Dublin zoo needs A HAIR CUT ...

DJKAV

Ok we went to the zoo yesterday from limerick lovely trip up and i must say it was busy busy up there... alot of young kids and loads to do ..... :(But the place was packed with small children who just could not see into most pens because of overgrowth... their seemed to be alot of bushes and trees which could of been trimmed thus making it very hard for small kids to see into encosures? Maybe its because of the weather lately ... The bushes and shrubs were over grown but everywhere i looked fathers had to lift kids to have a look because they could not see through bushes and hedges? is this the way its supposed to be or was I imaginging it ?

I must say it`s a lovely day out but the places needs a good strimming ?? am I right or wrong ....

gollyitsolly

I was there a few weeks ago. No reptile house. We couldnt find it anyway. The place was filthy with litter. The african plains are a joke! No elephants or giraffes. Wheres all the animals gone? The last few times Ive been there ,they are in the middle of renovations. Whens it gonna be finished?

líreacán

I'm hoping to go this weekend. Are the baby animals all still babies? The Rhino, the Giraffe, the Elephants, the Seal etc? I wanna see the cute babies!

laurak265

gollyitsolly wrote: »

I was there a few weeks ago. No reptile house. We couldnt find it anyway. The place was filthy with litter. The african plains are a joke! No elephants or giraffes. Wheres all the animals gone? The last few times Ive been there ,they are in the middle of renovations. Whens it gonna be finished?

The elephants are in the elephant house and the giraffes are back 2 miles down a field that you can't see them!!! :mad: I have a 3 yr old and i struggle to lift him and the op is right, little children can't see a thing! My son adores the elephants and the viewing points are like little bus shelters!!! Needs attention for sure!

Everyone should leave a comment on the dublin zoo website complaining about the poor view points and maybe they might do something about it!

gollyitsolly

God love the poor 3 year olds! They havent a hope. Im 5ft 2 and I couldnt see anything! Good idea about the zoo website. Ill head there now.

laurak265

Me too see you there lol

DONE!!

BendiBus

gollyitsolly wrote: »

I was there a few weeks ago. No reptile house. We couldnt find it anyway. The place was filthy with litter. The african plains are a joke! No elephants or giraffes. Wheres all the animals gone? The last few times Ive been there ,they are in the middle of renovations. Whens it gonna be finished?

Was there a few weeks ago. Reptile house is closed as the area around it is being refurbished. I managed to see elephants & giraffes and thought the place was very clean.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I havent been to the zoo in so long !

Ste.phen

I bought a membership recently and have been there twice this year.
They definitely need to refurbish a lot of the enclosures and public areas, but they've come a long way in the last few years, Elephant enclosure being a prime example, and the restoration of the Haughton House. I do miss the reptile house, though.

Frankly they need more land, but I'd say it'll be a cold day in hell before the OPW just gives them a huge chunk of it

DJKAV

orangutan.jpg

Rhino-2.jpg

elephant.jpg

Siamang.jpg

tiger-sumatran.jpg
here are some ....
Great replys . Honestly as I said it`s great day out loads of toilets and rest areas but they really need to tidy the place up ..IT`S VERY OVER GROWN ...

The price was very resaonable also ... 2xadults/2xkids/2x under three was only 42 euros ...

And all the houses were empty also ...it was a lovely day best in weeks actually but we coudln`t see anything through the hedges ... !!:(

The babies are still babies theres a rino lovely little thing which is very playfull that for us was the highlight of the day not sure whats his name does anydoby know the names of the new elephant and rino ?

líreacán

Thanks, just hope the weather improves now. don't think they've named the Rhino yet and I know Budi is the name of one of the elephants, can't remember the other's though...

DJKAV

budi thats lovely ... !@!

lightening

Da's and Ma's.... bring your kids to Howth, buy some fish, ask the monger for some seal food and let your bin lids throw the fish to the seals! Its way better than the seals in the zoo.

(there is a blind one there, make sure to give him extra fish)

eth0_

laurak265 wrote: »

The elephants are in the elephant house and the giraffes are back 2 miles down a field that you can't see them!!! :mad: I have a 3 yr old and i struggle to lift him and the op is right, little children can't see a thing! My son adores the elephants and the viewing points are like little bus shelters!!! Needs attention for sure!

Oh my god, you poor thing! How DARE the giraffes graze at the far end of their field! How dare the elephants go indoors on what was probably a horrible day!

I can't believe what a selfish opinion you have of the zoo. Do you expect the keepers to tie the animals to the front of their enclosures so your kids can bang on the glass and upset them with loud noises?

Dublin zoo isn't the best zoo i've been to, but it's definitely not crap.

Rashers

Speaking of the Zoo. Did you know that the original MGM lion was born in Dublin Zoo?

Slats was his name.

He was born in the Zoo on March 20, 1919 and died in 1936.

IanCurtis

eth0_ wrote: »

Oh my god, you poor thing! How DARE the giraffes graze at the far end of their field! How dare the elephants go indoors on what was probably a horrible day!

I can't believe what a selfish opinion you have of the zoo. Do you expect the keepers to tie the animals to the front of their enclosures so your kids can bang on the glass and upset them with loud noises?

Dublin zoo isn't the best zoo i've been to, but it's definitely not crap.

Agree.

I actually think the place should be shut down and the animals returned to where they belong.

Zoos have no place in modern society.

cobweb

Agree Dublin Zoo is not crap don't agree though that it should be shut down as it is involved in conservation programmes of animals that are a rarity in the wild and it also provides education and a chance for people to see animals they otherwise would never see.

I do think though that a huge chunk of the park should be given to the Zoo so the animals can have bigger living environments

Nevyn

Really ?
Those animals could not fend for themsevles in the wild and what are your toughts on the endangered breeding programs the zoo takes part in ?

laurak265

eth0_ wrote: »

Oh my god, you poor thing! How DARE the giraffes graze at the far end of their field! How dare the elephants go indoors on what was probably a horrible day!

I can't believe what a selfish opinion you have of the zoo. Do you expect the keepers to tie the animals to the front of their enclosures so your kids can bang on the glass and upset them with loud noises?

Dublin zoo isn't the best zoo i've been to, but it's definitely not crap.

What i ACTUALLY was saying was that the elephants aren't on the african plains they have their own area!! And there are never in the house they are always outside but with the 10 ft fence around them you can't see them! My child is in his buggy and doesn't bang on glass.

PS get out of the other side of the bed next time!!

eth0_

IanCurtis wrote: »

Agree.

I actually think the place should be shut down and the animals returned to where they belong.

Zoos have no place in modern society.

Well that's just ridiculous. Firstly, zoo animals wouldn't last a day in their natural habitat. Secondly, many of them are extremely endangered and that is why they are in zoo's, so that they don't become extinct!

líreacán

IanCurtis wrote: »

Agree.

I actually think the place should be shut down and the animals returned to where they belong.

Zoos have no place in modern society.

You should read "The Life of Pi", the start of the book has some commentary on zoos, and how people think they are cruel etc etc, but they provide an animal with shelter, regular feeding, safety from predators, constant water source, something they would struggle to find in the wild. Setting an animal free from the zoo would be akin to going to a person's home, taking all their food, water, shelter etc and telling them to run free. Not many would choose it.

Anyway, back on topic. Just back from the zoo there. The baby animals were all so cute. I was very impressed by the new elephant's area, nice and big and spacious. Just shows what Dublin Zoo can achieve with money and space. This is definitely the way to go, even at the cost of the animals not being as close as before. The overgrowth I reckon is to give the animals a greater sense of security from us all gawking in!! They are doing a really good job!

EDIT: PS to LauraK265, YOUR child may bang on glass, but countless others do. Let the elephants roam their spacious enclosure in peace!!!

bonerjams03

To those who were complaining the elephants weren't in the African Planes; Dublin zoo houses Asian Elephants.

I also agree with giving the zoo more space in the park.

The shrubs are not overgrown, they are to shelter or as someone put it "give a greater sense of security" to the animals, they cannot live in bare conditions.

I think the new elephant enclosure is brilliant. It is one of the best in the world for a zoo, (as opposed to parks...) everything there si designed to keep the elephants busy and challenged. It shows the zoo heading in the right direction.

My one complaint about the zoo, is what I think are terrible, conditions for the Gorillas. They deserve more, and I'm sure that they would be the next thing on the agenda in terms of improvement.

Ste.phen

IRcolm wrote: »

To those who were complaining the elephants weren't in the African Planes; Dublin zoo houses Asian Elephants.

I also agree with giving the zoo more space in the park.

The shrubs are not overgrown, they are to shelter or as someone put it "give a greater sense of security" to the animals, they cannot live in bare conditions.

I think the new elephant enclosure is brilliant. It is one of the best in the world for a zoo, (as opposed to parks...) everything there si designed to keep the elephants busy and challenged. It shows the zoo heading in the right direction.

My one complaint about the zoo, is what I think are terrible, conditions for the Gorillas. They deserve more, and I'm sure that they would be the next thing on the agenda in terms of improvement.

Definitely agree with you regarding the Gorrillas, they absolutely need more space.

I can't imagine the layout in my head now, but isn't the gorrilla enclosure next to what used to be the Polar Bear enclosure? Could they hollow out the gap between them, join them together, and put a pedestrian bridge above it or something?

loyatemu

IRcolm wrote: »

My one complaint about the zoo, is what I think are terrible, conditions for the Gorillas. They deserve more, and I'm sure that they would be the next thing on the agenda in terms of improvement.

have to agree here - you don't realise quite how big the gorillas are until you see them up close and their enclosure in the Zoo is far too small. Theres a few other areas in the old part of the zoo that need renovating too.

The african plains and elephant enclosures are good though and overall I think its a good day out - bring a picnic though, the on-site catering is rubbish and over-priced.

lightening

cobweb wrote: »

I do think though that a huge chunk of the park should be given to the Zoo so the animals can have bigger living environments

+ 1, there is acres of the park that are left as meadow, never used.

I also think the animals should be made work for their food, ie; meat for the big cats should be suspended and moved around on pulleys or something. Anything to make them use their natural instincts and work those muscles. Some of the nicer monkey treats should be harder for them to access, keep those big brains occupied.

bonerjams03

lightening wrote: »

+ 1, there is acres of the park that are left as meadow, never used.

Anything to make them use their natural instincts and work those muscles. Some of the nicer monkey treats should be harder for them to access, keep those big brains occupied.

Well, thats what they're doing with the elephants. they do loads of stuff with them. They bury the food, so the elephants have to find it, then they're intelligent enought to wash it in their water, or they'll place it on tips of branches.

Its keeps the animals occupied for hours, which is good.

Ste.phen

lightening wrote: »

+ 1, there is acres of the park that are left as meadow, never used.

Unfortunately, the least-used parts of the park are at the north west end, which is the opposite end to the zoo, but there's plenty of space around the zoo that could be used if the will was there. I doubt that it is, though.

lightening

Yeah Igy, the fallow land seems to be miles away from the zoo!

krankykitty

IRcolm wrote: »

My one complaint about the zoo, is what I think are terrible, conditions for the Gorillas. They deserve more, and I'm sure that they would be the next thing on the agenda in terms of improvement.

I believe there are plans in place to vastly improve the Gorillas' area...

Incidentally, that particular troop is very well known in the zoo community as Lena and Harry (female and silverback) have had quite a few offspring in captivity.

To the OP who mentioned the foliage that was "in the way", as another poster mentioned, this is also to give the animals an opportunity for privacy, from both the visitors and in some cases from the other animals in the enclosure. The animals' needs must come first.

DJKAV

krankykitty wrote: »

I believe there are plans in place to vastly improve the Gorillas' area...

Incidentally, that particular troop is very well known in the zoo community as Lena and Harry (female and silverback) have had quite a few offspring in captivity.

To the OP who mentioned the foliage that was "in the way", as another poster mentioned, this is also to give the animals an opportunity for privacy, from both the visitors and in some cases from the other animals in the enclosure. The animals' needs must come first.

"in the way" was not what I meant. What I said way small children could not see any of the animals because of the overgrowth throughout the whole zoo... understand that the animals need privacy but you have too see the zoo enclosures to understand the whole place is overgrown except the african plains ... It just needs to cater for children between 1-6 if you had a child in a buggy they couldn`t see a thing .... This is a pity see as the childs needs are why you are their in the first place ? !!

DublinWriter

líreacán wrote: »

You should read "The Life of Pi", the start of the book has some commentary on zoos, and how people think they are cruel etc etc, but they provide an animal with shelter, regular feeding, safety from predators, constant water source, something they would struggle to find in the wild.

Dude! I was just about to mention that book to the PC-brigade in here. It totally changed me from being an anti-Zoo person.

After not visiting the Zoo for 25+ years, I found myself twice there this year.

Can't believe the OP said there was a litter problem. There's bins every 10 meters and I saw plenty of employees going around cleaning up around the place.

Overall a good day out, but they need to start running the little motorised carts for free like they used to do in the 70's/80's. Having to pay extra for the African Planes excursion is a joke.

DJKAV

DublinWriter wrote: »

Dude! I was just about to mention that book to the PC-brigade in here. It totally changed me from being an anti-Zoo person.

After not visiting the Zoo for 25+ years, I found myself twice there this year.

Can't believe the OP said there was a litter problem. There's bins every 10 meters and I saw plenty of employees going around cleaning up around the place.

Overall a good day out, but they need to start running the little motorised carts for free like they used to do in the 70's/80's. Having to pay extra for the African Planes excursion is a joke.

I never said there was a litter problem ..... never said that your going off topic now ..

What i said was it`s very overgrown ....

krankykitty

DJKAV wrote: »

"in the way" was not what I meant. What I said way small children could not see any of the animals because of the overgrowth throughout the whole zoo... understand that the animals need privacy but you have too see the zoo enclosures to understand the whole place is overgrown except the african plains ... It just needs to cater for children between 1-6 if you had a child in a buggy they couldn`t see a thing .... This is a pity see as the childs needs are why you are their in the first place ? !!

I'm very familiar with the enclosures.

The child's needs? Unfortunately, the zoo does not exist solely to entertain children and as you are a visitor in the animal's home, their needs come first. I'm sure it is frustrating to not get a good view, but there is a lot of work gone into the planting around the zoo to ensure that animal's requirements, as much as possible, are taken care of. I am in the zoo on a regular basis and while I'll agree with you that in some places it may be hard to see the animals, particularly if they have chosen to stay out of view, there are on the other hand many exhibits that it would be rare not to get a good view.

As a matter of interest, what particular exhibits did you think were very overgrown? Have you mailed/phoned Dublin Zoo to ask what their views are?

Sundew

Igy wrote: »

Frankly they need more land, but I'd say it'll be a cold day in hell before the OPW just gives them a huge chunk of it

They would just prefer to see another block of faceless apartments built like on the Phoenix Park race course :mad:

fitzyshea

I dont understand what everyone is giving out about. I was there only a few weeks ago and I thought it was well worth the €14. Yes some of the animals cant be seen but I think the idea is to give them as much of there habitat back. When i was there the elephants and giraffes were indoors been fed but you could still go around and see them in there houses. I think it needs more land so the animals have more room to move but in fairness its a great day out and one of the best attractions in dublin.

DJKAV

krankykitty wrote: »

I'm very familiar with the enclosures.

The child's needs? Unfortunately, the zoo does not exist solely to entertain children and as you are a visitor in the animal's home, their needs come first. I'm sure it is frustrating to not get a good view, but there is a lot of work gone into the planting around the zoo to ensure that animal's requirements, as much as possible, are taken care of. I am in the zoo on a regular basis and while I'll agree with you that in some places it may be hard to see the animals, particularly if they have chosen to stay out of view, there are on the other hand many exhibits that it would be rare not to get a good view.

As a matter of interest, what particular exhibits did you think were very overgrown? Have you mailed/phoned Dublin Zoo to ask what their views are?

I`m sorry but its all about the children for me i didn`t see many grown men and wemon walking around checking out the monkeys and having trouble seeing into the enclosures... this thread started buy stating that it was very hard for young kids to see the animals because of poor housekeeping with certain pens and enclosures .. The wolf enclosure for one and also the tiger was very overgrown. THE OTHER exhibits which were very well kept were the animal farm but all we have to do is look out our window at home to see cows horses and rabbitts....

THE ZOO IS for kids and they should be able to expierience it without having to climb on parents shoulders and on fences to see the animails..


.

Gaspode

Igy wrote: »

Frankly they need more land, but I'd say it'll be a cold day in hell before the OPW just gives them a huge chunk of it

cobweb wrote: »

I do think though that a huge chunk of the park should be given to the Zoo so the animals can have bigger living environments

IRcolm wrote: »

I also agree with giving the zoo more space in the park.

Igy wrote: »

Unfortunately, the least-used parts of the park are at the north west end, which is the opposite end to the zoo, but there's plenty of space around the zoo that could be used if the will was there. I doubt that it is, though.

It's only a few short years since a large chunk of the park was given to the zoo, i.e. the african plains area. This was originally part of the lands around the Aras.

I think Dublin Zoo has come on in leaps and bounds in the last 15 years or so, and I think credit should be given to them for that. I was there in the 70s as a child and really the conditions now are fantastic by comparison. I've also been to planty of zoos abroad and Dublin is one of the better ones!

I comiserate with the OP if they felt they couldnt see enough animals, but unfortunatley that's the way it goes sometimes in the zoo. Sometimes the animals are visible, sometimes they're not - the animals do what they want. Also, resources are limited in the zoo, so cutting back the growth of plants is probably only something they can do every couple of months or so. There is also the chance that they deliberatley left it that way for the sake of the animals in those particular enclosures.

I suggest OP that you write to the director of the zoo with your complaint, it's the only way they'll know there's an issue and will do something about it.

On the side issue of catering in the zoo, I too think its brutal, too dear, really crap - bring a picnic!

krankykitty

DJKAV wrote: »

THE ZOO IS for kids and they should be able to expierience it without having to climb on parents shoulders and on fences to see the animails..

The zoo is NOT ONLY for kids though. Kid's entertainment/education is by far not the only reason that the zoo exists. Would you prefer that the animals needs weren't met just so your kids can get a good view? I suppose you'd want them to bring back bear dancing and chimp tea parties too just so Little Johnny and Little Mary get a good day out. :rolleyes:

Maybe there's a valuable lesson in all of this in that kids learn that maybe, just maybe, they cant get EVERYTHING they want in life INSTANTLY. Maybe they'll learn that the animals have a right to have their needs met as much as possible. Just a thought.

DJKAV

krankykitty wrote: »

The zoo is NOT ONLY for kids though. Kid's entertainment/education is by far not the only reason that the zoo exists. Would you prefer that the animals needs weren't met just so your kids can get a good view? I suppose you'd want them to bring back bear dancing and chimp tea parties too just so Little Johnny and Little Mary get a good day out. :rolleyes:

Maybe there's a valuable lesson in all of this in that kids learn that maybe, just maybe, they cant get EVERYTHING they want in life INSTANTLY. Maybe they'll learn that the animals have a right to have their needs met as much as possible. Just a thought.

WHAT HAS KIDS LEARNING A LESSION IN LIFE GOT TO DO WITH THEM BEING ABLE TO SEE ANIMALS? Thats why their in a cage ? ...Come on it`s a service and they if they are not going to provide a good in they should charge less...

krankykitty

DJKAV wrote: »

WHAT HAS KIDS LEARNING A LESSION IN LIFE GOT TO DO WITH THEM BEING ABLE TO SEE ANIMALS? Thats why their in a cage ? ...Come on it`s a service and they if they are not going to provide a good in they should charge less...

The point I'm making is that it's not just providing a service....

Have you called/emailed them to complain about it?

DJKAV

Sorry no didn`t complain....i just asked did anybody have the same opinion as me?...

IT`S FOTA wildlife this weekend fingers crossed....;)

Noopti

WHAT HAS KIDS LEARNING A LESSION IN LIFE GOT TO DO WITH THEM BEING ABLE TO SEE ANIMALS? Thats why their in a cage ? ...Come on it`s a service and they if they are not going to provide a good in they should charge less...

As soon as I read this I realized you haven't got the first clue on the main reasons for zoos.

Yes, it is a service. A service to conservation programmes, not to your kids. If you donate money to a charity helping children in Africa do you expect them to fly you over there so you can look at them?

The main function of modern Zoos are there to help with the conservation of endangered animals and provide education to people on animals and the issues surrounding them. NOT so that your kids can look at a monkey or an elephant.
True, part of the education and attraction is seeing the animals, but if you use some common sense you will realise that if you can't see the animal "properly" it is for a reason.

DJKAV

i give up .....obviously ye don`t have 3 and four year olds trying to see animals in the zoo...

please end this ... it`s getting out of hand .. started off with a child not being able to see into enclosures beacuse of overgrowth and now it`s exploded into people not having a clue about zoos ..... forget about it ..

Rashers

DJKAV wrote: »

i give up .....obviously ye don`t have 3 and four year olds trying to see animals in the zoo...

I'm a grandfather who took my kids and grandkids to the zoo.

Back when I took my kids to the zoo they could see all of the animals very clearly and up close.

The lions, for instance, were in large cages inside what was known as the Lion House. If a lion wanted some fresh air it could walk through a door into another part of the cage which was open to the air but roofed over.

Monkeys, caged too. And people used to give them lit cigarettes. You can use your imagination there.

Camels, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, hippos... all in enclosures that barely left them space to turn.

Polar bears. In a pit with a water feature not much bigger than my garden pond.

Brown bears. In a pit too and once a child fell into that pit.

Now that we're in a (hopefully) more enlightened time, would a child really want to see all of that?

Or is it better for both the kids and the animals that they (animals) be seen in a more natural environment than a concrete cage?

DJKAV

i really don`t know

Rashers

DJKAV wrote: »

i really don`t know

Maybe this would help you decide. See the red bricked building top right? The lions enclosure. Bottom left is a Polar bear in very unnatural surroundings.

I'm sure, in this day and age, no one would want their kids to see any of that.

Ste.phen

Thanks for that pic, hard to imagine now!

DJKAV

excellent pic .... point taken ...

razorblunt

Was there a fortnigt ago for the first time in 10 years, I was amazed at the improvements made think they provide some great areas for the animals although I would agree that the Gorillas need more room.

I was dissapointed the Reptile House was closed though but sure what can you do, cant understand the point of the petting zoo, pigs and sheep locked up in small huts!

jazoo

Dublin zoo had a FAS scheme in that every building had its turn to be renovated. I worked there almost 19/20 years ago in the restaurant&bar .At that time the bat house was being renovated.From what i can remember they have a very tight budget so its hard to keep exhibits looking new.I had a membership when my son was young we used to go all year round winter time & christmas time are the best times to go.support dublin zoo more people mean better conditions for animals....

Rashers

The lion enclosure that I mentioned in an earlier post?

This is it.... the lion enclosure in the 1950s.

Glad my grandkids will never see a lion living in this kind of misery.