Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens News 2024
- Thread starter Lafone
- Start date
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
Species which may or may not be of interest;
Gundi - One of only a few collections to house in the UK, can be found in Little Africa and the Restaurant
King Vulture - First animal on the left as you enter the Walled Garden, which is one of the best collection of exhibits around imo.
Reptile House - Houses as good a venomous collection as anywhere in the UK
Clouded Leopard - Probably the best CL exhibit in the UK.
The Tropical House - A collection of free roaming birds and small mammals.
Crowned Sifaka - At the end of the Walled Garden
New Pallas Cat enclosure, offers very good views.
They have a great souvenir guide book, if you are in to them.
Their restaurant serves home made food, which can be a rarity for many zoos these days.
Take walking boots or wellies. They have been battered with rain lately, and it may not be easy to stay too clean.
Some other highlights and tips.
Madagascar - Probably my favourite lemur walkthrough. Large and nicely landscaped. There are also rare lemur species, such as the sifaka (already mentioned) and greater bamboo lemur in adjacent enclosures.
Clouded Leopards - I find I nearly always see them when I visit as they seem to have a favourite resting place where they are at least partially visible. Stand in the middle of the viewing area and look for a platform at the back about two thirds of the way up.
Indoor quarters for the siamangs - The building isn't just indoor viewing for them. There are also enclosures for mouse lemurs and anaconda in the building. The anacondas they have are huge.
Madagascar - Probably my favourite lemur walkthrough. Large and nicely landscaped. There are also rare lemur species, such as the sifaka (already mentioned) and greater bamboo lemur in adjacent enclosures.
Clouded Leopards - I find I nearly always see them when I visit as they seem to have a favourite resting place where they are at least partially visible. Stand in the middle of the viewing area and look for a platform at the back about two thirds of the way up.
Indoor quarters for the siamangs - The building isn't just indoor viewing for them. There are also enclosures for mouse lemurs and anaconda in the building. The anacondas they have are huge.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
It’s a wonderful place and it’s not vast so don’t be worried about going around a couple of times to see everything.
Not much to add to the above apart from do spend time near the flamingo lake as the walk around there takes in the wolves and there are always some nice birds out. The walled garden and tropical house are excellent and there are some really nice aviaries. If you like birds the tropical house has nice hoopoe and a coucal as well as a great breeding group of sclater’s crowned pigeons. If you can’t see the sloths check behind the big bench near the exit as one often sleeps on the radiator there.
The wolverines are on the path to the train so do venture up that as it doesn’t always look obvious even on the map.
The rhinos rotate use of the paddock with the youngsters in one so if they are not out in the morning try in the afternoon.
There’s a great view of the white storks (who are breeding for wild release) from the path up from the rhino house (not signed there but you can see them really well and with no trains running you can step over the tracks and go to the stand-off.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
Not sure when you're last visit was, but the Sifaka haven't been in the Madagascar walk through for quite some time. They have a pair within the walled garden.
In the walkthrough, there are closed exhibits for Bamboo Lemur, and White and Black Belted, whilst Red Belied, Ring-Tailed and Crowned have access to the walk through. The crowned like to hover above the entrance door, and the Ring Tails get everywhere. The Red Belied are a little shy, but you'll hear the grunts.
There is also Purple Swamphen, Guinea Fowl and White-Faced Whistling Duck who call the exhibit home.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Also as per the website and socials the grass car park is having issues in the wet weather again so entries are pre booked tickets etc only so do buy before you go!
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
I doubt they’d turn people away but with restricted parking it’s easier not to risk it.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Look forward to hearing how JonWild's visit went today.
Was also there today, having a really lovely day in the sunshine. Cold weather and the car parking was restricted so it wasn't crowded, though the main car park was full a couple of hours after opening.
Lots of active animals and a thoroughly enjoyable day. Felt like Spring was on the way with some early flowers emerging in the gardens.
The white storks were actively mating, bill clattering, pairing off and starting the nest builds on their platforms. Such a busy group and amazing to watch, really look forward to tracking their progress this year. Lots of breeding displays around the zoo, from the white naped crane to the blue cranes next to little Africa (first time I had seen two blue cranes I had thought there was just one). The pelicans were also displaying. Who knows what youngsters we will see this year but good to see all the different behaviours. The Barbury mice also looked to have been busy again with a variety of youngsters of different sizes in their vivarium.
The Openbill storks are still off show.
Was great to see the Pallas's cats in the new enclosure, making good use of it and offering great views. The Binturong were also super active which was nice given the chill. The different lemurs were all out in the Madagascar exhibit which was great. The purple swamp hen pair in there were also actively calling to each other and carrying around nesting material...after the youngster a couple of years ago would be great to see another young swamp hen.
Was also there today, having a really lovely day in the sunshine. Cold weather and the car parking was restricted so it wasn't crowded, though the main car park was full a couple of hours after opening.
Lots of active animals and a thoroughly enjoyable day. Felt like Spring was on the way with some early flowers emerging in the gardens.
The white storks were actively mating, bill clattering, pairing off and starting the nest builds on their platforms. Such a busy group and amazing to watch, really look forward to tracking their progress this year. Lots of breeding displays around the zoo, from the white naped crane to the blue cranes next to little Africa (first time I had seen two blue cranes I had thought there was just one). The pelicans were also displaying. Who knows what youngsters we will see this year but good to see all the different behaviours. The Barbury mice also looked to have been busy again with a variety of youngsters of different sizes in their vivarium.
The Openbill storks are still off show.
Was great to see the Pallas's cats in the new enclosure, making good use of it and offering great views. The Binturong were also super active which was nice given the chill. The different lemurs were all out in the Madagascar exhibit which was great. The purple swamp hen pair in there were also actively calling to each other and carrying around nesting material...after the youngster a couple of years ago would be great to see another young swamp hen.
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
The zoo announced today that they have successfully reared endangered Cinnamon Froglets. They are normally found in South East Asia. Cotswolds are only one of six collections in Europe to house them and they last bred them in 2019
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Don’t recall seeing them on my visit, but does anybody know if the frogs are onshow? They look like wonderful animals.
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
The only information I found was that they are housed in the reptile house but where I don't know ,although I suspect offshow
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I believe they may in the amphibian room (which is the area you can see into from the yellow mongoose side) that’s referred to in the article though I haven’t seen them and on Facebook it mentions they are off show. Great result breeding wise!
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
If they are in the Amphibian Room, then they are a relatively new addition, as only Mexican Leaf Frog, Mossy Frog and Borneo Eared Frog were present on my visit in July 2023. Not sure about the Reptile House, but I do suspect they are offshow.
Springbok
Well-Known Member
Visit report - 25/02/24
I saw the pair of mouse lemurs in the siamang house.
The leafcutter ant exhibit is currently empty because their colony has declined.
Saw the rhino babies, Henry and Susie, following their mums around.
I saw a naked mole rat trapped in one the tunnels, I come back 3 hours later still struggling to escape.
I saw the pair of mouse lemurs in the siamang house.
The leafcutter ant exhibit is currently empty because their colony has declined.
Saw the rhino babies, Henry and Susie, following their mums around.
I saw a naked mole rat trapped in one the tunnels, I come back 3 hours later still struggling to escape.
The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN red list...
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Worth looking at the Facebook page where they highlight the lessons learned in terms of breeding different amphibians and increasing their expertise at CWP which can help with breeding rarer species.
They also note the perilous state of some amphibians in the wild so highlight that focusing on some amphibians specifically draws attention to them all and they mention the frog day / April frog focus.
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
Probably would have been worthwhile mentioning to a member of staff about the naked mole rat
JonWild
Well-Known Member
Went to Cotswolds Wildlife Park last week and had an absolutely brilliant time! Sorry I hadn’t posted my review earlier, have been busy so that is why.
Went last Friday and the weather was decent, but it was bitter cold and extremely windy! The Walled Garden is a beautiful section of the park and was the first area me and my family explored. Some gorgeous plants and animals in there, and the enclosures were amazing, especially The Madagascar Walkthrough! Firm Favourites like the penguins and meerkats were nice to see, but I was more interested in the Sifaka, which were both locked inside and I also enjoyed seeing the tamanduas, which is a first for me as I have never seen a tamandua in person!
When we left, we went to see the Wolverine, which was very well hidden by the train station and the wolverines were fairly active, one sitting on a log far back into the enclosure and another sitting on a platform by the walkway eating a dead squirrel, which I assume it caught in the enclosure. Then continued onto the Pallas cat enclosure. Sadly, I didn’t not even catch as sign of them at all but some dead chicks were left out for them to eat.
We then went to walk around the the court yard area which has the reptiles and bats. Reptile house was the best one I have ever seen, with plenty of animals I love, such as the gaboon viper and diamond-back rattlesnake. Then went into the siamang house and was fairly unique, as it did not only hold siamang but 3 VERY large anaconda and some fruit bats as well! We also went into the bath house, which was a really nice large aviary for the bats to fly around in.
We then left to the invert house, which wasn’t too impressive but had some nice species like the whip scorpion. When I went outside, I went to the bintroung enclosure, and they were surprising very active, with all four climbing around and eating some fruit left out.
Then all of us went to the farmyard section, with a couple sheep, cows and goats, which wasn’t too interesting. Then, we walked to the section with all the South American hoof stock. The anteater was a no-show, but the tapir and capybara were all very visible and nice to see. The flamingos by the capybara were quite a bit away from the public, but could be seen by the wolf walkway were we went to next. The wolves were both out and were running up and down and playing in the mud, which was very comedic!
After the wolves, we went to the zebra, which were also not visible, but when me and my family went to the rhino house, we were pleased to see both calves and mothers, which were being kept indoors. We then went out to walk to the main paddock and saw the very impressive male standing over a pile of dug, giving it a good whiff. We then continued to the clouded leopards, which were one of my favourite animals of the trip because all three were out, all enjoying a chick or two. I was surprised on how big they were as I have never seen them before in real life! After this, we went up to the giraffe house, where they were all standing looking out of the doorway. I was surprised that there was only one barrier keeping you apart from the giraffes, but you could get really close to them due to this.
After the giraffes, we went down to see the male lion, who was very handsome, and he was roaring along with his female counterpart. I had never seen Asiatic lions this up-close before and they were definitely my favourite animal out of this trip! The male was tucking into a calf leg later on while the female slept on a long. We then went onto the porcupines and the little Africa section. The porcupines were very active and were waking around and eating some butternut squash left out for them. The dwarf mongoose they shared there habitat with were all sleeping inside. Then, we went into little Africa and the gundis looked a bit rough compared to the ones I usually see a Lakeland Wildlife Oasis. The mole rats are always a pleasure to see, but the best part of little Africa was of course the all white bush baby, which was leaping around its enclosure eating some fruit left out. We also saw the Malagasy jumping rats which were also having their tea. The dik dik were a no show, but I did see a group of ibis in the corner of the outdoor aviary. The final animal we saw of the day were the red panda, which lived in a stunning enclosure by the way, but were both sleeping high up in the trees like always.
Overall, I had an amazing day out and spent around 4 hours at the park, which was definitely not long enough! The gardens were also very beautiful, even in the summer! But, the park is really one of the best wildlife parks I have ever visited!
Went last Friday and the weather was decent, but it was bitter cold and extremely windy! The Walled Garden is a beautiful section of the park and was the first area me and my family explored. Some gorgeous plants and animals in there, and the enclosures were amazing, especially The Madagascar Walkthrough! Firm Favourites like the penguins and meerkats were nice to see, but I was more interested in the Sifaka, which were both locked inside and I also enjoyed seeing the tamanduas, which is a first for me as I have never seen a tamandua in person!
When we left, we went to see the Wolverine, which was very well hidden by the train station and the wolverines were fairly active, one sitting on a log far back into the enclosure and another sitting on a platform by the walkway eating a dead squirrel, which I assume it caught in the enclosure. Then continued onto the Pallas cat enclosure. Sadly, I didn’t not even catch as sign of them at all but some dead chicks were left out for them to eat.
We then went to walk around the the court yard area which has the reptiles and bats. Reptile house was the best one I have ever seen, with plenty of animals I love, such as the gaboon viper and diamond-back rattlesnake. Then went into the siamang house and was fairly unique, as it did not only hold siamang but 3 VERY large anaconda and some fruit bats as well! We also went into the bath house, which was a really nice large aviary for the bats to fly around in.
We then left to the invert house, which wasn’t too impressive but had some nice species like the whip scorpion. When I went outside, I went to the bintroung enclosure, and they were surprising very active, with all four climbing around and eating some fruit left out.
Then all of us went to the farmyard section, with a couple sheep, cows and goats, which wasn’t too interesting. Then, we walked to the section with all the South American hoof stock. The anteater was a no-show, but the tapir and capybara were all very visible and nice to see. The flamingos by the capybara were quite a bit away from the public, but could be seen by the wolf walkway were we went to next. The wolves were both out and were running up and down and playing in the mud, which was very comedic!
After the wolves, we went to the zebra, which were also not visible, but when me and my family went to the rhino house, we were pleased to see both calves and mothers, which were being kept indoors. We then went out to walk to the main paddock and saw the very impressive male standing over a pile of dug, giving it a good whiff. We then continued to the clouded leopards, which were one of my favourite animals of the trip because all three were out, all enjoying a chick or two. I was surprised on how big they were as I have never seen them before in real life! After this, we went up to the giraffe house, where they were all standing looking out of the doorway. I was surprised that there was only one barrier keeping you apart from the giraffes, but you could get really close to them due to this.
After the giraffes, we went down to see the male lion, who was very handsome, and he was roaring along with his female counterpart. I had never seen Asiatic lions this up-close before and they were definitely my favourite animal out of this trip! The male was tucking into a calf leg later on while the female slept on a long. We then went onto the porcupines and the little Africa section. The porcupines were very active and were waking around and eating some butternut squash left out for them. The dwarf mongoose they shared there habitat with were all sleeping inside. Then, we went into little Africa and the gundis looked a bit rough compared to the ones I usually see a Lakeland Wildlife Oasis. The mole rats are always a pleasure to see, but the best part of little Africa was of course the all white bush baby, which was leaping around its enclosure eating some fruit left out. We also saw the Malagasy jumping rats which were also having their tea. The dik dik were a no show, but I did see a group of ibis in the corner of the outdoor aviary. The final animal we saw of the day were the red panda, which lived in a stunning enclosure by the way, but were both sleeping high up in the trees like always.
Overall, I had an amazing day out and spent around 4 hours at the park, which was definitely not long enough! The gardens were also very beautiful, even in the summer! But, the park is really one of the best wildlife parks I have ever visited!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Enjoyable day out at CWP today. A few rain showers mixed with some sun - feels like the proper start of Spring, though still very wet.
Due to the rain, car parking is still quite challenging for the team as they try and protect the grass in the big car park but everyone was fitted in somewhere as they tried to use all the hard standings first.
Black storks (saw two) have joined Little Africa. Others are still in the free flight aviary in the walled garden.
Elsewhere the second anteater enclosure was empty with signs that the anteater had moved to the enclosure at the walkthrough / gated circuit entrance while work is carried out.
The old house has been demolished and new foundations laid. The wandering guinea fowl were enjoying the space.
Lots of animal activity all round. Highlight was the new female wolves howling, which was a first for me. I don't hear Eurasian wolves howl very often so a bit of a treat (and followed the different but still excellent sound of Northwestern wolves howling on my trip to the New Forest wildlife park on Friday). One wolf was at the front of the enclosure nearest the lake which made for good views / sounds. Haunting and musical the howling echoed all the way around the lake area and was matched by roars from the lions over the other side. Also had lovely views of the golden headed ground thrush in the Tropical House.
Due to the rain, car parking is still quite challenging for the team as they try and protect the grass in the big car park but everyone was fitted in somewhere as they tried to use all the hard standings first.
Black storks (saw two) have joined Little Africa. Others are still in the free flight aviary in the walled garden.
Elsewhere the second anteater enclosure was empty with signs that the anteater had moved to the enclosure at the walkthrough / gated circuit entrance while work is carried out.
The old house has been demolished and new foundations laid. The wandering guinea fowl were enjoying the space.
Lots of animal activity all round. Highlight was the new female wolves howling, which was a first for me. I don't hear Eurasian wolves howl very often so a bit of a treat (and followed the different but still excellent sound of Northwestern wolves howling on my trip to the New Forest wildlife park on Friday). One wolf was at the front of the enclosure nearest the lake which made for good views / sounds. Haunting and musical the howling echoed all the way around the lake area and was matched by roars from the lions over the other side. Also had lovely views of the golden headed ground thrush in the Tropical House.