Cassiobury Farm & Fishery Cassiobury Farm & Fishery
- Thread starter nedpepper
- Start date
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We are delighted to announce the arrival of Richard the Kirk's Dik Dik from our friends @northumberlandcollegezoo
This species is native to Southern and Eastern Africa and is the first species of antelope to be housed at our conservation centre in Hertfordshire.
Remarkably, they are one of the world's smallest species of antelope, with a height of around 35cm-45cm."
They have also announced the arrival of two additional male Eastern White Pelicans from Cotswold Wildlife park to join their existing group.
We are delighted to announce the arrival of Richard the Kirk's Dik Dik from our friends @northumberlandcollegezoo
This species is native to Southern and Eastern Africa and is the first species of antelope to be housed at our conservation centre in Hertfordshire.
Remarkably, they are one of the world's smallest species of antelope, with a height of around 35cm-45cm."
They have also announced the arrival of two additional male Eastern White Pelicans from Cotswold Wildlife park to join their existing group.
We had a good visit to Cassiobury farm and fishery yesterday. There were a few changes in animals compared to my last visit in March 2024.
The asian palm civet didn't seem to be there anymore - the sign was still on the enclosure but it was now being used by lemurs. There was also no sign (or signage) of the African dwarf crocodiles but they could have been in the cordoned off section we saw.
There were a number of new animals and some of the enclosures had been switched around to give animals like the American Bison more space. The reindeer have been moved to be in with the Alpaca and Llama's, but there seemed to be fewer of all 3 species than there were previously. They also have a new South American enclosure which is shared by the two tapir, two capybara and about 4 Patagonian Mara, which has a number of streams and pools.
The new animals I saw were:
2 Lowland Tapir (1.1) from South Lakes (Kaya & Pinto)
2 Red Panda (1.1) from South Lakes (Tink & Pan)
2 Capybara (1.1) (Suma the male is from Drusilla's and a female from Dartmoor)
approx 4 Patagonian Mara
3 red ruffed lemurs
2 asian short-clawed otters (1.1)
Red Foot Tortoises
1 honey badger (I think - there was no signage but it looked like one)
There were also 2 baby ring tailed lemur's visible, and according to a staff member they have a baby old world crested porcupine.
I will try to upload some photos from my phone later. Unfortunately the fine mesh they use on many of the enclosures makes taking good photos challenging.
The asian palm civet didn't seem to be there anymore - the sign was still on the enclosure but it was now being used by lemurs. There was also no sign (or signage) of the African dwarf crocodiles but they could have been in the cordoned off section we saw.
There were a number of new animals and some of the enclosures had been switched around to give animals like the American Bison more space. The reindeer have been moved to be in with the Alpaca and Llama's, but there seemed to be fewer of all 3 species than there were previously. They also have a new South American enclosure which is shared by the two tapir, two capybara and about 4 Patagonian Mara, which has a number of streams and pools.
The new animals I saw were:
2 Lowland Tapir (1.1) from South Lakes (Kaya & Pinto)
2 Red Panda (1.1) from South Lakes (Tink & Pan)
2 Capybara (1.1) (Suma the male is from Drusilla's and a female from Dartmoor)
approx 4 Patagonian Mara
3 red ruffed lemurs
2 asian short-clawed otters (1.1)
Red Foot Tortoises
1 honey badger (I think - there was no signage but it looked like one)
There were also 2 baby ring tailed lemur's visible, and according to a staff member they have a baby old world crested porcupine.
I will try to upload some photos from my phone later. Unfortunately the fine mesh they use on many of the enclosures makes taking good photos challenging.
Thanks for the update from the open day.
Were there any sunda/javan porcupines on show please?
Yes there were Javan porcupines and they were quite active. The old world crested porcupines though were hiding as usual.
Update from Ventura Wildlife Foundation (who run Cassiobury farm and fishery):
"We are delighted to announce the birth of our first ever American bison . The bison is one of the USA's most magnificent and iconic animal species. A true symbol of a species brought back from the edge of extinction."
"We are delighted to announce the birth of our first ever American bison . The bison is one of the USA's most magnificent and iconic animal species. A true symbol of a species brought back from the edge of extinction."
ZooNews2024
Well-Known Member
Is it that wonderful? - I through they were kept and butchered for their meat.
Albert Thomas Budd
Active Member
Can you still go with a membership?
They haven't made that clear at all on their Facebook post and the Ventura Wildlife Foundation website hasn't been updated. It seems that the wildlife encounter business (Ventura Wildlife Encounters) is moving to the Cassiobury site, so I expect they will still have private events there, just not ones open to the general public.
I have just heard from a member that the membership program is ending, so no open days and no membership days.
Thanks for posting this information. I've just booked tickets to go on the 6th as I've never been before.
Two top tips:
The map on the board at the entrance is nonsense, by the way - bears no relation to their current collection.
The honey badger is in an enclosure where the children's tractor playing is which is an interesting choice of location - we didn't see the badger when we went so hope you're luckier!
And the Javan porcupines are off-show again (or at least were on the 10th August open day). But, if you can find an amenable staff member you still might be able to see them 
.
All of us who visited on the 10th took lots of photos of lay-out/ enclosure etc. so I'm sure we can sort something on here in due course.
. All of us who visited on the 10th took lots of photos of lay-out/ enclosure etc. so I'm sure we can sort something on here in due course.
And the Javan porcupines are off-show again (or at least were on the 10th August open day). But, if you can find an amenable staff member you still might be able to see them
All of us who visited on the 10th took lots of photos of lay-out/ enclosure etc. so I'm sure we can sort something on here in due course.
Thank you both for the tips. Javan porcupines and honey badger will definitely be highlights if I manage to see them.
It is also apparently the only place in the UK where you can see Cubs Hutia. They share an enclosure with the squirrel monkeys - to find them, after you go into the farm turn right and take the path that runs between two sections of lake.
I will be there on the 6th as well. I have a number of photos from previous visits which I have been meaning to upload (we have been twice already this year as we live nearby).
I will be there on the 6th as well. I have a number of photos from previous visits which I have been meaning to upload (we have been twice already this year as we live nearby).