Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2019

The only single sex groups I can think of at Twycross are Giraffe, Nyala and formerly the Elephants. Not sure on the Zebra. But all the primates, the leopards etc are not single sex so I wouldn't read anything much in to whether breeding pairs or single sex of other new species are obtained. Its a choice made individually species by species.

 

The zebra are all male, not reading in to it just seams to be a shift towards breeding large animals, primates / apes aside as you can mix these relative easy in the same quarters the extra costs they are having to build separate houseing for males / females must have some recent motivation behind them you would think

 

For(Black) Rhino there would have to be seperate indoor housing and yards for males as well as a male/female pair.
For zebra and giraffe there's not a lot of difference, maybe a seperate stall for a male but overall cost is fairly minimal. Tigers- as easy to keep a pair as single sex. Only in the case of Elephants is there a significant housing cost difference, and Twycross couldn't( or didn't) meet it in that case.

 

Visited today packed again this weekend is free for the mums, so every lady over 18 managed to have children with them today
Saw and heard an few things the rhino still appears to be inside during opening times though they have now fenced of the area between the back of the zebra house and rhino house so you can't see into the new paddock area near the house so don't know if she is there. Next week there is preview viewing for members from Thursday to Sunday of the new addition. The tiger area is coming on with most of the perimeter fencing posts up and fencing going in also the tunnel has begun construction using the now infomus twycross concrete slabs used on gibbon forest and chimp Eden, looks like it will be below ground with a domed top at eye level rather than a glass tube above ground. Had to renew my pass today so had the opportunity to speak to a very chatty lady in guest services she is hopping the tiger will be open for June / July with the tigers coming from Europe though not sure where. The male rhino she believes is comeing from port lympne a two year old currently being separated from his mother and crate trained, not sure if this is correct as it seamed to me to be a big age gap as I think the female is 18 years old.

 

Nandi was born at Lepzig zoo and is 20years old. She has only ever had 1 calf, a daughter born in 2013. Her move is hoped that when introduced to a new male that this will encourage her to conceive again. Nandi is of "genetic importance" as she has no surviving siblings.

 

Just found this picture on eBay sure the sell won’t mind some more publicity they are selling an old picture showing twycross training lion cubs to become watch dogs for the zoo at night K1b Ephemera 1960s Leicester Picture Twycross Zoo Cubby Tiber Irene Curley | eBay

 

Free for Mums and not Dads?

 

It's Mother's Day in the UK tomorrow, so I think lots of zoos are doing the 'mothers go free' promotion.

How they prove the woman is the mother of the child they're with is beyond me.

 

Ah that does make sense, and a useful reminder for me as well!

 

Sandra, Rachel and Clare go to the zoo.

Sandra has 3 children, Rachel has 0 children, and Clare has 0 children.

*Sees 'mothers go free' promotion*

Sandra has 1 child, Rachel has 1 child, and Clare has 1 child.


Child: "But mom, I look nothing like Clare!"
Sandra: "Shhhh, if they ask; you're adopted."

 

But Rachel and Claire still buy themselves (an overpriced) lunch at the zoo and a few souvenirs from the gift shop. The zoo still win

 

Ahh but say they took a packed lunch and brought gifts from Poundland on the way home.

 

I suppose if they enjoy themselves they may be more likely to go again?

 

What if they would never have gone at all?

We can play this what if game all day long.

 

It's a promotion, promotions cost money.

 

The zoo is gambling as to whether the person would have visited anyway or if they'll spend any money once inside, but the fact that so many places do promotions like these year after year can only mean that in the end the zoo does indeed 'win'.

 

Quite. It always makes me chuckle when promotions are criticised on here. I have a sneaking suspicion that the marketing departments of these major zoo's have more idea what works and what does not than your average member of Zoochat does.

 

I am sure they do win but I once again there planning was floored in my option with the after sales only one of the four sheds / kiosks in the zoo was open again leaving people wanting to spend but frustrated by the long que for coffee, pop, lolly ect. If your going to do reduced gate fees then I would think it's only smart to have all you other income inlets open to get as much cash out of the punters as possible. That said I don't know if this was shown on here but the figures for there last promotion was 62,000 visitors at half term
Twycross Zoo thanks visitors for record-breaking February half-term! | Twycross Zoo
A quick bit of maths, if they ran this every day the kids where of school that would give them around 1.2 million visitors a year just when they are of school, with another 190 days for other visitors to come peacefully.

 

More zoos should have free days. Well done Twycross. I won't go on those days as it will be too busy but it will get people going who might otherwise not and then they may become regular visitors.