens next Thursday.

https://www.facebook.com/marwellwil...68060882167/10152550734057168/?type=1&theater

 

That is absolutely great! Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh some time this autumn or next spring.

Any idea whether with the recent move of 2 young female giraffe that the hybrid herd is in the stages of being fully relocated? Any future plans for Giraffe House and surrounds in the Masterplan?

When is ground-breaking for the new Tropical House planned?

 

It still leaves 1.3 Hybrid Giraffe to move on,the new Tropical House work should start next year with due to open 2017,Marwell may well have the Dinosaurs back in the next year or two as well as maybe the Giant Insects which have gone round some UK zoos,the next area after that could be the Wetlands area at front zoo for say 2019.

 

Wild Explorers

The new "Wild Explorers" exhibit opened last week. This is a new home for the zoo's white rhino, Grevy's zebra and scimitar-horned oryx (or, some of them - there are currently at least two other groups of s-h oryx elsewhere in the zoo). The exhibit cost several million pounds and, as such, is by far Marwell's most ambitious development.

My verdict? It's quite nicely done. The large paddock looks great - even if one might wish for another species or three in there - but, really, it's all pretty underwhelming. For the average visitor, it's a new display of animals which were already in the zoo - and I just can't see that having much of an impact. And, for people like me, it is really quite painful that the opportunity to have smaller "supporting" exhibits (a weaver bird aviary, say, or some slender mongooses, or a few vivaria) has been passed over even though there is space aplenty for such things.

The paddock can be seen from multiple points through the zoo, and is, really, just a large paddock (v nice though it is). The actual 'house' is approached past a sort of canvas wall-hanging on which are written various nebulous phrases ("iconic species", "back from the brink" etc). There are then two visitor rooms, with various didactic displays, a number of which are electronic (I'd give them a couple of months....), and views into the indoor stabling of the animals. This viewing is far from clear. Between the two visitor rooms is a short raised boardwalk, from which views can be had of the paddock and of the large hardstand (this seems to be a real step forward, given the amount of time Marwell keeps its ungulates on hardstand). There is a pond, and the inevitable "crashed" safari vehicle. There is a playground too. And that is it.

The complaints about Marwell have been voiced, lengthily, elsewhere. I won't add to them here, except to say that the air of torpor, emptiness and neglect remains, despite this new house.

 

And why oh why that mix?
The only real reason I can see for it is that it showcases Marwell's 3 flagship species, but is that a valid reason, perhaps some zoogeographical planning could have come into play here, like so many before it though, it gives a completely false impression of the habits and habitats of it's 3 inhabitants.
Here's hoping the new tropical house is given a little more thought.

 

I'm still scratching my head trying to work out WHAT exactly this brings to the zoo!

Granted the rhino needed new housing, so that's a plus, but to lose a lot for the sake of, let's be honest, a large paddock seems very odd, even unsettling. I look forward to seeing pictures.

 

Of all the major Zoos and Parks in the UK, this is one that seems to most lack any form of identity- whether good or bad- nowadays.

 

To be fair, it does bring a much-needed new rhino house. Not sure now many amimals it could take, but not a huge number I think - a shame, as a really good herd of white rhino - a dozen or more - would be something very impressive.

I have put five into the Marwell gallery.

 

Now, I have yet to see the new development for myself, so I'm reluctant to make any sort of rash judgement, but the impression I get reading these posts from those people who have seen it, is how underwhelming it all is. It's all very sad. Under John Knowles, Marwell was a must-see collection. It had an identity that, as Pertinax says, is not as strong today as it once was, or should be. Anthony Smith raved about Marwell in his "Animals On View" precisely because it was such a unique, even idiosyncratic, collection, full of species that you rarely saw elsewhere, but like so many zoos these days it has fallen into the trap of pandering excessively to the public's wishes. Without wishing to criticise Marwell too harshly, because I don't think it's the worst offender, it does need to go back to its roots and become a collection noted for its individuality.

 

I understand the house can take up to 6 animals,and as well as the young male from Dublin its is hoped to bring a young female in to,it would have been nice to see another antelope species out there as well but its only going to be Ostrich,again would have liked to have seen some smaller exhibits inside the areas but again not to be as Marwell has got rid over the last few years of a number of smaller exhibits.

 

There's a piece in the latest edition of the EAZA magazine - http://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/Zooquaria/ZQIssues/Zooquaria-90-LR.pdf - written by Marwell's CEO, on the subject of brand identity.

I totally buy into all this sort of thing and recognise its importance. But this piece is an absolute masterwork of vacuous jargon and meaningless prattle. Recommended!

 

Sorry to raise such a pessimistic question but, after reading the forum and viewing recent photos, can anyone see Marwell still in existence in 10 years time?

 

Absolutely; it will be there. The local zoo-going public are either members who visit as families on a very regular basis, or vist once a year, or every couple of years. Whatever you, or I, might think about it, most Marwell visitors would not notice much of a difference during the last five years and will be impressed by Wild Explorers in the same way they were impressed by a strange 'monkey temple' or new leopard enclosure with a ramp to walk up. Marwell's future is secure but we may not agree with its vision.

 

I agree with Pacu. I don't see any risk of that happening. From what I have heard the financial results are good. Most of the decline will only be noticeable to those with a particular interests in animals. The species that have gone are typically things that the general public would not have heard of. Although having obviously empty enclosures is not good and I have heard that commented on by the general public.

Another thing to consider is that there are not any other large mainstream zoos nearby (not including smaller or more specialist places like Monkey World or the New Forest Wildlife Park) so it has a large catchment area for people who decide to go to the zoo for the day. I don't live in Hampshire and it is my closest large zoo.

 

Sorry i haven't read any of this thread before this post, but having visited this week, i think Marwell are on a winner, they seem to have less and less animals every year, but more and more play areas. The African Valley was as Empty as it has always been on my visit, no sorry emptier, there wasn't even an Ostrich on show in there. The visitors are more interested in the play areas than the animals. Slides and Swings don't need feeding or cleaning out. So yes i can see Marwell still in existence in 10 years time. Will i be visiting? I doubt it, but there will be many others who will.

 

Haven't seen this posted elsewhere: For once, a piece of good news from Marwell. Their first Sulawesi Crested Macaque birth for 10 years on 28th July.