Northumberland Country Zoo Northumberland Country Zoo News
- Thread starter Quincey
- Start date
There is a very large stockpile of treated logs in the maintenance area behind the car park. They appear to be the same size & type that a number of U.K. polar bear holders have used to enclose their paddocks. Could this be a sign that they are preparing to build in the near future? The Northumberland climate would suit this species and this zoo could become Englands equivalent to HWP in Scotland?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
In the video posted above on 5th May they do talk about only looking for climatically appropriate species in the new area of the zoo they plan to expand into, so could well be something along those lines, I was also thinking there might be opportunities for wolves etc.
They are also mid way through refurbishing their snow leopard enclosure so the materials could be for the second part of that.
There's a really interesting new video on their channel about them handraising a baby bat. They continue to be one to watch imho.
On July 1st, the zoo opened the new Eurasian red squirrel exhibit to the public, which holds (3.0) squirrels.
On July 11th, it was mentioned that the zoo transferred a (0.1) long-nosed potoroo named Truffle to Marwell Zoo in Hampshire*.
On July 17th, the zoo announced their (1.0) serval (named Ikari) passed away around June due to a broken femur in its right leg. Post mortem analysis showcases that the serval had skeletal abnormalities, as well as several pins in its left leg (that was found out before Ikari died).
* Information partially provided by @okapis in the Marwell Zoo news 2025 thread (Page 16 Post #308).
On July 17th, the zoo announced their (1.0) serval (named Ikari) passed away around June due to a broken femur in its right leg. Post mortem analysis showcases that the serval had skeletal abnormalities, as well as several pins in its left leg (that was found out before Ikari died).
* Information partially provided by @okapis in the Marwell Zoo news 2025 thread (Page 16 Post #308).
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Hats off to the zoo for sharing the journey. It's good to bring this sort of thing to public attention when the condition does seem to be connected to the animal's history in the pet trade (resulting from poor nutrition), while demonstrating the effort and care that goes into caring for these animals in good collections. Why anyone would even want to keep a Serval as a pet is beyond me. What a shame for the team at the zoo.
ZooNews2024
Well-Known Member
Servals are often kept as pets in the UK and elsewhere.
The so called 'Savanah' cat resulted from deliberate crossing with domestic cats, usually after rearing the male kittens artificially and removing their canines so they would not kill the brood females.
'Bengal' cats resulted from similar deliberate crossing of wild Leopard Cats with domestics - both to produce designer pets, passed off as new 'breeds' rather than hybrids.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Yes though a first generation (F1) Savannah cat requires a dangerous wild animal licence just as a pure Serval does in the U.K.
Most of the Servals being kept at zoos that were previous rescues (as in this case) were however held illegally and improperly and confiscated from people who should never have held them in the first place.
On July 31st, the zoo shared updates towards the new paddocks for their capybara/South American tapir and snow leopards respectively, as well as lightly teased new projects in the Rainforest Lookout building, the meerkat/crested porcupine exhibit, and the planned new expansion of the facility. The zoo also announced they sexed the bat as (1.0) and named it Fender.
Cobi
Well-Known Member
Incompletely agree, the videos are intelligent and informative. I really enjoy them and think bigger zoos could learn a lot from them.
Cobi
Well-Known Member
Just to clarify, that should be I completely agree, not an agreement that is incomplete.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Another excellent update with another new Goeldis baby and teasing a new species for the rainforest lookout arriving in December. Interesting tour around the zoo including the tapirs using their large pond. Also highlighted the intention to help Jersey with homing their bats and that a new porcupine arrived from Chester. The zoo has had good visitor numbers this year (up on last year) and it’s not surprising - it looks a varied and engaging place.
Always watchable and interesting content.
Always watchable and interesting content.
Should also be mentioned that the zoo is now down to a (1m.0) black-tailed prairie dog after its partner passed away in summer (once it passes, the zoo will go out of the species), as well as only 1 Siberian chipmunk. The zoo also announced they are planning to replace their red-necked wallabies with one that is on the EEP, as well as moving their kookaburras into a new exhibit inside the wallaby walk-through. Finally, the zoo announced they released ~100 Eurasian harvest mice into the wild in 2025.
LittleRavenwood
Active Member
Ooo wonder what wallabies they'll go for. Agile, Tammar, Swamp or Yellow-footed Rock are all the ones in the EEP I believe. Id be made up if they somehow managed yellow-footed Rock Wallabies.
In this week's YouTube video the zoo mentioned they will be doing work at their entrance and gift shop to improve visitor flow, as they expect they will have an increase in visitor numbers with their new expansion opening in 2026. Does anyone familiar with this zoo have any thoughts on species?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Latest video is a good one I appreciated the insight on caring for the large donkeys and the new entrance plans look good.
I am not familiar with it in terms of visits as it’s a long way from me but I do watch their content. Interesting to hear from any regulars.
They mentioned adding climate appropriate species and I wonder if that and the part wooded setting might mean wolf, lynx, perhaps wolverine or maybe bear as possible options. And maybe red deer or something as they have red squirrels in terms of a focus on natives. They’ve been adding more rare species and have new affiliations so Pallas’s cats would be another interesting addition.
They already have 2 Canadian lynx.
