I had to look closely myself sometimes to recognize the figures. In the preview, the photos xhowed how they were just set up, ready to get the scene together. And that made quite a difference for most of them, of course. It was quite a puzzle to get the clips in the same order as they were in the preview and with the same musical parts. 😉😅 Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

Those dots and stripes form a perfect camouflage in the jungle. I call it his dots-and-striped pyjamas. 😄🥰 l'm planning to record Zaki again a few times in the future to show how the change to the adult pattern will develop. Thank you for your comment here, too, Emily. 😀👍

I can understand you think of cookies. 😆😅 I uploaded a video on 4 September about 1 week old Zaki at that time. You didn't respond to that one, so you probably missed it. Please note that this is not a reproach! I did find it a bit odd because I'm used to it that you send a comment. 😉😄 If you want to watch it, just tap on my thumbnail so you get to my channel, and you'll find it under 'videos' with the title "Cute Baby Tapir". There's more info in the description too. One Dutch man in the public thought they were hippos... Yeah, well, they were swimming in the water, weren't they. 😄 Thank you for your comment, Emily. I do appreciate your responses! 😀👍

@carinagryp6264 Oh okay, must have missed that one. I'll check it out when I want something cute and relaxing to watch. Thanks and I totally understand that was not a reproach! 🤗

Indeed, tapirs are animals that aren't seen in many zoos. At this moment, Zaki is the last one of a whole series of babies born over the years in Zoo Antwerpen. They are so cute in their dotted and striped "pyjamas ", as l call it. Someone of the public thought they were hippos... 😯😄 Thank you for your response once more, Terri Jo. 😀👍

They do try to get the enclosures as natural as possible. First time ever l saw any of them in the water. Thank you for your comment. 😃👍

@@jenniferd.9817 Zaki is so cute, indeed! That little nose! 🥰👍 I got lucky for once to record this. 😉😄 Thank you for your comment, Jennifer. 😀👍

Normally, newborn cubs get their vaccines when they are 8 weeks old. But indeed, it went all wrong with Lorena's previous litter. The vet and zookeepers decided to wait for a longer period of time to give the vaccines, even if that was against regulations. It all went well, apparently. I don't know at what age the vaccines were given eventually. At that time, the vet also checks to know the gender. But the zookeepers were sure in advance that it was a boy and a girl, so the names could be chosen by the public already. Yarfar and Yade were the favourites. As they were born in 2023, the first letter of the names had to be a Y.

@@carinagryp6264 Thank you, Carina.

@@emilyinoregon6967 As you can see, some of them weren't finished setting up yet. The festival starts on Friday 25 October so they have to keep busy! Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😃👍

I thought so, too! That gave me the idea for this preview. I'm not sure that l will go see them later on. That will depend on the weather, and of course, it's again dragons. That last scene looked quite familiar! Thank you for your comment, Jennifer. 😀👍

@emilyinoregon6967 lf you think about it, how the human race has destroyed so much of nature and still is... it's really horrifying! I came across this xong a while ago and planned it to use it for this World Animal Day immediately. Some people object to animals in zoos and would prefer conservation in the natural habitat. But that's just the point, isn't it. For a lot of animals, the natural habitat does only barely exist anymore. Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

@carinagryp6264 Yes! I totally agree with you about zoos. A lot of modern zoos are great places for animals to live.

I always do my best to find appropriate music because I feel that a video can mean much more that way. And since these are Asiatic lions, of which the left-over population is living in an Indian animal reserve, this music sounded right. It was only just a bit too fast to my taste, so l got the speed down a notch. After all, the lions were at ease, not running or really active. Yes, that's correct. In 2025, the names for the newborn animals will begin with an A. Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

@laurawnphoto Geluk gehad! Het komt inderdaad niet zoveel voor dat een leeuwin brult. Ze miste haar maatje, blijkbaar! 🦁🥰👍 Dank je wel voor je comment, Laura. 😀👍

@emilyinoregon6967 I'm not a car person either. Never have been. Never had to choose which car to buy because l don't have a drivers license. My husband drove leased cars from work. It started with watching a neighbour down the street working on the blue Volkswagen, shown at the beginning. He worked on it for years, and l loved the colour he chose for it. We used to have a similar grey one when l was a kid. So, in March this year, it was finally finished to have rides. I asked him if l could take some photos and he said "Yes, of course". He told me about this old-timers meeting and as it was quite near where we are living, l decided to go have a look. It was fun! I took photos of the ones l liked most, but there were a lot of other ones as well. The meeting was a success. So many cars turned up, that the parking spaces were all occupied and the cars still kept coming. The yellow-and-black Citroën 2cv... l had seen it several times at a parking lot of one of the supermarkets l go to, but never had my phone with me. I hoped it would turn up at the meeting, but l didn't find it. I just started biking home, when it passed me, so l went back to get some photos. 😉😅 Thank you for your comment, Emily. I'm glad you liked the video. 😀👍

@terrijofilms305 Hello Terri Jo! 👋 There were many more car brands and models shown, but l only selected the ones l liked most. Could be some of them were unfamiliar to you. Here in Belgium, we have cars from other European countries, of course. For example, I showed Citroën from France, Volkswagen from Germany, Fiat from Italy, and Mini Morris from the U.K. among many others of which l don't know the brand myself. I've never been into knowing and recognising all of them, to be honest. But this meeting was amusing! Thank you for your comment, Terri Jo. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! 😀👍

@@shawna6683 She is! And it's a joy to see her act this way. Thank you for your comment. 😀👍

The giant pandas came to Belgium in 2014, so 10 years ago, and only now l got to see them. And one of them was active even! I think those were the twins, born in 2019. There was a real competition going on between Zoo Planckendael and Pairi Daiza to get them at that time. Politics got involved and so it was decided the conditions were in favour of Pairi Daiza. They turned out to be a public's magnet and still are. You're correct about the translation. Well done! 😄👍 Pairi Daiza is situated in the Walloon (= southern) part of Belgium, so it's all in French. That's why we have to drive for 1.5 h to get there. Still, zookeepers are present to keep an eye on things in the walk-through enclosure. No touching the animals allowed, either, and particularly children are spontaneously tempted to do just that. Thank you for your comment here as well, Emily. 😀👍

Oh, and by the way... @0:33, those are my friends walking through that portal. They had invited me to come along and l was so thankful they did!

We got so lucky to see these animals in action. There was too much of a crowd standing at the fence when the polar bear jumped into the water, so l missed that. He was hanging around in the water, eating small things that were floating around. I'm not sure what they were, maybe some treats. The underwater scene was cut out of a longer video clip with people standing in front of the window too much. Ah, yes... the penguins! I always think it's as if they are "flying" through the water. They're not easy to follow, so l just recorded a while and cut out the best parts.Trick of the trade... 😉😅 Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

It truly is a real pleasure to walk around in this animal park. The enclosures are big and arranged in a very natural-looking way.The set up of the various areas - or 'worlds', as they call it - shows a surprising authenticity to the land of origin. Berani is known to be the chief prankster of the orangutans group and often amusing the public with his antics. He's so much fun to look at, isn't he. The recorded clips of the polar bear and the pinguins in the water were much longer. I just cut out the best parts. 😉😅 Thank you for your comment, Jennifer. 😀👍

@@laurawnphoto We hebben inderdaad vooral met enkele grote katten geluk gehad om hen in actie te zien. Uit ervaring weten we dat ze graag veel slapen, hé. 😉😄 Er waren heel wat bezoekers, maar het is toch gelukt om de dieren op foto/video vast te leggen. Niet verwonderlijk dus, dat we heel tevreden waren. Dankjewel voor je reactie, Laura. 😀👍

@emilyinoregon6967 For as far as l know, gorillas live for 35 to 40 years. In zoos, it can be up to 50. Let's hope Amahoro can have at least some years in good health yet. Circumstances can be different, of course. Leader Matadi was only 20 years old when he died of a combination of covid virus and other bacterial infections. It was not noticeable for quite some time, that he wasn't feeling well. In nature, showing weakness is avoided, particularly by a leader. Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

She truly is. It's a pleasure to see her blossom now that she doesn't have to fear anymore for reprimands from Matadi. She doesn't hide in a corner anymore, so now the visitors can admire her in her full glory. Edit : Too bad Amahoro is the only gorilla of her species in European zoos and there only a few other ones left. So sadly, she will never become a mother herself. That's why l was happy to see her interact with the 2 girls, Thandie and Vizazi. Thank you for your comment. 😀👍

Indeed, she is! 😍👍 Amahoro is noticeably bigger and darker than the other gorillas, so most visitors think she's the male. Thank you for your comment. 😀👍

@emilyinoregon6967 l only found out yesterday that there had been a parade on Saturday afternoon. That would have been better to see more of the vehicles, people dressed up in clothes of that time, musical bands playing and marching, etc. I saw photos and watched the video on the local TV channel. 5 years ago, with the 75th anniversary, not so many events were organised, so l had no clue for this year. Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

He is, isn't he. Particularly that long little nose... 😉🥰👍 Thank you for your comment, Jennifer. 😃👍

Good morning from Flanders, Terri Jo. Not such good news, about catching covid, sorry to read that! I wish you a speedy recovery, but l know it takes time. Over here, there are also people still catching covid. I'm afraid we will never get rid of it anymore, as it keeps changing. It had been since last year that l had spent time at the seaside. A befriended couple and l drove up there also to see the sand sculptures. It was about fairy tales then. My friends couldn't make it this time, so l decided to go on my own by train. I have true admiration for the artists who create the figures every year! They are busy for many weeks preparing it all. Take care of yourself and take your time to get well again, Terri Jo. l'm looking forward to your future videos! Thank you for your comment. 😀👍

Thanks so much Carina. I’m glad you made it to the beach.

In fact, there wasn't a special celebration. The lions just got lucky it was Thursday, feeding day.😉😅 But as you could see, they appreciated the meat. lt was one of their regular zookeepers who provided it all, and so one goat was hung up high on the pole. One of the birthday girls went straight for it. That was fun to watch! Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

So then l suppose it's also a sandy beach at the Oregon coast (?) Do you often have the chance to visit the seaside? I regret the North Sea coast is in quite a distance from where l'm living. Otherwise, l would go for a walk many more times. As a family and my brother and I still being kids, we used to go to the beach in Zoutelande, the Netherlands, which is in fact closer for us. Every year for a week in a bungalow or caravan. So many good memories! I went there several times with my own family, as well. Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

@@carinagryp6264 Not very often, unfortunately. It's kind of a long drive. It's gorgeous though. I'll send you pics. Childhood beach memories! I have those too. In that case, it's Lake Michigan, near Chicago. Thanks for the reply, Carina!😺😊

Ja, zo is dat. Het waaide nogal hard, maar dat was eigenlijk deel van het ontspannende gevoel. 🥰👍 Dankjewel voor je reactie, Laura. 😀👍

It is! Watching and listening to the waves... Instantly sets your mind free. 🥰👍 Thank you for your comment, Jennifer. 😀👍

It was fun travelling around the world! 😉😄👍 I decided to put some fitting music to the photos and clips, so l gathered them together accordingly by continent as much as possible. I truly admire the artists who create all these out of sand year after year. Last year, fairy tales were the subjects. Do you remember? Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

@@carinagryp6264 Yes, I remember! That was great.

They sure are! All of those details! 😮👍 I'm glad l went to see them. Took me 2 hours by train, but it was worth it. Thank you for your comment, Jennifer. 😀👍

Is ook indrukwekkend... Al die details! 😮👍 Ik ben blij dat ik ben gaan kijken. Kostte me wel tijd met de trein, maar het was de moeite waard. Tegelijkertijd uitgewaaid en frisse zeelucht! 😉😅 Dankjewel voor je reactie, Laura. 😀👍

@@carineluyck5323 Dankjewel voor je reactie. 😃👍

There's been quite some time and effort put in the enclosures and constructions. The renovation started at the beginning of 2020, and the big greenhouse (as l call it) finally opened to the public in June 2022. The orangutans were allowed a long period of time to get adjusted to the new environment. They were reluctant to go outside at first, but soon, they had fun climbing and swinging. It was the first time, though, l watched her (or any of them) going and staying outside, so l was lucky to catch those moments. The indoor enclosure you could see in the video is 1 of 3. After their arrival, the family and the others were kept separately until it was clear they got along. The 3rd enclosure is the home of gibbons. Meanwhile, they all mingle and interact. Also, the outdoor enclosure shown in the video is 1 of 2 'islands', originally 1 for the orangutans and 1 for the gibbons. Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

Thank you for your comment. 😀👍

Thank you for your comment. 😀👍

@terrijofilms305 Good morning from Flanders, Terri Jo. I'm glad to know you loved the video. Monkeys are always fun, aren't they. I hope to record the monkeys and gorillas together in the enclosure someday! Thank you for your comment and support! 😀👍

I was wondering myself about that. I know there are several goats farms in a larger distance from the city, so l suppose the zoo will have a deal with those. It still makes me sad to know some goats are killed to feed the lions. But at least they are dead and not still alive. The same goes for the rabbits on Mondays. Kind of odd, we tend to accept big chunks of meat more easily, although they are part of killed animals as well. Normally, Thursday is not a day that l have the opportunity to visit the zoo, but this time, l did, and l made sure to be early. A lady who l have met before and who is one of the devoted fans of the lions told me about the vacation of the regular lions' zookeepers. So we had to wait longer, but l stayed put because l wanted to see and record it. Thank you for your comment here, too, Traci. 😀👍

@@emilyinoregon6967 Indeed, cats are carnivores while dogs are considered to be more omnivorous. That's why dog food is cheaper as it contains also veggies and grains and so on. I heard that the children who were present asked a lot of questions about it. l was relieved to notice that they excepted that answer from the adults quite well : lions need meat. No hysterical outings. Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

Indeed, they are! First time l witnessed a feeding. Only then the lions are in action... 😉😄

They are... but also unpredictable regarding actions! Not easy to follow them while recording, sometimes! The recorded clips were all much longer, l just cut the best parts out. That way, l could upload it both on YT and on IG in the 1:1 size. Thank you for your comment here, too, Traci. 😀👍

Traci had chosen a The Monkeys song to go with one of her Instagram posts and l recognised it also. I remember watching the series on a Dutch TV channel back in the days. I thought the music quite fitted this video, but l used the karaoke version and got the speed down by a quarter. The monkeys were not exactly jumping around (yet), were they. 😉😅 I hope to get footage of them together with the gorillas. As those are all females, it is expected there won't be real trouble. If male Matadi would still be present, it would be a whole other situation! Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

@emilyinoregon6967 That was what l meant to do : showing not so commonly known animals. I had to look at the name of the species on the information board myself! 😉😅 I've been recording these here and there since last year, every time some of them were appearing or in action. Particularly, the small deer didn't do that regularly. First time ever l saw the muntjac, but it's not there for a long time already. I was at the zoo early, and a zookeeper had just put the greens down and it suddenly appeared. The tapir just got out of sight indoors. Otherwise, l had taken a photo of it too. Indeed, the nutria are spread in North America and even got 'imported' in Europe. Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

​@tracilay4162 It does look the same! Meerkats stand in a similar pose too. So this must be the absolutely correct pose for being on watch duty! 😉😄 Thank you for your comment, Traci. 😀👍

Hello, Terri Jo. It's always a pleasure to get your comment! Thank you for the support! 😀👍 The elephants enjoy each other indeed, and with the extension of their enclosure and the added enrichment items recently, there's even more to explore for them and for us, watching them. 🐘😍👍

@@emilyinoregon6967 Hiiii Emily! 😉😄👋 It's true that nowadays, the emotional and physical needs of the animals are much more taken into consideration. It's all to the benefit of the animals. More room to go exploring, a lot of enrichment to keep them busy while searching for food and also for playtime. Elephants are intelligent beings and they need challenges! It has been proven successful to get 2 young elephants together, the way it is done here in Zoo Antwerpen. They make sure there's a bit of difference in age, so that the younger one can learn the elephants' way from the older one by interacting, challenging and playing. Just like it goes in the wild. Thank you for your comment, Emily. 😀👍

@@carinagryp6264 Max a-t'il une piscine a sa disposition ? Il est habitué à un certain standing du Zoo de Prague et j'espère qu'il retrouvera son confort.❤🦣

@helene48 Yes, there is a pond in the enclosure, and Max has been in the water already. Max seems to be good friends with Sam already. We are happy for both of them! Thank you for your comment. 😀👍