Hyena at Twycross

gothgirl

gothgirl

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On my last visit to tywcross I was very distressed to see one depressed , lone hyena, panting away locked inside a small hot building.

I would love to know how it is doing now?

Does it have more space? Have they found it any companions? Is it still depressed / lethargic?

Has anyone seen it recently?
 
gothgirl said:
Is it still depressed / lethargic?
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Are you a Hyena expert? Do you KNOW it is "depressed"? Do you know it was "lethargic" and not just suffering from old age and probably in as safe and comfortable a place as anyone is willing to offer it?
Yes, it is still there, in it's open enclosure with a hut at the end. Yes, it is still cared for and receiving plenty food and not paraded out to entertain nosey visitors. If you want to know more about animals in zoos, then join ZOOCHATTERS, where you will get a balanced and informed view of captive animals around the world. AND no, the Otters have not had their enclosure improved upon since you picked at it last year, not that it was half as bad as you made it out to be.
 
Calm down, Twycross isn't the best of zoos for enclosures, not been there for a while but last time I went I wasn't overly impressed but
then I do go to many zoos with far better enclosures for their animals.
Just because it's in a zoo doesn't mean a captive animals should be confined to small cages with little enrichment in their lives.
One of the reasons I don't go to Paradise Wildlife Park is because last time I visited their cat enclosures were appalling
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
Are you a Hyena expert? Do you KNOW it is "depressed"? Do you know it was "lethargic" and not just suffering from old age and probably in as safe and comfortable a place as anyone is willing to offer it?
.............
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No, but I do have a degree in animal sciences and behaviour, specialising in care of exotic species.
I also breed rare species and lecture in schools on exotic animal care and biology.

One basic need of social animals is to be kept as a group, or at least a pair, and hyenas are a well documented pack species, so I was not impressed to find a lone animal.

Keeping social animals alone is a well known cause for depression in captivity.

Gremlin said:
Calm down, Twycross isn't the best of zoos for enclosures, not been there for a while but last time I went I wasn't overly impressed but
then I do go to many zoos with far better enclosures for their animals.
Just because it's in a zoo doesn't mean a captive animals should be confined to small cages with little enrichment in their lives.
One of the reasons I don't go to Paradise Wildlife Park is because last time I visited their cat enclosures were appalling
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Agree completely.
 
I'm sure there is at least one person at Twycross that can at least match your qualifications and experience.
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
I'm sure there is at least one person at Twycross that can at least match your qualifications and experience.
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And there was a qualified vet in leeds that can surpass me in animal biological facts by miles... but that still didn't stop him from keeping 12 emaciated huskies in his basement.
 
gothgirl said:
And there was a qualified vet in leeds that can surpass me in animal biological facts by miles... but that still didn't stop him from keeping 12 emaciated huskies in his basement.
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How many staff did he have to help him do that?!?!?! And how many visitors did he invite round?
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
How many staff did he have to help him do that?!?!?! And how many visitors did he invite round?
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Regardless, we're getting off point from the ... well point of this thread, which I believe has been answered.

It's still there, still alone, though seemingly its housing has improved which is one thing at least
 
gothgirl said:
And there was a qualified vet in leeds that can surpass me in animal biological facts by miles... but that still didn't stop him from keeping 12 emaciated huskies in his basement.
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nickEnackEnoo said:
How many staff did he have to help him do that?!?!?! And how many visitors did he invite round?
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So in your view Nick (?) having staff and allowing people to see the animals makes it ok to keep them in unfit conditions ?
 
gothgirl said:
It's still there, still alone, though seemingly its housing has improved which is one thing at least
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As far as I'm aware, it is still there and the housing is the same as it's been for several years. It was not confined to the conditions you first described, which lead me to believe the rest of your observations were inaccurate.
Sorry Gremlin, if you want to draw that conclusion, that's up to you, but it's as justified as the original post, IMHO.
There are a few factors neither of you are taking into account here and I'm not in a position to point them out to you, so i'll leave you to feel unjustifiably smug together.
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
Sorry Gremlin, if you want to draw that conclusion, that's up to you, but it's as justified as the original post, IMHO.
There are a few factors neither of you are taking into account here and I'm not in a position to point them out to you, so i'll leave you to feel unjustifiably smug together.
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Not smug at all, but hey if you aren't prepared to back your explanation with facts/proof, that's your choice, I've seen first hand how some zoos keep their exhibits, not specifically
Twycross, and it leads some adverse behaviours, not exactly happy animals.
I've also seen the uproar when seemingly healthy animals are destroyed for very good reason, not always health, but that's people for you
 
Hyena are highly social animals with a specific social structure. I've seen it numerous times in the wild. It's wrong to keep a Hyena separate. I assume the zoo can't fund further animals, or chooses not to for some reason. Very sad.
 
condyk said:
Hyena are highly social animals with a specific social structure. I've seen it numerous times in the wild. It's wrong to keep a Hyena separate. I assume the zoo can't fund further animals, or chooses not to for some reason. Very sad.
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I know, I contacted the zoo at the time of my visit a couple of years ago.

I believe their answer at the time was something along the lines of they are trying to find a companion, but have yet to find anyadults of the same species in captivity, let alone anyone that can spare one.

I don't know if this situation has changed , or remains the same.
 
Since showing her this thread, a friend of mine has been badgering me to take her back to see the "depressed" Luca. Needless to say, she was relieved to find her in the same healthy state today as the last time she visited. We did ask about Luca's future; apparently she is on a surplus list and a suitable home is being sought for her.

The 'small hot building' and open enclosure to which Luca has free access and has had for over 5 years.


Opposite end of the enclosure


The far from depressed/lethargic Arabian Striped Hyena, which is not as social an animal as some of it's higher profile, spottie cousins.


Having a wonder


Having a chat with a Crow
 
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