Hamerton Zoo Park Hamerton News 2022
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
They do have some unusual things and it’s a good place to visit. There was definitely still one aardwolf left last month. Was planning on going this weekend so will also report back if I notice it out (usually can see the male aardwolf late afternoon).
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Had a very enjoyable day at Hamerton today - asked and was told there are now two aardwolves.
The zoo has ended the one way system that was in place so you can now go back and forth from one side of the small animal area to the other via the path next to the owl enclosures vs making a circuit.
There is now new fencing and a cheetah in the paddock next to the path that borders the main picnic area affording an excellent opportunity to see these lovely cats up close.
Some more progress on the enclosure next to the bears and more of the path available again so you can get a better view of the bear space than earlier this year.
Clear progress on the new spaces (the new area for the tortoises, the skunk area and the enclosure next to the raccoons) though nothing finished yet.
The jaguarundi is now in the enclosure next to the meerkats / sloth house that used to hold one of the civets.
The giant and regular donkeys have been busy with 4 new foals in the paddock next to the zebra (behind the car park).
The zoo has ended the one way system that was in place so you can now go back and forth from one side of the small animal area to the other via the path next to the owl enclosures vs making a circuit.
There is now new fencing and a cheetah in the paddock next to the path that borders the main picnic area affording an excellent opportunity to see these lovely cats up close.
Some more progress on the enclosure next to the bears and more of the path available again so you can get a better view of the bear space than earlier this year.
Clear progress on the new spaces (the new area for the tortoises, the skunk area and the enclosure next to the raccoons) though nothing finished yet.
The jaguarundi is now in the enclosure next to the meerkats / sloth house that used to hold one of the civets.
The giant and regular donkeys have been busy with 4 new foals in the paddock next to the zebra (behind the car park).
I have seen this news item on the Hamerton website regarding the donkeys - there have been two Poitou donkey foals born recently as well as three American mammoth jackstock foals.
These American mammoth foals will probably be the last seen at the park, as the stud is being dispersed to private breeders in Europe at the end of 2022. The park will continue to keep some non-breeding jennies. This will allow the land used for these animals to be incorporated into exhibits for several new species due to arrive over the next couple of years, as well as expanding the zebra paddock.
More information can be found in the link below:
Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
These American mammoth foals will probably be the last seen at the park, as the stud is being dispersed to private breeders in Europe at the end of 2022. The park will continue to keep some non-breeding jennies. This will allow the land used for these animals to be incorporated into exhibits for several new species due to arrive over the next couple of years, as well as expanding the zebra paddock.
More information can be found in the link below:
Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
I think with coatis it is somewhat an interesting situation -
From what I see, there was a systematic restriction amongst the EU, essentially phasing out in the long term what were described as 'alien species' - in that such species have established invasive, non-native populations in Europe.
As far as the UK goes, one could say it's perhaps rather extreme for several species - perhaps the only one it could be applicable for is the muntjac, though it has survived in the UK for decades. In the case of the coatimundi, there have been several reports of coatimundi in Cumbria, descended from animals of South Lakes, though from what I have heard it is likely that no such animals live today, because of the harsh Cumbrian winter.
But in any case, the UK is no longer in the EU, making it essentially personal choice as to what one wants to do with potentially 'alien' non-native species - this has had its effect on the UK coati population, with the common species having a recent decline from various collections. And indeed most larger zoos do not keep coati, though plenty of smaller zoos do. Some exceptions however, are London and Port Lympne. [Though whether the animals of the latter will promptly be sent off to South America is perhaps debate-worthy.]
It's slightly more complex than that - the ban is actually only on South American Coati, but as the banned list was only a bare minimum the various countries involved were free to enforce things more strictly. In the case of DEFRA they elected to enforce the ban at genus level (where mammals were concerned, at any rate) thus banning White-nosed Coati, Crab-eating Raccoon and a few other taxa. Given the fact that DEFRA are said to have been one of the chief parties involved in pushing for the EU Invasive ban in the first place I wouldn't hold your breath for any of the list species to start being permitted again, but obviously more sensible heads have prevailed where the ban on congenerics is concerned.
I saw some of the Cumbrian population on occasion - I think my last sighting was summer 2006, near Ambleside. From what I gather the population coped pretty well with Cumbrian winters in general, but catastrophically crashed over the course of the extreme winter of 2009-2010 (during which the area saw extended periods where the temperature hovered around -10°C). I don't think any were sighted after that winter, and doubtless any potential stragglers died during the 2010-2011 winter which was also unusually severe.
Incidentally, the same 2009-2010 winter event was responsible for killing off the longstanding Peak District wallaby population.
Recent news on Hamerton's website regarding the arrival of 3 new Cheetahs:-
"We are delighted to announce the arrival of three new animals which were born at a privately owned conservation and research centre in South Africa. The three young cats are a male called 'Duma' and two females 'Mayon' and 'Jetts', all named by our African colleagues, are now well settled into their legally required isolation period. When this is completed in a few weeks, you may be able to spot them in one of our eight enclosures, where our Cheetahs are rotated.
These three new cats are unrelated to each other, to our current animals and to the rest of the UK blood lines. This makes them very important, and very special!
"We are delighted to announce the arrival of three new animals which were born at a privately owned conservation and research centre in South Africa. The three young cats are a male called 'Duma' and two females 'Mayon' and 'Jetts', all named by our African colleagues, are now well settled into their legally required isolation period. When this is completed in a few weeks, you may be able to spot them in one of our eight enclosures, where our Cheetahs are rotated.
These three new cats are unrelated to each other, to our current animals and to the rest of the UK blood lines. This makes them very important, and very special!
In my experience it’s the last hour or so that’s best at Hamerton as they start feeding as soon as the zoo closes; although good luck seeing the golden possums, I haven’t in 4 attempts and counting.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
That’s great! Hamerton are a real cheetah centre. I do hope we see some tiny paws over time.
I usually have the best sightings in the afternoon for:-
Maned Wolf, Rusty-spotted Cat (not often out though!) and Oncilla.
If it is sunny then the Eastern Aardwolf will be out sunning herself near to the fence. Bert the Southern Aardwolf is usually fed just before closing time and is often out for that, but if it is warm and sunny you may catch him sunbathing.
With the Golden Possums, I've not seen them for well over a year and I visit most weeks.
I've never seen the Ring-tailed Possum and not seen the Brush Tailed for years either!
The Jackals are very hard to see in any case (let me know if you need to know where to look) so you'll need binoculars or a long lens for your camera to see them if indeed they are out.
Swamp Wallabies are usually around.
Little Bittern - hit and miss I've seen them at various times.
As others have said late in the day best.
However if you are planning an imminent trip I suspect the aardwolf next to the pudu (southern?) will be a blank for you as there is construction taking place in the enclosure itself and they were fed indoors this week.
You are also unlikely to get a good view of the brush tail possum as their enclosure is in an offshoot of an aviary which is currently closed for avian influenza reasons. so your only viewing is through a lemur or howler monkey enclosure dependent on your angle...
I blanked on both aardwolves this week! as i have said elsewhere i suspect i could measure my Aardwolf waiting time in days rather than hours at this stage!
After 4 o'clock i saw the Maned Wolf, Oncilla, Ring Tail Possum (just head and paws protruding from nest box).
Active later in the day I find are also the Grison and Civet.
Best of luck!
)
A Barking Owl chick hatched on March 21 - reported on their FB page.
The White-nosed Coatis, Striped Skunks and Ringtail are now all on-display at Hamerton. The zoo is due to receive a new arrival next week and eight more after Easter. Hamerton's largest animal exhibit to date is due to open in autumn as well.
Source: Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Source: Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
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Speculation time! Largest animal exhibit to date would imply hoofstock to me?
Exciting! Do you know when they might announce the species?
The first piece of news says to coincide with a major movie release in June apparently, soooooo… if that implys the 3rd Jurassic World movie it’s either reptiles, birds or…big plastic dinos!