Thank you!
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens 2022
- Thread starter Lafone
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Finding a bit of a baby bonanza at Cotswold on visit today - ring tailed lemur in the walkthrough is a month old according to the keeper talk, three laughing thrush chicks a few weeks old in the nest, sitting on top and being fed and two cotton top tamarins born earlier today and clinging on to very active mums. Lovely to see them.
Mixed weather but not too busy.
Mixed weather but not too busy.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Also there are more than 30 new white stork chicks across lots of the nest stands with one nest of very tiny hatchlings - what ab excellent breeding result there. Got to see them being fed.
Had it confirmed that sadly one wolf did die a little while ago so down to two - still great to see them.
Quite a bit of construction near the second smaller lion house - perhaps enclosure extension or something else. Pure speculation as just diggers digging quite a big area out.
Had it confirmed that sadly one wolf did die a little while ago so down to two - still great to see them.
Quite a bit of construction near the second smaller lion house - perhaps enclosure extension or something else. Pure speculation as just diggers digging quite a big area out.
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There was outline planning permission for a cheetah enclosure a while back. Plus what happened to the two female lion offspring? I noticed the enclosure for the smaller lion house has had well worn muddy tracks around the interior and there may be occupants in the smaller lion house.
They've been clearing the area between the railway station and wolverine enclosure -this is to facilitie people queueing for the train. A new entrance to the platform has also been constructed. I don't know what happened to the pheasants etc of that area?
There was also mentioned by the guide that some bamboo lemurs babies are expected soon (this week?)
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Might be a new enclosure then perhaps, some cheetah could be very interesting - that area behind the giraffes does go along the road side quite a way so it could be a good size if it was there. Certainly a lot of huge rocks and dirt being moved around. Lions sleeping through the din.
All the doors were open on the smaller house today with the workmen going in and out and I asked and was told the other lions are not there and there are 2 in total. Matches what had thought a while back - the path to the smaller house was blocked off some time ago and there hasn’t been any sign of anything but the original adults for quite some time.
Bamboo lemurs were confirmed as expecting which is also good news - keeper said in the later talk they were due to give birth soon but the exact date was a little uncertain - a couple of weeks was mentioned. They looked on good form today.
Not sure where the pheasant from down the back moved to - there are some near the back of the walled garden in a shared enclosure now but I couldn’t recall if they had been there before.
I had no idea - that would be exciting!
Good news! They have had 4 births in the last 2 years, and the male Raphael is not related to the other adults in Europe which are quite inbred as the captive population is so small. He was born at Ivoloina Zoological Park in Madagascar and exchanged for a female bred at Port Lympne.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I was completely ignorant of their great rarity tbh and your post and the keeper talk had me go and look them up - thanks for the pointer and info!
1/The greater bamboo lemurs are due to give birth in June- possibly July ? A crowned lemur is due to give birth today. According to guide today.
2/ The area where work is being carried out between the giraffes and the Asian lions will be new facilities for an improved birthing den for the lions and an enlarged second enclosure.
3/ Sad news re: the two Asian Lion daughters that were due to go to Paignton Zoo ? - one was put to sleep because it was loosing weight rapidly , no cause could be found and the other died under anaesthetic . Incidentally both had negative TB tests.
2/ The area where work is being carried out between the giraffes and the Asian lions will be new facilities for an improved birthing den for the lions and an enlarged second enclosure.
3/ Sad news re: the two Asian Lion daughters that were due to go to Paignton Zoo ? - one was put to sleep because it was loosing weight rapidly , no cause could be found and the other died under anaesthetic . Incidentally both had negative TB tests.
Cotswold Wildlife Park have announced (in time for World Binturong Day) that their pair of binturongs have produced twin cubs, that are now beginning to venture out of their nest box. The cubs have been named Fig and Rosie.
Information comes from the Cotswold Wildlife Park's Facebook page.
Information comes from the Cotswold Wildlife Park's Facebook page.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Great result - they’ve had good success with cubs, do they move the previous cubs to another enclosure now as they were all in together before or can the family stay together Binturong wise?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Up at Cotswold today. Very sunny so very busy! Lots of the animals were active which was great considering it was pretty hot.
New lion house foundations have gone in (basic photo below).
Baby bamboo lemur has arrived - caught a tiny glimpse. That’s all lemur types in that area except the ruffled ones with babies out now. More to come it seems too.
The prairie dogs have also had babies and they were also out and about (counted three but there might be more).
There’s a new enclosure being built on the path near the exit of the indoor bat exhibit, but no sign on what it’s for.
Lots of the white stork chicks getting their flight feathers now - chick mayhem.
Watched a couple of incredibly ignorant parents let their four kids climb over the wall into the penguin area - fortunately a member of staff came along to get them to move on or I’d have gone to find someone - both parents actively encouraging one of the kids to ‘get in the pool’. Sometimes I wonder which side of the fence the exhibits are on.
Great day out though.
New lion house foundations have gone in (basic photo below).
Baby bamboo lemur has arrived - caught a tiny glimpse. That’s all lemur types in that area except the ruffled ones with babies out now. More to come it seems too.
The prairie dogs have also had babies and they were also out and about (counted three but there might be more).
There’s a new enclosure being built on the path near the exit of the indoor bat exhibit, but no sign on what it’s for.
Lots of the white stork chicks getting their flight feathers now - chick mayhem.
Watched a couple of incredibly ignorant parents let their four kids climb over the wall into the penguin area - fortunately a member of staff came along to get them to move on or I’d have gone to find someone - both parents actively encouraging one of the kids to ‘get in the pool’. Sometimes I wonder which side of the fence the exhibits are on.
Great day out though.
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
At Cotswold today in the summer rain - lots of animal activity.
The most exciting news for me was the arrival of 4 Pallas cat kittens who are now 8 weeks old and can be found roaming about and playing in their enclosure. Great to see the pair of Pallas cats have their first successful litter together.
The new enclosure in the walled garden is complete now but not yet occupied. Looks like it may be a bird area as it has nest boxes at the back similar to the Bali starling area. Picture attached for interest.
The kookaburra have moved from their location next to the otters and that’s now occupied by masked lapwing. Not sure where they have gone to.
The big tree in the red panda enclosure has been cut right back which looks a bit stark (also pictured).
The crowned lemur have had a baby which adds another young lemur to a productive year.
The most exciting news for me was the arrival of 4 Pallas cat kittens who are now 8 weeks old and can be found roaming about and playing in their enclosure. Great to see the pair of Pallas cats have their first successful litter together.
The new enclosure in the walled garden is complete now but not yet occupied. Looks like it may be a bird area as it has nest boxes at the back similar to the Bali starling area. Picture attached for interest.
The kookaburra have moved from their location next to the otters and that’s now occupied by masked lapwing. Not sure where they have gone to.
The big tree in the red panda enclosure has been cut right back which looks a bit stark (also pictured).
The crowned lemur have had a baby which adds another young lemur to a productive year.
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littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
An unexpected joy to see yesterday.
I visited for the first time earlier this week and was delighted to watch them practicing their pouncing and sneak attacks on each other. They also tried to sneak up on myself and my partner when we weren't looking in their direction. It was wonderful.
I also spent a disproportionate amount of time excitedly watching the binturong family - both the quite active youngsters outside, and also with my face pressed against the glass from the glare to see the tiny babies playing in the indoor nest box.
As I first time visitor, I was utterly delighted with the whole zoo. I hadn't seen tamandua before, so that was wonderful. I was also pleasantly surprised by how accessible everything was (which sadly doesn't happen often). I didn't have to fight my way through gravel or rocky paths in my wheelchair, and there was only one set of steps I couldn't access, and even only small ramp which was at a slightly hairy angle. I often find that places which claim to be accessible have big dips, potholes, tree roots, jutting kerbs or barriers before ramps or other features which play my spine like a xylophone. I cannot tell you how happy I was to find that this wasn't the case.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Rainy but warm day at Cotswold today.
A new baby dwarf mongoose was out in the porcupine / mongoose enclosure with it’s parents, which was a bit of a treat. Also got a great view of the young bamboo lemur.
A highlight for me was the purple swaphen chick in the lemur walkthrough - never seen a young one before.
Pallas cat kittens were out and about which was good to see.
The new aviary in the walled garden is now complete and open for business and has a good variety of birds - bali starling, azure winged magpies, Madagascar Partridge, pink pigeon and two young spotted laughing thrushes. Lots of greenery and a good new space to view, spreading some of these birds to multiple places around the garden offers a great chance to see them.
New lion house is coming along too (pic below).
A new baby dwarf mongoose was out in the porcupine / mongoose enclosure with it’s parents, which was a bit of a treat. Also got a great view of the young bamboo lemur.
A highlight for me was the purple swaphen chick in the lemur walkthrough - never seen a young one before.
Pallas cat kittens were out and about which was good to see.
The new aviary in the walled garden is now complete and open for business and has a good variety of birds - bali starling, azure winged magpies, Madagascar Partridge, pink pigeon and two young spotted laughing thrushes. Lots of greenery and a good new space to view, spreading some of these birds to multiple places around the garden offers a great chance to see them.
New lion house is coming along too (pic below).
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That sounds lovely. It will be interesting see what happens in our zoos in general, if (when!) the new SSSMZP are adopted. These ban the housing of species from different continents in mixed exhibits - because this is an educational no-no, apparently...
Another (hidden?) effect of these changes which have been so warmly supported elsewhere on this forum!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
That would be a shame - particularly as Cotswolds signs are both clear and educational (and seeing the birds in such a nice setting and active with each other prompts views of those signs, I often see people reading out the bird signs compared to those at other exhibits) and as long as the birds are content together it seems the wrong thing to chase after. Took a pic of the signs today (see below) and they make origin very clear (and it’s interesting info too). Splitting species doesn’t seem educational by itself.
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Indeed - this, like many of the proposed changes seem to be ill-informed, poorly thought through, politically motivated and (probably) unenforceable. Actually producing such a document for consultation, in itself, appears to bring into doubt the competence of those who drafted it.
Despite this it does seem to have some support....
If this is to be passed, then multiple rainforest-houses nation over would find themselves in a curious situation!
Red-crested Turacos in with Victoria's Crowned Pigeons etcetc..
Red-crested Turacos in with Victoria's Crowned Pigeons etcetc..