Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2010 #1

Goretex said:
Sad news.:(

I suppose its too early to plan on any replacements?
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No need for a replacement Goretex as he, Koife and century were/are due to be moved to cotswold or Knowsely (can't remember which :o) and an unrelated reticulated male brought in. Sad news even though he was due to be moved and also his death is young as the average lifespan for a captive giraffe is around 25 years. He was 16 :(
 
Roz said:
No need for a replacement Goretex as he, Koife and century were/are due to be moved to cotswold or Knowsely (can't remember which :o) and an unrelated reticulated male brought in. Sad news even though he was due to be moved and also his death is young as the average lifespan for a captive giraffe is around 25 years. He was 16 :(
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I didn't know that. When will Koife be able to breed from? Also unless I'm mistaken it is very rare indeed for any girafes to live as old as 25. But I agree that 16 was relatively young.:(
 
Roz said:
No need for a replacement Goretex as he, Koife and century were/are due to be moved to cotswold or Knowsely (can't remember which (
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The males where due to go to the Cotwolds. Knowsley already has 3 males, their enclosure couldn't take anymore!!
 
Goretex said:
I didn't know that. When will Koife be able to breed from? Also unless I'm mistaken it is very rare indeed for any girafes to live as old as 25. But I agree that 16 was relatively young.:(
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Koife is a hybrid and will therefore not be breeding. Century will join him at Cotswold's because although he's a pure Rothschild he's very well represented and not planned to be bred from at this time. Although very sad for all involved Ed's death will hopefully mean that Cotswold's will now be able to take in another giraffe.
 
Quick update from today (23/1/10):
-Blue magpie enclosure has been demolished, they are now housed in one of the sloth walkthrough indoor areas.
-A barbecue terrace is being built on the lawn in the aquatic zone.
-Green and black poison dart frogs are gone, their tank and the lake barombi tank in worlds apart are being refurbished.
-Geoffroys tufted eared marmosets are now in the worlds apart walk through area.:D
-3 rhino's were out, i think these were Flossie, emily and Otto, the new male, with Cynthia and Zamba indoors
-Snakes and Lizards is being refurbished, with the star tortoises in the Elephant house and Madagasgarn tree boas in the Giraffe Building.
-Lots of birds still either indoors or off show.
-Fences/Gates have been put up in some of the steep areas, these being shut- White tiger platform stairs, Wilds of asia/red Panda hill and the 'Hornbill hill', near the old fossa enclosure.
-Leopard enclosure is so nearly complete! :rolleyes: :D
 
Thanks for the update Roz :)

-A barbecue terrace is being built on the lawn in the aquatic zone.
?? is trying to figure out where you mean lol not that as a non meat eater I should be bothered lol
 
karenZOO said:
Thanks for the update Roz :)

-A barbecue terrace is being built on the lawn in the aquatic zone.
?? is trying to figure out where you mean lol not that as a non meat eater I should be bothered lol
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Basically, decking is being placed over the lawn area behind the ice cream parlour, it was called a barbecue terrace on the sign up about what is being done.

Also forgot to mention that the tanganyika bridge is no longer a rope bridge, it has been boarded over to be a conventional bridge........ a shame I personally liked it :rolleyes:
 
Had a few scary experiences on that bridge lol but it will make that area much more accessable with the new amur leopard enclosure!

Do you mean permanent gates of the areas listed because during the snow/ice these were the areas closed off with tape!

I liked the fact they have tried to de-steep the hill by Sasha by making you go round to the gentler slope rather than straight down!
 
Roz said:
Fences/Gates have been put up in some of the steep areas, these being shut- White tiger platform stairs, Wilds of asia/red Panda hill and the 'Hornbill hill', near the old fossa enclosure.
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I don't understand why they've done this - it looked pretty permanent to me yesterday. The notice on the gate near the old Fossa enclosure (BTW - is Silva still in there ? I never see him !) said that it was to help people orientate themselves better (or words to that effect) but personally, part of Colchester's charm for me is its strange little cul de sacs, interconnecting paths and quirky layout. I presume that hoards of visitors haven't been regularly getting hopelessly lost on Hornbill Hill for example ! I used to like the Wilds of Asia hill as it was always a quiet spot and good for looking at Lushan. She can now (only) be viewed from the Taganyika bridge which isn't as close at all. Similarly, only half the Geoffroy's cat enclosure is now accessible so your chances of spotting it are much reduced .... though, if, say, this area has been closed off because the cat needed some privacy, I'd understand completely.

I did wonder if someone had come a cropper on those very steep hills during the recent icy weather and 'health and safety' is what's really behind it ?
 
Silva was due to go to Hammerton Park Zoo before xmas so i'm assuming that he's now left.
 
Stripes said:
Silva was due to go to Hammerton Park Zoo before xmas so i'm assuming that he's now left.
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He was still there on saturday, although I didn't see him. I've been wondering if he's going to go to Chester instead of Hammerton? :confused:
 
Does anyone now know whats in that enclosure or whether there's any plans for it?????:confused:
 
Roz said:
He was still there on saturday, although I didn't see him. I've been wondering if he's going to go to Chester instead of Hammerton? :confused:
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Both of Chester's are coming from outside the UK.
 
Giraffe's

Ed's post mortem did not find anything wrong with him.

As is the norm with Colchester Koife and Century will go to Cotswold's Wildlife Park the same day that the new male reticulated giraffe arrives at the zoo. The moves will take place in March or April. Basicly as soon as Cotswold's giraffe accomdation is complete.

All this from a post on the Colchester Zoo Facebook page.
 
I do hate it when they can't find any problems!
I'm glad I'm doing my 'Keeper for a day' with them before they leave! :D
 
New male giraffe is supposed to be coming from the Czech Republic (Dvur Kralove I pressume) I hope he isn't related to Lily and Isha.
 
ZooLeopard said:
I am sorry to announce that Ed has died at the zoo. I am deeply saddened by his death as Edmund was the first Giraffe at the zoo I knew personally. He arrived nine years ago in 2001 and I was really excited when he came. I shall hopefully update you guys soon on the cause of his death.

In the mean time the zoo has released a press statment regarding his death:

Colchester Zoo is deeply saddened to announce the loss of Edmund the Giraffe during the night of Tuesday 19th January. On arriving at the enclosure in the morning Keepers found that he had sadly passed away during the night. His death has been a shock to all at Colchester Zoo and due to the nature of his passing and previous bouts of ill health a post mortem and further tests will be conducted with the hope to establish what may have been the cause.

Edmund was our oldest giraffe; born on the 13th February 1993 at Whipsnade Zoo, and has been here with us at Colchester Zoo for nine years, arriving in February 2001.

Zoological Director Anthony Tropeano commented “I and all the staff involved in looking after Edmund are deeply saddened by today’s events. He was a hugely popular animal with staff and visitors alike and will be keenly missed.”

R.I.P Edmund
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What I am rather sad about is that the net contribution of the UK to the reticulated giraffe population remains rather low. It is only now that another UK zoo is in the process of getting a breeding group.

How many of Whipsnade's offspring from the original pairings have gone back to the Continent ..., I would love to hear and see!??? :confused:

On matters rhino: how is new male Otto doing? Has he been able to mate Emily already?
 
Emily and Otto are now together although I don't know if they have been mating.
 
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