Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens News 2025

Cat-Man said:
I think it’s important that the planning system is fair; it’s not right that we treat every greenfield site as sacrosanct regardless of its ecological use when we have such a severe housing shortage. Regardless, I think it’s better this is discussed in a specialist thread.
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If you reference the link you'll see there is no requirement or desire to make greenfield (or brownfield, you seem to treat both the same as you referenced brownfield sites as irrelevant earlier) 'sacrosanct', merely to protect nature and you should feel free to continue the 'discussion' wherever you wish.
 
Wonderfully quiet after rainy conditions. Noticed a few changes-
1/ the giant tortoise house renovation looks bigger than before- extended right up to edge of boundary between that and rhino enclosure. Also two large windows on that side. At least two large windows on the front of house.
2/ Saw 2 ostrich chicks ! Maybe more in undergrowth
3/ Six Kirk’s dik-dik spotted outside in Little Africa enclosure including one small duvenile. 4/ Gardens wonderful as ever!
5/ Glass enclosure in cafeteria being modified to house dwarf marmosets.
 
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trachycarpus said:
Wonderfully quiet after rainy conditions. Noticed a few changes-
1/ the giant tortoise house renovation looks bigger than before- extended right up to edge of boundary between that and rhino enclosure. Also two large windows on that side. At least two large windows on the front of house.
2/ Saw 2 ostrich chicks ! Maybe more in undergrowth
3/ Six Kirk’s dik-dik spotted outside in Little Africa enclosure including one small duvenile. 4/ Gardens wonderful as ever!
5/ Glass enclosure in cafeteria being modified to house dwarf marmosets.
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How many and which giant tortoises do they currently have at Cotswold? Is the plan now to have a proper breeding group and conditions conducive to their husbandry and improved management?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
How many and which giant tortoises do they currently have at Cotswold? Is the plan now to have a proper breeding group and conditions conducive to their husbandry and improved management?
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Still George, Sheldon and Darwin as in the article linked above. They have always had positive conditions this is an upgrade really. It would be interesting to see if they bring in additional ones or do any breeding, but the house should be a good improvement nonetheless.
 
Lovely visit yesterday, although very busy with groups of excited schoolchildren (16 coaches). Highlights were:
  • seeing the Masked Lapwing chicks (as above), which are now quite large
  • good views of the Pekin Robins in the Tropical House, although they move quickly.
  • The surprise of a couple of Great Grey Owl chicks, which we hadn’t seen on our last visit about three weeks ago.
  • Poor views, but of a very young Parma Wallaby in the pouch, almost vertically below us (still in the great bustard enclosure who remain temporarily off show)
 
Another lovely visit yesterday, with main matter of note that the Potoroo have gone from the Tropical House, with their sign removed from the board. Staff in the shop were unaware as to whether a temporary rehousing or a move. Shame if they have gone, as I really enjoyed them moving across the path.

Have only seen one Tamandua on our last few visits, but they can often be elusive, and also noted a Blacksmith Plover in the new weavers enclosure outside the Tropical House. Wolverines were very active.
 
Visited today and still very busy with school children of various ages, but plenty to enjoy.
Points of note were that the Potoroo are off show, according to a keeper in the Tropical House, and that the Giant Tortoise are back enjoying their new enclosure and their indoor pool looks good, although all the tortoises were outside.
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You can see the good large windows in this picture too.

Forgot to mention that we counted four Great Grey Owl chicks!
 

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Fun visit to CWP today, the weather kept it reasonably quiet and it didn't rain that much after 11am. All the gardens are starting to look lovely

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The new giant tortoise house looks very smart as mentioned above

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and the three tortoises were outside enjoying a wander into the haha in the warm weather.

There seems to be another new arrival for the Greater Bamboo Lemurs which was nice to see -got good views of the youngster putting effort into gumming some bamboo before going back for milk.

There were two juvenile Black Storks in the enclosure in the walled garden shared with the Spoonbills and Openbill Storks, which was lovely to see.

Kenyan Crested Guinea fowl are now signed in the enclosure shared with the Blue Cranes. Enjoyed seeing those as I can't recall having seen them before. Saw three of them but there might be more. The free roaming Guinea Fowl appeared highly entertained by them and there was a lot of calling through the fence.

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Down in the same area on the way to the wolves, one of the free roaming Indian Peafowl was in the far Anteater enclosure with three small chicks.

The Southern Screamer youngsters from last year have been relocated to the enclosure next to the Screamer, Anteater and Mara area and the adult Screamers appear to be back on a nest.

The Green naped pheasant pigeon is now signed in the enclosure with the Purple Glossy Starlings, not in the Tropical House. Now listed on the Tropical House sign board

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Short visit yesterday afternoon managing to see two young Greater Bamboo Lemurs, as noted above, before Madagascar closed at 3.30.
Otherwise busy with summer crowds.
Highlight was seeing two young ostriches on the way into the park, walking back later to get better views, although obscured by the long grass so we were only getting good views of one at a time.
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I finally got round to renewing my annual pass today after not visiting since March. Had a lovely visit, if a bit warmer than I expected. The crowds are in full force already and the walled garden area was packed when we arrived around 3ish, but by 4:30-5pm mostly everyone seemed to disappear so it was nice to walk round in peace and quiet! Nothing new spotted that hasn’t already been mentioned, but I was sad to see the tree in the red panda enclosure is no more! There wasn’t much left on it in recent years anyway, but the tree is now laid down on the enclosure floor as if it had fallen rather than been felled. We only saw one red panda doing laps of the enclosure perimeter and scent marking the top of the house - I think it was Iris but can’t be 100% certain. Does anyone know whether they still have both Iris and Wing? I only remember seeing one red panda on my visit in March also.
 
Bethany said:
I finally got round to renewing my annual pass today after not visiting since March. Had a lovely visit, if a bit warmer than I expected. The crowds are in full force already and the walled garden area was packed when we arrived around 3ish, but by 4:30-5pm mostly everyone seemed to disappear so it was nice to walk round in peace and quiet! Nothing new spotted that hasn’t already been mentioned, but I was sad to see the tree in the red panda enclosure is no more! There wasn’t much left on it in recent years anyway, but the tree is now laid down on the enclosure floor as if it had fallen rather than been felled. We only saw one red panda doing laps of the enclosure perimeter and scent marking the top of the house - I think it was Iris but can’t be 100% certain. Does anyone know whether they still have both Iris and Wing? I only remember seeing one red panda on my visit in March also.
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Shame about the tree, it was a bit on it's last legs. Hopefully something will get built in it's place for them to climb around on. I didn't see both on my last visit but I have seen both since March.
 
Had an early birding day at Slimbridge so time to do the last few hours of the day at CWP this afternoon in the warm sunshine.

Walled garden planting looking great in the sun.

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There was a new bird signed in the walled garden on the pathway to the Lemur walkthrough, with a Red Tailed Laughing Thrush replacing the Sumatran Thrush in the first enclosure on the left. Got some good views near closing. Have never really heard the song when I've seen this bird briefly in other places..an unusual call, sounds a bit like a cat crying!

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The Inca Terns in the free flight aviary have had a bit of a bumper year with a number of juveniles including some newer fledgers squeaking away on the top of the entrance tunnel which was fun to see. Had good views of the Great Grey Owlets and one growing Ostrich chick.

The Yellow Mongoose Chip and Nutmeg have had another litter. I saw one pup when Nutmeg brought it to the surface from the burrows at the far end of the enclosure, which was a bit of a lucky treat. Apparently a week old. Not sure if it is just the one this time, but great to see another success for the family, with the older pups having moved to new zoos and the younger pups still there.
 

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Today, actually managed a day off, well most of it, and ended up here. Fabulous day ! Highlights ,Blue Crowned and Red Tailed Laughing Thrushes, even the Clouded Leopards came down to the glass viewing panel,the wife was well pleased! Even managed a meet up with Chris Green, head bird keeper , had a good natter about my birds,unfortunately he was called away to deal with an ostrich that was walking around with a plastic bag around its head. Also found out that the stud book keeper for Prevost squirrels is based at Cotswold, though their squirrels are kept offshow. Even though the place was very busy, no sign of any antisocial behaviour! Only one quibble, could only walk as far as the wolves, the lake was offshow, so had to walk all the way back, there was no warning and with the wife having arthritis in her spine, let's just say she struggled. Other than that, a fabulous day!
 
The lake has been closed on and off since 2022 if I recall, due to birdflu I believe.
Disappointing there was no sign - when I last went in 2022 it was clearly signposted.
 
Might be preventative bird-flu measures, but the lake has been very low the last few times we’ve visited, with mud visible in some areas, so may be due to lack of water?
 
Strathmorezoo said:
Today, actually managed a day off, well most of it, and ended up here. Fabulous day ! Highlights ,Blue Crowned and Red Tailed Laughing Thrushes, even the Clouded Leopards came down to the glass viewing panel,the wife was well pleased! Even managed a meet up with Chris Green, head bird keeper , had a good natter about my birds,unfortunately he was called away to deal with an ostrich that was walking around with a plastic bag around its head. Also found out that the stud book keeper for Prevost squirrels is based at Cotswold, though their squirrels are kept offshow. Even though the place was very busy, no sign of any antisocial behaviour! Only one quibble, could only walk as far as the wolves, the lake was offshow, so had to walk all the way back, there was no warning and with the wife having arthritis in her spine, let's just say she struggled. Other than that, a fabulous day!
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Also, noticed that the Squirrel monkeys and. Emperor tamarins were housed together. I thought that any mix of squirrel monkeys and tamarins/marmosets is dangerous. HerpesT which although carried by squirrels and not fatal to them, can be to marmosets and tamarins.
 
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