Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2010 #3

Had a quick visit tioday. No suprises for guessing the reason for the visit. Its always great to be able to see a new species for the first time on your way to the supermarket, lol.

The Sun Bears were being very active climbing and eatting. Lovely animals. The enclousure isn't fully open yet and only viewable from the side window. Heard one person call them Pandas, and this was an adult by the way!

The Pileated Gibbons (could see 2) were in the enclosure next to the Sun Bears (where the Lar Gibbons used to be). They were also active.

The new South American walkthrough was finally open. Although the only animal I saw in there was 1 Golden Lion Tamarin. From the outside I could see the Tamandua sleeping on some straw, looks like they have taken away its nest box.

Dende's old enclosure (old bear enclosure) is being redeveloped, the glass pannels have been removed. Any ideas of whats planned?

Meerkats were very active today, even during the birds of prey display with the birds hoovering over head. I guess they are used to them by now. However a helicopter did make them run for cover.

Speaking of Meerkats there are 2 new 6ft meerkat statues. Not so cute when they are that big.
 
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How old are the pileated gibbon pair?
Wildcaught from Cambodia ...? :confused:

There was talk of AI in the rhino some time back. Have not heard anything since. Any news on the white rhino front?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
How old are the pileated gibbon pair?
Wildcaught from Cambodia ...? :confused:

There was talk of AI in the rhino some time back. Have not heard anything since. Any news on the white rhino front?
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I believe the pair of gibbons came up with the sun bears from the RSCC, but I'm not entirely sure where arrived at the RSCC from. Anybody got any ideas?

As for the rhinos, do you mean any further AI pregnancies? Because I know that the current youngster Zamba was born through AI. If any of the other females have had the procedure, I would be very interested to know.
 
They are trying to naturally Emily the other female rhino with the new male, Otto who arrived from Denmark in November 09. AI was only used before as Simba the last bull wasn't upto the job but was said to be important to the breeding program
 
Ideally, they would need a second rhino bull for competition over females.

With the latest additions Colchester is getting to be a zoo destination of sorts in the UK! :)
 
Ok, this might not be real information, but someone has put "r.i.p elephant" on the zoo's facebook page.
I'm certainly hoping it isn't real as it is a kid that has posted it.
 
DesertRhino150 said:
I believe the pair of gibbons came up with the sun bears from the RSCC, but I'm not entirely sure where arrived at the RSCC from. Anybody got any ideas?
Answering my own question here, the pileated gibbons came from the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Cambodia, where they were rescued from the pet trade. Still not sure how old they are however.
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Roz said:
Ok, this might not be real information, but someone has put "r.i.p elephant" on the zoo's facebook page.
I'm certainly hoping it isn't real as it is a kid that has posted it.
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The zoo have confirmed that all of the Elephants are fit and well.
 
mhale has posted a photo of orangutan, Rajang, which has given rise to comments that he looks as though he's had his hair cut. Does anyone know the reason for his 'short back and sides'?
 
I had a fairly short visit to Colchester zoo this morning.

I saw the sun bears one high up on one of the logs the other one on one of the stands. I also saw both pleated gibbons who were doing a lot of swinging in their enclosure one came up close to us.

Rajang was in one of the small indoor dens perched on one of the low logs. Tiga was at the doorway. He came and swung quite a lot in that cell and seemed to be irritateing Rajang. He then returned to the doorway and then fineally went out. He rampaged around the outdoor area with a sheet on one foot and then another on the other foot. He did this all the way around the enclosure.

I liked the new south-American walk-through exhibit it is well-planted.

Now baby-face has left, the seal pool is being re-devolped for smooth-coated-otters.:)
 
I noticed they hadn't announced their arrival too Karen! Seems a bit strange. They also have a bit in the future Projects section about them needing a new enclosure which will cost £375,000- I'm interested in where this enclosure will be placed though, as there isn't much space in the zoo at all now!
As for the walkthrough, it looks very good. I reckon that the glass is too high for the Tamarins to jump from the ground, and that there are no branches near to the glass. They have the double door system as in the other walkthrough just incase though :cool:
 
It seems to announce their arrival now- 'arrived at Colchester in September 2010'..

Also they say they are the first to be housed in Britain in 30 years (referring obviously to them previously being at the RSCC). I know Edinburgh's Sun Bears arrived later, but isn't Belfast also Britain?:confused:
 
Pertinax said:
It seems to announce their arrival now- 'arrived at Colchester in September 2010'..

Also they say they are the first to be housd in Britain in 30 years. I know Edinburgh's Sun Bears arrived later, but isn't Belfast also Britain?:confused:
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By arrival announcement, I mean a piece in the news section like all of the other new species have.
And I thought Belfast is Britain too, unless they class Britain as England, wales and Scotland, with Belfast being included in the UK :confused:
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
With the latest additions Colchester is getting to be a zoo destination of sorts in the UK! :)
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In recent years Colchester has certainly been an important Zoo destination in the UK as they have a large and increasingly eclectic collection. You just need to be able to overlook the 'weird and wonderful' styles of their displays....
 
Roz said:
By arrival announcement, I mean a piece in the news section like all of the other new species have.
And I thought Belfast is Britain too, unless they class Britain as England, wales and Scotland, with Belfast being included in the UK :confused:
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O I see- maybe they just missed getting their own little headline in their news section.

I expect they've 'split hairs' somehow over the GB/UK thing so they can say they're first to be seen for thirty years in 'Britain'. I think they are a very suitable species for Colchester- I also think Rajang's old enclosure is/would probably be perfectly adequate for them sizewise, even longterm if necessary.
 
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