Did you happen to get a picture of the binturong exhibit please?
Call of the Wild Zoo New collection in Essex: Call of the Wild Zoological Park
- Thread starter banham.tiger
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On a Facebook fan-page for Call of the Wild Zoo, I have noticed at least two new species from a gallery uploaded on January 6th:
False water cobra - A photograph of its enclosure and sign
Australian king parrot - Mixed with the red-tailed black cockatoos
The entrance to the park has been moved back to the Tropical Wings entrance building; it seems the 'new' entrance has become the park exit.
Also, it seems the spectacled caiman have been moved out of their enclosure into a new enclosure near to the new entrance - it is possible that this is part of an update to the enclosure in the tropical house, which apparently is having a beach area and viewing platform added.
False water cobra - A photograph of its enclosure and sign
Australian king parrot - Mixed with the red-tailed black cockatoos
The entrance to the park has been moved back to the Tropical Wings entrance building; it seems the 'new' entrance has become the park exit.
Also, it seems the spectacled caiman have been moved out of their enclosure into a new enclosure near to the new entrance - it is possible that this is part of an update to the enclosure in the tropical house, which apparently is having a beach area and viewing platform added.
On the above-mentioned Facebook fan-page for Call of the Wild Zoo, there are pictures of a new Victoria crowned pigeon chick in the tropical house.
Another new species for this section is the red-crested turaco.
Another new species for this section is the red-crested turaco.
1st visit of the year to Call of the Wild, and a few of the exhibits have moved to different areas. As mentioned above, the Spectacled Caiman has moved to a new pool in the tropical house (near the new entrance), and above the larger pool (in the butterfly area) there is a series of ropes and climbs, that used to house the Marmosets. However on speaking to a keeper, the Marmosets have again been moved as the temperature was incorrect. The Ring Tailed Coatis, Kune Kune Pigs, Llama and Greater Rhea had all moved since my last visit.
As time was short I did not enter the Wallaby/Mara walkthrough.
New exhibits for me were Common Genet.(Who actually popped her nose out to grab a snack) Red Crested Turaco. Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman. False Water Cobra. Australian King Parrot. & Red Iguana.
Exhibits that were absent, (may have been in sleeping quarters?) were, Red Squirrel, Squirrel Monkeys, Bearded Dragon, Green Iguana, Red Fox, Rabbits and Guinea Pigs, African Grey Parrot, Skunks, Common Marmosets, Yellow Mongoose & Splashback Poison Dart Frog.
There's talk of an Alligator, however it's in the pipeline and there's a lot to organise, so if successful, probably wont arrive until sometime in 2024.
The Victoria Crowned Pigeon was sitting on her nest in the tropical house, the area was roped off to give her some peace, and outside, I managed to get some good shots of the baby RingTailed Lemur, hanging on to it's mum.
As time was short I did not enter the Wallaby/Mara walkthrough.
New exhibits for me were Common Genet.(Who actually popped her nose out to grab a snack) Red Crested Turaco. Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman. False Water Cobra. Australian King Parrot. & Red Iguana.
Exhibits that were absent, (may have been in sleeping quarters?) were, Red Squirrel, Squirrel Monkeys, Bearded Dragon, Green Iguana, Red Fox, Rabbits and Guinea Pigs, African Grey Parrot, Skunks, Common Marmosets, Yellow Mongoose & Splashback Poison Dart Frog.
There's talk of an Alligator, however it's in the pipeline and there's a lot to organise, so if successful, probably wont arrive until sometime in 2024.
The Victoria Crowned Pigeon was sitting on her nest in the tropical house, the area was roped off to give her some peace, and outside, I managed to get some good shots of the baby RingTailed Lemur, hanging on to it's mum.
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I have just seen this news article from April that talks about some future plans at Call of the Wild Zoo. The two main species that the zoo are intending to add are greater flamingos and African penguins.
The article can be found here:
Essex zoo set to welcome penguins and flamingos after breeding rare species
The article can be found here:
Essex zoo set to welcome penguins and flamingos after breeding rare species
Lots going on at Call Of The Wild, at the moment. I visited yesterday, to find that the birds of prey, have been moved to newly built enclosures, and the diggers are in, (opposite the owls) excavating the site for a potential new petting zoo area, turning the old farmyard area into a potential enclosure for flamingos. The main enclosure in the tropical house remains empty for now. They might be waiting to see if the Alligator is still available? A few no-shows, re the exhibits, but they might just be 'backstage'
Not seen were:
Cuvier's dwarf caiman (enclosure empty and sign removed)
Red Iguana
Green Tree Python
Splashback Poison Frog
Veiled Chameleon
Common Marmoset
Yellow Mongoose
I couldn't have picked a worse day for photo's. Overcast and windy the whole time, but I did manage to shoot a few off. The new bird houses are lovely, but lousy for photo's as the viewing areas are covered with a fine metal mesh that makes the images fuzzy. Images to follow in media page.
Not seen were:
Cuvier's dwarf caiman (enclosure empty and sign removed)
Red Iguana
Green Tree Python
Splashback Poison Frog
Veiled Chameleon
Common Marmoset
Yellow Mongoose
I couldn't have picked a worse day for photo's. Overcast and windy the whole time, but I did manage to shoot a few off. The new bird houses are lovely, but lousy for photo's as the viewing areas are covered with a fine metal mesh that makes the images fuzzy. Images to follow in media page.
I have just seen one of the photos you are talking about (uploaded yesterday - how long ago was the other one uploaded, as I haven't found a second one yet) and it certainly looks like there is one present. I'm trying to work out where in the park it is - I think it is either in one of the corridor enclosures (the most recent spectacled caiman display) or in the tropical house proper (the older caiman enclosure).
The Tomistoma is indeed currently being held the Caiman enclosure, with the intention seemingly being that the single individual will be moved into their own enclosure in the Tropical House once it's completed. This has sparked a bit of a move around with the larger reptile species with the Caiman being held the in Reticulated Python enclosure then the Python now being held in the Burmese Python enclosure. Though may be wrong with the Pythons as the temporary signs weren't the best and no Python was seen.
In other news the Flamingo enclosure between the Colobus and Ring Tailed Lemur enclosures is coming along nicely. Seems to have an opening date of the 21st October according to this article:
Date set for arrival of pink flamingos at zoo for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In other news the Flamingo enclosure between the Colobus and Ring Tailed Lemur enclosures is coming along nicely. Seems to have an opening date of the 21st October according to this article:
Date set for arrival of pink flamingos at zoo for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The other bit of news I have been able to glean from the park's Instagram page is that a male colobus monkey (named Tom) has recently arrived to join the two females - I think the plan is to form a breeding group.
I have just seen this short video clip uploaded online showing the development of the new flamingo aviary on the site of the area that was home to the llamas and rhea on my last visit - it is definitely an improvement on what was there previously.
https://www.picuki.com/media/3205607150897238106
https://www.picuki.com/media/3205607150897238106
Call of the Wild Zoo are now teasing the arrival of their new flamingos. If the picture (a cropped close-up of the feathers) is actually from one of the zoo's own birds, it would suggest they have got American flamingos.
Information comes from the zoo's Facebook page.
Information comes from the zoo's Facebook page.
Visited 4/11
Lots changed since my last visit at the beginning of this year.
Animals on show in the area between the reception and the rainforest corner are:
Caiman lizard
False water cobra
Spectacled caiman
In the rainforest corner were exhibits for:
Cuvier's dwarf caiman
Chinese crocodile lizard (a pair)
Biak tree monitor
Philippine sailfin lizard
Blue tongued skink
Reticulated python
Straight ahead in the tropical house (where Digby used to be) was the Burmese python.
On the left as you enter was a netted viewing area for the False gharial and seemingly the only area with butterflies, although only 2 were seen.
Just past this, in the main tropical house was an open top mixed exhibit for Red-footed tortoise and Green Iguana.
The aviary previously home to Java sparrow was empty with the sparrows freeroaming in the tropical house alongside:
Victoria crowned pigeon
Diamond dove
Gouldian finch
Roul-roul
Red crested turaco
Black-cheeked lovebird
Goldies lorikeet
A single unidentified conure who seemed to be bonded to the Goldies lorikeet
Rainbow lorikeet (alot!)
The ponds in the centre of the tropical house each held Goldfish and Koi, the goldfish pond seemed to have basking areas for turtles but none were seen.
In the end aviary was the Nile monitor.
The exit to the tropical house was still through the rainforest corner.
Upon exiting the viewing windows are separate exhibits, the left holding Digby, the Six-banded armadillo, and more Conures. The right held Common marmoset, although only one was seen. Opposite this was the enclosure for a very active Common genet. In the discovery kingdom I only saw Giant day gecko, mixed with Madagascar hissing cockroach and two small exhibits for both Sun beetle and a Stick insect sp.
In the area beyond the tropical house, the aviary formerly housing umbrella cockatoo now housed a single Red-tailed black cockatoo, a single Australian king parrot and a single Ringneck parakeet. Of the two aviaries behind, the right was empty and the left housed a single Green-winged macaw and a single Blue-and-gold macaw together.
In this same area was exhibits for Domestic rabbits, Guineapigs, Kune kune pigs and Striped skunk. As well as aviaries for American red squirrel and Umbrella cockatoo. Behind them a walkthrough for first Pygmy goats and then Bennetts wallaby. The exit to this opposite to aviaries for Hyacinth macaw and Blue-throated macaw. Aviaries further along this path housed Ring-tailed coati, Bolivian squirrel monkey and Striated caracara. The new bird of prey aviaries housed Laughing kookaburra, Turkey vulture, Bengal eagle owl and Harris' hawk. The old bird-of-prey corner housed 2 Barn owl subspecies (guttata and alba), the second Laughing kookaburra, Tawny owl and Chaco owl.
The zoo beyond this had not much changed, apart from ongoing developments to the former Crested porcupine and Yellow mongoose exhibit and the new arrivals of the Greater flamingo.
The new flamingo enclosure is a large netted aviary with great viewing, including a 'walk-in' area. This area housed Meerkat, Ring-tailed lemur, Brown lemur, Black-and-white colobus monkey, Serval, African grey parrot, Black-and-white ruffed lemur, African civet and the Greater flamingo.
The large walkthrough at the far end of the zoo was likewise very much unchanged with the right-side housing Domestic chickens, a single Kune kune pig, a single Domestic goat and a small group of Patagonian mara. On the left was a single Llama and a single Greater rhea.
In the 'Asia' area by the exit, both the Binturong and Asco were very active. The two small aviaries by the playpark housed Red fox (signed but not seen) and Great horned owl.
Species listed on ZTL but not seen:
Crested porcupine
Red fox (signed)
Yellow mongoose
Black-headed parrot
Brown wood owl
Guineafowl
Sulcata tortoise (signed)
Central american wood turtle
Central bearded dragon
Corn snake
Green tree python
Horsfield's tortoise
Red-tailed ratsnake
Ball python
Veiled chameleon
Golden poison frog
Green-and-black poison frog
Ornate horned frog
Splashback poison frog
Lots changed since my last visit at the beginning of this year.
Animals on show in the area between the reception and the rainforest corner are:
Caiman lizard
False water cobra
Spectacled caiman
In the rainforest corner were exhibits for:
Cuvier's dwarf caiman
Chinese crocodile lizard (a pair)
Biak tree monitor
Philippine sailfin lizard
Blue tongued skink
Reticulated python
Straight ahead in the tropical house (where Digby used to be) was the Burmese python.
On the left as you enter was a netted viewing area for the False gharial and seemingly the only area with butterflies, although only 2 were seen.
Just past this, in the main tropical house was an open top mixed exhibit for Red-footed tortoise and Green Iguana.
The aviary previously home to Java sparrow was empty with the sparrows freeroaming in the tropical house alongside:
Victoria crowned pigeon
Diamond dove
Gouldian finch
Roul-roul
Red crested turaco
Black-cheeked lovebird
Goldies lorikeet
A single unidentified conure who seemed to be bonded to the Goldies lorikeet
Rainbow lorikeet (alot!)
The ponds in the centre of the tropical house each held Goldfish and Koi, the goldfish pond seemed to have basking areas for turtles but none were seen.
In the end aviary was the Nile monitor.
The exit to the tropical house was still through the rainforest corner.
Upon exiting the viewing windows are separate exhibits, the left holding Digby, the Six-banded armadillo, and more Conures. The right held Common marmoset, although only one was seen. Opposite this was the enclosure for a very active Common genet. In the discovery kingdom I only saw Giant day gecko, mixed with Madagascar hissing cockroach and two small exhibits for both Sun beetle and a Stick insect sp.
In the area beyond the tropical house, the aviary formerly housing umbrella cockatoo now housed a single Red-tailed black cockatoo, a single Australian king parrot and a single Ringneck parakeet. Of the two aviaries behind, the right was empty and the left housed a single Green-winged macaw and a single Blue-and-gold macaw together.
In this same area was exhibits for Domestic rabbits, Guineapigs, Kune kune pigs and Striped skunk. As well as aviaries for American red squirrel and Umbrella cockatoo. Behind them a walkthrough for first Pygmy goats and then Bennetts wallaby. The exit to this opposite to aviaries for Hyacinth macaw and Blue-throated macaw. Aviaries further along this path housed Ring-tailed coati, Bolivian squirrel monkey and Striated caracara. The new bird of prey aviaries housed Laughing kookaburra, Turkey vulture, Bengal eagle owl and Harris' hawk. The old bird-of-prey corner housed 2 Barn owl subspecies (guttata and alba), the second Laughing kookaburra, Tawny owl and Chaco owl.
The zoo beyond this had not much changed, apart from ongoing developments to the former Crested porcupine and Yellow mongoose exhibit and the new arrivals of the Greater flamingo.
The new flamingo enclosure is a large netted aviary with great viewing, including a 'walk-in' area. This area housed Meerkat, Ring-tailed lemur, Brown lemur, Black-and-white colobus monkey, Serval, African grey parrot, Black-and-white ruffed lemur, African civet and the Greater flamingo.
The large walkthrough at the far end of the zoo was likewise very much unchanged with the right-side housing Domestic chickens, a single Kune kune pig, a single Domestic goat and a small group of Patagonian mara. On the left was a single Llama and a single Greater rhea.
In the 'Asia' area by the exit, both the Binturong and Asco were very active. The two small aviaries by the playpark housed Red fox (signed but not seen) and Great horned owl.
Species listed on ZTL but not seen:
Crested porcupine
Red fox (signed)
Yellow mongoose
Black-headed parrot
Brown wood owl
Guineafowl
Sulcata tortoise (signed)
Central american wood turtle
Central bearded dragon
Corn snake
Green tree python
Horsfield's tortoise
Red-tailed ratsnake
Ball python
Veiled chameleon
Golden poison frog
Green-and-black poison frog
Ornate horned frog
Splashback poison frog
Here's the video of Matilda's arrival
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Was wondering which collection Matilda had gone to, hopefully she will have a long and happy life there.
Popped in to check out the Tomistoma, (Main pool tropical house) and other new arrivals yesterday. She is 15 years old, and has come from Paignton zoo as they had to rehome their crocodilians after the closure of their crocodile swamp in 2022.
Tilly (Matilda) the Zebra is just opposite the servals, in the old walkthrough enclosure. You can't walkthrough this area now, but there is a ramp up to a newly constructed viewing area. I noticed a pig and 'longhorn' goat in this area too. (Not sure of species of either)
Another new viewing platform and renovated area, now houses the American flamingos. It always amazes me the amount of vocalizations that these birds are capable of, from high pitched squeaks to bassy honks.
Just as I was leaving, I caught site of two keepers, each with a serval kitten (6 months old) on a flexi lead. They were giving them some exercise in the flying display area. These were not the offspring of the two wild adult servals at the zoo, but unrelated hand reared kittens that had been given to the zoo and were tame to people. Photos coming soon.
Tilly (Matilda) the Zebra is just opposite the servals, in the old walkthrough enclosure. You can't walkthrough this area now, but there is a ramp up to a newly constructed viewing area. I noticed a pig and 'longhorn' goat in this area too. (Not sure of species of either)
Another new viewing platform and renovated area, now houses the American flamingos. It always amazes me the amount of vocalizations that these birds are capable of, from high pitched squeaks to bassy honks.
Just as I was leaving, I caught site of two keepers, each with a serval kitten (6 months old) on a flexi lead. They were giving them some exercise in the flying display area. These were not the offspring of the two wild adult servals at the zoo, but unrelated hand reared kittens that had been given to the zoo and were tame to people. Photos coming soon.