Stories

  1. Worldwide sharing: data makes the difference

    Worldwide sharing: data makes the difference

    Planckendael ZOO and Antwerp ZOO play an important role in creating the world’s largest and most comprehensive knowledge base on over 22,000 animal species. As members of the global nonprofit Species360, both zoos contribute daily data on animals and groups in their care, from lifecycle traits to environmental needs. This information is recorded in the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), the world's largest source of data on species.

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  2. Moral Warriors or Coral Warriors? Divers fight for fragile coral

    Moral Warriors or Coral Warriors? Divers fight for fragile coral

    The divers of Antwerp ZOO’s reef aquarium help this artificial coral reef maintain its precarious balance. Just as in nature, this fragile ecosystem contains plants, fish, corals, invertebrates, crabs, micro-organisms and so on, all of which are strongly affected by light intensity and water quality. Various parameters, such as temperature, pH level, salinity, phosphate level and water currents are monitored continuously here.

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  3. In the spotlight: Co-housers

    In the spotlight: Co-housers

    Antwerp ZOO’s research staff spent an impressive 430 hours observing the zoo’s owl-faced monkeys and gorillas as the animal experts prepared these two primate species to share an enclosure. ‘This is one of the most significant behavioural observation projects we have ever conducted’, explains Animal Welfare Research Coordinator Marina Salas. ‘Thanks to the vast amount of information we’ve collected, experts from all disciplines can collaborate in a scientifically substantiated manner.

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  6. A good net balance of greenhouse gases? De Zegge as a storage facility

    A good net balance of greenhouse gases? De Zegge as a storage facility

    The science division of Antwerp ZOO is conducting research into the emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane gas, in the De Zegge nature reserve in Geel, Belgium. ‘Not only is De Zegge the oldest nature reserve in Flanders, but it is also one of the few places in our country where large amounts of living peat can still be found in the soil. Peatlands are a perfect – both active and passive – storage facility for CO2.

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  7. A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE ZOO KITCHEN: HEALTHY NUTRITION FOR A HEALTHY ANIMAL LIFE

    A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE ZOO KITCHEN: HEALTHY NUTRITION FOR A HEALTHY ANIMAL LIFE

    A healthy diet is of tremendous importance to both humans and animals. Nutritionists and other specialists are gaining increasingly more knowledge about nutrition and its effects on our bodies. The past few decades were marked by a growing understanding among the scientific community that an animal’s diet should not only provide for its nutritional needs, but should also stimulate its natural behaviour.

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  8. Hoofing it: poster about okapis wins first prize

    Hoofing it: poster about okapis wins first prize

    Our scientists can justly be proud of themselves: their research was highly acclaimed at the Wildlife Research and Conservation (WRC) 2023 conference in Berlin. The scientifically founded infographic by master’s degree student João Pedro Meireles on aggressive behaviour among male okapis during mating introductions won first prize in the poster competition. Through this poster, he is putting the expertise of Antwerp ZOO in the spotlights in a visually attractive manner.

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  9. A ‘first’ at Antwerp ZOO: Never before performed knee surgery provides an okapi with a pain-free future

    A ‘first’ at Antwerp ZOO: Never before performed knee surgery provides an okapi with a pain-free future

    Antwerp ZOO’s smallest okapi is once again putting his best foot forward after a serious knee operation. The operation was an absolute first, as this surgical procedure has never been applied to an okapi before. The animal suffered from knee problems ever since it was born, which would have a negative impact on its mobility and general quality of life in the long term.

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  10. An aviary that listens: recall training is huge success

    An aviary that listens: recall training is huge success

    The aviary of the future is located in the very heart of the City of Antwerp, at the edge of Antwerp ZOO. ‘We have 23 species of birds flying about in our Savannah Aviary, all of whom we can check up on individually due to our recall training,’ explains Jan Dams, Curator of Birds and Animal Care Coordinator. Thanks to months of training and the expertise built up by the zookeepers, each species now recognises a specific signal that prompts it to spread its wings and fly straight to its carers.

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  12. From the lab to the blue carpet: Biobank fascinates film festival audience

    From the lab to the blue carpet: Biobank fascinates film festival audience

    It is, of course, something completely different. Our scientists often venture beyond their familiar laboratories and typical zoo environments, but they seldom put themselves in the spotlights at an international film festival. In the Dutch city of Nijmegen, two of our experts enthusiastically joined the panel discussion following the viewing of a documentary on the San Diego Zoo’s Frozen Zoo.

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