Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens News 2024

[Lafone]

Somehow with CWP I have always felt a bit 'claustrophobic'...
it's a fair deal of space and decently walkable but most of the animals are concentrated into half of that area.
So if you want to see the clouded leopards and Little Africa then it's a decent but sparse walk.
And Walled Garden nice as it is is a bit like a tardis methinks with how much is there yet it takes up a mere fraction of the entire park...

I like the space for the camels, rhinos, tortoises, giraffe and zebra (which you can see, depending on which way around the rhino enclosure you go to Little Africa and the Clouded Leopards) as well as the planting. It's a good way to spend time wandering about, you often get some nice birds in the trees down the end. The larger enclosures over there have larger species; it would be a bit of a shame to reduce their space for the sake of animal density, in my view of course.

I do think it benefits from being a place to visit a few times / frequently as you find the quieter routes etc particularly when it comes to the walled garden. Most people head there as the first place they go for example on a fairly fixed circuit, but unless there is something I really want to see like a new arrival / chick etc I often wander up past the Colobus then via the bird lane to the Pallas's cats, then beyond to the wood at opening time which makes for quieter spaces.

 

[dillotest0]

I like the space for the camels, rhinos, tortoises, giraffe and zebra (which you can see, depending on which way around the rhino enclosure you go to Little Africa and the Clouded Leopards) as well as the planting. It's a good way to spend time wandering about, you often get some nice birds in the trees down the end. The larger enclosures over there have larger species; it would be a bit of a shame to reduce their space for the sake of animal density, in my view of course.

That is a fair purpose.
Sometimes my thoughts are neglectful.

 

[Lafone]

That is a fair purpose.
Sometimes my thoughts are neglectful.

I wouldn't say neglecful at all - it can seem like quite the change from the walled garden to the area out past the tortoises.

There are some lovely plants around there too and some nice benches. But then I like a sit and let the world go by moment at the zoo!

 

[NMM]

Somehow with CWP I have always felt a bit 'claustrophobic'...
it's a fair deal of space and decently walkable but most of the animals are concentrated into half of that area.
So if you want to see the clouded leopards and Little Africa then it's a decent but sparse walk.
And Walled Garden nice as it is is a bit like a tardis methinks with how much is there yet it takes up a mere fraction of the entire park...

I don't feel that way but I can see what you mean. I think is is a consequence that the park is roughly organised by species size. You have the walled garden and the courtyard area, which are mainly smaller species. Then there is the wooded sections which are predominantly mid sized animals. Then you have the larger animals all close together.

That layout style reminds me a lot of how Cricket St Thomas used to be. That also had a walled garden with smaller animals, paddocks by the river which is where most of the larger animals used to be (not the elephants though).

 

[Smaggledagle]

Piece of May 2024 News Not Mentioned:

On May 1st, it was announced the zoo transferred (1.1) green aracari to the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis in Cumbria.

Lakeland Wildlife Oasis

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Spoiler: Domestic News

On May 17th, the zoo announced that (0.0.2+?) Cotswold sheep were born which are on display.

Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens

On May 20th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) cotton-top tamarin named Raquel to Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo in Pembrokeshire.

Critically endangered primates arrive at the zoo

The two young ring tailed lemurs are now more adventurous, jumping around merrily, before going back to ride on their mother.

On May 22nd, the zoo officially announced the birth of the twin lemurs, as well as sexed them as (1.1). There have now been 70 lemur births since the opening of the Madagascar exhibit in 2008.

Cotswold Wildlife Park celebrates its 70th Lemur breeding success in time for ‘Lemur Week’ : Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens

On May 25th, the zoo announced they acquired (5.0) panther chameleons named BFG, Eugene, Flynn, Pascal, and Rango from the Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire which are now on display in the Reptile House.

WORD FROM THE WILD: The Latest News From The Park : Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens

 

[Kalaw]

Somehow with CWP I have always felt a bit 'claustrophobic'...
it's a fair deal of space and decently walkable but most of the animals are concentrated into half of that area.
So if you want to see the clouded leopards and Little Africa then it's a decent but sparse walk.
And Walled Garden nice as it is is a bit like a tardis methinks with how much is there yet it takes up a mere fraction of the entire park...

Interesting to hear your thoughts, as for me, having some areas being compact and others more sparse (as you say, most of the animals concentrated into a small corner of a very big space) is one of the more charming aspects of CWP, and indeed zoos in general.

At Whipsnade, for example, I have always loved how the sprawl of Spicer's Field and Passage through Asia quickly turns to the area around the Aquarium and the Butterfly House where there are exhibits much more frequently. And while Cotswold's most sparse areas aren't quite to the same extent as those at Whipsnade, its more tight areas, such as the Walled Garden and the courtyard by the Reptile House, are even more extreme, with the busy vibe of a city zoo in what is very much the countryside.

Not a criticism of your post, but it is very interesting to see how everyone has their own idea of what is appealing in a zoo.

 

[Lafone]

Lovely day at CWP today, very warm and sunny. The park was busy from opening until about 3pm when things calmed in the hours before closing. The whole field car park was in use. The gardens are looking very nice and there were lots of shady places to get out of the sun.

A pair of Red Jungle fowl have moved into the enclosure opposite the Binturong that was previously occupied by the Prevost Squirrels.

Work has finished on the smart new housing in the second anteater enclosure with new emergency / rear gates in place and the house complete, making the corner there look much tidier.

The enclosure has only Call ducks in it at the moment, with new signage.

In the walled garden it was great to see how well the young masked lapwings are doing - now nearly as big as their parents. The spotted laughing thrushes that were sharing an aviary with the glossy purple starlings have moved.

The new aviary / enclosure space outside the Tropical House is coming along.

Prarie dog pups were playing about in the enclosure which was nice to see and it was also lovely to see the two young ring tailed lemurs in the Madagascar walkthrough.

Highlight in the walled garden for me though were a pair of pups for the Yellow Mongoose. One of my favourite species and enclosures at the park. The two new arrivals were playing around, particularly as the day started to cool down.

Elsewhere looks like another good year for the White Storks with lots of young chicks visible...every nest platform that was occupied by a pair looked to have at least three or four chicks on it now. Great to see.

On the lake there were five Common Eider ducklings paddling about. With the wild ducklings and young moorhens as well as youngsters for Gadwall and Widgeon, quite the bumper crop.

In a slightly left field wildlife moment a hedgehog was walking up and down the fence near the Screamers in the walkthrough on the way to the wallabies, trying to get through the mesh. Not a good thing for a hedgehog to be up and about in the day, particularly in the hot weather. I went to find someone to tell about it and a helpful keeper came and took possession of it. Hopefully it will be ok.

 

[Cotswoldgent]

Following Lafone’s post yesterday, we went for a brief visit to the Walled Garden this morning (11-12.30) and managed to see the two Yellow Mongoose pups out playing and eating (fed by a Keeper for the Day, lucky lad). Overheard the keeper saying that the pups were out for the first time yesterday, and that this is the first time they have bred at the CWP for about thirty years (average ten year lifespan).
Many thanks for the head’s up Lafone.

Didn’t manage to see the Prairie Dog pups (unless last year’s) and Ring Tailed Lemurs were in a clump after feeding, with only brief glimpses of the young. It was very busy for a weekday, as an inset day for schools, I think.

 

[Lafone]

Following Lafone’s post yesterday, we went for a brief visit to the Walled Garden this morning (11-12.30) and managed to see the two Yellow Mongoose pups out playing and eating (fed by a Keeper for the Day, lucky lad). Overheard the keeper saying that the pups were out for the first time yesterday, and that this is the first time they have bred at the CWP for about thirty years (average ten year lifespan).
Many thanks for the head’s up Lafone.

Didn’t manage to see the Prairie Dog pups (unless last year’s) and Ring Tailed Lemurs were in a clump after feeding, with only brief glimpses of the young. It was very busy for a weekday, as an inset day for schools, I think.

They are so cool. That's good to know. I've never seen pups before and I wondered if I'd simply missed them or there hadn't been much breeding. Great to see the pair having a couple of youngsters and using the den burrow in the enclosure, as well as the house.

 

[Lafone]

Great highlight for the white stork project on CWP’s Facebook page along with an interview link from the BBC. Migratory returns and breeding at Knepp.

Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens

It’s been great to see another year of White Stork chicks hatch successfully at the park and this highlights the excellent work of the project and how CWP are contributing to it.

 

[Cotswoldgent]

Late afternoon visit today, with highlights being:
- Potaroo joey in the Tropical House, about two weeks out of the pouch and about two months old. Just a smaller, neater and fluffier version of the adult.

- Excellent views of all seven rhinos around 4pm, with the older young females (Molly and Queenie) in the outside enclosure rather than the paddock
- The female Snowy Owl is sitting on eggs, on a ground nest, with a bamboo screen obscuring direct observation, but you can see from the side.
- Close viewing of the Ring Tailed Lemur pups, who were active.

 

[Haliaeetus]

T

Enjoyable day at CWP today though it was rainy and cold all day up to the last few hours before closing. Pretty busy still though which was good for ticket sales. The gardens have started looking really good despite the chill and persistent rain.

Great to see a domestic Bactrian camel calf out in the enclosure with the others; looked like a very new arrival. Appeared to be from the same mother as the calf last year as the older calf was with them and they were away from the main group along with the male, but that's just based on observation. Very pretty youngster and good news for the herd.

Two of the Masked Lapwing chicks were visible and wandering around with mum and dad, am guessing the other one may not have survived but the two remaining ones looked good and were active, foraging around and then running back under the parents for warmth.

The Golden headed thrushes in the Tropical House were busy building a nest in the first set of branches near the entrance and there was lots of mating activity particularly among the Fody.

The building and works at the second Anteater enclosure has made more progress with a roof now in place and landscaping around the new gates.

Lots of ducklings have arrived on the lake, some wild mallards and what appeared to be young for a pair of Gadwall.

CWP reported on Facebook more than 80 white stork eggs have been laid so far this year and a few were visible during standing and turning, there was a lot of nest sitting going on so looking forward to lots of chicks!

The Camel calf is a boy.
Cotswold Wildlife Park on Instagram: "This Father's Day, we thought we'd shine a spotlight on a few of our amazing dads here at the Park, including first-time father Chip. Primate, Small Mammal and Bird Senior Keeper Hayley explains more: "Our pair of Yellow Mongoose, Chip and Nutmeg, have become parents for the very first time! They have both been great parents, in particular Chip who has been a wonderful father to his new twins. He's been a really attentive dad - at every feed, he always makes sure mum Nutmeg and the babies have food before eating anything himself. He also keeps a really close eye on the little ones while they explore the enclosure. I'm so proud of how well he is doing for a first time dad. We don’t know whether the babies, which are known as pups, are boys or girls yet. I’m hoping for one of each as one looks more like Chip and the other looks like Nutmeg but we will have to wait until they are a little older to see! They can be seen at the far end of the Walled Garden next to the Frog Breeding Room." Male Bactrian Camel Louis has also recently become a father. This is the third calf he's sired since joining the collection in 2020. He is named after Prince Louis as they share the same birthday. Visitors can see Louis's new calf in the large paddock he shares with the rest of the herd. Lastly, our male White Rhino Monty. So far he has sired eleven calves at the Park... and counting. He attracted quite the crowd recently with his eagerness to contribute to the breeding programme! As you can see, he was far from camera-shy. We'll have more news about our new Yellow Mongoose pups and Bactrian Camel calf very soon. Please may we remind you that the Burford Festival 2024 is taking place this weekend which may affect your journey time to the Park. Please listen to BBC Radio Oxford on 95.2FM for local travel news and visit the AA Route Planner for up-to-date travel information ahead of your visit. We are open every day from 10.00am until 6.00pm (last admission at 4.00pm). , ( . - .)."

 

[Cotswoldgent]

Morning visit, with highlights:

• Young Tawny Frogmouth (in owls section)
• Two Orange Headed Ground Thrush chicks in nest near entrance of the Tropical House
• The two Yellow Mongoose pups are growing fast
• Young Emus have been moved to the goat enclosure in the Children’s Farmyard area

Sad to see the screen for the Snowy Owl has gone, with mother no longer nesting.
Very busy with 17 coaches parked by the time we left after midday.

 

[Cotswoldgent]

Brief morning visit today with good sightings of the active young yellow mongoose pups and the young Bactrian camel, with a couple of other notes:
- the Barbary striped mice and the other mice in Little Africa have both gone, with no tanks and no notice. They have been moved in the past, so may just be for cleaning.
- we saw a pelican from the lake flying over the rhino enclosure. I had always assumed that the pelicans were clipped, but apparently not. It was rather wonderful!

 

[Lafone]

Brief morning visit today with good sightings of the active young yellow mongoose pups and the young Bactrian camel, with a couple of other notes:
- the Barbary striped mice and the other mice in Little Africa have both gone, with no tanks and no notice. They have been moved in the past, so may just be for cleaning.
- we saw a pelican from the lake flying over the rhino enclosure. I had always assumed that the pelicans were clipped, but apparently not. It was rather wonderful!

Sounds great! Hope we see the mice again. They do wing clip the pelicans iirdc (certainly looked like it on photos I've had in the past) but they've had younger ones so perhaps someone's flight feathers got a bit long!

 

[DB2]

What’s the best time to visit the Tropical House to see the sloth? What time are they fed?

 

[Lafone]

Several visits will probably be your best chance to see them.

They will often come often down and feed from the bird feeder stand on the right after the entrance of the house nearer the start of the day.

Nearer closing when the fruit bat food / hanging fruit and other bird food goes in they will also sometimes come down for that (1 hour or less to the house shutting which is usually before closing check the signs). That’s the feeding area just before the exit.

If you can’t see them climbing about they often sleep on the radiator in the corner behind the second of the seating benches, or in the window in the first corner near the entrance (where the house goes outwards after the first bench), behind the tree there.

Other popular places are near the exit above the feeders there (also a good space to see the bats) on the back ‘wall’. And in the very warm weather hanging from the roof rafters above the waterfall near the entrance.

 

[Cotswoldgent]

Several visits will probably be your best chance to see them..

I would second Lafone’s post which tallies with our experience.

 

[Lafone]

Great day out at CWP today. Good weather for lots of animal activity not too warm, a bit overcast and the odd shower. Busy visitor wise all the same, particularly in the middle of the day.

The Red Jungle fowl who moved into the former Prevost squirrel enclosure opposite the Binturongs have produced some sweet looking little chicks.

There is a juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill in the main aviary next to the entrance to the walled garden (that also houses Black stork, Chough, Purple Swamphen, Cattle and Little Egret and Night Heron as well as a variety of ducks). Great to get good views of the youngster.

Work on refurbishing the aviary near the Tropical House exit is now complete

with new planting and enclosure furniture

and Bali Starlings in residence, offering good views.

As @Cotswoldgent noted above the mice in vivariums have moved on from Little Africa. The enclosure has now been opened back up

and Neumann's grass rats have moved in

They were busy chasing and mating - a few young rats were also visible.

The Pallas's cat enclosure has some temporary fencing installed, pending new paving being put in.




Was lovely to see the yellow Mongoose pups growing up and the young ring tailed lemurs were also chasing about in Madagascar.

There was also a new infant Greater Bamboo Lemur in the enclosure which shares a fence with the walkthrough, which is another excellent result for CWP's breeding programme.

The young White Storks have their flight feathers and have moved off the nests; hopefully we will hear shortly how some are moving on for wild release.

Managed to see one of the recent juvenile Orange headed ground thrushes in the Tropical House which was good fun and the Sloths were also active. There was an abundance of wild mice who no doubt will soon be gone again.

There was an experience going on in the giant tortoise enclosure and it was interesting to see how fast they could move and how high they could reach in pursuit of a child with a carrot.

There was a lot of activity in the frog breeding house with the Cinnamon tadpole signage offering some interesting information on the colour of the water / tadpole development.



A new pedestrian gate has been installed near the Capybara (just before the Parma wallabies). Assume this is to stop the lake waterfowl wandering all the way down the path to the Tapirs / exit. The waterfowl have had access to the White Naped Crane enclosure next door (through a low gateway) for a while and now they can't head up the other path, Barnacle, Red Breasted and Bar headed geese were in the Crane enclosure instead, along with some wild Canadas, making the most of the grass. Good way to see them.

The gardens were looking very pretty - hard work by the garden team paying off as usual.

 

[Pertinax]

Great day out at CWP today. Good weather for lots of animal activity not too warm, a bit overcast and the odd shower. Busy visitor wise all the same, particularly in the middle of the day.

The Red Jungle fowl who moved into the former Prevost squirrel enclosure opposite the Binturongs have produced some sweet looking little chicks.

There is a juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill in the main aviary next to the entrance to the walled garden (that also houses Black stork, Chough, Purple Swamphen, Cattle and Little Egret and Night Heron as well as a variety of ducks). Great to get good views of the youngster.

Work on refurbishing the aviary near the Tropical House exit is now complete

with new planting and enclosure furniture

and Bali Starlings in residence, offering good views.

As @Cotswoldgent noted above the mice in vivariums have moved on from Little Africa. The enclosure has now been opened back up

and Neumann's grass rats have moved in

They were busy chasing and mating - a few young rats were also visible.

The Pallas's cat enclosure has some temporary fencing installed, pending new paving being put in.

View attachment 718237


Was lovely to see the yellow Mongoose pups growing up and the young ring tailed lemurs were also chasing about in Madagascar.

There was also a new infant Greater Bamboo Lemur in the enclosure which shares a fence with the walkthrough, which is another excellent result for CWP's breeding programme.

The young White Storks have their flight feathers and have moved off the nests; hopefully we will hear shortly how some are moving on for wild release.

Managed to see one of the recent juvenile Orange headed ground thrushes in the Tropical House which was good fun and the Sloths were also active. There was an abundance of wild mice who no doubt will soon be gone again.

There was an experience going on in the giant tortoise enclosure and it was interesting to see how fast they could move and how high they could reach in pursuit of a child with a carrot.

There was a lot of activity in the frog breeding house with the Cinnamon tadpole signage offering some interesting information on the colour of the water / tadpole development.

View attachment 718242

A new pedestrian gate has been installed near the Capybara (just before the Parma wallabies). Assume this is to stop the lake waterfowl wandering all the way down the path to the Tapirs / exit. The waterfowl have had access to the White Naped Crane enclosure next door (through a low gateway) for a while and now they can't head up the other path, Barnacle, Red Breasted and Bar headed geese were in the Crane enclosure instead, along with some wild Canadas, making the most of the grass. Good way to see them.

The gardens were looking very pretty - hard work by the garden team paying off as usual.

The Geese need grass so they will try and go to wherever they can find it.