Probably we should not look that far. The name for the project probably just has to do with marketing. After all, 'Monkey Island' sounds much better and is easier to pronounce than, let's say, 'Ape Island'. Also, many more people will know the word 'Monkey' than 'Ape,' notwithstanding the Planet of the Apes films. Such scenes for names of new projects are less likely to be seen in larger, more national zoos, but certainly in such smaller, more amateurish parks that are rather regionally known. Indeed, a good-sounding name that everyone understands for a new major project is much more essential for a lesser-known park that wants to grow than for an already (inter)nationally known zoo.
I understand the situation in which this kind of name has originated, but I generally don't think that the search for something that works well from a marketing standpoint should warrant the use of a name that is incorrect from a scientific standpoint (even though I agree that it is somewhat understandable from a linguistical standpoint). Zoos, even the small and amateurish ones, should have an educational mission after all. That said, I personally don't find the name "monkey island" all that appealing. I think it's rather bland and uninspired knowing that the park itself uses the fairly creative word "Pakawi" in its name, but that's just my personal taste.
Visited the park today: - The construction works for the "Monkey Village" started as reported above, meaning that the gibbon island was partially destroyed. The gibbon moved in the former enclosure of the Clouded Panther. - Then, the clouded panther moved to the jungle cat exhibit. The jungle cat is no longer visible (backstage? Transferred? dead? no idea). - I didn't see the chimpanzees (nothing outdoor, and despite all the lights on, I didn't see them inside). - The Grey-headed swamphens moved into an enclosure located inside the vast greenhouse. The small aviary where they were (next to the restaurant) is still closed. From the savannah pavilion, I saw that they were busy finishing a brand-new enclosure (probably for big cats) here: Any ideas about what will move there? I quickly re-read all the posts from the last two years and I didn't find the answer. EDIT: It's probably the Tara's Kingdom. So I guess that it's for (new?) tigers?
This was discussed on the Laafsekikkers forum at some point, it seems like they are building an additional tiger exhibit at this location. There was also some discussion about them doing some type of demonstration with tigers, which kind of concerns me at this place. Nieuwstopic Pakawi Park - Pagina 5 - Laafsekikkers.be
Hmm, there's 2 Jungle Cats, would seem rather strange if both would have died (well, not impossible), so the most likely thing hopefully is they are behind the scenes somewhere.
I asked a keeper a week ago and the jungle cats are behind the scenes. That aviary isn't a walk-throught aviary anymore so it will remain closed.
Strange actually that it's closed. It wasn't exactly the most beautiful aviary, but it was always nice to see the many birds housed here up close. Will this aviary remain permanently closed or is it just temporary? And could there be plans for it?
It still houses birds, and you can still see them up close, not from the side of the restaurant, but from the other side. It's just no walk-through anymore. Don't think they have plans for it atm.
Demo of tigers? I am not sure it is something we should consider nowadays. It was my main guess (hosted backstage), but we never know (i.e. Manuls in Parc des Félins).
Recently a Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) was born. Source: Instagram of Pakawi Park (22/04/2024)
