Dublin Zoo

Arawn

So I've not been in over 10 years but am considering going tomorrow, what can I expect?? will most of the animals be out or will the weather be too ****e?

Last time I was there was great, got a shift in the place with the bats. Anyone else have any memories??

SV

Last time I was there I only went to see the penguins and they weren't there. There was no Gorillas either, or Tigers.

Mint Aero

Arawn wrote: »

Last time I was there was great, got a shift in the place with the bats. Anyone else have any memories??

Fornication with the animals isn't actually allowed as far as I know. Open to correction though?

ollie1

I remember the Orangutan who used to smoke ciggies and the crazy polar bears.

Been a long time since I have been to Dublin Zoo hope its better now then it used to be.

dodderangler

Arawn wrote: »

Last time I was there was great, got a shift in the place with the bats. Anyone else have any memories??

Well in fairness a vampire bat will suck the............. Ah never mind

Absoluvely

For anyone considering going to the zoo this month, be aware there are €5 tickets available. Info here.

DieselPowered

Did you get a discount ticket to the Zoo (advertised on Boards last week) was there at the weekend and it was ok, weather held up and there was plenty to see.

Augmerson

I've not been since I was bitten by a prairie dog there in the 90s.

Until they get some giant pandas I refuse to acknowledge it as a proper zoo. :mad:

My name is URL

I was there in September with my nephews. They've done a really good job on improving enclosures etc in my opinion. Worth a visit

The only thing I don't like about it is how depressed and fed up the gorillas look, it's kinda sad actually.. but that's the same with any zoo.

Arawn

Mint Aero wrote: »

Fornication with the animals isn't actually allowed as far as I know. Open to correction though?

dodderangler wrote: »

Well in fairness a vampire bat will suck the............. Ah never mind

well done the pair of ye, made me chuckle

Absoluvely wrote: »

For anyone considering going to the zoo this month, be aware there are €5 tickets available. Info here.

I had not seen this, fecking delighted I posted or would of cost 22e extra, thanks!

Lapin

Arawn wrote: »

So.....

Stopped reading after that.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Was there in April! Only really wanted to see the elephants, and one came up really close and it was great!!!

Love the zoo

liliq

Love the zoo, well worth a visit.
The 'elephant encounters' ( not *that* kind of encounters) at 1230 is my favourite.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

liliq wrote: »

Love the zoo, well worth a visit.
The 'elephant encounters' ( not *that* kind of encounters) at 1230 is my favourite.

?! Tell me more??

Galwayguy35

Last time I was at the zoo was 1986 so due a visit again soon.

Arawn

Lapin wrote: »

Stopped reading after that.

Except I didn't type that. So your attempt to be a grammar **** failed didn't it?

tosspot15

One of the best zoo's in the world. Been to zoo's in America, London, Asia, and more major cities.

Nothing beats dublin in terms of size, quality of life for the animals, and general education/quality of displays.

Jack Daniels I

My name is URL wrote: »

I was there in September with my nephews. They've done a really good job on improving enclosures etc in my opinion. Worth a visit

The only thing I don't like about it is how depressed and fed up the gorillas look, it's kinda sad actually.. but that's the same with any zoo.

you wouldnt want to see the big cat enclosure in Berlin Zoo,disgrace for such a major city.they are basically kept in shop windows.

Pherekydes

Arawn wrote: »

So I've not been in over 10 years but am considering going tomorrow, what can I expect?

Dolphins, Ravens, Jaguars, Eagles, Lions, Bears, Panthers, Falcons, Seahawks and Cardinals. Maybe even some Patriots. And even Vikings, but no Packers.

Fratton Fred

At the risk of sounding like a big girl's blouse, the red panda is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Well, that and the tiny monkies.

Esoteric_

Fratton Fred wrote: »

At the risk of sounding like a big girl's blouse, the red panda is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Well, that and the tiny monkies.

Red pandas are the ONLY reason I go to the zoo.

ElleEm

I went during the summer for the first time since I was a kid, and was pretty disappointed.
The reason could have been my visit to Fota Island a month or so before. Fota is amazing, and is a Wildlife Park, so the animals are way less enclosed.

NegativeCreep

Fratton Fred wrote: »

At the risk of sounding like a big girl's blouse, the red panda is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Well, that and the tiny monkies.

They had babies a few weeks ago.

Cutest. Things. Ever!

Teyla Emmagan

The zoo is brilliant now. Especially when you think about what it was like back in the 80s when the most exciting thing was the penguins. The food is still sh*t though.

My favourite are the red river hogs, I could watch them all day.

snubbleste

All the animals are naked

Hitchens

Is it de azoo yiz are on about?

kneemos

Auschwitz for animals.

Ush1

I go a fair bit.

The gorillas are not in an enclosure anymore, they have their own island type spot in the African Plains I think. Last time I was there I only saw the juveniles and the females, no sign of the silverback.

Make sure to check out the rhinos, amazing and irritable, always a chance of a melee!

dr strangelove

Hope it's better than that petting zoo in Longford that only had pigs.

Fratton Fred

dr strangelove wrote: »

Hope it's better than that petting zoo in Longford that only had pigs.

Hmmm, bacon.

ZiabR

Well worth the visit, I was there last year, loved it. It had been 14 years since I was there. Some changes, its a great day out.

keano_afc

Yeah its not a bad day out. Bring a picnic, the food is very pricey. Plenty of spots for a la carte dining. Try time your visit around a feeding time of a zookeeper talk. The sealion feeding at 2pm is worth seeing. The little petting zoo at the end is good fun too, although my 3 year old was only interested in the playground beside it.

All in all its a good day out.

SV

SV wrote: »

Last time I was there I only went to see the penguins and they weren't there. There was no Gorillas either, or Tigers.

Same here. The polar bear was not there either when we went. In fact my memory of my last trip there (about 18 months ago) was of thinking I had spent a lot of money to look in empty cages and areas.

I was thinking what a great business model. Buy land - erect loads of empty sealed off areas - put an A4 print out of information about different animals on each different empty area - and charge people high rates to get in to read them.

I feel no compulsion to go back. Ever.

ericl

I went to a Zoo once and it only had one dog in the entire place.

It was a Shih-tzu.

OldGoat

When the kids were a bit younger we would take out annual membership. We'd visit a few times a month. Great place for impromptu picnics. The real benefit was that we didn't have to charge around the place trying to see everything in a mad rush but could pick and choose what we would like to go and see, one or two enclosures per visit.
Personally I love the old aviary - Roberts House. It the quietest (humanwise) place in the zoo.

MugMugs

SV wrote: »

Last time I was there I only went to see the penguins and they weren't there. There was no Gorillas either, or Tigers.

I went earlier this year in the basking heat.

The pengi's were the biggest let down as they were flaked out in the sun.

Seals however were rocking it !

dockleaf

We went last weekend and had a great time. Brought a picnic and the weather was great, cold but sunny. The red pandas are gorgeous but it is so interesting to see all the different animals. Would love to go again soon.

Paul O'Connell was there, really nice guy, was posing for pictures with people. Made the day even better!

SEPT 23 1989

The silver back gorilla v lion cage fight is a sight to behold

Mrs Garth Brooks

Go to Fota Wildlife Park. You wont be disappointed. My favourite are the Ring Tailed Lemurs roaming free.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Same here. The polar bear was not there either when we went.

They polar bears never recovered after losing the plot in their tiny enclosure and were sent to a zoo in Hungary.

vitani

Was there a few months ago. One of the lions was lying close to the window so got to see him quite close-up. It was amazing, although I had a strange urge to cuddle him. Had to remind myself that not all lions are like Aslan.

Davidth88

OldGoat wrote: »

When the kids were a bit younger we would take out annual membership. We'd visit a few times a month. Great place for impromptu picnics. The real benefit was that we didn't have to charge around the place trying to see everything in a mad rush but could pick and choose what we would like to go and see, one or two enclosures per visit.
Personally I love the old aviary - Roberts House. It the quietest (humanwise) place in the zoo.

agreed.

We have an annual tkt , and living within a 20 min drive we go there quite a bit . We usually pick 1-2 animals we want to see and have a picnic.

RiverOfLove

Foto Wildlife Park in Cork is much better then Dublin zoo.

Pherekydes

My first girlfriend still lives at the zoo. :P

Teyla Emmagan

RiverOfLove wrote: »

Foto Wildlife Park in Cork is much better then Dublin zoo.

I don't think it is actually. It used to be alright, but the zoo has improved so much I don't think that's still the case. And the zoo has way more variety. Fota is brilliant, but they don't have the diversity.

Galwayguy35

Last time I was there as a kid the polar bear was swimming in a dirty pond in a small enclosure, hope things have improved.

eviltimeban

Its much better. Great for kids. We go regularly as we have a yearly pass and treat it more like going to the park, with the added bonus of some animals to look at.

The African Plains section is worth going alone for, its really big and open and the animals can roam around. Giraffes and hippos and zebras etc.

The indoor parts are great too, there's a reptile house and a "learning" centre too, about elephants.

The petting zoo is good too, if you have kids they can interact with them.

Overall its clean and tidy and modern and well staffed, and it looks like they really look after the animals.

Wompa1

OldGoat wrote: »

When the kids were a bit younger we would take out annual membership. We'd visit a few times a month. Great place for impromptu picnics. The real benefit was that we didn't have to charge around the place trying to see everything in a mad rush but could pick and choose what we would like to go and see, one or two enclosures per visit.
Personally I love the old aviary - Roberts House. It the quietest (humanwise) place in the zoo.

I'm a member at the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona. It's f'kin class! I actually think Dublin Zoo is better but being a member is great. When I feel like it I'll go all around the Zoo but most days I just go hang out by the Cheetahs, Lions, Tigers, Bears, Rhino etc.

Hitchens

pet away but don't trust the tapirs

Grandeeod

Bertie Ahearn saved Dublin Zoo. FACT!