Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2010 #2

[Goretex]

Tiga's mother, Kibriah, is an old hand at interacting with the public at Twycross so I'm sure he picked up a few tips there

Well in that case we will have a different orangutan that likes interacting with the public. Not that, that should really be encouraged.

 

[Gigit]

Well in that case we will have a different orangutan that likes interacting with the public. Not that, that should really be encouraged.

Why not, if that's what they want and choose to do? Maybe they find us as fascinating as we find them?

 

[GillP]

When I went to the zoo on Sunday, Rajang curled up in a fetal position against the glass in the end sleeping quarter at about 3.30 (I think) and settled down to sleep - the 1st time I've ever seen him do this. My 6 year old was most impressed you could see one of his ears as they are obviously usually hidden behind his cheekpads. One of the keepers said he'd had a slight infection following his recent dental work and was perhaps feeling slightly under the weather.

Also noted that one of the mature female geladas has now transferred to Howletts - this info was on a revised gelada family tree. As per the video on the zoo website the new baby gelada is being tightly controlled by mum who NEVER let go of his tail - really funny to watch.

Seemed like anything that doesn't move at the zoo has been painted in one way or another ..... there's all sorts of 'artistry' going on around the new leopard area for example and I think the sealion tunnel had also got a new lick of paint. The horrid orangutan statues have disappeared ..... but there's another, different, horrid orangutan statue at the entrance to the 'Forest'.

As recommended, I made the effort this time to go round the back of Familiar Friends this time and was rewarded with a decent view (thanks to all the shrubbery appearing to have had a recent hard prune) of Tembo and Zola who were enjoying stomping about in the mud. I also figured that if I boarded the Umphafa road train I could then ask the driver very nicely to let me run over to the fence while the next lot were boarding so I could get better photos - which he did, and I got some pretty decent ones. Just such a shame that time was limited (until the 'train' drove off again) and that the path by that paddock is no longer accessible to pedestrians.

 

[cheetahgirl]

that statue is in memory of djambe and the statue of her is certunily not 'horrid' she was my fav female orang.

 

[ZooLeopard]

The statues were fairly ugly, with fingers missing and so on.

 

[Little Lion Man]

Agreed they were ugly, broken and fiberglass. I am glad they are gone. If they want to make a memorial they should make it out of a lasting material such as stone or metal.

 

[GillP]

'Horrid' is always going to be subjective but I have to say that the new indoor statue, if it's a tribute to Djambe, is a very disappointing one. There are some arguably decent bronze statues dotted about the place (eg. elephants, giraffes, rhinos) and something like that would have been far nicer as they at least look realistic and not like a cartoon caricature.

The now removed outdoor statues were awful. Someone made an error of judgement about how weatherproof the material used would be for a start and they'd begun to look very grotty within months of being erected. Am still not sure if the missing fingers were due to weather damage or vandalism, but I know that the blink-and-you'll-have-missed-it baby statue was there one morning but gone about 2 hours later when I went back again ....... can't help thinking someone nicked it (maybe in the bottom of a buggy !)

 

[karenZOO]

The ones outside had a plaque in memory of Djambe in front of the female orang utan but were not put there as a memorial as they were there before she died.

Not seen the new one yet! I think some statues/bronzes etc as some zoos are truely lovely Guy the gorilla at London is a lovely fitting tribute but the fiberglass ones are always truely awful!!! IMO

 

[monkeyworld]

GillP- Do you know what female gelda left the zoo ?

 

[ZooLeopard]

UPDATE 20/03/10

Only a quick visit today:

1. Hunting Dogs still seperated. M/F on one side and the other pair next to the Jackals.
2. Small Mammal development has posts in and viewing windows.
3. Tamanduas are no longer planned for the tropical house

 

[GillP]

GillP- Do you know what female gelda left the zoo ?

The gelada who's left was Sereba (had to check the old family tree !), who was the mother of Malaika.

 

[cheetahgirl]

1:have uria and aris mated yet?
2:have otto and emily the rhinos been put in 2gether + mated?

 

[ZooLeopard]

Again, I know but wont tell. You will have to find that out some other way PM me if you like.

 

[Pertinax]

Well in that case we will have a different orangutan that likes interacting with the public. Not that, that should really be encouraged.

Virtually all Orangutans in Zoos like interacting with the public if they are in close contact with them .e.g. behind glass. It is typical behaviour for the species- almost any Orangutan put into Colchester's exhibit would probably do the same thing given time.

 

[karenZOO]

Probably a stupid question

In my imaginary fantasy zoo I would want to use 2 way glass so the animals never get to see the public staring gormlessly at them !! Bear in mind it is my imaginary zoo and I know you then would have very reflective glass for the animals
BUT i was wondering if this has ever been tried at any zoos ??

 

[Maguari]

I'd have concerned about animals' reactions to their own reflections - some animals will violently attack their own reflections (particularly males in the breeding season).

However, mirrors are used for flamingos sometimes to help them feel secure by giving the illusions of greater numbers.

 

[Pertinax]

I'd have concerned about animals' reactions to their own reflections - some animals will violently attack their own reflections (particularly males in the breeding season).

Yes, like Chaffinch males fighting car wing mirrors (stupid birds..)

I think another problem would be that while it would eliminate the public from the animals' world, it would also prevent the wider vistas the animals can look out at through the glass.

 

[Gigit]

In my imaginary fantasy zoo I would want to use 2 way glass so the animals never get to see the public staring gormlessly at them !! Bear in mind it is my imaginary zoo and I know you then would have very reflective glass for the animals
BUT i was wondering if this has ever been tried at any zoos ??

Changing the subject slightly, I'd like non-reflective glass on the public side of interior enclosures, or ordinary glass at an angle, so that you can see the animals rather than reflections of doorways, windows etc.

 

[GillP]

Changing the subject slightly, I'd like non-reflective glass on the public side of interior enclosures, or ordinary glass at an angle, so that you can see the animals rather than reflections of doorways, windows etc.

Hear hear ...... a constant frustration when trying to take photos !

 

[Roz]

Update from colchester website: Meerkat Birth!

Pippa the meerkat has given birth to her second litter of pups! These pups were born around the 2nd March, and Keepers have confirmed that she has given birth to 3!

Mum, Pippa came to Colchester Zoo from Banham Zoo in July 2009, and Dad, Robbie was born here in September 2003. This is Pippa's second offspring, after giving birth to her first pup in October 2009.

Whilst the pups are still very young they are unlikely to be easily seen out in their enclosure although the warm weather has brought a few lucky sightings, so you may be able to catch a glimpse of them down at their enclosure Suricata Sands opposite Lion Rock!