Greetings from Belgium !

Greetings from Belgium !
12-01-2008

Oké, hello all.

I'm Kevin, 18 years old and living in Heist-Goor, a tiny hamlet of the larger Heist-op-den-Berg , a large village in the south of the Antwerp province in Flanders, the dutch-speaking part of Belgium.

Currently ,I spend most of my time studying, as I started my bachelor of biology in September. I'm now having exams.
I like doing it and it's very interesting, but a few subjects aren't that nice (mainly maths and chemistry). Oh well ,we'll just see.

My interest in animals started years ago, when I was about 8 ,after a visit to Planckendael animal park , a zoo not very far from where I live.
It has continued ever since and grown, which is why I choose biology.
Over the years, we've kept a KMDA member card (no idea if it's the right term). I've continued to visit Antwerp zoo and Planckendael many times over the years; I've become quite a fan of both, and I keep up with the news on both.
I also gained quite a bit of knowledge of both.
Sadly, both got lower in my appreciation over the years.
I've visited many other zoos by now - I think my list is, small and big
ones alltogether at about 25 - mostly in the Netherlands (which is just north of Belgium) and some in Germany (to the east of belgium).
My personal top 10 consists of these zoos :

1) Zoom Erlebniswelt (Gelsenkirchen, Germany)
2) Safaripark Beekse Bergen (Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands)
3) Burgers' Zoo (Arnhem, Netherlands)
4) Parc Paradisio (Brugelette, Belgium)
5) Noorder Dierenpark Emmen (Emmen ,Netherlands)
6) Gaiapark Kerkrade Zoo (Kerkrade, Netherlands)
7) Vogelpark Walsrode (Walsrode, Germany)
8) Apenheul (Apeldoorn, Netherlands)
9) Ouwehands dierenpark (Rhenen ,Netherlands)
10) Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

I'm mostly fond of modern zoos, bigger zoos ,wildlife and safari parks, the 'erlebnis' concept (for the ones unknowing, I'm talking about them thematic areas, making the visitors be in awe, animals in huge spaces, etc) ,biome halls (Burgers' Bush ,for example), savannahs ,large combined aviaries and so on.
I do not like city zoos mostly. They do have an atmosphere, but I generally hate cities, and do not like their zoos either (though Emmen and Blijdorp form two rather ok exceptions). They have nice buildings from time to time, but I don't like animals in bad or inadequate or ugly exhibits, which occur all to much in city zoos.

I think I've spoken enough on zoos so far. I'll get to myself again.
My favourite animals are found amongst birds (mainly water birds, like cranes, herons, ibisses, spoonbills, ducks) and so on, but birds in general. My other big favourites are even-toed ungulates (mainly antelopes) and small predators (coatis, red pandas, small felines, etc).
I do not so much like the big and popular animals (except giraffes and tigers).

Besides animals and biology, I'm also very much interested in geology, furthermore I'm also a metal (music) listener (mostly power metal, gothic metal and some heavy and symphonic metal).
I also like to chat on msn and be on the internet. I also photograph animals and zoos, which I find a very interesting and nice pastime.

I think I've told enough by now.
I'll end with a photo of myself - don't get scared, please.


Btw : I've seen a few very much familiar people and links on this side... and some fellow Belgians as well...

PS : I forgot to tell I love South Park ,which is why I choose an avatar or a south park version of me for avatar (if necessary,I'll give you the link to make these pictures).

12-01-2008

Welcome Kevin,

We do have a few guys here now from your part of the world, Welcome

12-01-2008

Welcome Kevin!

It's amazing and great to see all the Europeans joining our forum these days .

__________________
I am Toddy, the zoo-enthusiast from Denmark!
Different zoos visited: 77
Favourite animal: Aardvark
Website: www.zoos.dk

12-01-2008

Have their been so many new Europeans joining ?

Well ,I knew this site before, but recently I found it back when searching for a giraffe subspecies on google ,and I decided to join.

Anyway ,I think it's only an enrichment (man ,what a zoo word ) to your great site.

__________________
"Only two things are infinite : the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

12-01-2008

Heyt Kevin, Welcome back

12-01-2008

Yes its a good thing to have new members from all over the world, we can all share infomation about all our zoos, new exhibits, new births, photos of rare animals, its great

12-01-2008

I'm pretty busy for a while to come (and even after that, I'll have to see) ,but I'll try !

@ ben : long time no seen man !

__________________
"Only two things are infinite : the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

12-01-2008

Welcome to the ZooBeat world Kevin.... I hope you like the site and maybe you could say something about the zoos in Belgium to us....

13-01-2008

Welcome my Belgian friend!
I'm Marc (live in Ghent ).

Enjoy the forum!

__________________
www.zooantwerpen.be & www.planckendael.be
www.zoocrew.eu

13-01-2008

Thank you swedish zoo fan and marc.
I'm glad to be here (again).

@ marc : I know where Ghent is. I don't live close, but oh well.
Anyway ,nice avatar. That's Chuluugi ,right ?

__________________
"Only two things are infinite : the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

13-01-2008

Haha, it would be quit shameful if you did not know that !
But I must say that I never heared the name of your village before .
Maybe someday we can meet and visit a zoo!

__________________
www.zooantwerpen.be & www.planckendael.be
www.zoocrew.eu

13-01-2008

I love him. Extremely nice sea otter.

Anyway ,that's always possible !

__________________
"Only two things are infinite : the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

13-01-2008

Welcome Kevin.....