Animals & science
Stories
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Conservation in the Himalayas
A red panda at ZOO Planckendael has given birth to two cubs. That is great news for Europe’s breeding programme and a good opportunity to reflect on the lot of their wild cousins. Because while these births are promising for the survival of the species, the red panda remains under threat in its natural habitat.
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Family secrets revealed: DNA analysis identifies the father of chimpanzee Zabari
How do you work out who fathered a baby chimpanzee when there are five adult males in the group? And why does it matter? A single hair sample and DNA analysis not only establish paternity, but are also crucial for breeding policy, parentage studies and genetic management in the European breeding programme. Find out how genetic material is collected, analysed and interpreted at Antwerp ZOO.
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A hat trick of hope: three rare merganser chicks on a mission
Antwerp ZOO has successfully raised three Chinesemergansers. Breeding this striking and endangered duck species is rarely successful in European zoos, making this a truly exceptional achievement.
Upcoming events
18th Annual ZOO Research Symposium
On the 14th of November, the Antwerp ZOO Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC) will hold its annual ZOO Research Symposium at ZOO Antwerp.
EAZA Animal Welfare Forum
The EAZA Animal Welfare Forum connects professionals to improve animal welfare through evidence, research and practice during workshops, presentations and other interactive sessions.
Blog
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A database full of intestinal bacteria from bonobos
Did you know that as many as half of the cells in your body are not human cells, but bacteria? The majority of them live in your gut, and together they make up a complete ecosystem called the gut microbiome. These bacteria not only help you digest food, but also support your immune system and can even affect your mood.
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Does sex help against stress? In bonobos, it certainly does
How do you deal with stress? Are you going for a quiet walk in the woods, a yoga session, or are you going to dive into a creative hobby? Everyone experiences stress from time to time. Short-term stress is actually part of a healthy live, provided you are able to deal with it. Animals, like humans, have rich emotional lives and sometimes experience stress, and bonobos have their own solution to deal with that: SEX!
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Environmental enrichment can improve the welfare of vultures
Can giving new things to explore improve the welfare of vultures? That’s the question we set out to answer in our latest study at Zoo Planckendael. In this new research, we tested whether giving zoo-housed vultures different types of environmental enrichment can encourage natural behaviours and improve their welfare.