Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens Cotswold Wildlife Park News 2012

Pertinax said:
Many Zoochatters agree with those comments. It consistently comes out on top as the UK collection about which there is hardly ever critisism of any kind.
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I completely agree. It is one of those collections which doesn`t shout about itself , it just quietly goes about its business. But now this collection is one of THE UK`s best , it did go through a "static" period where little changed for a while , but now it seems to have renewed vigour , with several new species and new enclosures. The gardens are absolutely immaculate , it is good value for money (a rarity with certain collections these days), it is the perfect family zoo day out.
I can`t fault it personally.
 
Nanook said:
I completely agree. It is one of those collections which doesn`t shout about itself , it just quietly goes about its business. But now this collection is one of THE UK`s best , it did go through a "static" period where little changed for a while , but now it seems to have renewed vigour , with several new species and new enclosures. The gardens are absolutely immaculate , it is good value for money (a rarity with certain collections these days), it is the perfect family zoo day out.
I can`t fault it personally.
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I found CWP to be the most impressive wildlife park I visited in the UK, and would say it is especially good value if you drop all the passengers off by the front gate and let them walk in for free...
 
zooboy28 said:
I found CWP to be the most impressive wildlife park I visited in the UK, and would say it is especially good value if you drop all the passengers off by the front gate and let them walk in for free...
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There may have been a policy for free entry to pedestrians in the past, but there's now a caravan site opposite the Cotswolds, and the gate staff monitor people walking in and charge them an entry fee. Regardless of this i think the entry fee is tremendous value! I have visited many parks and zoo's and despite me now living close-by, this wildlife park is without doubt the best I have ever visited. It is immaculate, with a superb diversity of species all homed in splendid enclosures, a reflection of which appears to be brilliant birthing rates (The wolverine babies are awesome! baby colobus is wonderful, and I saw a baby Zebra on my last visit just a few weeks back). The staff seem very decent, approachable and knowledgeable, and... they even allow me to take my dogs in! 10/10 Cotswolds!
 
CheeseHound said:
this wildlife park is without doubt the best I have ever visited. It is immaculate, with a superb diversity of species all homed in splendid enclosures
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As mentioned on here several times, Cotswold always gets a Five Star rating on Zoochat- although it doesn't really make the 'top10' league of UK Zoos collection size-wise, it seems to beat all the others in other respects. I always enjoy my visits- the grounds are beautiful too.
 
Pertinax said:
As mentioned on here several times, Cotswold always gets a Five Star rating on Zoochat- although it doesn't really make the 'top10' league of UK Zoos collection size-wise, it seems to beat all the others in other respects. I always enjoy my visits- the grounds are beautiful too.
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If you could blow Cotswold up to the size of Chester, London or Edinburgh but keep the quality, charm and diversity of the original, it would be a true thing of wonder and glory.
 
Maguari said:
If you could blow Cotswold up to the size of Chester, London or Edinburgh but keep the quality, charm and diversity of the original, it would be a true thing of wonder and glory.
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Stated acreage:
Cotswold 160
Chester 110
London 36
Edinburgh 82.

I'm not sure if the animal collection occupies the whole of its 160 acres, but it certainly doesn't need blowing up (I can think of a couple of places that do).

I agree with the other posters - a very nice day out and no embarassing ghettoes
 
I was thinking more of collection size, rather than acreage. A Cotswold with as many species as Chester/ZSL would probably be the best zoo in Britain.
 
Maguari said:
A Cotswold with as many species as Chester/ZSL would probably be the best zoo in Britain.
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Agree, it would be a sort of ZooUtopia.:) That said , the 'open' feel and space it currently has would probably be lost with the construction of many more animal areas, which would probably undercut the essence of charm. Fortunately maybe its unlikely to happen though they do continue gradually adding new species nowadays.
 
CheeseHound said:
There may have been a policy for free entry to pedestrians in the past, but there's now a caravan site opposite the Cotswolds, and the gate staff monitor people walking in and charge them an entry fee. Regardless of this i think the entry fee is tremendous value! I have visited many parks and zoo's and despite me now living close-by, this wildlife park is without doubt the best I have ever visited. It is immaculate, with a superb diversity of species all homed in splendid enclosures, a reflection of which appears to be brilliant birthing rates (The wolverine babies are awesome! baby colobus is wonderful, and I saw a baby Zebra on my last visit just a few weeks back). The staff seem very decent, approachable and knowledgeable, and... they even allow me to take my dogs in! 10/10 Cotswolds!
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Considering how difficult it is for pedestrians to reach the park, having to walk 2 miles along a busy and pathless road, and the complete and utter lack of any nearby public transport links, I reckon any pedestrians who do turn up deserve a medal!
 
UPDATE 21.7.12

chapmans zebra foal born a few weeks ago
giant water rails 3-4 of them in the scarlet ibis enclosure
barbary doves where the keas used to live
they are now 3 greater bamboo lemurs 2 females and one male i believe
colobus money baby is now in its black and white stage
LOTS of pairie dog babys
Meerkats new offspring very little!
comb ducks, pink pigeon, green turaco, trinidad piping guan x 2 and blue crowned laughing thrush are showing well in the walk in avairy!!
grey grey owl fledgins x 2 are showing really well and calling
frilled lizards x 2
LOTS of ducklings around by the flamingoes
2 x red beard barbets by the kookaburras as well
clouded leopards are showing behing the colobus monkeys, i had a fleeting show before they went back inside :)

regards
Lisa
 
Just to add to that update, 3 Clouded Leopard Cubs were born in July. You can see footage of the Cloudies in the Amur Leopard house via "leopard cam". There is also signage in the leopard about the Cloudies, and explanations about the three legged female and previous cubs born.
 
News from Cotswold wildlife Park

1/ A trio of giant tenrecs are on display in the old reptile house before
the indoor enclosure for the siamangs.
2/ A female giant hornbill has arrived from Chester zoo and is being
introduced to the male in the adjacent cage in the walled garden.
3/A new young male capybara (dougal) has been been paired up with the
young female (bobbie) in the enclosure with the maras.She resulted
from the pairing with the two capybaras in with tapirs.The two elderly
capybaras previously in with the mara have pass away recently.
4/All the mousebirds seem to have disappeared in the tropical house?
5/The blue touraco is showing signs of nesting behind the information sign
in the tropical house.
6/The two giant tortoises that arrived from paignton zoo are enormous !
 
Good luck with the female Hornbill,Chester couldn't get her to mix with there male,due to the fact she was hand reared and imprinted on humans as a result!
 
trachycarpus said:
1/ A trio of giant tenrecs are on display in the old reptile house before
the indoor enclosure for the siamangs.
2/ A female giant hornbill has arrived from Chester zoo and is being
introduced to the male in the adjacent cage in the walled garden.
3/A new young male capybara (dougal) has been been paired up with the
young female (bobbie) in the enclosure with the maras.She resulted
from the pairing with the two capybaras in with tapirs.The two elderly
capybaras previously in with the mara have pass away recently.
4/All the mousebirds seem to have disappeared in the tropical house?
5/The blue touraco is showing signs of nesting behind the information sign
in the tropical house.
6/The two giant tortoises that arrived from paignton zoo are enormous !
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The thriving colony of Mousebirds had to be removed from the tropical house some time ago because they were destroying the plants. I don`t think they stayed in the collection ? I can`t recall seeing them on my last visit anyway. The Blue Touraco is "permanently broody" and sits in that box behind the signage most of the time, though she provides a great chance for close up photography as she is so steady.
 
Just got back from a quick walk round.

2 six banded armadillo's on show in the enclosure that use to have the tortoises in. Tortoises are now in with the crocodiles, been split into 2 enclosures now.

4 baby otters born in august were out playing.

Male lion has died so they only have the female now, who I believe is rather old as well.
 
Snowy Owl said:
Male lion has died so they only have the female now, who I believe is rather old as well.
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Sorry to hear that- he was 'Chandra' who was at Bristol for most of his life. I wonder if they will replace him with another 'retiree' Lion to keep the single female company.
 
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