Speaking to one if the keepers today. The first phase should already be open hence why the enclosures look ready. Theres been a problem with the bridge/walkway. They reckon phase 1 will be open with phase 2 now. Still wouldn't let on any species. The bridge has been at a stand still for quite a while.
Very sadly YWP have announced via social media that Ussuri brown bear Kai has been put to sleep. I believe he was one of the younger bears at the age of 18 I think.
Awful shame. I think his brother was giving the keepers more concern about his health than Kai, although neither were going to be 100%.
There's a press release here - Yorkshire Wildlife Park announces sad loss of rescued Brown Bear - Yorkshire Wildlife Park - although its hard to find via the website itself. I'm very annoyed that they refer to the rescue of three bears - there were four!! I'm getting really fed up of the constant "everything is brilliant" routine at this place and how that first poor bear who was put down last year has been forgotten about.
Wonder how his brother will do without him? As they played together , wonder if they will introduce the female and male just for companionship now?
Just to update on arrival of new animals at Ywp It would appear a variety of different animal cuddly toys have appeared in the shop where you enter the park. Could this be a clue
What clue(s)? Unless you care to mention the cuddly toys' examples. (Not that I do believe one can read anything into that at all ...)
Funnily enough bearing in mind the new habitats and the posts back in February There are penguins, wolves, hyenas and red pandas Nearly forgot also had gorillas and white tigers
Probably more at YWP than anywhere else - for a long time their shop literally had the name of an exhibit at the zoo over each shelf and only products relating to those animals (may still have - I can't honestly remember - there are certainly now some generic animal ranges like Schleich models as well).
I'd be surprised if the park got white tigers, I seem to recall one of the founders being quite against them - though I suppose if it was a rescue situation they may take some. The other species mentioned sound plausible, with gorillas probably less likely in the short term.
Czech authorities have confiscated two white tigers (sisters 3 years old) from private man and placed them to Liberec zoo, but it is only for few weeks till a permanent place (abroad if I read between lines right) is ready to accept them. Could be yorkshire?
Just thinking out loud, does any think they might sone be regretting taking on the rescue of the brown bear given they now have an older female and younger bear. If the female was to last a couple more years which given her history could be a surprise they may be left with one bear for a decade or so whom I would be surprised if they could find a companion for given the species and if he would mix with other bears and you know how visitors look on sollatry animals in zoos
I'm not an expert but if an animal is used to socialising and is mixed with an animal of a similar temperament then I don't reckon there would be massive issues. Granted some individuals have different personalities but in this case I think they can find a solution.* *I'm talking specifically about brown bears here, I know other species have different issues; i.e. elephants.
Ok but I think they have come a bit of a cropper hear if I remember right where the bears going to move into the new area once complete, given they could sone be down to one bear given the age and current miss fortunes of this group. Do you think they might change there thinking and leave him in his current enclosure and use the new space for a more substainable star attraction, if this was an Asian area would this then bring this theory of the white tigers more likely ?
I've not visited YWP but if their current accommodation is fit for four fully grown bears then even if they do move him there's still plenty of scope for a different species. And being that the enclosure is relatively new then I doubt they'll want to redevelop it too much straight away. Is there any need for them to get white tigers though? They'll obviously be non-breeding rescues, so that pokes a hole in the "sustainable star attraction" suggestion...
No there is no need for them to get white tigers at all, but non breeding rescues is what the park is built on, sustainable is not required as it seams there with all the main attractions fall under this category there only breeding of abc’s I can think of is the tigers and there cubs have now grown up and moved on I think. They would still be a star attraction if not sustainable to the vast majority of the public and if the pair of three year olds mentioned earlier are available they could get ten to fifteen years out of them I would guess.
I was talking to a keeper at another zoo who mentioned that yorkshire are getting Hyenas and also Geladas. I believe she also said sea lions too however I cant remember 100%.
If I remember correctly there are only two collections that currently hold Hyena ( Colchester & Longleat)...so it isn’t a long shot to assume the Hyenas are moving from Colchester as they currently have 1:2 , father and two daughters, so potentially moving the two daughters on to obtain a new breeding female.
