Himalayan Monal would be great! I once asked why PZ don't keep them and was told they dig up their enclosures. Up there it wouldn't really matter!
Sorry if this seems repetitive, but I know this is useful for some of you (regulars): The Takin boys are now using the central cliff face and upper ridges. The best times to see them climbing appear to be very early in the morning, or later in the afternoon.
Taun this enclosure previously housed Goat like animal's. These animal's were sadly euthanized due to Contracting Bovine TB. It was totally necessary as if these animal's weren't euthanized most of the zoo animals would have contracted the Bovine TB and died.
Over the years it's held Goats and West Caucasian Tur... Possibly more? @Gigit can probably give you a better overview.
Apparently, in the 1950s Mouflon were kept there. The Barbary sheep moved into 'a modestly budgeted exhibit' in July 2005 after plans to develop the quarry as a Rainforest Dome were shelved (I seem to remember one of the reasons was local residents objecting). I think there were 0.4 sheep left when 1.3 Tur arrived in August 2013. In 2016 1.2 Tur kids were born. By the time they were all PTS in March last year there was just one sheep left. The Takin Bros, Adrian and Arnold, were born in Finland in 2008 and arrived at PZ in October 2010.
The Barbary Sheep that were housed in the old giraffe paddock which is now the Giant Tortoise area. Some of the rocks the sheep used to tip-toe along are now scattered around the Tortoise exhibit - hard to believe now! If the H Baboons were ever moved within the zoo it would be great to get the Barbary Sheep back again.
Quick visit today; New fencing for Roo walkthrough is good Sections of lawns being cleared & roped off for Lego Improvements in signage informing visitors of maintenance work - maybe someone in management is finally listening! Juvenile Cuban croc still in croc swamp in a HUGE pond on his own! Flamingos still in adjuctant stork aviary and Secretary birds still off show looking forward to a huge convoy of trucks arriving in the Spring full of animals!!!
In regards to the Lego, I think it's important to remember that for the children, they're a great addition to the zoo. Just because some people don't appreciate them, a huge amount of families will... And may even come to the zoo to see the models specifically. There have been some great developments to the zoo of late in terms of the animals (new arrivals and moves), visitor amenities and so on... In all, the "Big Brick Safari" is a positive project for the zoo, and the money it brings in will help to support future developments, and the amazing conservation work that we do.
