Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo News 2018

Ok, at the zoo after hellish journey and here with most of the population of the world - southern tamamdua - need to see this but it is notvisible at the moment - any suggestions? Betterto watch indoor or outdoor area and chance of it coming out?

Found ot curledup asleepin corner - is it likely to get active at any point?
 
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BeakerUK said:
Ok, at the zoo after hellish journey and here with most of the population of the world - southern tamamdua - need to see this but it is notvisible at the moment - any suggestions? Betterto watch indoor or outdoor area and chance of it coming out?
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Best chance of seeing them is in the late afternoon (unless you want to see them asleep). As you go out of the final doors of the walkthrough part turn right and look through the two windows there that’s where I normally get lucky and see them!

Enjoy your visit!
 
So zootierliste says there are blue duiker, greater kudu and black backed jackal here - is this right and if so, where on earth are they?
 
BeakerUK said:
So zootierliste says there are blue duiker, greater kudu and black backed jackal here - is this right and if so, where on earth are they?
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Black Backed Jackal are only visible of lost Madagascar train, however were very elderly so may have died

Greater Kudu are in the paddock with giraffe and rhino...there were 0:2 on my last visit

Blue duiker are in the edge of Africa area opposite the mandrill enclosure.
 
I hate being a teacher and having to go places in school holidays. I am not good with crowds at the best of times and it was predictably insane there today. I saw the tamandua asleep but did not have the energy to stay until later. Didn't go on the train as the queue was... off putting! But thanks to the comments here, I did see the blue duiker and greater kudu. Enjoyed the spotted hyenas (They were much chunkier than I thought they would be) though there was one of many experiences going on, so they stayed at the back of the enclosure. Furious I missed the Patas monkeys as they are favourites of mine.

I thought most of the enclosures were lovely, though viewing on some was frustrating (see aforementioned comments about crowds!) and I must have walked ten times as far as I needed back tracking on myself, going the wrong way and getting lost. I wasn't the only one - There were some very terse parents "but the sign says THAT way....".

I liked the range of animals as well, but even if I lived closer (NEVER driving over here again, argh!) I doubt I would go again because I can only ever go at busy times. I swear every other person had a pushchair!

Africa Alive and Thrigby Hall tomorrow, Banham the day after :-)
 
I think it must be the same for most collections that the 6 week summer holidays are extremely busy...it doesn’t help that there aren’t many other large zoos in the geographical area.

I have found that half terms tend to be slightly quieter at Colchester for future reference.

Glad you had a enjoyable if not slightly navigating-ly challenging day!
 
Visited today despite the throngs of toddlers. Thought I'd write a few points but feel free to ask questions .

- both black backed jackals have died
- building work by the top of the car park is for an extension to the entrance building
- patas and colobus monkeys will share when their enclosure is finished but currently eat separately due to squabbling
- outdoor patas area is closed but vultures / hippo outdoors open
- spotted baby hyraxes in Edge of Africa (perhaps other members of the group will go to the aardvark?)
- saw binturong and short clawed otters and they were all very active
- young pygmy hippo also active
 
14556 said:
Visited today despite the throngs of toddlers. Thought I'd write a few points but feel free to ask questions .

- both black backed jackals have died
- building work by the top of the car park is for an extension to the entrance building
- patas and colobus monkeys will share when their enclosure is finished but currently eat separately due to squabbling
- outdoor patas area is closed but vultures / hippo outdoors open
- spotted baby hyraxes in Edge of Africa (perhaps other members of the group will go to the aardvark?)
- saw binturong and short clawed otters and they were all very active
- young pygmy hippo also active
Click to expand...

Any progress update on the Lion enclosure development?
 
On a recent visit I noticed a few empty enclosures earmarked for development work and wondered if any one could enlighten me on what is planned?

-The old Scarlett Ibis Avairy
-The old Golden Headed Tamarin enclosure (next to Penguin Shores)
-The old juvenile Komodo dragon enclosure (inside Heart of AmaZon)
-The enclosures on the left hand side of the Kingdom of the Wild building
 
I went for a brief couple of hour visit today. These are the things that I noticed while there:

Species Arrivals and Departures
- The coral reef aquarium in Orangutan Forest now has peppermint shrimp Lysmata wurdemanni signed, which is a new species for the collection. They did remain unseen by me however.

Births
- Saw three baby rock hyraxes in the smaller cage behind one of the hyrax hutches in the monkey/hyrax mixed exhibit. Not sure if they have recently come to the collection or were born there and are being kept separate from the monkeys. If it is the latter case, I would wonder when female hyrax arrived (I believe the group consists of four males) and whether they are also of the Syrian subspecies.

General Observations
- It was extremely busy on arrival so all cars were being directed in another way. This did mean I saw two reindeer (both with extremely magnificent antlers); they seem to be living in a small paddock next to the overflow car park.
 
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