Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2010 #3

Bele said:
Howletts had an outdoor enclosure for their Tamanduas .
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And Olomouc. And Barcelona. I really hate press offices sometimes - so desperate to be the 'first' somehow that they refuse to let facts get in the way.

(Unless they've made a different error - it may not be the first outdoor exhibit for the species, but for the subspecies (T. t. longicauda) - possibly)
 
Maguari said:
(Unless they've made a different error - it may not be the first outdoor exhibit for the species, but for the subspecies (T. t. longicauda) - possibly)
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That would still be no excuse for lazy research/marketing. It would be like saying this car is the first Vauxhall Astra to drive the length of Africa when they mean it's the first Vauhall Astra XLI (forgive me if that's not a car, I'm not a car person).

Before long we'll be like Artic exploration "firsts" these days and zoos will be claiming the biggest Rhino Enclosure in the UK*

*holding three white rhino's over 15 years old (one called Joe).:D
 
Well I suppose when it comes to advertising their are always mistakes and bendings of facts (probably)

Bit like Chester calling themselves the Uk's number one zoo (with no explaination as to number one of what!? ) :D :p :D *runs for cover*

Its a shame they have created 2 halves in the new walkthrough I loved it when the sloths went over your head? And yes I did ask their digestive system is as slow as they are so little chance of an accident on your head :o
 
Just a quick question for those of you at the Colchester Zoo (or in the Southern England area): I've been wanting to plan another European zoo trip all year, but my personal schedule has not allowed it. Now it appears that a window has opened up for me in mid- to late November. I would like to visit a few zoos in Southern England during this time, but (in your opinion) does the November weather make it not not worth the trip? Some local input would be invaluable in helping me plan my trip. Thanks!
 
Colchester is lovely in the winter ANythuis, especially mid week as the kids are at school. It's a lot nicer than the middle of summer when it's really hot and there are kids and wasps everywhere
 
The weather in the UK is very variable. You might be lucky and get a wonderfully crisp and clear day which could give you a memorable visit to Whipsnade or one of the other larger zoos - or you might get a wet grey week which would only really be fit for indoor viewing, which would be fine for Regents Park, but not a great experience in many other places.
Colchester is somewhere between these extremes and so I guess it would be OK in most weathers (but not all).

Alan
 
Mangabeys at Colchester.

Was just looking at ISIS and they currently list 3.1 Red Crowned Mangabeys at Colchester. There were 3.2 until quite recently but now apparently there's only one female, (unless its one of ISIS' famous errors....)

Can anyone find out if its the adult female(stout, has half a tail) or the younger one(middle of the 3 younger ones) that has gone and what happened i.e. death or transfer?
 
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Thanks, its sad if they've lost a valuable female. They originally imported seven ( in 2006, from Hanover apparently-who no longer keep this species) but having since passed two females on to Newquay(now at Paignton) their own group could be compromised now if this is correct..
 
Pertinax said:
Was just looking at ISIS and they currently list 3.1 Red Crowned Mangabeys at Colchester. There were 3.2 until quite recently but now apparently there's only one female, (unless its one of ISIS' famous errors....)

Can anyone find out if its the adult female(stout, has half a tail) or the younger one(middle of the 3 younger ones) that has gone and what happened i.e. death or transfer?
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When we were there recently at least one of them looked rather 'red-crown-less' with a very bald patch.
 
ANyhuis said:
Just a quick question for those of you at the Colchester Zoo (or in the Southern England area): I've been wanting to plan another European zoo trip all year, but my personal schedule has not allowed it. Now it appears that a window has opened up for me in mid- to late November. I would like to visit a few zoos in Southern England during this time, but (in your opinion) does the November weather make it not not worth the trip? Some local input would be invaluable in helping me plan my trip. Thanks!
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I've been during the week in November and it's fine even if a bit cold .... the exhibits are relatively close - no wide open spaces to negotiate - so even if it rains you can work things so you don't get too wet. You really only need to worry about ice and snow at Colchester due to all the steep hills !
 
I visited for a couple of hours this morning on a spare of the moment decision, here are a few changes:
-Costa Rican zebra legged tarantula has replaced the mexican red knee in the discovery centre, and the Hissing Cockroaches have been replaced by madagasgan Tree Boa youngsters.
-I really love the sun bears, they are just a pain to take pictures of with the glass reflections and their constant movement.
-In the worlds apart walkthrough, the silvery marmosets have switched sides with the Goeldis Monkeys, and both sloths have also moved in, however there was no sign of either, or the Tamandua. :(
-Dende's old enclosure near the sealions has been redeveloped, with sand being banked in the enclosure around the rocks, and a viewing shelter has been added. I am interested to see what species will go in here!
-Wilds of asia development progressing well.
-There are only two female binturongs mixed with te otters and Langurs, I am unsure where the males have gone.
-Squirrel monkeys are now housed where the Golden Lion Tamarin was near the Penguins and Egrets.
-Forgot to add: there are now common Tenrecs in the familiar friends building, I saw 3 but there could have been more.
 
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Roz said:
-Forgot to add: there are now common Tenrecs in the familiar friends building, I saw 3 but there could have been more.
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Are you sure? Zootierlist lists Colchester as having lesser hedgehog-tenrecs :confused:. Still got my fingers crossed for common tenrecs though.
 
DesertRhino150 said:
Are you sure? Zootierlist lists Colchester as having lesser hedgehog-tenrecs :confused:. Still got my fingers crossed for common tenrecs though.
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Yeah I'm sure :)
The common tenrec is also know as the tailless Tenrec. Isis shows Sandwich (RSCC) as having a group of 4 (no info on genders), so I would assume colchester have taken these as with all the other species that have arrived.
 
Not sure if this has already been noted, but there is at least one photo of what looks like a smooth-coated otter on the zoo's Facebook page. If they have already arrived, then that is a further reason to visit Colchester soon. :D
 
I briefly visited Colchester Zoo this morning. Saw the sun bears for a good long time who were very active and were drifting along alll the logs and stands and one of them splpashed around in the pool. They were both interacting with each other really well. I could have spent longer watching them both.:)

I then saw the pleated gibbins who were very noisy and active. Saw thye black-headed tamarins talk. The sloaths have moved into the "World's apart exhibit". Rajang was looking at the people in the main indoor area. Tiga was outside under a sack atb the back of the outdoor area. Which now is starting to grow some grass. Then he came in and looked liked he wanted to go into one of the cells but the door was closed. He instead stayed in the main indoor area.

The smooth-coated otters have arrived and currently occupy Dende's enclosure which has now been refurbished for them. Also they're starting to demolish the black spider monkeys inddor quarters I personally am glad about this beacause that building has always given me the creeps.:eek:

The amur leapard was on some fake rock work lokking interesed at a keeper on the roof.:p
 
Goretex- Which Spider Monkey enclosure do you mean- the cage type one or the open air one? Will be interesting to see what goes here ;)
 
Roz said:
Goretex- Which Spider Monkey enclosure do you mean- the cage type one or the open air one? Will be interesting to see what goes here ;)
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Thyat's for the sun bears!! I mean the open one which IMO has really creepy indoor areas.:eek: So I'm glad thy're fineally getting rid of them!!
 
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