Animal News

[Pentoleaf]

I feel the strong need to resurrect this thread to let everyone know that the original grumpy cat is living the high life:

Scientists Find Elusive, Grumpy-Looking Cats Living on Mount Everest

Pallas's cats have made a home on one of the world's most challenging peaks.

www.google.com

 

[Roxxsmom]

I love those cats!

I'd look grumpy too if I had to live up there! But I imagine they must be well adapted with all that fur (and oh-so-tiny ears).

 

[DarthQuell]

I dunno if this is the right place or not, but I gotta share some bad news, y'all.

Have y'all heard about the vandalism some US zoos have been suffering?

Here is the timeline of events:

1. At the Dallas Zoo, 2 enclosures we're deliberately cut open. 1 had a pair of gray langurs, both of which were safe and sound. The other had a clouded leopard that did escape, but the zoo found it.
2. Later, a rare and endangered vulture was, sadly, killed
3. A pair of emperor tamarins were stolen, but were found later on in a closet
4. The suspect was found and arrested
5. 12 squirrel monkeys were stolen from a Louisiana zoo
6. The brown pelican habitat at the Houston Zoo was discovered to have a 4-inch cut, but nothing was taken or harmed

Y'all, this is just so crazy. Is there anything I've missed, or similar stories elsewhere?

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

I dunno if this is the right place or not, but I gotta share some bad news, y'all.

Have y'all heard about the vandalism some US zoos have been suffering?

Here is the timeline of events:

1. At the Dallas Zoo, 2 enclosures we're deliberately cut open. 1 had a pair of gray langurs, both of which were safe and sound. The other had a clouded leopard that did escape, but the zoo found it.
2. Later, a rare and endangered vulture was, sadly, killed
3. A pair of emperor tamarins were stolen, but were found later on in a closet
4. The suspect was found and arrested
5. 12 squirrel monkeys were stolen from a Louisiana zoo
6. The brown pelican habitat at the Houston Zoo was discovered to have a 4-inch cut, but nothing was taken or harmed

Y'all, this is just so crazy. Is there anything I've missed, or similar stories elsewhere?

On Friday, the mesh was cut on an enclosure for a Eurasian eagle owl at Central Park Zoo, which allowed the bird to escape - from what I've heard it was still on the loose.

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

The Bristol Zoological Society has now released a full list of species that will be held when the new Bristol Zoo opens, with construction planned to begin in 2024. In total, there will be 80 different species, 62 of which are either vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered or extinct in the wild.

The species, sorted roughly by where I can gather they will be living, are:
Wild Welcome - a new entrance building
1. Red panda (Endangered)

Central African Forests
2. Okapi (Endangered)
3. Cherry-crowned mangabey (Endangered)
4. Slender-snouted crocodile (Critically Endangered)
5. Western lowland gorilla (Critically Endangered)
6. African grey parrot (Endangered)
7. Mandrill (Vulnerable)
8. Red river hog (Least Concern) - already present at zoo
9. Unga cichlid (Critically Endangered)
10. Leka Keppe cichlid (Critically Endangered)
11. Alkali cichlid (Critically Endangered)

Central African Savannah
12. Eastern black rhinoceros (Critically Endangered)
13. Reticulated giraffe (Endangered) - already present at zoo
14. Grevy's zebra (Endangered)
15. North African red-necked ostrich (Critically Endangered)
16. Northern cheetah (Critically Endangered) - already present at zoo
17. Nile lechwe (Endangered)

Conservation Breeding Centre
18. Mangarahara cichlid (Critically Endangered)
19. Malagasy rainbow fish (Endangered)
20-22. Mexican pupfish (Extinct in the Wild)
23. Pink pigeon (Vulnerable) - already present at zoo
24. European turtle dove (Vulnerable) - already present at zoo
25-26. Mindanao and >redacted< bleeding-heart doves (Vulnerable and Critically Endangered respectively) - Mindanao is already present at zoo
27. Visayan tarictic hornbill (Endangered) - already present at zoo
28. Socorro dove (Extinct in the Wild) - already present at zoo
29. Lemur leaf frog (Critically Endangered)
30. Mountain chicken frog (Critically Endangered)
31. Javan green magpie (Critically Endangered)
32. Sumatran laughing thrush (Endangered) - already present at zoo
33. Pygmy chameleon (Critically Endangered)
34. Turquoise dwarf gecko (Critically Endangered)
35. Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko (Vulnerable)
36. African pancake tortoise (Critically Endangered)
37. Red-vented cockatoo (Critically Endangered) - already present at zoo
38-43. Polynesian tree snails (Extinct in the Wild)
44-45. Madeiran land snails (Critically Endangered)
46. Desertas wolf spider (Critically Endangered)
47. Lord Howe Island stick insect (Critically Endangered)
48. White-clawed crayfish (Endangered)
49. Vietnamese box turtle (Critically Endangered)
50. Blue-spotted tree monitor (Endangered)
51. Zacapu allotoca (Critically Endangered)
52. Sultan Sazlığı toothcarp (Critically Endangered)
53. Kieneri cichlid (Endangered)
54. Pinstripe damba (Critically Endangered)
55. Chapa bug-eyed frog (Least Concern)
56. Egyptian tortoise (Critically Endangered)

Education animals
57. Eastern box turtle (Vulnerable)
58. Keeled box turtle (Endangered)
59. Leopard gecko (Least Concern)
60. New Guinea blue-tongued skink (Least Concern)
61. Slow worm (Least Concern)
62. Royal python (Near Threatened)
63. Rainbow boa (Least Concern)
64. Brown rainbow boa (Least Concern)
65. Milk snake (Least Concern)
66. Corn snake (Least Concern)
67. Lesser hedgehog tenrec (Least Concern)
68. Brown rat (Least Concern)
69. Long-tailed chinchilla (Endangered)
70. European polecat (Least Concern)

Bear Wood (already exists)
71. European lynx (Least Concern) - already present at zoo
72. Grey wolf (Least Concern) - already present at zoo
73. Wolverine (Least Concern) - already present at zoo
74. European brown bear (Least Concern) - already present at zoo

Gelada Rocks (already exists)
75. Gelada (Least Concern) - already present at zoo

Discover Madagascar (already exists)
76. Blue-eyed black lemur (Critically Endangered)
77. Alaotra reed lemur (Critically Endangered) - already present at zoo
78. White-belted ruffed lemur (Critically Endangered) - already present at zoo
79. Ring-tailed lemur (Endangered) - already present at zoo
80. Mongoose lemur (Critically Endangered) - already present at zoo

A full picture checklist of every species planned at the zoo can be seen here:

https://www.wildplace.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Species-Plan-BZS-compressed.pdf

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

I touched upon this in another thread, but today Colchester Zoo (my local zoo) released their new master plan to update the zoo. It seems that the zoo will approximately double in size overall. These are some of the changes that could be coming:

Elephants are to receive a series of three-four new paddocks, each of which are larger than their entire current space. The old elephant paddock will then be combined with the neighbouring mixed savannah paddock (for giraffes, rhinos, zebras, kudu, ostriches and crowned cranes).

New enclosures elsewhere in the 'current' zoo for the African lions and Bornean orangutans - this will in turn free up their old enclosures for new inhabitants.

New enclosures in the 'new' zoo for the geladas, vultures and domestic animals.

New animal houses including a butterfly house and a nocturnal house.

New species planned include Western lowland gorilla, bonobo and okapi. Hippos are also mentioned on the map, but I'm not sure if they will be the pygmy hippos currently at the zoo or new common hippos.

A new aviary for flamingos - especially important, as they have recently had to spend months shut indoors because of bird flu, whereas with the aviary they can stay outdoors year-round.

Also lots of additional things unrelated to animals, such as overnight lodges, a water playground, an outdoor theatre, a maze, an animatronic dinosaur area and a museum about ancient Romans (to those unaware, Colchester was the British capital in Roman times).

This map shows the plans - the red outline I have drawn shows the extent of the current zoo, with the orange area being the current zoo car park.

The map can be seen in higher quality, and more information can be seen, in this link:

The Future of Colchester Zoo | Colchester Zoo

We have an exciting announcement… Here at Colchester Zoo, we celebrate all colours of wildlife and strive to support conservation of the beautiful flora and fauna we are lucky to share our world with. As Spring arrives it’s time to enjoy the bright colours again after a long period of grey, not...

www.colchester-zoo.com

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

Recently, the new Bird Paradise has opened in Singapore, replacing the Jurong Bird Gardens that closed a couple of years ago. This video shows the entire layout of the park so far (the Winged Sanctuary, a conservation area that will be housing Philippine eagles among around 100 other bird species, has not been completed yet). Included there at the moment are a large penguin display and eight large walkthrough aviaries themed on Australia, New Guinea, a lorikeet display, Asian small birds, South American forests, South American wetlands, Asian wetlands and Africa.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXkjr8JqE1I

Would love to be able to build something like this in Planet Zoo (albeit I don't think we'll ever get a species list like the one here).

 

[FoxyDee]

Recently, the new Bird Paradise has opened in Singapore, replacing the Jurong Bird Gardens that closed a couple of years ago. This video shows the entire layout of the park so far (the Winged Sanctuary, a conservation area that will be housing Philippine eagles among around 100 other bird species, has not been completed yet). Included there at the moment are a large penguin display and eight large walkthrough aviaries themed on Australia, New Guinea, a lorikeet display, Asian small birds, South American forests, South American wetlands, Asian wetlands and Africa.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXkjr8JqE1I

Would love to be able to build something like this in Planet Zoo (albeit I don't think we'll ever get a species list like the one here).

Wow that looks so amazing. This really makes me wish for the forever fabled Birds expansion pack. With things like the netting used for aviaries, birds shows and of course, the birds themselves.

 

[AlexSea]

I was sad to hear that Pale Male died today. He was a Red-Tailed Hawk who lived in Fifth Avenue in New York City, and he became famous in 2004 when his nest on an apartment building was torn down, sparking anger among the bird watchers of NYC. He died at the ripe old age of 33, which is significantly older than the average lifespan for his species. Rest in peace buddy.

 

[YesIndeed]

I was sad to hear that Pale Male died today. He was a Red-Tailed Hawk who lived in Fifth Avenue in New York City, and he became famous in 2004 when his nest on an apartment building was torn down, sparking anger among the bird watchers of NYC. He died at the ripe old age of 33, which is significantly older than the average lifespan for his species. Rest in peace buddy.

How did they know it was the same bird after his nest got torn down. Did they stick a tracker on him or something.

 

[AlexSea]

How did they know it was the same bird after his nest got torn down. Did they stick a tracker on him or something.

He had pretty similar markings to Pale Male, though like I said, 33 years is a long time for a hawk, so it could be a different one.

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

Recently, the new Bird Paradise has opened in Singapore, replacing the Jurong Bird Gardens that closed a couple of years ago. This video shows the entire layout of the park so far (the Winged Sanctuary, a conservation area that will be housing Philippine eagles among around 100 other bird species, has not been completed yet). Included there at the moment are a large penguin display and eight large walkthrough aviaries themed on Australia, New Guinea, a lorikeet display, Asian small birds, South American forests, South American wetlands, Asian wetlands and Africa.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXkjr8JqE1I

Would love to be able to build something like this in Planet Zoo (albeit I don't think we'll ever get a species list like the one here).

I don't want to tempt fate, but a staff member from Bird Paradise has just posted this on ZooChat:

"Bird Paradise is currently collaborating with a very successful UK based video game developer who already is an industry leader for several years in the virtual zoo simulation world and is developing their first ever game expansion based on Bird Paradise. Very exited about this as the younger generations will become familiar with our beautiful park and birds in general."

Potentially huge.

Got the information from this thread:

Bird Paradise news 2023 [Bird Paradise]

i was waiting for someone to shed some light on this. i got bitten by two of them last monday Did you go close to them? I've visited the park many...

www.zoochat.com

 

[Marvinb]

I don't want to tempt fate, but a staff member from Bird Paradise has just posted this on ZooChat:

"Bird Paradise is currently collaborating with a very successful UK based video game developer who already is an industry leader for several years in the virtual zoo simulation world and is developing their first ever game expansion based on Bird Paradise. Very exited about this as the younger generations will become familiar with our beautiful park and birds in general."

Potentially huge.

Got the information from this thread:

Bird Paradise news 2023 [Bird Paradise]

i was waiting for someone to shed some light on this. i got bitten by two of them last monday Did you go close to them? I've visited the park many...

www.zoochat.com

Is this a dream?

 

[AlexSea]

I don't want to tempt fate, but a staff member from Bird Paradise has just posted this on ZooChat:

"Bird Paradise is currently collaborating with a very successful UK based video game developer who already is an industry leader for several years in the virtual zoo simulation world and is developing their first ever game expansion based on Bird Paradise. Very exited about this as the younger generations will become familiar with our beautiful park and birds in general."

Potentially huge.

Got the information from this thread:

Bird Paradise news 2023 [Bird Paradise]

i was waiting for someone to shed some light on this. i got bitten by two of them last monday Did you go close to them? I've visited the park many...

www.zoochat.com

"UK based"? "an industry leader for several years in the virtual zoo simulation world"? "first ever game expansion"? What other developer could this possibly be referring to?!?!

 

[FortressDoor]

I don't want to tempt fate, but a staff member from Bird Paradise has just posted this on ZooChat:

"Bird Paradise is currently collaborating with a very successful UK based video game developer who already is an industry leader for several years in the virtual zoo simulation world and is developing their first ever game expansion based on Bird Paradise. Very exited about this as the younger generations will become familiar with our beautiful park and birds in general."

Potentially huge.

Got the information from this thread

Bird Paradise news 2023 [Bird Paradise]

i was waiting for someone to shed some light on this. i got bitten by two of them last monday Did you go close to them? I've visited the park many...

www.zoochat.com

If this guy isn't full of it birds probably next year then. Imagine it will take them a bit to finish the details and it sounds like its still a work in progress.

 

[Firestar97]

I don't want to tempt fate, but a staff member from Bird Paradise has just posted this on ZooChat:

"Bird Paradise is currently collaborating with a very successful UK based video game developer who already is an industry leader for several years in the virtual zoo simulation world and is developing their first ever game expansion based on Bird Paradise. Very exited about this as the younger generations will become familiar with our beautiful park and birds in general."

Potentially huge.

Got the information from this thread:

Bird Paradise news 2023 [Bird Paradise]

i was waiting for someone to shed some light on this. i got bitten by two of them last monday Did you go close to them? I've visited the park many...

www.zoochat.com

This will be great. Is there a List which Species they keep, so we know which ones might come to the Game? Really hope if we'll get Macaws that they'll be added like the Butterflies instead of just one Macaw Species and that's it

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

This will be great. Is there a List which Species they keep, so we know which ones might come to the Game? Really hope if we'll get Macaws that they'll be added like the Butterflies instead of just one Macaw Species and that's it

The first page of the thread in the link I posted, going from post number 11 through to 19 - there are easily a couple of hundred species there, with another section yet to fully open which will probably have a further 100 or so species.

 

[FortressDoor]

Interesting bit is that the guy described it as an "expansion pack" instead of a DLC. Seems like it will be quite a big update.

 

[FoxyDee]

Very interesting stuff

Very exited about this as the younger generations will become familiar with our beautiful park and birds in general.

Uhh, I have hoped that this "videogames are only for kids" trope have died out. Probably not.

 

[AlexSea]

This will be great. Is there a List which Species they keep, so we know which ones might come to the Game? Really hope if we'll get Macaws that they'll be added like the Butterflies instead of just one Macaw Species and that's it

The only animals I'm excluding are the ones already in the game:

• American Flamingo
• Bali Myna
• Black-Faced Spoonbill
• Black-Winged Myna
• Blue-Crowned Laughingthrush
• Blue-Winged Macaw
• Chestnut-Fronted Macaw
• Gentoo Penguin
• Golden-Shouldered Parrot
• Great Argus
• Great Blue Turaco
• Greater Green Leafbird
• Great Green Macaw
• Great Hornbill
• Grey Parrot
• Humboldt Penguin
• Hyacinth Macaw
• Laughing Kookaburra
• Lesser Flamingo
• Major Mitchell's Cockatoo
• Masked Lapwing
• Military Macaw
• Northern Red-Shouldered Macaw
• Northern Rockhopper Penguin
• Oriental Pied Hornbill
• Palm Cockatoo
• Papuan Hornbill
• Philippine Eagle
• Rainbow Lorikeet
• Red and Green Macaw
• Red-Bellied Macaw
• Red-Crested Turaco
• Red-Fronted Macaw
• Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo
• Roseate Spoonbill
• Salmon-Crested Cockatoo
• Santa Cruz Ground Dove
• Scarlet Ibis
• Scarlet Macaw
• Straw-Headed Bulbul
• Sumba Eclectus
• Sun Parakeet
• Suburb Starling
• Tawny Frogmouth

And that's just all of them they have listed on their website, there's very likely more species they didn't mention.