Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2012

Although the current sun bear enclosure isn't ideal i feel colchester have done the well with the space they had considering it is a temp enclosure, they have provided lots of climbing frames and provided a pool for the bears. I also think that the roof isn't a bad point as it provided the opportunity for "roof feeds" which makes the bears work for their food and again provides stimuli.
I feel that the new enclosure will be well worth the wait when you look at the area they have cleared for it. It will give the bears lots of space and also as it is built on a hill should give great views of the bears from a visitor point of view. As the only pair of potential breeding sun bears in the UK hopefully the time put into planning the enclosure will pay off with healthy Sun Bear cubs!
Does anyone know of the plans for the enclosure as when i looked on the local council website there is nothing under the planning persmission part of the site for the enclosure?
 
Also does anyone know the approx. date that Zamba will be moving the Manor House Wildlife Park in Wales??
 
Badgerman91 said:
Also does anyone know the approx. date that Zamba will be moving the Manor House Wildlife Park in Wales??
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Manor House were advertising the arrival as Thursday 28th June (one week today) but this has now been delayed (again) to Wednesday 11th July.
 
A Victoria crowned pigeon chick successfully hatched on 5th June 2012- hopefully it won't be too long before we start seeing it.

Colchester Zoo News: Victoria Crowned Pigeons have successfully hatched their first chick!

Also, not specifically Colchester news but Babyface, the 32 year-old partially blind common seal who moved to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary from Colchester in 2010, has successfully impregnated his enclosure-mate Luna. Babyface is currently the old common seal in the UK.

http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co....th__baited__breath_for_oldest_seal_s_new_pup/
 
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As it is nearly July, i thought we were no longer in spring! :D

An Update from the zoo's website:

For 10 weeks in the summer of 2013, Colchester’s streets, parks and open spaces will be taken over by some unusual visitors... 2.5 metre high giraffes!

Stand Tall for Giraffes is to be a mass appeal, large-scale public art event to celebrate
the 50th birthday of Colchester Zoo!

It will raise funds for conservation through Colchester Zoo's charity Action for the Wild and give a huge present to the people of Colchester. The project is being developed in partnership with Wild in Art an experienced arts, events and education company and the team behind successfully staged similar events in the UK, Europe and Africa.

For more information on previous Wild in Art projects go to Welcome to Wild In Art Wild in Art Website
 
Updates from a visit today:

- No sign of the crowned pigeon fledgling yet, although the windows have been taped in preparation
- At least one of the weaver bird nests has a pair of chicks in it
- Doors have been fitted to the giant tortoise indoor enclosure, and one of the paddocks looks totally complete
- There are going to be a few primate moves taking place- the lion-tailed macaques will be going in with the binturongs and small-clawed otters and the macaque enclosure will be renovated for the Francois' langurs
- The baby colobus (born on the 18th June) is doing well, with the rest of the group showing interest in the newest family member
- Golden mantellas are still not visible in their new enclosure

- And, most importantly, there is a sign at the spotted hyena enclosure that says there have been cubs born but they are currently in the off-display enclosure. The pair certainly didn't wait around to begin breeding.
 
DesertRhino150 said:
Updates from a visit today:


- And, most importantly, there is a sign at the spotted hyena enclosure that says there have been cubs born but they are currently in the off-display enclosure. The pair certainly didn't wait around to begin breeding.
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That is fantastic news!
 
Does anyone happen to know how many cubs have been born??

Also on the zoo's website the elephant house is going to have "limited" access to it on thursday 5th July, any reason why? Or are they doing improvements??
 
Went on another brief, rainy visit today- here are the trip notes:

- Only one spotted hyena (presumably the male) still showing- I wonder how long it will take for the cubs to emerge?
- Still haven't sighted the crowned pigeon chick yet (although there is a photo of it on Facebook)
- At least one of the yellow anaconda windows has been replaced by very fine mesh- presumably it aids ventilation
- There was an attempted mating by the giraffes
- Watched one of the younger cheetahs attempting to catch a magpie in their enclosure
- All three giant anteaters were outside today (not all together, mind)
- At least one of the Chilean flamingos had swum/waded all the way to the other end of the lake (near where the connection between the two lakes are)
- The most important piece news-wise is that on the 29th of June, a baby buffy-headed capuchin monkey was born to dad Fabio and mum Barney
 
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DesertRhino150 said:
Went on another brief, rainy visit today- here are the trip notes:

- Only one spotted hyena (presumably the male) still showing- I wonder how long it will take for the cubs to emerge?
- Still haven't sighted the crowned pigeon chick yet (although there is a photo of it on Facebook)
- There was an attempted mating by the giraffes
- Watched one of the younger cheetahs attempting to catch a magpie in their enclosure
- The most important piece news-wise is that on the 29th of June, a baby buffy-headed capuchin monkey was born to dad Fabio and mum Barney
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With there not being a Reticulated Giraffe birth in the UK for a few years now I am hopeful Colchester's trio can start breeding again. Current holders are;

Africa Alive- 1.2
Colchester- 1.2
Noah's Ark- 0.1 (Has a hybrid calf)
PL- 1.0 (?)
ZSL Whipsnade- 1.3 (?)

So the Reticulated Giraffe numbers in the UK are slowly rising, I think ZSL Whipsnade or Africa Alive will be the first to breed them first.
 
The females giraffes are a little bit too young to breed at the moment aren't they??
But at least it shows the male has the intentions!
 
Badgerman91 said:
The females giraffes are a little bit too young to breed at the moment aren't they??
But at least it shows the male has the intentions!
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Just under four years old (both born in Summer 2008)

So old enough to get pregnant... One of the cows at Marwell is around the same age as them and she gave birth in January! (albeit a bit unexpectedly)
 
Visited the zoo this afternoon and here are a few notes:

- The highlight was seeing the 3 week old spotted hyena cub. I visited the enclosure a few times during the afternoon, both parents were out with the mother laying outside the den entrance, but there was no sign of the cub. Then on my last visit I was going to leave when all of a sudden the cub come out. It explored for 10 mins before going back in.
- 2 smooth coasted otters were born on 25th May.
- New giant tortoise enclosure looks finished. It has 2 outdoor grassed areas and an inside viewing house with a waterfall.
- The lion-tailed macaques’ enclosure (opposite the komodo dragons) is being redeveloped for the newly arrived Francois langurs. The lion-tailed macaques are now being housed with the short-clawed otters and binturongs.
- Saw the new baby Colobus monkey and buffy-headed capuchin but could not see the Victoria crowned pigeon chick.
- Talia the youngest chimp was carrying around a dead frog which Tumba was trying to get off her. She eventually buried the frog.
- Have only seen 1 Philippine spotted deer on each of my last visits. Have the rest gone/died?
- The Lost Madagascar train/walk-through seems to be a big success. The queues will be a nightmare during the Summer holidays.
- The zoo is selling special Colchester Zoo Tatty Teddies (Me To You) bears in the gift shop.

Pictures have been added to gallery section.
 
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bugs said:
Visited the zoo this afternoon and here are a few notes:

- The highlight was seeing the 3 week old spotted hyena cub. I visited the enclosure a few times during the afternoon, both parents were out with the mother laying outside the den entrance, but there was no sign of the cub. Then on my last visit I was going to leave when all of a sudden the cub come out. It explored for 10 mins before going back in.
- 2 smooth coasted otters were born on 25th May.
- New giant tortoise enclosure looks finished. It has 2 outdoor grassed areas and an inside viewing house with a waterfall.
- The lion-tailed macaques’ enclosure (opposite the komodo dragons) is being redeveloped for the newly arrived Francois langurs. The lion-tailed macaques are now being housed with the short-clawed otters and binturongs.
- Saw the new baby Colobus monkey and buffy-headed capuchin but could not see the Victoria crowned pigeon chick.
- Talia the youngest chimp was carrying around a dead frog which Tumba was trying to get off her. She eventually buried the frog.
- Have only seen 1 Philippine spotted deer on each of my last visits. Have the rest gone/died?
- The Lost Madagascar train/walk-through seems to be a big success. The queues will be a nightmare during the Summer holidays.
- The zoo is selling special Colchester Zoo Tatty Teddies (Me To You) bears in the gift shop.

Pictures will be posted in the gallery section soon.
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- Great news regarding the smooth-coated otters; it seems that there have been all manner of great breeding successes so far this year
- There were the group of four Philippine spotted deer on my latest visit (3rd of July)
 
Will they only be having two Aldabran Tortoises?
Also have the smooth coated otter cubs from last year still at the zoo?
 
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