Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2010 #3

We also popped in today :D

All we saw of the new otters were the attached picture lol. Was impressed on how they had changed Dende's old enclosure as a temporary enclosure.

Just seen on facebook that someone visited yesterday and saw new baby anteater? Is that another one if so we didnt notice!! Although we did spend quite some time looking for Sasha and then got all worried as we saw the vet carrying oxygen tank and equipment. Finally thought to look in his den (doh) and apparently he had, had a vet visit and was a bit dopey :p

The sun bears were amazing, watched them for ages, so active!! Did not get one decent photo tho. That enclosure always was awful for pictures :mad:
 
karenZOO said:
All we saw of the new otters were the attached picture lol. Was impressed on how they had changed Dende's old enclosure as a temporary enclosure.
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I saw them today.:p Another thing I forgot to report was that there was a capuchin and a squriell monkey in the old fossa enclosure. The train was in the car park.
 
I have just got back from what must be one of the best trips to Colchester I have ever had. There is so much new stuff to see, and quite a lot I assume has been here for a while, but never got around to visiting. Some things of note:

- The sun bears, pileated gibbons and smooth-coated otters are all fantastic to watch; I expect them to become firm favourites in the near future.
- Got to see some of the zoo rarities again- the long-tailed tamandua, red-backed bearded sakis, Komodo dragons and blue duiker were stand-outs.
- Got decent views of many of the reptiles- finally saw a green anaconda out of the water.
- There was some window cleaning in the rhinoceros hornbill enclosure, and the keepers were having to defend themselves with dustbin lids from the male.
- Saw four common tenrecs in Familiar Friends- all asleep and in the worst spot for photography
- Mbembe the spotted hyena was out today, but was nonetheless asleep- looking forward to the arrival of more hyenas in the future.
- Finally noted the species name of the reed frogs- Hyperolius puncticulatis
- Only saw one ring-tailed lemur and three aardvarks today- not sure what is going on with either of these species
 
They apparently came from the RSCC, but I never previously knew they kept the species either. Good thing is now the Colchester tenrecs are entering their breeding season, (and knowing their litter size) we may see some more zoos holding this species in the not-too distant future. Here's hoping, at least. :)
 
Just got back from another great trip to Colchester. I got there at quarter past three, so the place was practically deserted :D. Some things I noted today-

- Finally saw Tucuri and Gallina the sloths in the indoor area of the new South American walkthrough, and I also saw both the tamanduas (asleep).
- Now that it was quiet, I was actually able to look around at the South American walkthrough, and I am really liking the new little ID cards for all the animals.
- The common tenrecs seem to enjoy sleeping in the worst place for photography. I guess I'll have to wait for the late openings to actually see them active.
- Managed to see the new baby giant anteater and the two waldrapp ibis fledglings.
- Got my first ever good view of the female Montserrat oriole, but there was no sign of there being a pair. Can anyone confirm if there is a second oriole?
- I was surprised by how active many of the reptiles were- I saw the Cuban crocodile move for the first time and the green anaconda show some signs of life.
- It appeared as if Telu was being weighed, because there was an unusual set of apparatus in his enclosure, that he seemed determined to ruin.
- Managed to count eight golden sedge reed frogs at least.
- A sign at the sun bear enclosure indicates they do want to breed from Srey-Ya and Jo-Jo in the future. It was also good to be able to tell apart between them now.
- Redevelopment of the common seal pool is still yet to start, although their enclosure has a sign on it saying the development will soon start.
- The Wilds of Asia Development is pressing on nicely. According to the Zoo Matters magazine, the development will have new enclosures for the pileated gibbons, red pandas and rhinoceros hornbills. I'm personally surprised the rufous and black hornbills didn't get in on the new area.
 
An intresting time to visit. I certainly am intrigued by what the new Wilds of Asia[ devolpment will look like.
 
Can I just ask, when did Tailless Tenrecs become 'Common Tenrecs'? Feel like I missed a memo there!
 
Maguari said:
Can I just ask, when did Tailless Tenrecs become 'Common Tenrecs'? Feel like I missed a memo there!
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Well they are labelled as common tenrec at Colchester, however I didn't check the latin name when I saw them. I then searched the common tenrec on google, and the first few results gave me the latin name tenrec ecaudatus. I then looked on isis which labels this latin name as Tailless tenrec, so I have assumed they can be called both? :confused:
 
Roz said:
Well they are labelled as common tenrec at Colchester, however I didn't check the latin name when I saw them. I then searched the common tenrec on google, and the first few results gave me the latin name tenrec ecaudatus. I then looked on isis which labels this latin name as Tailless tenrec, so I have assumed they can be called both? :confused:
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I think you're right that both refer to this species - it's just weird as I'd never seen them called 'Common' Tenrecs until Colchester got them.
 
What makes this even stranger is that although the Colchester signage calls them 'common tenrecs' the Adoption form on the Colchester Zoo website calls them 'greater tenrecs', which is a name I definately haven't seen used to describe this species (or any other tenrec, for that matter).
 
DesertRhino150 said:
What makes this even stranger is that although the Colchester signage calls them 'common tenrecs' the Adoption form on the Colchester Zoo website calls them 'greater tenrecs', which is a name I definately haven't seen used to describe this species (or any other tenrec, for that matter).
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There is, of course, a Greater Hedgehog Tenrec, Setifer setosus, which is in European zoos, but this is a very different species.

I think we need to bear in mind this is a zoo that once put up a sign saying hutias were 'also known as tree kangaroos'... :D
 
The new issue of Zoo Matters say the first half of the nature reserve area will be open at Easter 2011. It will be accessable from the tiger viewing tunnel.
 
According to Zoo Matters, the red pandas are going to have an enclosure with "much enhanced viewing to their current enclosure" (thank god!) and the rhinoceros hornbills are apparently due to have "a large, heavily planted aviary" which is again an improvement on where they are at the moment.

Also in Zoo Matters, it says that they will bring in another Goeldi's marmoset and golden lion tamarin, so all the primates can form breeding pairs.

On the subject of birds, I am hoping that the Victoria crowned pigeons and Montserrat orioles can be found better enclosures soon, so that for the latter especially, breeding can commence.
 
DesertRhino150 said:
According to Zoo Matters, the red pandas are going to have an enclosure with "much enhanced viewing to their current enclosure" (thank god!) and the rhinoceros hornbills are apparently due to have "a large, heavily planted aviary" which is again an improvement on where they are at the moment.

Also in Zoo Matters, it says that they will bring in another Goeldi's marmoset and golden lion tamarin, so all the primates can form breeding pairs.

On the subject of birds, I am hoping that the Victoria crowned pigeons and Montserrat orioles can be found better enclosures soon, so that for the latter especially, breeding can commence.
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I'm really looking forward to this new development, especially the red panda's, which have been extremely difficult to see well since they closed the hill for 'health and safety' :rolleyes:.

I'd like to see the Orioles back where they were opposite Penguin Shores, and the Rufous hornbills found a new enclosure, along with the pigeons. Does anybody know if they could be mixed with and of the the wilds of asia new area species at all? :confused:
 
Roz said:
Does anybody know if they could be mixed with and of the the wilds of asia new area species at all? :confused:
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If this means what I think it means (are any new species coming in for the new Wilds of Asia), then I think the answer is no; just the red pandas, gibbons and rhinoceros hornbills.
 
DesertRhino150 said:
If this means what I think it means (are any new species coming in for the new Wilds of Asia), then I think the answer is no; just the red pandas, gibbons and rhinoceros hornbills.
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What I meant was can either the Crowned Pigeons or the Rufous horbills be mixed with either the gibbons, Red Panda or Rhinoceros Hornbill?
 
Sorry about misinterpreting your question. For a partial answer, I am pretty sure Colchester won't want to mix the rufous and rhinoceros hornbills due to the risk of hybridisation. I'm not sure about any of the others. I guess we'll have to wait and see. :)
 
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