Agreed, this enclosure really sticks out to me as the poorest when I visit. Would be great to see them with an upgrade in the new meadow area.Bush Dog
Agreed, this enclosure really sticks out to me as the poorest when I visit. Would be great to see them with an upgrade in the new meadow area.Bush Dog
On Wednesday morning, I made a couple of hour trip to Axe Valley Wildlife Park in what was awful weather and it felt that myself and two others were the only ones in the park.
I like that the zoo displays a board of new arrivals and births around the zoo. Below is the latest births in 2023;
Three Leopard Cat kittens from last year are now living in one of the old Jaguarundi exhibits. These Leopard Cats are due to move on soon. The zoo is also down to just one pair of Jaguarundi.
The two Lynx kittens born last year are still mixed with their mum, meaning dad and mum plus kittens, only have rotational access to the exhibit.
Much more work has happened up in the meadow section, with two new exhibits near completion, but no direction of what is going in them. There are up there, a new exhibit for Burrowing Owls, A new exhibit for Patagonian Mara and the exhibit area which in time will be a Mongoose maze, is currently home to Parma Wallaby.
Javan Peafowl are currently in a netted exhibit, which in time will be the upgrade for the Flamingos.
There was no sign of the King Parrot that was on show when I last visited opposite the Maned Wolves and that is now home to a pair of Wood Owl.
Purple Swamphen have also moved up to the meadow area, as has Binturong and Rusty Spotted Cats, although neither seen during this visit.
Cape Genet are now in the old Rusty Spotted Cat exhibit, by the play area and Lemurs, whilst in the old Genet house, there is now a pair of Asian Palm Civet.
The area of the Dik-Dik, Ostrich, Tapir and Zebra remains much the same, but the indoors of these exhibits are starting to look a little deep littered, and it looks like they weren't all concreted, which means they are harder to keep clean. In the long term, it would be good if these houses are improved as species like the Dik-Dik move up to the meadow as signposted.
Sadly, the Finlayson's Squirrel have passed away and are no longer being held, with their enclosure empty and a sign outside the Fennec Fox exhibit suggests that he will be moving up to the meadow soon, although I was advised that the new exhibit being constructed at present was for neither Dik-Dik or Fennec Fox.
The Swinhoes at the entrance have had their exhibit halved, with Harvest mice in the first section.
I had always liked that Axe kept a few species of Squirrel, but sadly they are now down to two.
As well as departures of Finlayson's, the zoo now longer holds Egyptian Mongoose, with the Cusimanse moved into their old exhibit, and the old Cusimanse exhibit empty.
Raccoon Dogs have also moved on to another collection, and their exhibit has been pulled down altogether.
A female Caracal will be joining the zoo soon from Exmoor Zoo, and a smaller secondary area has been created and a second indoor section at the Caracal exhibit in preparation for this.
A lot of change since I last visited, some for the good and some a little disappointing, especially when a zoo that holds a lot of weird and wonderful, go out of certain species which is a shame.
I would expect, by the spring a number of more exhibits erected up in the meadow and more changes made and hopefully Axe will be to bring in a few new species, to fill a few of the empty enclosures.
Looks like it could be the old coati enclosure near one of the playgrounds.According to their socials, three Scottish wildcats have arrived and are exploring their new enclosure. Doesn't say where they came from or what their sexes are.
Correction! I had another look at the photo and there are FOUR wildcats, not three.. My bad!According to their socials, three Scottish wildcats have arrived and are exploring their new enclosure. Doesn't say where they came from or what their sexes are.
I have an idea that Axe Valley is the only UK zoo with South African Shelduck (except WWT) and Hume’s Pheasant on exhibit.I had a pretty nice visit to Axe Valley Wildife Park yesterday. It was mainly an impulsive visit as I was in the area, but it had enough interesting species to lure me in.
I found that ZTL is pretty out-dated for this collection so I just wanted to give an update based on that list (I've never been before, so I can't compare to previous visits). The following notable species were not on-show, though some may still be behind the scenes:
European genet
Greater Egyptian Jerboa
Indian Sarus Crane
Florida Sandhill Crane
There were multiple other species that I didn't see yesterday, but these were the standouts, and the ones I can see being the most disappointing if you travel specifically to see them.
There is also a list of animals that I was pleasantly surprised to see, all of which were parts of the avian collection:
Gray Partridge
Wood duck
Ferruginous duck
Cinnamon teal
South african shelduck
Common myna
Laysan teal
Speckled teal
Berniers teal
Chiloe wigeon
There is also a list of animals that I was pleasantly surprised to see, all of which were parts of the avian collection:
Gray Partridge
Wood duck
Ferruginous duck
Cinnamon teal
South african shelduck
Common myna
Laysan teal
Speckled teal
Berniers teal
Chiloe wigeon
If you could that'd be greatIf you don't have a ZTL account I can always add these if you want?
I didn't see any Hume's pheasants do you remember where they are kept/what they are kept withI have an idea that Axe Valley is the only UK zoo with South African Shelduck (except WWT) and Hume’s Pheasant on exhibit.
The Sarus Crane died a year or two back
And that leaves Hamerton as the only UK collection that still holds the Sarus Crane.I have an idea that Axe Valley is the only UK zoo with South African Shelduck (except WWT) and Hume’s Pheasant on exhibit.
The Sarus Crane died a year or two back
The Hume’s WERE in what is now the Chilean Flamingo enclosure.If you could that'd be great
I didn't see any Hume's pheasants do you remember where they are kept/what they are kept with
Not according to ZIMs.Also, doesn’t Paignton still have a lone Sarus Crane?
Unless the Sarus is off show, Paignton is down to just a pair of Wattled Cranes.The Hume’s WERE in w
The Hume’s WERE in what is now the Chilean Flamingo enclosure.
Also, doesn’t Paignton still have a lone Sarus Crane?
Even if it were off show, it would still be listed on ZIMs.Unless the Sarus is off show, Paignton is down to just a pair of Wattled Cranes.