Cotswoldgent
Well-Known Member
Great update and good to hear about the new additions.
Also reassuring to hear that you saw a juvenile Orange headed ground thrush, as we hadn’t on our last visit.
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens News 2024
- Thread starter Lafone
- Start date
Also reassuring to hear that you saw a juvenile Orange headed ground thrush, as we hadn’t on our last visit.
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Lovely day at CWP today from opening to closing. It was warm and sunny and the crowds were certainly out. At this time of year I try and visit on a weekday (using a day's holiday) as the weekends are a shocker crowd wise but it was still busy. I arrived about 15 mins before opening time and got straight in, but by 1130 the queue was backed out beyond the gates. Still, people spread out ok and by the early afternoon it had quietened down. The hour from 5-6pm in summer is always great too - hardly anyone is about by then.
It was quite the youngster fest around the park. To avoid the crowds I first headed up past the Colobus and Pallas's to the Lake walkthrough, where there was a nice Crested Screamer surprise. I'd seen the female sitting on eggs on my last visit and it was lovely to see four bright yellow chicks (a few weeks old) busy around the enclosure with their parents. The adult birds were certainly living up to their name, noisily seeing off a few crows and taking no small exception to buggies near the fence, with the chicks carrying on regardless.
Further around the same path were four very recent arrivals for the Capybara pair who are next to and sometimes sharing the Tapir enclosure. Tiny and cute.
As I arrived at the area near Little Africa, the Dwarf mongoose emerged from the large rock in their enclosure with one carrying a tiny pup. Great to see another youngster. All three adults (parents and pup from June 2022) were busy washing the new arrival and moving it about and it was simply a treat to see.
Twins for the Cotton Top Tamarins were the next treat. A couple of weeks old they were initially both on mum but later one on her and another on the male as responsibility is transferred. Unexpected addition it seems, but another success for the incredibly productive CWP group. The young cotton tops from last year appeared enthralled by the new arrivals.
Lots of other animal activity too with the Red Jungle fowl chicks getting to be quite a size and the Yellow Mongoose and Binturong super active. I didn't see the Honey Eater in the Tropical House but got good views of everything else including the Sloths, bats and the Coucal.
The Anteater house is occupied again with the Giant Anteater signed and sharing with the Call ducks and, on the day, the nomadic crested guinea fowl.
It was also nice to sit on the benches and enjoy the hard work of the garden team. Great day all round.
It was quite the youngster fest around the park. To avoid the crowds I first headed up past the Colobus and Pallas's to the Lake walkthrough, where there was a nice Crested Screamer surprise. I'd seen the female sitting on eggs on my last visit and it was lovely to see four bright yellow chicks (a few weeks old) busy around the enclosure with their parents. The adult birds were certainly living up to their name, noisily seeing off a few crows and taking no small exception to buggies near the fence, with the chicks carrying on regardless.
Further around the same path were four very recent arrivals for the Capybara pair who are next to and sometimes sharing the Tapir enclosure. Tiny and cute.
As I arrived at the area near Little Africa, the Dwarf mongoose emerged from the large rock in their enclosure with one carrying a tiny pup. Great to see another youngster. All three adults (parents and pup from June 2022) were busy washing the new arrival and moving it about and it was simply a treat to see.
Twins for the Cotton Top Tamarins were the next treat. A couple of weeks old they were initially both on mum but later one on her and another on the male as responsibility is transferred. Unexpected addition it seems, but another success for the incredibly productive CWP group. The young cotton tops from last year appeared enthralled by the new arrivals.
Lots of other animal activity too with the Red Jungle fowl chicks getting to be quite a size and the Yellow Mongoose and Binturong super active. I didn't see the Honey Eater in the Tropical House but got good views of everything else including the Sloths, bats and the Coucal.
The Anteater house is occupied again with the Giant Anteater signed and sharing with the Call ducks and, on the day, the nomadic crested guinea fowl.
It was also nice to sit on the benches and enjoy the hard work of the garden team. Great day all round.
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Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
The gardens are always superb
Cotswoldgent
Well-Known Member
Visited on Monday 19th for Susie the white rhino’s first birthday and as well as normal sightings saw four baby capybaras in the lakeside walkthrough with mother and father looking very cute. Also saw one of the sloths moving along the ceiling from above Tropical House exit to about halfway along, where it disappeared into the undergrowth.
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Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
Thoroughly enjoyable visit to the CWP yesterday, my first visit since 2017. The weather was, to say the best, unpredictable. Luckily, being a Pluviophile meant the only things bothered about this were the animals 
. It was nice to see this rich collection once more, especially species like the Crowned Sifaka and the Cinnamon Frogs (behind the Mossy Frogs). I also found the new Pallas's Cat Enclosure, which looked incredible. The Tropical House was packed full with life, and the flora was just beautiful to admire. Crested Screamer chicks were roaming around, as were the young Capybara.
Inside the Reptile House Building, the last enclosure was covered up. Apparently this enclosure it’s having some maintenance work carried out. What was previously in here, as a sign indicated Jamaican Anole and Blue Fence Swift but these species were both on show with the former in the Dart Frog Tank and latter in with the Common Chuckwalla.
Near the Entrance of Little Africa, I couldn’t help but notice a strange Lesser Bushbaby?
Is this an Albino Individual (the eyes are blurred in this image, but appeared red?)
. It was nice to see this rich collection once more, especially species like the Crowned Sifaka and the Cinnamon Frogs (behind the Mossy Frogs). I also found the new Pallas's Cat Enclosure, which looked incredible. The Tropical House was packed full with life, and the flora was just beautiful to admire. Crested Screamer chicks were roaming around, as were the young Capybara.Inside the Reptile House Building, the last enclosure was covered up. Apparently this enclosure it’s having some maintenance work carried out. What was previously in here, as a sign indicated Jamaican Anole and Blue Fence Swift but these species were both on show with the former in the Dart Frog Tank and latter in with the Common Chuckwalla.
Near the Entrance of Little Africa, I couldn’t help but notice a strange Lesser Bushbaby?
Is this an Albino Individual (the eyes are blurred in this image, but appeared red?)
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Thoroughly enjoyable visit to the CWP yesterday, my first visit since 2017. The weather was, to say the best, unpredictable. Luckily, being a Pluviophile meant the only things bothered about this were the animals
Inside the Reptile House Building, the last enclosure was covered up. Apparently this enclosure it’s having some maintenance work carried out. What was previously in here, as a sign indicated Jamaican Anole and Blue Fence Swift but these species were both on show with the former in the Dart Frog Tank and latter in with the Common Chuckwalla.
Near the Entrance of Little Africa, I couldn’t help but notice a strange Lesser Bushbaby?
Is this an Albino Individual (the eyes are blurred in this image, but appeared red?)
Sounds a lovely day! I also love the Tropical House. I believe that is Ghost the Bushbaby, Leucistic vs Albino. He's featured among other animals on the BBC here having a (White) pumpkin at Halloween
Halloween: Cotswold Wildlife Park residents enjoy spooky treats
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
Thank you @Lafone, the red must have been the lighting, as you can see in the picture, it was mid-leap. I didn’t know that a Leucistic Bushbaby was in the U.K, Ghost is certainly a fitting name
.
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Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
They were signed but I did not see any.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Saw them on 16th August - as someone yelled holy s*** is that a rat. And indeed yes!
That’s very funny. But good news, a great species that needs more help!
I visited the CWP yesterday and was interested to discover their mini museum which went by the title Skulls, Skeletons and Scatt (or something very similar). Most of the exhibits are ex residents or the zoo or, in the case of scatt, produced by the residents of the zoo.
I've not seen this exhibition before so assume it's a new thing, but maybe I've just missed it on previous visits?
I've not seen this exhibition before so assume it's a new thing, but maybe I've just missed it on previous visits?
Cotswoldgent
Well-Known Member
This exhibit in the main house has been around for a few years, replacing the previous brass rubbing exhibit that I remember my children using. Unsure of when exactly it changed, and I’m not sure that it’s always open as I don’t think I always see the board sign when walking past the house. Sorry I can’t be of more help, but we’ve never felt the inclination to view.
We visited the park yesterday and as well as seeing growing young Screamers, Capybaras and Dwarf Mongoose (we didn’t visit yellow mongoose or lemurs), we saw what looked like a very pregnant Chapman’s Zebra. I can’t remember when the mother last gave birth, perhaps two years ago, as the young zebra is still smaller than its parents.
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It's a fascinating display if you do get the chance to see it.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Lovely day out at CWP today marking the start of my not very summer holiday, though the weather was warm. The midweek day and occasional torrential rain made for a pretty quiet park which always feels like a treat. The sight of the team raking leaves brought home it's getting into Autumn!
Good to see all the recent youngsters making progress with active dwarf mongoose and screamers a highlight. Nice to see both groups of rhinos too with the females from the end house out in the paddock after 5pm, following the bull, cows and calfs having been out all day.
Few changes elsewhere, though two masked lapwings have joined the laughing thrushes in the aviary near the Madagascar exit. I had supposed these might be the juveniles from this year but they are still in the other aviary near the Tropical house.
Was a very active and noisy tropical house day with a lot of display behaviour by the crowned pigeons (two were building another nest in the spare moments between the whole group chasing up and down the path and crashing about in the plants) and also for the bleeding heart doves.
Good to see all the recent youngsters making progress with active dwarf mongoose and screamers a highlight. Nice to see both groups of rhinos too with the females from the end house out in the paddock after 5pm, following the bull, cows and calfs having been out all day.
Few changes elsewhere, though two masked lapwings have joined the laughing thrushes in the aviary near the Madagascar exit. I had supposed these might be the juveniles from this year but they are still in the other aviary near the Tropical house.
Was a very active and noisy tropical house day with a lot of display behaviour by the crowned pigeons (two were building another nest in the spare moments between the whole group chasing up and down the path and crashing about in the plants) and also for the bleeding heart doves.
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Soa, female crowned sifaka born in 2018 in Besançon, is on the way to Cotswold to form a new breeding pair with 4 years old male Yossi.
citadelle de besancon
citadelle de besancon
This is slow news… Soa arrived to pair Yossi at Cotswolds a few years ago now!
Yes one pair - Yossi and Soa
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Latest edition of the regular online newsletter includes some photos of the interior of the updated anteater enclosure, update on the progress on the new Flamingo house, pictures of the recently arrived Strawberry frogs, notes on recent fundraising activities and updates on the young Bactrian camel and rhinos.
WORD FROM THE WILD: The Latest News From The Park : Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
WORD FROM THE WILD: The Latest News From The Park : Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens