FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
Rather a sorry state of affairs, although it's quite nice to see a major zoo without capybara, agouti and mara
Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo News 2018
- Thread starter Badgerman91
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Rather a sorry state of affairs, although it's quite nice to see a major zoo without capybara, agouti and mara
Depends on the agouti and/or mara species in question 
Not really. Bit like having almost no birds. When I think of the obscure small mammals I first saw @ Colchester Zoo in the 60s.......Rather a sorry state of affairs, although it's quite nice to see a major zoo without capybara, agouti and mara
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
On a recent visit to the (very dull) Cromer Zoo, it struck me just how beautiful Mara are. And Capybara on a big lake? Fantastic!Rather a sorry state of affairs, although it's quite nice to see a major zoo without capybara, agouti and mara
Unsure if already mentioned but on a Facebook comment from the zoo Cedric the Male Kudu sadly died on 13th June due to ongoing health issues.
Can anyone confirm if they have seen the female pileated gibbons as my last two visits the indoor part of their enclosure was barriered off and I could only see the Male,
The wife said there was no barrier during the day on 29th September, but they put a barrier up around 5pm before the evening event kicked off. But both gibbons were there and she said she saw them grooming and being attentive to each other which is something we don't normally see with them.
willtalbut
Member
Not sure if anyone else has heard anything about this, but my fiance called up to try & get me a sponsorship of Tembo the elephant and she was told that sponsorships aren't available for him at the moment. This is because they plan to move Tembo to a breeding programme at some point in the next 6 months, or have another elephant come to Colchester Zoo to breed with Tembo. So make the most of seeing Tembo while you can 
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Not sure if anyone else has heard anything about this, but my fiance called up to try & get me a sponsorship of Tembo the elephant and she was told that sponsorships aren't available for him at the moment. This is because they plan to move Tembo to a breeding programme at some point in the next 6 months, or have another elephant come to Colchester Zoo to breed with Tembo. So make the most of seeing Tembo while you can
As they don’t like to move single cows I would imagine that sadly Tembo will be moving on and a older or younger male who is no longer breeding or to young to breed will come in.
Such a shame that a zoo with good holding facilities got elephants haven’t had much luck with breeding them and the two calves they had in the early 2000s were Male so were moved on!
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Not sure if anyone else has heard anything about this, but my fiance called up to try & get me a sponsorship of Tembo the elephant and she was told that sponsorships aren't available for him at the moment. This is because they plan to move Tembo to a breeding programme at some point in the next 6 months, or have another elephant come to Colchester Zoo to breed with Tembo. So make the most of seeing Tembo while you can
That's interesting and possibly thickens the plot I revealed after a visit to Dublin last month - their bull, Upali, is due to move to 'Europe or the UK'. Blackpool (not far from Dublin or Colchester) is expecting the arrival of a bull at some point.
Highly unlikely Upali will to move to Colchester for simple reason of mixed species i.e.; African & Asian. Would expect Upali to move to Blackpool. Are all Colchester's females able to breed ?
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Ah - forgot about that!
They are all older females but the zoo has publicity states they hope to breed again in the future as all of the females are under represented in the population and genetically important. The last pregnancy which sadly didn’t end in a successful birth was back in 2010.
I am assuming that elephant moves (especially males) it takes a lot of planning and then it all has to be done swiftly when dates agreed.
Zola (wild) 1982
Opal (wild) 1982
Tanya (wild) 1981
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Zooreviewsuk
Well-Known Member
Given Blackpool haven't completed their Bull Paddock yet and are some way off completing it, I can't see the Bull from Dublin going to Blackpool if it's on the move fairly soon. Blackpool are probably a good year from having a Bull, as other renovations are being done (Reptile House, Camel House, Old Elephant House) before they start on the Bull paddock.
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
I wonder what elephants or elephant will be arriving at Colchester in the next 6 months? I hope it's a few younger females and a bull!
Zooreviewsuk
Well-Known Member
Would the females be classed as old in terms of age at Colchester.
Aren't Blair Drummond looking for a couple of elderly African Elephants to join their retirement female ?
Aren't Blair Drummond looking for a couple of elderly African Elephants to join their retirement female ?
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
I really don't know but even if they could breed with Zola for example. I wouldn't bother as she has a horrendous record of delivering stillborn or misscarrying her calves. Another reason for Zola not to breed is that according to a documentary called Zoodays presented by the ex BluePeter presenter Konnie Huq,Zola hated juvenile elephants,and had nightmares/flashbacks about her mum being poached in Africa. Due to all these points I've raised I think Zola could be the perfect candidate to join Mondula at Blair Drummond Safari Park! Also to answer your question Zooreviwsuk the other elephants in my opinion could go to Blair Drummond as they've been residing at Colchester for twenty plus years and haven't had any offspring for the last thirteen or fourteen years.
Sending the non reproductive group to BD is the last thing one should do. By sending away bull Tembo they even signal none of that is on the cards. Aside, I would wish BD might eventually get a breeding group.
The greater kudu calf born back in August has been sexed as a male and been named Ericsson. He is increasingly using the outdoor paddock and is being introduced to the other species in the outdoor paddock.
More information is included below:
Our kudu calf has a spring in his step! - ZOO NEWS - Colchester Zoo
More information is included below:
Our kudu calf has a spring in his step! - ZOO NEWS - Colchester Zoo