I would also add how refreshingly honest and unapologetic this post from Hamerton is with regards to why they’re concentrating on the “curiousities” rather than the “classic” zoo species (there also seemed to be a sly dig at the more established collections as well!)
Hamerton Zoo Park Hamerton News 2022
- Thread starter pipaluk
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I would also add how refreshingly honest and unapologetic this post from Hamerton is with regards to why they’re concentrating on the “curiousities” rather than the “classic” zoo species (there also seemed to be a sly dig at the more established collections as well!)
Well..that COULD be happening but there is also a more formal animal exhibit coming along, its up to Andrew and his team to make the announcements really.
Ive known Andrew ever since Hamerton opened and i must just say that through a number of ups and downs over 30 years or more,its been great to see him succeed. I know how difficult some of it has been. With regard to species-choice,i could say that he is an animal of the old school,a person who is curious and interested in species rather than being guided by committees.As he is the owner,its all up to him and he gives full rein to that element. Hence the more unusual species.
A certain zoo-owner in Kent would do well to read this!
Circumstances permitting, and due in part to these reasons, Hamerton will certainly be getting more of my time this year rather than a certain longer established institution I’m more familiar with!
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A certain zoo-owner in Kent would do well to read this!
Circumstances permitting, and due in part to these reasons, Hamerton will certainly be getting more of my time this year rather than a certain longer established institution I’m more familiar with!
Absolutely. Zoos and other attractions such as steam railways can splash out on fancy cafes and adventure playgrounds and so forth until the cows come home, but there's a factor that sometimes gets ignored - which is the value to the customer.
When I choose to spend my money on a leisure activity, I am not particularly looking at the cost of providing an attraction, but the value I will get from what I spend. That gives a decidedly non-linear calculation, where I accept a minimum price, and then the price I'll pay rises with the amount of time that the activity occupies, but where the price I'll pay doesn't rise in proportion to the time occupied. In the case of zoos that means taxa that I won't see anywhere else, or exhibits and enclosures of a type which I can't get anywhere else.
That's one of the things I've always loved about Hamerton - they've never been afraid to exhibit the more obscure animals that most people really wouldn't know about otherwise. Heck, when I first went, they still had their Siberian weasels and viscachas. The influx of Australian wildlife in recent times adds to the appeal.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Agree with all these comments! I love the diversity and also that they have the focus on the animals so if you see them it’s up to the animal (mind you if I ever manage to see a possum…or more than the back of the lynx).
They also have a good mix of the large (tiger, bear) and smaller or unusual so it doesn’t feel like a curio.
They have things to keep kids engaged like the train and the play area which is necessary to get the public in but lots of stuff for animal and zoo fans and the play stuff isn’t a distraction if you don’t want to use it or see it.
It’s a great example of how to balance an experience.
I hope it’s not animatronics coming in - yes I get that kids like them and the zoo audience is attracted by them and all the good stuff about ‘needing to compete with theme parks and family attractions’ that people trot out to justify non animal stuff, they are simply a pet hate
I also find it a bit weird that at somewhere like paradise wildlife park the plastic Jurassic nonsense has more room per model than the wolves.
Hamerton’s exhibits also speak to their standards - the bears have loads of room and seem to really enjoy their pond. Speaks to a culture of wanting to ensure there are happy animals first.
They also have a good mix of the large (tiger, bear) and smaller or unusual so it doesn’t feel like a curio.
They have things to keep kids engaged like the train and the play area which is necessary to get the public in but lots of stuff for animal and zoo fans and the play stuff isn’t a distraction if you don’t want to use it or see it.
It’s a great example of how to balance an experience.
I hope it’s not animatronics coming in - yes I get that kids like them and the zoo audience is attracted by them and all the good stuff about ‘needing to compete with theme parks and family attractions’ that people trot out to justify non animal stuff, they are simply a pet hate
I also find it a bit weird that at somewhere like paradise wildlife park the plastic Jurassic nonsense has more room per model than the wolves. Hamerton’s exhibits also speak to their standards - the bears have loads of room and seem to really enjoy their pond. Speaks to a culture of wanting to ensure there are happy animals first.
Note that the news article states that the new exhibition is connected to the major film release, no mention that this 'largest animal exhibit to date' has anything to do with it.
I've thought for a while that Hamerton might add another large cat species - just a guess but one I'm going to stick with. Snow Leopards, Jaguars or Pumas maybe? I can't see it being Lions as they don't seem very 'Hamerton', but who knows!
Clouded leopards feel quite 'Hamerton-y', to me.
I like the idea of marbled cats
I'd be inclined to suggest it will have something to do with the large indoor house which has been under construction in the centre of the zoo for several years now rather than being a reference to a single large species.
rather than being a reference to a single large species.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I'd be inclined to suggest it will have something to do with the large indoor house which has been under construction in the centre of the zoo for several years now
True.
As a cat fan though I’d love some more I have to say!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Went to Hamerton today - nice and bright day, bit chilly but lots of activity. Good number of visitors but not crowded.
Avian flu precautions sensibly in place with shoe washes etc.
The new skunk and coati areas are absolutely great - very well placed enclosures, lots of glass in the coati one, lots of things for the animals to play in and on. A definite new highlight.
Didn’t see the skunk but the white nosed coati were very active and loads of fun - my first viewing of that particular sub species and I have to say quite exciting!
Good photo spots too (though more silver wire, still we can’t expect zoos to black the wire just for photo nuts ). Very well done all round.
They might need to sign to it though as people are used to turning right and following the path around and it’s in a bit of a cut through to the lemur / hyrax area so people might miss it. Maybe a path will go in.
Actually saw a possum though not the golden one. Also saw one aardwolf and a lynx bottom (that’s the nearest I’ve got!) so a very active spring day all round.
Corsac foxes getting just a hint of their new coats on the legs.
The otter enclosure opposite the lynx near the camels has had the otter sign removed and two Javan binturong signs are now in place - couldn’t see the new inhabitants however and as it’s open topped with trees out to the paths not sure they are there or it needs a bit more proofing first.
Couldn’t see anywhere the Asian short clawed otter has moved to.
There was a good impromptu bear talk with lots of info about the bears both individually and as a species; everyone at the bears at the time seemed really interested which was great to see.
Spotted the adult cassowary in their off show paddock area which was nice. The chick is now officially huge.
It’s not spoilers to highlight that there are dinosaurs I believe - kids and parents were pointing at them and the T. rex is pretty big and behind the cheetahs so more than visible as it is towering over stuff - they weren’t covered up or anything. They are beyond the cheetahs and maned wolves so while I’m not a fan they do fit with the philosophy of not sticking stuff in the way of the animals or detracting from them I guess.
New enclosure near the bears also appears to be coming along nicely.
Avian flu precautions sensibly in place with shoe washes etc.
The new skunk and coati areas are absolutely great - very well placed enclosures, lots of glass in the coati one, lots of things for the animals to play in and on. A definite new highlight.
Didn’t see the skunk but the white nosed coati were very active and loads of fun - my first viewing of that particular sub species and I have to say quite exciting!
Good photo spots too (though more silver wire, still we can’t expect zoos to black the wire just for photo nuts
). Very well done all round.They might need to sign to it though as people are used to turning right and following the path around and it’s in a bit of a cut through to the lemur / hyrax area so people might miss it. Maybe a path will go in.
Actually saw a possum though not the golden one. Also saw one aardwolf and a lynx bottom (that’s the nearest I’ve got!) so a very active spring day all round.
Corsac foxes getting just a hint of their new coats on the legs.
The otter enclosure opposite the lynx near the camels has had the otter sign removed and two Javan binturong signs are now in place - couldn’t see the new inhabitants however and as it’s open topped with trees out to the paths not sure they are there or it needs a bit more proofing first.
Couldn’t see anywhere the Asian short clawed otter has moved to.
There was a good impromptu bear talk with lots of info about the bears both individually and as a species; everyone at the bears at the time seemed really interested which was great to see.
Spotted the adult cassowary in their off show paddock area which was nice. The chick is now officially huge.
It’s not spoilers to highlight that there are dinosaurs I believe - kids and parents were pointing at them and the T. rex is pretty big and behind the cheetahs so more than visible as it is towering over stuff - they weren’t covered up or anything. They are beyond the cheetahs and maned wolves so while I’m not a fan they do fit with the philosophy of not sticking stuff in the way of the animals or detracting from them I guess.
New enclosure near the bears also appears to be coming along nicely.
littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
I like that the dinosaurs are off the main walk and easy avoided. I imagine that path will be a bit narrow as they'll surely have to put some stand off fence along the cheetahs at least.
Maybe they're only viewable on the train ride?
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
From what I have read on ZooChat previousy I think the otters were two males and quite old, maybe they have died?Went to Hamerton today - nice and bright day, bit chilly but lots of activity. Good number of visitors but not crowded.
Avian flu precautions sensibly in place with shoe washes etc.
The new skunk and coati areas are absolutely great - very well placed enclosures, lots of glass in the coati one, lots of things for the animals to play in and on. A definite new highlight.
Didn’t see the skunk but the white nosed coati were very active and loads of fun - my first viewing of that particular sub species and I have to say quite exciting!
Good photo spots too (though more silver wire, still we can’t expect zoos to black the wire just for photo nuts
They might need to sign to it though as people are used to turning right and following the path around and it’s in a bit of a cut through to the lemur / hyrax area so people might miss it. Maybe a path will go in.
Actually saw a possum though not the golden one. Also saw one aardwolf and a lynx bottom (that’s the nearest I’ve got!) so a very active spring day all round.
Corsac foxes getting just a hint of their new coats on the legs.
The otter enclosure opposite the lynx near the camels has had the otter sign removed and two Javan binturong signs are now in place - couldn’t see the new inhabitants however and as it’s open topped with trees out to the paths not sure they are there or it needs a bit more proofing first.
Couldn’t see anywhere the Asian short clawed otter has moved to.
There was a good impromptu bear talk with lots of info about the bears both individually and as a species; everyone at the bears at the time seemed really interested which was great to see.
Spotted the adult cassowary in their off show paddock area which was nice. The chick is now officially huge.
It’s not spoilers to highlight that there are dinosaurs I believe - kids and parents were pointing at them and the T. rex is pretty big and behind the cheetahs so more than visible as it is towering over stuff - they weren’t covered up or anything. They are beyond the cheetahs and maned wolves so while I’m not a fan they do fit with the philosophy of not sticking stuff in the way of the animals or detracting from them I guess.
New enclosure near the bears also appears to be coming along nicely.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
You may well be right - not sure about anyone else but having seen two for ages, I’d also only seen the same one on recent visits (few months). They were lovely to watch.
Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Armadillos have arrived
Armadillos have arrived
Whoops..
turns out the law regarding alien species of concern was actually a retained law, and has been since January 2021... meaning that this still applies.