Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2009 #2

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It's been a couple of years since I was at Colchester and my memory may be playing tricks with me, but I would have said that the lion enclosure is hardly larger than the gelada's current enclosure and I suspect that it would require quite a lot of hot wire along the top of the rocks to prevent escapes.
A nice big sloping grassy site would suit a mixed exhibit of geladas and ibex (which I think they have at the Bronx). Unfortunately, the best spot for that at Colchester might be the car park :)

Alan
 
I just hate the current Gelada enclosure at Colchester- I was so disappointed by it.:(

It isn't the size that is an issue - I think even a much larger group(30+) could live in a similar area- its just that where they are now there are no cliff-type backdrops which would show them off so much better.Also because they are grass eaters the bare soil has been largely exposed. A concrete/sand flooring, perhaps with some straw-covered foraging areas etc would look a lot better and give them more enrichment. They have managed to keep the Mangabeys successfully in the old Lion enclosure so I think they could do it quite easily too in the similar 'Lion Rock'? I don't usually 'plan' exhibits as I feel there isn't much point- but in this case it would seem a logical transformation to me.

I'm not sure I'm in favour of the mixed Gelada/Ungulate exhibits- there are several in Europe. When mixed, the younger Geladas interact with the 2nd species, riding on the sheep and try to mate the lambs-very amusing but unnatural behaviour-possibly stressful for the sheep too- so I would prefer to see them just in a big 'busy' group of their own without another species present.
 
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Other news from today

Zamba was having a lovely time sliding around in the mud in the paddock http://www.zoochat.com/57/zamba-119146/

Bobby the black Tamarin from worlds apart has sadly died a couple of days ago and the lone one has been calling for him

Aardvark Burrow was getting roofed!

Subu was laying in his den looking miserable!

The 2 new female hunting dogs are very nervous and just stood and stared at me while I took photos!

Had a bit of a scare as I couldnt find Rajy anywhere!! Tiga was outside and the inside enclosure was closed with access to the sleeping quarters from one outside door!
Finally noticed outside a tuft of hair sticking out from the first closed door and realised Rajy was sitting waiting to be let in (although other door was open)! Tiga was walking round with a sack on eating coconut!

Very touching moment when Tiga went to see Rajy and all you could see was Rajys 2 hands stroking tiga's hair and gently lifting it between his fingers.

Saw 5 giraffes inside and in the courtyard, zebras also not out only in courtyard. Only animals out in the paddock were the 3 rhinos, ostriches, Kudu and cranes.

All the tigers were very active today!

The 2 baby meerkats were out and about http://www.zoochat.com/57/baby-meerkats-119147/

Sealion pool was spotless, obviously had a good clean out. Lots of bits and bobs of maintenance going on
 
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I visited Colchester Zoo today.

Had a very good start. The chimps were being fed. They were very noisy indeed! "Sounds like you at dinner Sophie!" said an amusing dad. I also got a good view of the baby lhoust monkey.

Igor and Annouska were both assleep in their dens Igor got up!!:eek: Went on the train saw the wolves and the Jakals and very briefly the new hunting dogs. Saw the now infamous gelada babboons in their enclosure!:p;)

The ardvark extention is now up and ready and I saw 1 of them outside. I also saw the baby pygmy hippo! A real sweety! There was a keeper and she actually didn't know that it was a girl. Of course not the pygmy hippo keeper!! Also saw Zambia in the main paddock he was chargeing around all over the place!

I think the gelada babboons should defineately move to their lion enclosure after Subu has sadly died. I think if they make it taller and actually add in more fake rock work we could well be ready for a first class new exhibit. Subu seemed fine pacing around the enclosure.

Also saw Rajang in the main indoor area and he was being photographed with some girls!:) But of course I got to spend some time with him!:D Tiga was under a blanket at the back of the main indoor area he later put a bucket on himself. I also spotted 3 baby Squrilell Monkeys in 1 of their indoor areas.:)
 
Goretex said:
I visited Colchester Zoo today.

Igor and Annouska were both assleep in their dens Igor got up!!:eek: Went on the train saw the wolves and the Jakals and very briefly the new hunting dogs. Saw the now infamous gelada babboons in their enclosure!:p;)
QUOTE]

What Igor was on the train lol :rolleyes:

It was a keeper that told me it was a girl hippo :D Maybe it was a volunteer ?? It is adorable though but I don't think they have announced it still??

You were lucky to see Rajang all I saw was a tuft of hair and his 2 hands lol and I hadn't been for 2 months grrrr
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Goretex said:
I visited Colchester Zoo today.
The chimps were being fed. They were very noisy indeed!
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I saw them being fed too. When the connecting door was opened one of the males rushed through first and grabbed nearly all of the apples spread around the dens. The female carrying the baby had a blue fit, screaming at him for stealing them all- she managed to get precisely one. She was clearly upset for several minutes afterward.
 
Sorry for the short abscence but I have had a load of GCSE stuff to do. Thank you everyone for the updates on the hippo baby as I havent had anyone to drive me to the zoo as some members of the family complain its too cold to go! Anyway I am glad this new line of threads is being used.
 
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Otto the male white Rhino has arrived. He came from Knuthenborg on the 27th November. In the visit report that I posted I said that he had not arrived yet however he actually had. I thought that Kingdom of the wild was hsut for the Baby Hippo, but thinking about it now, the website stated it was closed for new arrivalS however I thought nothing of this at the time, nor had their been any notice displayed in the building:o Anyway it's good news both have arrived safe and well, just waiting for the new Giraffe!
I also hate how Zoo's never seem to release information very quickly! :D
 
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karenZOO said:
Had a bit of a scare as I couldnt find Rajy anywhere!!!

Very touching moment when Tiga went to see Rajy and all you could see was Rajys 2 hands stroking tiga's hair and gently lifting it between his fingers.
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Don't get me all worried like that Karen re Rajy being nowhere to be seen!!! What a nice gesture though .... Rajy stroking Tiga's hair - I've yet to see them interact!!! :(
 
Todays visit 30th December:

Went today in the rain. Everything was looking really well, lots of new developments and some new movements on the animal front. First off I checked the Far west of the zoo to find most of the trees chopped down near the cheetahs/ warthogs (Something for Katavi?) No duiker today but the blue cranes were out and about. Saw the now nine river hogs and many mandrill babies. On to the elephants and they were all out enjoying the rain as for the 5 giraffes, still inside and getting on really well execpt for edmund and koife who were playing up today. Edmund sustained a slight cut to his right horn. On the other hand Zamba was having fun with mum cynthia and it seems otto has now been introduced to Emily. Flossie no where to be seen though, probably in one of the many stalls. Hippo was adorable and looks healthy, keepers were however keeping a watchful eye out. Only saw around four patas monkeys though the others could have been in the tunnel. Aardvarks were all asleep though the keeper there said they have been more active sincce they have had their new extension and really love it.

The tigers were really active as were the phillipine spotted deer. Tallulah the alpha female timer wof is coping well after the death of wilfy and is still managing to cope with ten of her lively offspring! Also the jackals now have their enclosure back. Male hunting dogs seperated from females until May 2010.

New leopard enclosure looks amazing. took some pics and had a little explore. Tanganyika Road bridge was closed for maintainance as was the small reptile enclosure next to mangabys. As for subu he was asleep indoors but still looking rather sad. The other animals to talk about are:

Orangs - Tiga went outside with rajang!
Cuban Hutia - Now not in old meerkat enclosure
Cattle egrets - in winter quarters
Scarlet ibis - seem to have gone!
Whiite storks - seem to have gone! (though could have been indoors)
Mangaby - one (male?) in Mongoose lemur enclosure (where have they gone?)
Swamphens - off show

Probably more but i cant remember!
Thats it really, oh here are the pics of the new leopard enclosure:
 
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Have the leopards moved in yet? Will Dende be going in with them until a new home is found for him or will he be housed elsewhere until he leaves?
 
Great news about this new Amur Leopard extention. I look foward to seeing them in their.:D
 
Thanks for the report ZooLeopard, I had a similar report written for the 23rd December but when I posted it my internet crashed and I lost it :rolleyes:
It will be interesting to see if anything does happen near the cheetahs however could just be a bit of tidying up!
I hope flossie is OK :o
I too noticed how a lot of the birds were indoors or offshow. On the 23rd the storks were at the zoo but offshow indoors, didnt check to see about the scarlet Ibis.
Also when I went Snakes and Lizards was still open however only the Tree Boas were in their vivarium, the star tortoises had been moved into one of the viv's in the elephant house. I will be interested to see what goes/happens in here! :D
Was Silva the anteater still there? :confused:

Edit:
I also forgot to mention that there was a sign up on the window of the old meerkat/hutia enclosure saying it was empty ready for refurbishment in February 2010 :D
 
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