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| zoomarwell [2023/09/13 17:18] – [IV. MARWELL AS IT STANDS] zookeeper | zoomarwell [2025/03/29 07:59] (current) – [V. MARWELL AS IT STANDS] zookeeper |
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| of a new Tropical House for Marwell, which houses an array of tropical birds, as well as several reptiles and | of a new Tropical House for Marwell, which houses an array of tropical birds, as well as several reptiles and |
| a few small mammals. | a few small mammals. |
| A wetlands area was planned for 2020, to revitalise the area surrounding tapirs, pygmy hippopotamus and flamingos, but was postponed heavily by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 it would acquire Blue-faced Honeyeater, making it the only collection in the United Kingdom to have the species. In 2023 a new carnivore plan was announced with the expansion of the snow leopard enclosure to follow; and the older Tropical World was repurposed as 'Thriving Through Nature' - a Mediterranean-type exhibit for rock hyrax, lizards, and green toad. | A wetlands area was planned for 2020, to revitalise the area surrounding tapirs, pygmy hippopotamus and flamingos, but was postponed heavily by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 it would acquire Blue-faced Honeyeater, making it the only public collection in the United Kingdom to have the species. Later years saw breeding success of this species at Marwell. In 2023 a new carnivore plan was announced with the expansion of the snow leopard enclosure to follow; and the older Tropical World was repurposed as 'Thriving Through Nature' - a Mediterranean-type exhibit for rock hyrax, lizards, and green toad. |
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| In September of 2023, Cretney announced his resignation as Chief Executive of Marwell - a position held since 2005. As of September 2023, Cretney remains in post; but will leave once a new CE has been recruited. Cretney legacy is left one of mixed opinion - he oversaw many developments which characterised Marwell in the early to mid-21st century - but critiques of Cretney noted he did little for years to ensure prosperity of Marwell’s existing animal collection. | In September of 2023, Cretney announced his resignation as Chief Executive of Marwell - a position held since 2005. As of September 2023, Cretney remains in post; but will leave once a new CE has been recruited. The legacy left behind by Cretney has been hailed as one of perserverance - particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic; which saw Marwell lose much funding. During his time at Marwell, Cretney oversaw many expensive renovations and exhibit constructions. But not all are so endeared by Cretney's legacy - as several others feel that Cretney did little to properly maintain Marwell's animal collection - and many of the developments which he oversaw at Marwell quickly fell into obsolecence - as well as many developments before his time - and those that did survive were of rather little substance. |
| ====== IV. MARWELL AS IT STANDS ====== | ====== IV. THE POST-CRETNEY ERA - READ'S OFFICE [appointed 2024] ====== |
| | In January of 2024, Marwell announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive - Laura Read, who has worked for many years in various leadership roles in sectors including retail, hospitality, and events - but also has a long-standing passion for conservation, and graduated from Warwick University in Biological Sciences. She was officially appointed in March of that year. In March, Marwell announced fundraising for the construction of a breeding centre for the white-clawed crayfish to take place in April. |
| | In the first year under Read's tenure, relatively little new construction took place. Even so, it was announced that the Fur, Feathers and Scales area would be redeveloped into an area for native species; 'Phase 1' being a development for white-clawed crayfish and sand lizards. Whether the Cold-Blooded Corner or walk-through areas will be subject to this development as well remains to be seen. Also under her tenure development was completed on an extension for the snow leopard enclosure. |
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| | In March of 2025, the Native Species Zone, in the 'center' of the former Encounter Village, opened, featuring exhibits for White Clawed Crayfish and Sand Lizard, as well as an outdoor library for children, a play area, and a pond. |
| | ====== V. MARWELL AS IT STANDS ====== |
| A number of Marwell's enclosures are simple in design - large, planted fields, of which house a hoofed | A number of Marwell's enclosures are simple in design - large, planted fields, of which house a hoofed |
| mammal. Such enclosures work very well - with the animals breeding successfully. Having gained a | mammal. Such enclosures work very well - with the animals breeding successfully. Having gained a |
| with paddocked surroundings. | with paddocked surroundings. |
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| Smaller mammals of Marwell seem to have decreased somewhat compared to years prior, though they | A relatively recent development in Marwell's history if the 'splitting' of the Encounter Village. The Cretney era saw expansion of the Village's reach further west, as "Fur, Feathers, and Scales" but Read's era saw the Village centre, which became largely disused under Cretney, redeveloped as the Native Species area. The Cretney-era Fur, Feathers, and Scales, encompasses several walk through aviaries as well as a wallaby walkthrough, an exhibit built for coatis but repurposed for red pandas, as well as one exhibit inside of the UK Native Species Zone - the Cold-Blooded Corner. The Read-era Native Species area has exhibits for White-clawed Crayfish and Sand Lizards, as well as a play area in the center of the village and a pond area. Elements of earlier times of the Village, such as the architecture, remain - though these are no longer used for animals. Some paces away from the Hall |
| still exist somewhat. Marmosets and tamarins can be found at the 'Life in the Trees' exhibit [where siamang | |
| are perhaps a main attraction] as well as around the Marwell Hall itself. The Encounter Village exists once again in a new form - "Fur, Feathers, and Scales", where several exhibits exist for close viewing of mammals, birds, and reptiles. The more historical part of the Village, however, has seemingly fallen out of use - the enclosure once marketed as being the largest coati enclosure in Europe now used for Red Panda. Elements of earlier times of the Village, such as the architecture, remain - though these are no longer used for animals. Some paces away from the Hall | |
| can be found two of Knowles' greatest passion-animals - Amur tigers, and okapis, which continue to prosper | can be found two of Knowles' greatest passion-animals - Amur tigers, and okapis, which continue to prosper |
| and breed well at Marwell, as they have for years. The bird collection of Marwell appears fairly impressive - | and breed well at Marwell, as they have for years. The bird collection of Marwell appears fairly impressive - |
