Paradise Wildlife Park Hertfordshire Zoo News 2025

JamesB said:
Visited at the weekend for the first time. Went with friends who have Marwell annual passes so they got in free. Overall was quite impressed with the collection, the newer enclosures for Jaguar, Sun Bears and Tigers were great and had lots of viewing opportunities.

The new revamped lion area had just opened - have uploaded some photos on the gallery. Highlight for me was seeing both Sun Bears very active including seeing the female being given an enrichment package which she promptly ripped open in minutes.

There's certainly some areas that could use some improvement - particularly the Zebra and Lemur enclosures. Only main no show was the Binturong. Lots of mating going on between the Jaguars, hope there will be babies in the near future! They also mentioned hoping to breed the Sun Bears too.

A few species need removing from zootierliste (someone correct me if wrong on any of these):
  • Common squirrel monkey
  • Eurasian wolf (enclosure now empty)
  • European red wolf
  • Lesser hedgehog tenrec (believe this has gone unless its off show?)
  • Northern giant pouched rat (as above)
  • Northern Racoon
  • Roof Rat
  • Scottish Red Deer
  • Striped Skunk
  • Sugar Glider
  • Common Marmoset (not signed in the rainforest house so presume they have gone)
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All Of Those Animals Are Behind The Scenes. The Marmosets Are Still There. The Deer Have Gone As Well As The Wolves. Racoons Were Their Years Ago.
 
2 Pieces of Early 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On February 5th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.2) capybaras to Jersey Zoo on the island of Jersey.

Jersey Zoo

JoB198 said:
Porcupine/meerkat areas being improved
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On March 30th, the zoo announced they moved their Cape porcupines back on display.

32K views · 498 reactions | Guess who’s back… We are excited to share the news that our African crested porcupines are back on the zoo in their exciting new habitat! Are you coming to visit them this Easter? #porcupine #animals #eminem #easter #hertfordshirezoo | Hertfordshire Zoo

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On April 12th, the zoo announced they acquired 2+? big-headed turtles which are now on display in the Lions of India area.

Hertfordshire Zoo
 
on my visit today can report a few things:
  • there is no longer access to the foxes, reindeer or deer enclosures. closed off and no longer on their zoo maps being handed outs
  • still no sign of the binturongs
  • sun bear pair are currently in separate sections of the enclosure, will be reintroduced when their mating season comes around
  • new area for the goats and alpacas is up and running
  • no signage/no sign of the chinchillas or rats anymore
  • new mini exhibits in the lions of india section were quite cool!

    watched a feeding experience with jessie the snow leopard. she was very reluctant to come down and struggled to do so, even coughed before working her way down. based on information here/online i think she's 11 years old now but she doesn't seem as healthy as she did before.
also watched the birds show and they had two new introductions. they were flightless birds that looked like cranes but not. can't remember their name but can't see anything about them being a permanent fixture online! grey in colour... called red-legged somethings! they were presenting displays of jumping into the air and using their beak to throttle a fake snake
edit: red-legged seriema i think they're called! pair of sisters
 
The 35-year old African Eagle-Owl SCALLY passed away.
Hertfordshire Zoo on Instagram: "Goodbye Scally It is with great sadness that we share the news that our cherished African spotted eagle owl, Scally, has passed away due to age related issues. She had been a beloved part of our zoo family since 1990. At 35 years old, she was more than just a member of the zoo family. Tom Clark, our Head of Birds had the privilege of working with her since he started his career and has seen her gentle nature and old-lady personality inspire hundreds of thousands of people through bird displays, zookeeper experiences and even being part of special proposals. All our staff, zookeepers, visitors and members will miss "Scally’s silly little runs, grumpy rain-bath face, and the way she melted like an ice cream when sunbathing". These small moments made her a truly remarkable character. As a quiet and graceful ambassador for wildlife, she embodied everything we strive for, to share the wonder of wildlife. Her presence will be missed more than words can express. ❤️ #scally #owl #hertfordshirezoo"
 
lemziipie said:
on my visit today can report a few things:
  • there is no longer access to the foxes, reindeer or deer enclosures. closed off and no longer on their zoo maps being handed out.
Click to expand...
Any reason why? Will they re-arrange this area and in the business of also changing over to endangered species and more species of conservation importance.
 
lemziipie said:
on my visit today can report a few things:
  • there is no longer access to the foxes, reindeer or deer enclosures. closed off and no longer on their zoo maps being handed outs
  • still no sign of the binturongs
  • sun bear pair are currently in separate sections of the enclosure, will be reintroduced when their mating season comes around
  • new area for the goats and alpacas is up and running
  • no signage/no sign of the chinchillas or rats anymore
  • new mini exhibits in the lions of india section were quite cool!

    watched a feeding experience with jessie the snow leopard. she was very reluctant to come down and struggled to do so, even coughed before working her way down. based on information here/online i think she's 11 years old now but she doesn't seem as healthy as she did before.
also watched the birds show and they had two new introductions. they were flightless birds that looked like cranes but not. can't remember their name but can't see anything about them being a permanent fixture online! grey in colour... called red-legged somethings! they were presenting displays of jumping into the air and using their beak to throttle a fake snake
edit: red-legged seriema i think they're called! pair of sisters
Click to expand...
Why were Seriemas flightless?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Any reason why? Will they re-arrange this area and in the business of also changing over to endangered species and more species of conservation importance.
Click to expand...

If I'm correct this whole side of the park is now devoted to Dinosaurs and there are no species held on this side. They have invested quite a lot of money in the dinosaur animatronics.
 
3 Pieces of Early-Mid 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On April 19th, the zoo announced that a parma wallaby was born, which is on exhibit.

18K views · 393 reactions | Meet the most adorable joey in the world! We’re excited to share that a Parma wallaby joey has been born and is now starting to peek out of mum’s pouch and explore its habitat! #joey #wallaby #adorable #animals #babyanimals #hertfordshirezoo | Hertfordshire Zoo

On May 14th, the zoo announced they moved a group of giant hooded katydids on display in Ranger Outlook.

295K views · 11K reactions | Their leaf-ing us speechless… These giant hooded Katydid’s are one of the largest members of the grasshopper family! They use their extraordinary appearance to hide from predators and they can even fly! You can now see these incredible animals in our Ranger Outlook! #uniqueanimals #zookeeper #animals #bug #keeper #hertfordshirezoo | Hertfordshire Zoo

On June 26th, it was announced that the zoo transferred 4 African penguins to Banham Zoo in Norfolk.

14K views · 220 reactions | We’re incredibly excited to welcome seven new penguins to Banham Zoo! ✨ Joining us from Hertfordshire Zoo are Jozini, Maneno, Rocket and Kobi, and from Birdworld UK, we’re excited to introduce Pickles, Smithson and Chips! These new arrivals are already settling into life at Penguin Cove beautifully. A huge thank you to Birdworld and Hertfordshire Zoo for their support in making this move possible. Be sure to stop by and say hello on your next visit! BIAZA, SANCCOB saves seabirds | Banham Zoo

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On August 12th, the zoo announced that 13 blue poison dart frogs hatched, which are off-show. The zoo also announced they will be moving some blue poison dart frogs on display in the Amazon & Beyond building in the upcoming weeks.

10K views · 166 reactions | We have some exciting blue-tiful arrivals... We’re excited to introduce our blue poison dart frog tadpoles! They’re developing quickly under the expert care of our zookeepers and will soon grow into fully developed froglets. Make sure you check them our very soon in our amazon and beyond building! #tadpols #frogs #zookeeper #keeper #hertfordshirezoo #zoolife | Hertfordshire Zoo
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
If that is the case... I do wonder whether the Slovenian European adder correspond to the local UK subspecies of European adder!
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The U.K. population is classified as V. b. berus, the same subspecies across most of mainland Europe. Despite geographic separation, genetic studies have shown minimal differentiation between U.K. and continental populations. I think the breeding program is likely due in part to studies finding signs of inbreeding and genome erosion due to recent bottlenecks.
 
Visited for the first time today, just wondering if anyone has ever had any luck seeing the Slow-worm? Im sure their semi-fossorial nature makes them a slightly worse exhibit animal than the other reptiles.

Also are the zoo out of Aesculapian Snakes and Pool Frogs?
 
 
 
 
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