Marwell Wildlife My Monthly Updates 2010 #1

Great visit today, being my first of 2010. Fun oryx club meeting and managed to meet mhale and HuxleyPig today, always nice talking to other ZooChatters in the flesh. While there were a couple of notable news snippets in today's meeting, I can't of course tell them due to 'insurance' measures, so I'll go by observations:

- A very busy day, and Marwell seemingly made up for all the time it was closed just by today. For example, I couldn't bear eating my lunch any longer due to screaming children on all sides! But the animals were putting on a good display as usual, keeping their cool.
- As has been mentioned, Yasmin the snow leopard has been moved off-show due to the (very) soon arrival of the new pair.
- Managed to see both Suki and Juba the off-show cheetahs from the nocturnal house for the first time.
- Zambar the tiger... is still there! Imagine the weather delayed his move, but it was still great to see him (for the last time probably). Gamin and Yenna were particuarly active today.
- New species in Aridlands: a kind of iguana who's long-winded full name I can't remember!
- Kaia the recent leopard was interacting a lot with Akin from behind the fence, and was in a very playful mood today.
- The path to the vicuna yard is closed off, and no progress has been made on the serval enclosure since my last visit. World of Lemurs is still a bit of a hodgepodge: The bottom enclosures are still empty, didn't see the ringtails and only saw two red ruffeds.

 

It is a five keeled spiny tailed iguana

The arrivals / births noticeboard at Marwell has been updated with the following information since 14/09/09:

Arrivals
29/09/09 - Female vicuna from Stuttgart Zoo
06/10/09 - Male White-faced saki monkey from Twycross Zoo
17/11/09 - Female Amur leopard 'Kaia' from Tallinn Zoo, Estonia
26/11/09 - Female Hartmann's zebra 'Libra' from Dvur Kralove Zoo, Czech Republic
26/11/09 - Two male Dama gazelle 'Noid' and 'Hector' from Dvur Kralove Zoo
26/11/09 - Male greater kudu 'Aswan' from Dvur Kralove Zoo

Births
14/09/09 - Male kudu
15/09/09 - 1 Dorcas gazelle
18/09/09 - Female sitatunga
24/09/09 - Male roan antelope
24/09/09 - Male gemsbok
26/09/09 - Five capybara
01/10/09 - Female gemsbok
26/10/09 - Female sitatunga
07/11/09 - Female sitatunga
12/11/09 - Male waterbuck
19/11/09 - Female waterbuck
08/12/09 - Five Giant walking sticks
09/12/09 - Male waterbuck
16/12/09 - Female sitatunga
24/12/09 - Female roan antelope
29/12/09 - 1 cotton-top tamarin
01/01/10 - Female waterbuck

The somali wild asses were transfixed by two white horses being ridden on the bridlepath the other side of the fence from them. All four of them couldn't take their eyes off the horses right up until they were out of sight, and were even running in their paddock in parallel with them.

A lot of the animals appeared to be enjoying the sunshine, which must be welcome after all the snow. As Zambar said, there were certainly a lot of visitors there today.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the iguana name, should've photoed the sign for reference lol.

 

Nothing I can add except I had a good day, lol. Particular highlights for me would be meeting my second ZooChatter and seeing Kaia flirt with Akin through the fencing.

And Mhale, I saw those horses go past, but was in the Wallaby enclosure at the time.

 

Heh, until next time!

I saw them go past the wild ass paddock too, but it must've been a different group as they didn't show any interest.

 

Re Yasmin the snow leopard

Hi,

Does anyone know how long Yasmin is going to be off show.

Is it just while work is being done or are they going to let the new pair settle in before returning her?

 

Yasmin'll be off-show once the pair arrives, with one of the pair being kept in one side of the enclosure during this time. Once the new two have become accustomed to each other they'll both move into one side and Yasmin will return on show.

 

Ctenosaura quinquecarinata - a very unusual species and a great addition. Had to check my notes to see if I'd seen them before - I have a photo of one at Berlin Zoo.

Zootierliste lists only Berlin and the Reptilium in Landau as having them so Marwell has a real zoo rarity on their hands.

 

Good to see 2 of Europe's premier hoofstock collections working together.

 

Wow, didn't realise the iguanas were that rare!

I hope that Marwell will become the UK's Dvur Kralove in the future, which the African Valley should help. Would love to see more rare african hoofstock like Cape Buffalo, Thompson's Gazelles, Duikers and Dik-dik's in the future.

 

I've just seen on Blackpool Zoo's Facebook page the question "When are the new tigers coming?" and the response "The male from Marwell is due to arrive on February 1st, but possibly not until very late in the day" so we still get a bit longer to see Zambar at Marwell

 

Right, I'll go on the 31st to see him right before he goes.

 

Re Zambar's departure

As sad as it is to see Zambar moving on.

Lets hope his departure makes way for a new breading pair of Amur tigers.

 

Had a spur of the moment trip to Marwell today with some friends. I saw the new female Snow Leopard, and she is a beaut. The volunteer said that neither the male or female come out very much so I was lucky to see her. They are waiting on some interraction between the two at the fencing at the moment.

Also, one of the Addax has given birth, and it's so small it can only be a couple of days old tops.

 

Re female snow leopard

Hi HuxleyPig,

It's nice to here that the new female snow leopard has been seen.

Did the female snow leopard come right out into the enclosure or did she just stick here head out?

The male only stuck his head out yesterday.

 

She ventured out as far as her stomach and then sort of sat half out for a while before going in again. They're a very shy pair, aren't they?

 

Re HuxleyPig

Hi,

Yes they do seem very shy.

I guess that until recently they were with there mothers so it must be strange to be transferred to an unfamiliar environment and to be on their own.

 

Unfortunately, you won't see him on Sunday. Marwell's facebook page says "Last chance to see Zambar the Amur tiger before he leaves us for Blackpool Zoo to start a new family. Visit before Saturday @ 2pm!" I can't make it tomorrow, so I know that I have definitely seen him at Marwell for the last time however, I will go up to Blackpool to see him at some point during the year

 

Please dont worry about Zambar.
I can personally guarantee he will be loved and cared for at Blackpool.

best wishes

 

Awwh, I hope his move goes well and he settles in at Blackpool.