Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2009 #1

Bele said:
I remember a year or two back talk of attempting AI with the 2 elephant cows at WMSP because the bull was not considered to be mature enough to successfully mate with them .
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He's big enough to cover them now, or so I got told when I visited. Just a case of wating now, as the females won't let him "finish the job" so to speak ;)
I'd be more worried about the females at WMSP killing their calves. Seeing as they were hand reared themselves, I think it's quite common for hand reared elephants to kill their young at birth.
 
okapikpr said:
Such a survey does exisit....

http://www.elephanttag.org/Professional/AZA Elephant TAG RCP FINAL 2007 (2).pdf

it doesnt take much to do a little research before reaching such conclusions. While there are some zoos willing to forgive their elephants for consolidation of the herds (Philly, San Francisco, Abilene, Oklahoma City)...they understand that there will be a need in the future for more elephant space and still keep these animals in there collection plans.
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I do get where you are coming from, but all of that is based on a set of assumptions, that there will even be the stock available for these zoos which have 'temporarily' surrendered their elephants in good faith to the SSP recommendations, and those that are still hanging on to non-viable animals. I don't think your tone is all that appropriate, opinions are subjective and often diverse conclusions from the same peice of research are possible. I think, as you have been doing lots of research from what you say, you'll be aware of the invevitable die-off and shrinking of genetic diversity coming to the western captive elephant population. You only have to examine the current age distribution and numbers of breeding cows to see this, although again even this is open to some level of interpretation. Unless you see the future as partially-sourcing animals from range countries to top up the captive herds when needed genetically, in which case those zoos temporarily giving up their animals would no doubt be able to include this elephants in their collection plans.

But this is a Colchester Zoo thread, so maybe private message me or start a thread on this as it is an interesting subject....
 
Sure thing...inevitably many, if not most species will phase themselves out in captivity. Your earlier statement about the current phasing out of US elephants was rather out of line and statements such as that is what can cause problems within these forums...especially for those members that arent quite up to date with current news and issues and use these forums as their source of news in the zoo world. I feel that my tone was appropriate to get the message across that elephants in the US are not being phased out...there is a difference in zoo management deciding to phase out a species and the captive extinction of a species (something that you mention in your post above). Such rash conclusions, such as a phasing out of US elephants, can be deterred or proven by a simple google search... If you are willing to post such statements, please include your sources.

So what's new at Colchester...will they publish a new guidebook anytime soon?
 
karenZOO said:
MYSTERY SOLVED :D

Tembo is not the father! Its Jack from West Midlands!

Hmmmm starting a new herd? Apparently they got it wrong on the website ??
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They have now changed the website item by substituting a one liner saying the WMSP bull 'Jack' is the father, but with no other background information.

Colchester's news reports are usually very good, but this is lazy editing- the bulletin should have been rewritten properly to explain WHY they have used a different bull for the AI this time, maybe because Tembo is now infertile? :(
 
Hi all. Just wondering if any of you just saw Colchester Zoo Days and the moving of Rajang the Orangutan to the Orangutan Forest. If so what did you think? Do you think they will show moving Djambe since she sadly passed away?
 
In reply to the recent croc debate. Surely it is going to house the cuban crocs which at present are housed in a smaller enclosure in the old reptile/aquarium building. They are only young at the moment and they will grow much bigger in size hence the new exhibit.
 
Roz said:
Hi all. Just wondering if any of you just saw Colchester Zoo Days and the moving of Rajang the Orangutan to the Orangutan Forest. If so what did you think? Do you think they will show moving Djambe since she sadly passed away?
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I'm still wondering why they didn't just crate train him for the move rather than risk the anaesthetic. I don't think Djambe has even been mentioned, has she, but it's not like Colchester to hide things.
It'll be good to see Rajang with some company in his nice new house.
 
Zoo Days finished with 2 pregnant aardvarks - from the website it looks like one baby has been born - is there another imminent?

Thanks
Jonty
 
Can anyone confir or probably more realistically deny this rumour i found on the Colchester zoo article on wikipedia.

No big projects have been announced as of January 2009 but rumors of American Alligators and West Indian Manatees to a area in the Beginning Zone are going around in several Essex newspapers.

Maybe as reliable as the beluga whales coming to the zoo
 
I would hope (if this were to happen) that they would choose a more endangered species than American alligators, what with the expensive facilities required to keep any croc/alligator species.
 
ashley-h said:
I would hope (if this were to happen) that they would choose a more endangered species than American alligators, what with the expensive facilities required to keep any croc/alligator species.
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Their website mentions bringing in a new species of crocodile

About Colchester Zoo - Future Developments

This huge area is to become a brand new tropical walkthrough exhibit which will house over 7 new species to Colchester Zoo, including a brand new species of crocodile. The exhibit will be spread over two floors and will incorporate an underwater viewing tunnel in which you will be able to see crocodiles swim and feed above your heads, before coming out to see them basking around their outdoor pool on their heated rocks, through three metre glass windows. Visitors will also be able to appreciate the crocodiles whilst relaxing with a cup of coffee or a snack on the terrace outside the present Kalahari Capers Play area.
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Hope they're Phillipine crocs or something then...
 
I think the crocs for the new tropical house are Cubans, that have already been brought into the collection.
 
Ah good. I like this trend of new crocodile exhibits :)
 
yep they are cubans have just uploaded a pic of one of them in the gallery
 
okapikpr said:
Sure thing...inevitably many, if not most species will phase themselves out in captivity. Your earlier statement about the current phasing out of US elephants was rather out of line and statements such as that is what can cause problems within these forums...especially for those members that arent quite up to date with current news and issues and use these forums as their source of news in the zoo world. I feel that my tone was appropriate to get the message across that elephants in the US are not being phased out...there is a difference in zoo management deciding to phase out a species and the captive extinction of a species (something that you mention in your post above). Such rash conclusions, such as a phasing out of US elephants, can be deterred or proven by a simple google search... If you are willing to post such statements, please include your sources.

So what's new at Colchester...will they publish a new guidebook anytime soon?
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They have published a new species guide in 2008, it features an Orangutan and was on sale towards the latter end of last year. If you are after a copy I can get you one.
 
kiang said:
Can anyone confir or probably more realistically deny this rumour i found on the Colchester zoo article on wikipedia.

No big projects have been announced as of January 2009 but rumors of American Alligators and West Indian Manatees to a area in the Beginning Zone are going around in several Essex newspapers.

Maybe as reliable as the beluga whales coming to the zoo
Click to expand...

It would be great news if Manatees did come to Colchester Zoo but I think its just someone being imaginative. I live in Colchester and its the first I've heard of the Manatee story and I haven't seen it in any of the local papers.

I think Colchester has more chance of getting Panda Bears than it does Manatees (Sunday Express | UK News :: Panda-monium will be back in Britain's zoos) although I think in the long term its highly unlikely unfortunately.

Bugs
 
Hi, am new here having only just found the site through Googling Colchester, so apologies if this isn't in the right place but thought people might be interested to know that Tekita the chimpanzee had a baby last Saturday (14 March).

We were lucky enough to see her with the baby and got some really good views of him/her - not surprisingly, the cord was still attached. Tekita was being avidly followed everywhere she and the baby went by a small chocolate coloured chimp, who I'm assuming is her son Tumba (?) ..... who was nipped by Tekita when he tentatively prodded the newborn.

It was really lovely to watch her.
 
:)That is absolutely brilliant news as i feel colchesters group needs to be made slightly bigger.
I am also hoping that after the tropical house a new chimp enclosure will be built as i feel that chimp world is getting a bit small now and is looking old compared with other areas in the zoo.
 
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