Rotterdam Zoo / Роттердамский зоопарк
Diergaarde Blijdorp
Rotterdam, Netherlands / Роттердам, Нидерланды
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The Rotterdam Zoo has confirmed to a commenter on Facebook that Norbu and Poes are intended to provide offspring:
I’m glad that they’re helping to increase the manuls in the world, but I’m confused by this pairing since Norbu and Poes have the same parents – though I suppose since they weren’t from the exact same litter there must be a reduced risk of genetic problems?
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This is very interesting. I was wondering if no one has checked that they’re siblings? From what I can see on the Zoo’s Facebook, the two are already mating…
I thought that inbreeding was bad because of genetic issues…
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They must have been in contact with the people who keep the manul studbook in Edinburgh, I would have thought. I’m sure they know what they’re doing – they’re the professionals. It still surprised me though!
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Даааа… Мы тоже очень удивились, когда узнали об этом. Но пока что у нас нет никакой информации по этому поводу, почему так.
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Three weeks ago I went to Rotterdam Zoo, but I’ve only just got round to editing the photographs… I had a fantastic time meeting Norbu and Poes, and I think some of the photos came out well!
I’ve included photos of the enclosure on the Rotterdam page so you can see where they live. It’s a decent size, with lots of branches, rocks, alcoves to hide in, and points of interest. The windows are large, and the enclosure itself is set away from the path, so the manuls don’t have to endure too much passing noise.
I spent a good five and a half hours there, through which Norbu sat or slept on top of his rock for almost every minute! Here he is on his rock…
Poes mostly stayed inside her little cave, but she wandered around every once in a while. She would come out and walk down the left side of the enclosure, cross the middle, then go up the right side to get to Norbu on his rock. She would spend a few minutes with him, then walk across the back of the enclosure and return to her cave.
I was told that they are often fed around 2pm, and both Norbu and Poes became much more active as lunch approached. They even started roaming around together.
The zookeeper did indeed enter at 2pm, but instead of delivering their food like we expected, he spent the next few hours gardening! Poes didn’t emerge from her cave the whole time he was there, and Norbu didn’t leave his rock. You can see him glaring as the keeper removes weeds from the grass!
The keeper exited at around 4pm, and both Norbu and I thought that meant he was finished – but no. The keeper only came round to inspect the enclosure through the windows, then went back in to complete his work. While he was out, though, Norbu had scampered around the front of the enclosure, and he was ambushed by the keeper returning!
Norbu hid under a rock, as you can see here, looking up at the keeper who was wisely pretending not to notice him. When it was clear the keeper wasn’t going to leave, Norbu ran like lightning back to his rock!
It was an eventful day, and I’m so glad I got to see them. Poes is beautiful and reclusive, and Norbu is charismatic and defiant, and I really fell in love with them both.
Rotterdam is well worth a visit if you can make it – I’m sure you’ll fall in love with Norbu and Poes too!
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Thank you for the detailed description and for the beautiful photos!
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Oh wow AMAZING!! Thank you so much for sharing these incredible photos and such a detailed description of Poes and Norbu’s day!
Norbu’s death glare is truly magnificent, but I think the second picture is my favorite. Poes just taking a little nibble out of Norbu, but lovingly. 
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Thanks! I think this might be my favourite photo from the day:
I wish I could go back to see them more often – I love Poes so much!
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Yes, she’s a beautiful girl with such an expressive face!
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@maxamillian thank you for a such detailed report from Rotterdam! Me and Vika enjoyed reading it soooo much! We felt like we were there by ourselves!
It seems that manul luck was on your side that day and your photos are superb!
This one is one of my favourites:
Is she trying to bite Norbu or she just yawns?
They have so interesting enclosure… glass, soft and hard nets combined together and supported by thick beams from inside. I can’t wait when I see it by myself! It looks a bit like an aviary.
Interior looks super cozy and it looks like they have a lot of places to hide! And exterior looks super nice!
Btw, do they have dens of houses in the enclosure where they can sleep or wait out the rain?
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Haha, Poes was biting him gently for attention, I think!
The enclosure does look a bit like an aviary! I didn’t see any wooden huts or houses inside, but they do have caves and enclosures made of rocks to shelter in. There is a big one at the back that Poes spent most of her time in, and a few more dotted around. When they had their dinner, they grabbed the meat and took it to the cave at the back.
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Hmmm biting your older sibling for attention… where have I seen that before? Oh yes, probably the backseat of my family’s car circa 1991. Nice to know manuls and humans have something in common! 
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Actually the more I think about it, the more I am interested in their dynamic. Since manul’s don’t normally live with their sibling in the wild, I’m very curious… were you able to get any more information about how they’re socialized? I assume the zoo is preventing them from breeding? I’m curious if you know anything more about their relationship. If not, no worries!
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Oh, it’s cool that they have a cave which looks like a real den 
It’s rare we must say. We don’t see caves frequently… Fellini has one, Pluschi has one… who else?
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Maxamillian, thank you once again for the super awesome and funny photos from Rotterdam Zoo!
I’ve already looked through them several times — I really enjoy them.
I especially love this photo.
It looks like a divine ray of light is shining down on Poes, making her seem like a fluffy goddess, while Norbu, struck by her beauty, just can’t take his eyes off her! 
Ahaha, such an amazing shot!
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