Colchester Zoo Colchester- Zoo with a difference.

[Pertinax]

Having just visited Colchester for the first time in about 7 years, instead of a full review, here's a few of my impressions;
Good points;

Playa Patagonia(underwater sealion display)- excellent.
New Amur tiger exhibit-excellent viewing- spacious & planted with bamboo but it could do with a bit more topography e.g. platforms and perhaps some planted birch/ pine trees etc?
Mangabey forest- good display.
Mandrill enclosure-much improved with growth of trees and complexes of climbing poles- making it now one of Colchester's very best exhibits.
New 'Edge of Africa' enclosures- Cheetahs, RR Hogs, colobus, warthogs etc. All good and easy to view. A lot of walking and 'backtracking' though.
Wolf pack & enclosure- really impressive group seen through glass windows - excellent.
The several indoor 'mixed' exhibits which include fish, reptile and mammal exhibits in one building e.g. 'Out of Africa' and several others.
The glass viewing windows incorporated into many exhibits- make viewing and photography so much better. Plenty of undercover viewing for wet days.
The informative & educational notices on display everywhere.
The great diversity of animal species on show- this is a first class collection in terms of animal species nowadays.
The L'Hoests Guenon group with 3 young in the Chimp area.

Bad points;

'Orangutan Forest' - exactly as I expected from all the photos in the gallery. Indoors is okay, outside is VERY ugly(but spacious) A typical Colchester design.
Gelada baboon enclosure- ugly wooden platforms to replicate 'cliffs'- piles of rock would be far preferable- I really hated this enclosure.
The many paths and tortuous routes which seem to double back on each other- not an easy zoo to walk around in a straightforward fashion. (Families with small children must get exhausted!)
The 'fake' rockwork and ugly enclosures(not all) for which Colchester is so famous. Calling exhibits descriptively e.g. a 'forest' also in some cases exaggerates the reality the visitors then see but I can understand the (marketing) reasons for this.
The 'piped' music which plays incessantly.
The automatic doors leading into many exhibits- I found continually pressing buttons, to get in and out, got to be a real nuisance after a while.

I hope I have not offended any 'Colchester regulars' Overall I think the good points of Colchester do considerably outweigh the bad, but it is strange to see things you like AND dislike about a zoo present in such abundance in the one location. But for me, Colchester has always been like that.

 

[Maguari]

Apart from being not quite so keen on the glass windows (too many reflections and double-reflections for my liking) I would agree with pretty much every word of that.

 

[Gigit]

Did you see the Orangutan 'Forest' residents? Did Tiga look settled?

 

[Pertinax]

Did you see the Orangutan 'Forest' residents? Did Tiga look settled?

Tiga was huddled under a sack against the wall outside. When I went back later he had disappeared altogether.

Rajang was indoors looking contented and 'people watching' as per usual. (Door was open)

 

[karenZOO]

Not offended in the slightest

Interesting to see the changes from someones point of view who hasn't been for a while. They always seem to be changing things you lose track when you go regularly (iv been going since late 60s as a baby of course )

Big question (in your opinion) - can the outside area of Orangutan Forest be saved at all ?? Do you think planting would help at all or is the layout thats a problem to? It is a lot large than it looks at first and the 'climbing frames' are very tall!

With the amount of soil (and bodies) they dug out I do wonder if they top dressed it or just pounded it down and thus make it unsuitable for planting anyway! They have made an effort at the top with some planting to soften the awful rock edge!

It is good that they have access all night to the outside area I am not sure if this is the norm at other zoos?

More good points than bad I see and yes it is a killer to walk round (we only ever 'pick' what areas we are going to on each visit, rarely do the whole zoo)

 

[Pertinax]

Big question (in your opinion) - can the outside area of Orangutan Forest be saved at all ?? Do you think planting would help at all or is the layout thats a problem to?

It is good that they have access all night to the outside area I am not sure if this is the norm at other zoos?

More good points than bad I see and yes it is a killer to walk round (we only ever 'pick' what areas we are going to on each visit, rarely do the whole zoo)

1. I think the major problem is they have a site with no natural tres they could utilise, so it was always going to look unnatural. I just think they tried 'too hard' somehow with the idea of the public looking at the outdoors from the raised level- so in reality it looks like a 'pit' and the Orangs won't climb that much so are likely to be looked down on. The 'rock' walls don't help but I'm sure it will mellow with time. They can't plant much over the walls though as it could form an escape route.

2. I didn't know they can stay outside at night. Even in winter? Sounds like a recipe for them catching chills. I don't think many places do that.

3. Colchester does have a VERY impressive animal collection nowadays and they do have some nice groups- Mandrills, RR Hogs, Warthogs, mangabeys, L'Hoest's monkeys(very rare indeed) nice Chimps etc.

4 As the Zoo gets even bigger its harder/more tiring to get around the whole zoo. I was there 4 and a half hours and I saw most things, I went right around twice!

5. I thought Playa Patagonia was really excellent. They should do the same for Hippos...

 

[karenZOO]

Not sure if they will all winter?! but chatting with the keeper at the orang utan night she said they always have access all night although it wasn't finished last winter! The cave is heated and the 'pit' is very sheltered and as you probably noticed it is very hot inside probably best they don't in the winter lol

Hippos would be brilliant I just hope the 'croc' walk through they have planned is as good as playa patagonia About Colchester Zoo - Future Developments although not sure how far they have got with this ?

Thats what I like about colchester's collection there is 'something for everyone' least you didnt go during 'shriek week' lol avoid anything like that where ever possible !!!

 

[Pertinax]

as you probably noticed it is very hot inside probably best they don't in the winter lol

Thats what I like about colchester's collection there is 'something for everyone' least you didnt go during 'shriek week' lol avoid anything like that where ever possible !!!

I did notice it was very warm(almost too warm?) in the Orangutan inside area.

I 'm very glad I missed 'Shriek week'- I too avoid anything like that wherever possible. I was surprised to see quite lot of younger school age kids with their parents yesterday- is halfterm this week in Essex?

 

[Roz]

Hippos would be brilliant I just hope the 'croc' walk through they have planned is as good as playa patagonia About Colchester Zoo - Future Developments although not sure how far they have got with this ?

Not sure either when they will be starting on this? The storks in the orangutan enclosure and Ibis in the Lar Gibbon enclosure all need to be moved out or to another enclosure first! Very much looking forward to the croc tunnel (hope they definately make it and dont reduce it to an underwater viewing window ). I'm hoping it will be on par with the tropical realm at chester as there are mentions of free flying birds in the article about the new development

 

[traveling_wilbu]

When I visited at Half-Term I felt that the Oranutang inside area was much cooler than usual. It tends to get very hot when the weather outside is warm. Possibly something to do with the glass roof.

 

[GillP]

I'm a Colchester regular and not offended at all (even if I was we all have different likes and dislikes).

Absolutely agree on the piped music ..... it's particularly annoying if you want to stand and watch something for any length of time which I often do ! Thank god it's not in the Orangutan 'Forest' ! (or if it is I've been too engrossed to notice).

Also agree about the Geladas - I love watching these, particularly the dominant male Junior as he's so striking (though the least active of the group). The rest of them, especially the youngsters are so playful and real fun ...... and they do make full use of the ugly platforms, but, as you say, it's not very aesthetically pleasing and I always feel they have drawn a bit of a short straw compared to other monkey enclosures.

So far as the effort required in walking round - or frequently up and down - the zoo, I've found that this has got easier with time now I know (pretty much) where everything is. For my 1st few visits though, we went round in circles, seeing some areas several times and missing others completely - though this did have the bonus of lots of surprises on subsequent visits as we came across yet another cul-de-sac or out-of-the-way exhibit. With practice, you can pretty much relate where each area sits in relation to the others and once you've done that the zoo seems a lot smaller because you're not getting lost. When I 1st visited I was well and truly worn out and thought it was a huge place. I am yet to visit it when it's icy though ....... am rather at the prospect of tackling some of the hills (the one near the anteaters and leopards springs to mind) and of course, I am sure that some elderly and disabled visitors must inevitably miss out because they can't access all areas.

 

[ZooLeopard]

Colchester is very hard to walk around with young children although I can honestly say that the animal welfare and natural groups of animals are excellent. (Such as the Mandrills or Colobus Monkeys).

As for Orangutan Forest, All the rain-water is recycled and used for the stream and pond outside. The heat is due to the solar panels and Greenhouse windoes on the roof of Orangutan Forest.(This helps keep a constant natural temperature)

The new Rainforest walkthrough is due to be started in January now as the storks and ibis are still no closer to finding homes. You can view the plans od the exhibit on Essex.gov. I have to say they look good.

 

[Pertinax]

.

Also agree about the Geladas - they do make full use of the ugly platforms, but, as you say, it's not very aesthetically pleasing and I always feel they have drawn a bit of a short straw compared to other monkey enclosures.

I am sure that some elderly and disabled visitors must inevitably miss out because they can't access all areas.

I was looking forward to seeing the Geladas but I was very dissapointed by the enclosure- horrible I thought... It wouldn't be difficult to give them big rockpiles to climb on and far more natural- because they are brown they blend with the wooden platforms and don't show off as they would against pale rock. This is a species which would actually benefit from Colchester's fake rock designs but ironically there's not a hint of it in their enclosure.

The zoo can't help the older part being located on the hillside, but some of the paths must be very dangerous when icy. I thought the steep stairs leading down from the Tiger valley/Mangabey viewing area looked pretty lethal too- especially for small children and old people.

 

[GillP]

I thought the steep stairs leading down from the Tiger valley/Mangabey viewing area looked pretty lethal too- especially for small children and old people.

Agreed, though no-one has to go up to the platform, as you can walk beneath it and there are plenty of windows to see the exhibits from ground level.

 

[Pertinax]

Colchester is very hard to walk around with young children although I can honestly say that the animal welfare and natural groups of animals are excellent. (Such as the Mandrills or Colobus Monkeys).

Agreed they have some good groups of some species- I particularly liked the Wolf Pack- several were interacting, one was digging a big hole, lots of activity. Also the Red River Hogs, Warthogs and of course Mandrills are in larger groups than you normally see. I hope the Geladas and Mangabeys will increase similarly. Another success is The L'Hoests Guenons as they are very rare in zoos and their pair have three offspring.

 

[Pertinax]

Agreed, though no-one has to go up to the platform, as you can walk beneath it and there are plenty of windows to see the exhibits from ground level.

Old folk would probably give it a miss but I'll bet young kids want to go up there in case they miss something... I liked the windows in the Mangabey forest, despite not being very natural I thought that was overall a good exhibit too.

 

[Dan]

What about the "piped music" that you mention? Do they actually have a speaker system all over the zoo playing music all day?

 

[karenZOO]

Hi Dan

No its not all over the zoo but themed music at certain enclosures for example the Amur tigers have very annoying cossack themed music

As for Icy weather I recommend walking boots and hanging on to the handrails lol Although we have been in awful weather snow and ice and Colchester are brilliant at gritting the paths/slopes and putting up warning notices on the big slopes, they have even closed off the one from Sasha enclosure up to the amur leopards on one visit when very icy!

 

[Goretex]

Well I'm pleased you now like the zoo overall Pertinax.

You may agree with me that there are some rather dated areas of the zoo such as the Chimp's enclosure, the lion enclosure (even though that's fairly new) and of course the seal pool!

I was interested in your dislike of the Gelada Babboon's enclosure but they are oftern active. I certainly agree with you that the Mandrill enclosure is great.

BTW did you use the train? And also I've visited since 1993 at a very young age and am not at all offended by what you've said about it.

 

[Pertinax]

Well I'm pleased you now like the zoo overall Pertinax.

BTW did you use the train? And also I've visited since 1993 at a very young age and am not at all offended by what you've said about it.

I first visited Colchester Zoo during the 1960's when it was owned by Frank Farrar. I cannot remember a great deal about it then but it was a very different place to what it is now. It is actually a very modern Zoo in many respects nowadays but I've never been able to decide how much I really like it- as I said the extremes of 'good' and 'bad' seem very evident here.

I did not go on the train so I did not see the Jackals. Is there a reason why those old pathways around the Lakes in the zoo's centre are closed off to the public- are they unsafe? It would make viewing some of the nearby exhibits better if they weren't.