Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2010 #2

This is indeed is the case Goretex. More cheetah cubs have been born but have not surived. These things arent announced publicly so no one has any idea of these births.
 
Thanks for clarifying that. I had no idea Katavi was 1 of 5 though thinking about it, a single cub would be odd. Don't know why they don't announce these things though ..... it's all part of the life cycle and I always thought Colchester was pretty up front, even with the not so 'nice' news.
 
Colchester are a lot less reticent in announcing bad news than many zoos, but I'm not surprised they don't publicise every stillbirth, and 'did not survive' losses of Big Cat cubs, particularly when one or more of a litter do survive, as this is quite a common occurrence.
 
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An Update on the baby Aardvark: Colchester Zoo News: Aardvark Baby Progress

Plus a chance to name the baby and win a keeper shadowing experience!

Colchester Zoo’s latest baby Aardvark needs a new name, so keepers are asking for people to send in their ideas via the Colchester Zoo website.

Colchester Zoo’s group of aardvarks are the only successful group to breed in the UK; and they have continued to multiply with the birth of a new baby aardvark on Saturday 27th February! The new baby was born to mum, Oq and dad, Adela and is their fourth offspring born to Oq and Adela, and the fifth to be born at Colchester Zoo overall! The sex of the baby won’t be known until a DNA test has been done so any names submitted will need to be suitable for both boys and girls. As the other babies that have been born have all been named after dragons we’d also like to continue this theme and find a great name to join the previous babies Puff, Magic, Kiyo and Draco! The prize will be a half an hour, one on one Aardvark Keeper Shadowing experience where you will be able to get up close and personal with all our aardvarks!
 
An aardvark named Adela - that sounds familiar to me. There used to be an aardvark at Prague that everybody thought is a female and so got a female name, but later turned to be a male. But it´s many years ago. Could these two be the same animal?
 
Sorry, just found out thanks to Theo, that Adella didnt come from Prague but came from Arnhem then to Colchester. There must just be two Adella's Jana!
 
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I think ardvarks Colchester has achieved a massive achievemant here and I wish them all the best in the future.:cool:
 
Sorry, just found out thanks to Theo, that Adella didnt come from Prague but came from Arnhem then to Colchester. There must just be two Adella's Jana!

Thanks ZooLeopard. But a nice coincidence in names for two aadvarks. The Prague´s Adéla would be now at least over 20 years.

Colchester will get another animal from Prague, maybe as soon es next week. A Komodo dragon male Komodor. He hatched 2007 and is the biggest of his clutch, with very nice dark coloured head and forelegs and thick white eye-rings, really a beauty.
 
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That sounds exciting Jana :) at what age can they start breeding the Komodo's ? although it will be difficult as at the moment the croc's are taking up half of the Komodo house. Wish they would start on the tropical house - the crocs new home!!
 
Also 1:2 lions have arrived from woburn, and they came on the 21st April. See gallery for a pic of the male. :D
 
Now that I don't think is good news!! After the fantastic enclosure they have at Woburn to Colchester must be very hard for them to adapt!!! grrr I wish they wouldn't put safari park animals in zoos (of the smallish enclosure type grrrr) I always find Woburn to have very good looking lions!!! EXCEPT the old male that is (? was) battlescared
 
On the Komodo front, I have been told that Keli and Mutu are not being bred but maybe this has changed. I know they have been hunting for a male for several months now.

On another note, the baby aardvark is now confirmed to be a male and has been mixed with Adela! Sadly, Ares and Uria's mating attempts seem to have failed and Ares will shortly be returning to Hamerton Zoo Park.
 
On the Lion front: Bailey, Malika and Naja arrived on 21st April 2010, after coming from Woburn Safari Park.

As they are related, Colchester will unfortunatley not be able to form a breeding group with these lions but this is something that may happen later.
 
Just found this on the lions arrival: Lions arrive at Colchester Zoo
We are pleased to announce the arrival of our three African Lions, Bailey (male), Malika and Naja (females).

They joined our collection on 21st April 2010, after transferring from Woburn Safari Park. Sadly, they were being slowly rejected from their pride at Woburn, and therefore needed to be provided with a secure future.

Colchester Zoo were pleased to be able to provide a comfortable environment in which these lions could be re-homed.
All three lions are currently housed in their indoor enclosure whilst they familiarise themselves with their new surroundings.

We hope to allow them access to their outdoor enclosure within the coming days.

As all three lions are closely related, it will not be possible for them to form a breeding group.
 
Now that I don't think is good news!! After the fantastic enclosure they have at Woburn to Colchester must be very hard for them to adapt!!! grrr I wish they wouldn't put safari park animals in zoos (of the smallish enclosure type grrrr)

They didn't hang about getting fresh Lions, did they? Needed to fill the enclosure and have Lions back in the collection too...;)
But don't overlook the fact that though Woburn's Lions have acres of reserve to roam in,- out of visitor hours they are confined in their 'nightime quarters' which are (or still were until recently) were horrid little kennel-type boxes though something better is at last being built.

So overall, life at Colchester might not be too bad a change for them- once they adjust to the fake rock backdrops of course...:D
 
Hard cheese for these lions as they've missed out on the better quarters.:( A bit like if you move house and they build something good like a fantastic new swimming pool just after you leave town.
 
Dont know wether I have said this or not, but Colchester Zoo is now free of zones! They are no more and the cheetah enclosure has been renamed Katavi Cheetah Breeding Centre.
 
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