Dublin Zoo

Arawn · 2013-11-13 00:42:30

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??

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#32 13-11-2013 10:35AM

ZiabR

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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.

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#33 13-11-2013 10:42AM

keano_afc

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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.

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#34 13-11-2013 10:45AM

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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.

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#35 13-11-2013 10:51AM

ericl

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

It was a Shih-tzu.

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#36 13-11-2013 10:51AM

OldGoat

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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 older than Minecraft goats.

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#37 13-11-2013 11:00AM

MugMugs

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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 !

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#38 13-11-2013 11:23AM

dockleaf

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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!

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#39 13-11-2013 11:42AM

SEPT 23 1989

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

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#40 13-11-2013 12:48PM

Mrs Garth Brooks

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

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#41 13-11-2013 12:52PM

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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.

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#42 13-11-2013 01:02PM

vitani

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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.

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#43 13-11-2013 01:36PM

Davidth88

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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.

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#44 13-11-2013 01:39PM

RiverOfLove

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

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#45 13-11-2013 02:04PM

Pherekydes

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My first girlfriend still lives at the zoo. :P

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#46 13-11-2013 02:29PM

Teyla Emmagan

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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.

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#47 13-11-2013 03:32PM

Galwayguy35

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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.

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#48 13-11-2013 03:45PM

eviltimeban

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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.

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#49 13-11-2013 03:45PM

Wompa1

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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.

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#50 13-11-2013 04:11PM

Hitchens

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pet away but don't trust the tapirs

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#51 13-11-2013 04:14PM

Grandeeod

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Bertie Ahearn saved Dublin Zoo. FACT!

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#52 13-11-2013 05:34PM

Sparky

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Arawn wrote: »

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??

I was at the zoo last on Sunday.

Dublin Zoo are doing a €5 per ticket promotion for the month if you buy tickets online.

Thread here with link in relation to it
https://dublinzoo.digitickets.co.uk/tickets

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#53 13-11-2013 06:46PM

Faith

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I was there last Friday. It was good. The red pandas are definitely the best bit! The meerkat enclosure was tiny and bizarrely inside a restaurant, which was crap.

If you ever get a chance, go to Chester Zoo. That place is brilliant!

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#54 13-11-2013 07:06PM

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Faith wrote: »

I was there last Friday. It was good. The red pandas are definitely the best bit! The meerkat enclosure was tiny and bizarrely inside a restaurant, which was crap.

If you ever get a chance, go to Chester Zoo. That place is brilliant!

So that's where the meercats have gone!! Guess with their rise in popularity it pays to stick them in a restaurant, people might actually pay extortionate prices for their crappy food then.

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#55 13-11-2013 08:42PM

Arawn

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So went today, last time I was there they had polar bears were there, no longer

the seals are great craic to watch and so are the penguins, also class seeing the lion and Snow leopard eating! will be back again after christmas I'd say

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#56 13-11-2013 08:48PM

RobbingBandit

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Grandeeod wrote: »

Bertie Ahern saved Dublin Zoo. FACT!

You know why, they give him the cutest animal born each year so he can rip off their head and eat them.

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#57 13-11-2013 08:57PM

castletownman

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Make sure not to go during panda mating season.

Places tend to be clogged with newsreaders trying to get the best report for their news bulletin.

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#58 13-11-2013 09:06PM

Micky Dolenz

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I hate Zoos. Depress the crap out of me.

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#59 13-11-2013 10:02PM

Hitchens

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Micky Dolenz wrote: »

I hate Zoos. Depress the crap out of me.

even the monkee house? :eek:

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#60 13-11-2013 10:22PM

Micky Dolenz

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Especially there.

Their just trying to be friendly but would rather be free.

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#61 13-11-2013 10:27PM

Archeron

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The Ewok enclosure is class.

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