Been to the Zoo lately?

JupiterKid

Anyone here been to the zoo lately?

I hadn't been to Dublin zoo in about 20 years and went earlier today with some friends. Wow - how the place has changed! Gone are the tiny horrible Victorian-era cages and the new African Plains area means that the Rhinos, Giraffes, Lions, Zebras and Elephants have much more room now than before.

The zoo also has been completely modernised and greatly expanded since my last visit and there are many facilities all over the zoo - cafes, restaurants (pricey) and toilets.

The old original section of the zoo has also been revamped and it is all looking really good. I'm not the biggest fan of zoos but I have to say that Dublin zoo seem to have really moved with the times and have given animal welfare more priority.:)

The only drawbacks were the ticket price - €15.50 which is a little steep IMO and the hordes of screaming children and babies but you'll have that at zoos anywhere. The much loved seals are still in the same place and still a big attraction.:D

Pushtrak

Yes, frequently. After Hours.

Ghandee

I've been to many zoos all over the world, and Dublin zoo its up there among the best. No doubt in my mind.

southcentralts

Had a meeting with Mr Lyon there, but he never showed up.

Pure_Cork

Dublin Zoo? It's no Fota Wildlife Park.

Chuck Stone

I must go to Dublin Zoo some time - never been. Might scoot up on the new express bus some day and bring my niece and nephew.

Do they have Honey Badgers? I like they way they don't give a ****.

Micky Dolenz

Zoos are prisons for animals, but unlike prisons, all the animals are innocent.

Will not support such places with my cash.

Washington Irving

Not in about eight or nine years

Truley

We bring the Summer Camp kids I work with every year. The restaurant is an absolute rip off (€7.50 + for a plate of nuggets, chips and carton of juice) but I guess it can be since it's the only one in the place. I'm not a big zoo fan but it's certainly better than the only other one I went to, Berlin Zoo- that place was depressing and cruel.

Chuck Stone

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Zoos are prisons for animals, but unlike prisons, all the animals are innocent.

Will not support such places with my cash.

Ya think? Aren't the animals happy enough there though? No predators to worry about and well cared for etc.

scudzilla

JupiterKid wrote: »

The only drawback was the ticket price - €15.50 which is a little steep and the hordes of screaming children and babies but you'll have that at zoos anywhere. The much loves seals are still in the same place and still a big attraction.:D

Buy an Annual Pass, cost's 110Euro and you can go as many times as you want, and you can take a guest in free aswell

dan1895

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Zoos are prisons for animals, but unlike prisons, all the animals are innocent.

Will not support such places with my cash.

Maybe 50 or 60 years ago but today most zoos are involved in education programmes, mating programmes and the protection of endangered species.

Micky Dolenz

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Ya think? Aren't the animals happy enough there though? No predators to worry about and well cared for etc.

I think they have natural instincts to roam and do as nature intends. They have predators caged up, never been able to hunt and kill.

I'm all for nature reserves.

Micky Dolenz

dan1895 wrote: »

Maybe 50 or 60 years ago but today most zoos are involved in education programmes, mating programmes and the protection of endangered species.

Education programmes for the animals? I think most animals have the mating thing nailed, forgive the pun .

As for the endangered species, what percentage of animals in world wide zoos are endangered?

Chuck Stone

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

I think they have natural instincts to roam and do as nature intends. They have predators caged up, never been able to hunt and kill.

I'm all for nature reserves.

Yeah I suppose it's a bit unfair on the big cats/bears etc.

Point taken.

Gummy Panda

Is there still red pandas there?

mattjack

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Zoos are prisons for animals, but unlike prisons, all the animals are innocent.

Will not support such places with my cash.

Says the man from a group of trained Monkeees ..:pac:pac::

flash1080

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Is there still red pandas there?

www.redpandatube.com

Capt'n Midnight

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Zoos are prisons for animals, but unlike prisons, all the animals are innocent.

Will not support such places with my cash.

If a cow ever got the chance, he'd eat you and everyone you care about.

JupiterKid

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Is there still red pandas there?

Yep. The red pandas are still there. The polar bears are gone however. The seals are still there and still as popular as ever.:)

I'm not a massive fan of zoos but I think that many have changed for the better in that they are doing very good conservation work through breeding programmes. For instance a couple of species of Asian tigers at Dublin zoo are on the verge of extinction in the wild due to habitat loss for palm oil plantations.

Also, there seem the be less species in the zoo than years ago bit for the ones that are still there, their living areas have hugely improved.

For anyone thinking of going - I would recommend a trip to Dublin zoo to see how much it's changed over the past 10 to 20 years. Here's a link to their site:

http://www.dublinzoo.ie/

fat__tony

€15.50 is a fair price in my opinion.

A trip to the zoo here in Toronto is $25.

Riddle101

What sort of animals do they have there? I remember the seals and the gorillas alright. But i'm just interested in knowing what sort of exotic animals they have.

Jesus Wept

southcentralts wrote: »

Had a meeting with Mr Lyon there, but he never showed up.

I was running late.

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I must go to Dublin Zoo some time - never been. Might scoot up on the new express bus some day and bring my niece and nephew.

Do they have Honey Badgers? I like they way they don't give a ****.

I am inviting myself long. Much like the honey badger, I do not give a ****.

Dartz

Not since I lost the key to the magic door.

Richard Hillman

Havnt been since i was about 3-4 and dont remember it. Its a very sad sight seeing magnificent predators like Lions and Tigers being held in captivity. They should be out killing stuff and stalking prey. Unless they made the park into a huge nature preserve i dont think i would like to see it.

Seeing a tiger in captivity would be too sad. It would be like seeing your hero, drunk and passed out in a ditch.

antodeco

Education programmes for the animals?

Q1 Mr Duck, can you tell me the chemical symbol for sodium?
- Quack Quack

Q2 Mr Duck, what happens when a base and an acid are mixed?
- Quack Quack

Q3 Mr Duck, what name is given to an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter?
- Quark Quark

iguana

fat__tony wrote: »

€15.50 is a fair price in my opinion.

A trip to the zoo here in Toronto is $25.

But the zoo in Chicago is free.

Capt'n Midnight

antodeco wrote: »

Education programmes for the animals?

Q1 Mr Duck, can you tell me the chemical symbol for sodium?
- Quack Quack

Two ducks flying over Belfast zoo

one says to the other " Quack Quack"

and the other one goes "I'm going as quack as I can"

Capt'n Midnight

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Seeing a tiger in captivity would be too sad. It would be like seeing your hero, drunk and passed out in a ditch.

Heros like you see in the old MGM movies ?

MGM with the Lion roaring in the title, the lion from Dublin Zoo, you know one of the last of the Barbary lions before they became extinct ?

vektarman

I haven't been to the zoo since I saw some scumbags throwing penguins into the lions - the penguins were allright though, the the lions couldn't get the wrappers off.....

DEFTLEFTHAND

Summer of 2001 was the last time. I would like to go again but I'm too lazy.

montyrebel

vektarman wrote: »

I haven't been to the zoo since I saw some scumbags throwing penguins into the lions - the penguins were allright though, the the lions couldn't get the wrappers off.....

actually happened in belfast zoo, sadly with a real penguin :mad:

steddyeddy

montyrebel wrote: »

actually happened in belfast zoo, sadly with a real penguin :mad:

Are you joking?

phasers

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

I think they have natural instincts to roam and do as nature intends. They have predators caged up, never been able to hunt and kill.

I'm all for nature reserves.

To be fair, the vast majority of animals in zoos now were either born in a zoo (back in the days when 'zoos' were depressed animals in tiny cages) or were saved from ill-treatment. They wouldn't survive in the wild. All of the animals have great spaces, both public and private now and they are encouraged to act as naturally as is possible and their individual habitats reflect that.

I'm not a huge fan of zoos either but I think they do serve a good purpose and Dublin Zoo is a fantastic facility nowadays. God, when I think back just 15 years to those poor Polar Bears... they've come a long way.

Micky Dolenz

phasers wrote: »

To be fair, the vast majority of animals in zoos now were either born in a zoo (back in the days when 'zoos' were depressed animals in tiny cages) or were saved from ill-treatment. They wouldn't survive in the wild. All of the animals have great spaces, both public and private now and they are encouraged to act as naturally as is possible and their individual habitats reflect that.

You can't breed out instinct. Animals who naturally roam through territories can't. Animals who hunt, can't.

The Elephant and other large animal enclosures are far from ideal and no where near to anything that could be considered a great space.


Zoos are just a little step better then circus's. I have little time for either.

steddyeddy

phasers wrote: »

To be fair, the vast majority of animals in zoos now were either born in a zoo (back in the days when 'zoos' were depressed animals in tiny cages) or were saved from ill-treatment. They wouldn't survive in the wild. All of the animals have great spaces, both public and private now and they are encouraged to act as naturally as is possible and their individual habitats reflect that.

I'm not a huge fan of zoos either but I think they do serve a good purpose and Dublin Zoo is a fantastic facility nowadays. God, when I think back just 15 years to those poor Polar Bears... they've come a long way.

So you would be ok with keeping humans born in a cage in captivity?

Naomi00

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Zoos are prisons for animals, but unlike prisons, all the animals are innocent.

Will not support such places with my cash.

Yeah I think that if they're able to make parks like Fota Wildlife park which seems so much better for the animals then there's no need for zoos. The animals seemed a lot happier and less aware of the people around them.

steddyeddy

Naomi00 wrote: »

Yeah I think that if they're able to make parks like Fota Wildlife park which seems so much better for the animals then there's no need for zoos. The animals seemed a lot happier and less aware of the people around them.

The new Gorilla enclosure in Dublin zoo is great aswell. Harry (the big silverback) seems a lot more relaxed.

the groutch

JupiterKid wrote: »

The zoo also has been completely modernised and greatly expanded since my last visit and there are many facilities all over the zoo - cafes, restaurants (pricey) and toilets.

Toilets? Who'd have thunk it?

JupiterKid

the groutch wrote: »

Toilets? Who'd have thunk it?

Well, more toilets all around the zoo than were there previously. Handy for parents with a screaming kid "Daddy, I wanna do a poo!!":rolleyes::pac:

keith16

southcentralts wrote: »

Had a meeting with Mr Lyon there, but he never showed up.

You should have called ahead to make sure he was available. Do it now. And ask for him by his full name. His first name is Rory, I believe.

Plazaman

Oh yeah, they're all friendly and shít when you're walking around but as soon as you borrow a Giraffe in the boot of your car, mayhem ensues.

Would've been the best Stag party ever.

brimal

Truley wrote: »

I'm not a big zoo fan but it's certainly better than the only other one I went to, Berlin Zoo- that place was depressing and cruel.

I went to Berlin zoo before as so many people claimed it was one of the best zoos in Europe. I have to agree, never seen such a depressing place in all my life.

ComfyKnickers

I went to the zoo as a child and remember feeling sorry for the animals as their enclosures were quite small. I purposely went to Foto from then on as I knew the animals moved with more freedom. My kids wanted to go to the zoo years later, I wasn't looking forward to it but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at all the work done over the years and I was a lot happier about how the animals were kept. Food is pricey alright but ticket prices are okay and I think Tesco Clubcard Points can be used for tickets if you check the Tesco website

Smidge

Have been to a fair few zoo's over the years and Dublin zoo is up there with the best. Enclosures are pretty decent sizes but do feel conflicted like others as to caging big cats etc.
Was at Chester Zoo recently which has a great reputation and it didn't have a patch on Dublin Zoo tbh

Bandana boy

Someone told me
It's all happening at the zoo.
I do believe it,
I do believe it's true.

Micky Dolenz

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Education programmes for the animals? I think most animals have the mating thing nailed, forgive the pun .

As for the endangered species, what percentage of animals in world wide zoos are endangered?

I was in jersey zoo a couple years ago, and surprised at the number of "this species is endangered" signs

My name is URL

Been a while since I was at the zoo. I remember seeing a tapir for the first time when I was there last. It had the weirdest lookin' boner at the time.

Someone should organise an AH zoo trip. That'd be some laugh

JupiterKid

Whilst Dublin Zoo has changed for the better in the past 15 or so years and the animals have quite a lot of space and are well cared for, spare a thought for the poor animals trapped in these hellholes that call themselves zoos...:(:mad:

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/global/100629/worst-world-zoos

LH Pathe

The armchair traveller in me says yes; but...no.

montyrebel

steddyeddy wrote: »

Are you joking?

not joking, heres the link for the news story

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/1184154.stm