It looks like there will be a new entrance where you pay to enter before you get to the car park. They recently built a new structure next to the entrance road. It now has rising barriers either side of it.
The tomistoma has gone and the red footed tortoises have moved to that enclosure.
A screen has been put up hiding the naked mole rats. There is a sign saying they need to be left alone. On their facebook page it says they have had babies.
There is a Cameroon sheep lamb.
The emus have moved and are now next to the rheas (where the arapawa goats used to be).
The playground equipment between the guanacos and rheas has gone and the area has been fenced off. It looks like it is going to be used as an exhibit.
The wild boars have been separated by a fence through the middle of their enclosure.
I did see all four lynxes at the same time, which I can't remember doing before. Three were up in the branches of the trees in their enclosure.
On facebook they announced the arrival of a female porcupine to partner up with their male. The two were snuggled up together so they appear to be getting on well.
Two binturongs were born on the 16th February. That explains why viewing for their indoor quarters has been blocked off. Unfortunately I didn't see the babies.
They have acquired some additional reindeer. There were 5 in the paddock today instead of the expected 2.
The alpacas have moved and are now with the Cameroon sheep. There were 2 guanacos in the alpaca paddock. I believe these have been split from the main group.
The ringed teals have moved from the turkey vulture aviary to the aviary opposite the tayras. They are still signed as in the turkey vulture aviary, but I saw them in the other.
The duprasi has gone. It's enclosure in Human Nature is now empty.
The red footed tortoises were in the former Chacoan mara enclosure next to Human Nature. The tortoises do seem to move to a predominantly outdoor enclosure each spring and then to a fully indoor one in the autumn.
I hear Beale is going the silly way of refusing legal British tender,..ie cash? I was hoping that cash is still accepted for admissions,but going by what i just checked on the website,Beale is refusing legal British currency. Such a beautiful zoo.Easy to get to for a visit i was looking forward to.Was even going to pay a cash donation at the zoo. Ah well. Anyhow. All the best. You do great work for the animal conservation
I did see the two young binturong. All of the binturong were more active today than usual. Viewing of their indoor area has been opened up again.
It looks as though the Chacoan mara have gone. Their signs have been removed. I never saw them since they moved to be mixed with the macaws. They did have their own indoor section that could only be accessed at ground level. I wonder if they spent all their time keeping away from the macaws.
On my last two visits I have only seen one arctic fox. Looks like they are down to a single animal.
There were some squatters in the capybara house. Two wild Canada geese were inside sat right next to one of the capybaras. Neither seemed bothered by the other though.
Several signs have been added around the park about why species are not suitable to be kept as pets. The park's Burmese python and pair of common marmosets were rescues from the pet trade.
Something is being built next to the paddling pool. The signs indicate that this is going to be some form of activity rather than a new animal exhibit.
Visited yesterday for the first time since I was a child, so quite a nostalgic visit!
Not a lot of news to report, I believe the website needs updating as it still lists Mara as being held whereas ZTL says they have gone and I didn't see them signed anywhere. The new Common Marmosets still need adding.
Highlights were seeing Genets for the first time and we got a brief sighting of the Binturong babies! Will be interesting to see how the park develops from here. Was very impressed with the nocturnal house, was fascinating to see the Cuscus so close up.
I took some time off work for some mid week zoo visits. I went this morning.
The new burrowing owl exhibit is along the path that connects the playground behind the cafe with the back of the otter enclosure. This is the first animal exhibit along this path.
I saw all three of the baby hyraxes.
I saw some baby prairie dogs, which I don't think have been announced.
The paddock which for a few months held an additional couple of guanacos, now has a third resident and signs for the species. This makes it look a bit more of a permanent arrangement. I wonder if they are trying to establish a second herd. Very few places in the country keep them nowadays and Beale does have a good breeding record with the species.
The red footed tortoises have moved back to an indoor enclosure ready for the winter (one of the heated sheds).
The other shed exhibit has a sign that a new species is arriving soon.
The Palawan peacock pheasants have moved to the large mixed aviary. They are no signs for them there but I saw them. The crimson bellied conures now have their aviary to themselves.
The wild boar are back together again after being separated on my last visit.
The zebras seemed to be fascinated by some work being done to the fence of the nearby highland cattle paddock.
New species - Bronze tailed peacock pheasants. They are mixed with the crimson bellied conures.
There is a turkey vulture chick.
The prairie dog exhibit has been expanded again. That whole area next to the arctic fox enclosure that was once three exhibits is now just for prairie dogs.
The Brazilian guinea pigs, which were in the exhibit the prairie dogs have expanded into are now mixed with the timneh parrots.
I found out that the second guanaco paddock is a bachelor group. They are now maintaining a bachelor herd as well as their main breeding group.
Interesting interaction between Nev the tapir and a wild swan. The swan was outside the enclosure hissing at Nev. Nev was constantly running away from and then towards the swan. Nev eventually decided to give up and went to the other side of his enclosure.
Brief notes from a visit today. Not that much to report. Very quiet due to the weather.
The new entrance booths and barriers that they built earlier this year are now operational. You now pay or show your pass to get in before you get to the car park, instead of on foot afterward.
There was no sign of the red footed tortoises. Their enclosure was empty and the sign had gone.
The ringed teals and red breasted geese have swapped aviaries.
The armadillos were very noisy with their shuffling or digging today.
