Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2011

johnstoni said:
So maybe there aren't many other captive mandrill groups shut outside in very open enclosures to compare this to? Am I right in thinking that they weren't shut outside in the previous exhibit by Mangabey Forest? Am I also right in thinking the outside shelters were installed in the current enclosure some time after it was constructed?
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1. Not sure about European groups. In the UK elsewhere I think they usually have free access inside, at least most of the time. Chester's certainly do. Don't know about South Lakes. Someone told me the Trotters group(ex Southport) have a large open outdoors but they tend to prefer the indoors- the 'forest canopy' syndrome again? Paignton's very small group is in quite a shady enclosure.

2. In the previous enclosure at Colchester they may have been shut outside sometimes- the inside was just a glass windowed tiled den really. I can remember seeing them being let in for feeding. But the outside was a covered 'cage' enclosure so not so open to the elements/light.

3. Don't know if the outside shelters were added later but they have been removed. Maybe this behaviour has developed since then as there's only one small rock 'cave' now, facing the viewing deck, probably to make them more visible?
 
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karenZOO said:
Pertinax the boxes have gone and have been replaced by a fake rock heated cave a really really hideous one :eek: Exhales
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Yes, it may have been there when I went last, but I've definately seen a photo of it anyway-they've excelled themselves with this one...:rolleyes:

Maybe they need 23 pairs of Mandrill-sized sunglasses supplied- think of the publicity opportunities..:D

Seriously, if they find out it is a reaction to bright light and not some sort of 'privacy' ploy as suggested, then they may need to address it as its a bad/stressful situation.
 
Interesting article. It seems to shoot the 'light' theory down if bright sunlight doesn't increase the behaviour.

It appears its only 8 of them, not the whole troop as the newspaper article indicated. Have you seen them doing it? Maybe replace the order for sunglasses with 'Do not Disturb' signs then?

I've always wanted a rock grotto like the Mandrills' one as a centrepiece in my garden..;)
 
Maybe a large group needs areas where lower-ranking individuals can go to where they can get distance from the others?
 
I have a vague recollection of Paignton's previous dominant male Mandrill putting his hand to his forehead, rather than over his eyes, as though he had a headache (apologies for possible anthropomorphism). And he would hold things up to look at them as though it was a strain looking past that long nose. Maybe any sunglasses should have optical lenses ;)
 
johnstoni said:
Maybe a large group needs areas where lower-ranking individuals can go to where they can get distance from the others?
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Its interesting behaviour- most curious. Colchester's group do have several(3?) large blocks of hotwired trees/vegetation nowadays so there are sight-barriers if required, however I think most of the group tend to congregate more where the resting platforms etc are situated, mostly toward the front I think, so they may be coming together more because of that.
 
Updates from the zoo's Facebook page....

A new Aardvark pup was born on the 7th February

Uria the Cheetah is back from Paignton and hopes are high that she is now pregnant. Tosca has also returned to Paignton
 
I'm surprised they're still wanting to breed from her after all those problems they had with her in the past at breeding. Assumeing that this is for breeding purposes? Surely Tanya would be more obvious.
 
Its a shame as really would like to Tanya given the chance to have another baby - and really Zola should be kept with Tanya and Opal as in the wild elephant cows and calfs stay together while the males are solitary and come together with females for breeding..

Also would love Colchester Zoo to get another breeding female elephant to replace Rosa, also for me elephants are better displayed in larger groups like Howletts and not to be kept in pairs ! But their well loved and seem content so I'm happy.
 
An official press release about the baby aardvark:

Colchester Zoo News: Aardvark baby born!

A new aardvark baby was born on the 7th February to mum, Oq and dad, Adela!

Our group of aardvarks are one of the most successful breeding groups in Europe, with the new arrival now the sixth baby to be born at Colchester Zoo.

Both baby and mum have been moved into the separate birthing den to them to form a close bond and keep the youngster safe from any accidental injury from the rest of the group, as new born aardvarks are poor sighted and can be very clumsy!

They are currently visible on the tv screen within the main viewing tunnel linked to the birthing burrow by closed circuit tv, so you are able to get a sneak peek into the progress of mum and baby!

Oq and Adela’s last offspring, Tatsu, was born in February 2010 is still within the group, though will transfer out from the collection in the future as part of the EEP breeding programme for this species.
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Went for a short visit today, and there is generally nothing of note (partly because most of the animals were indoors, you could hardly blame them), but there were still a couple of things that deserve a mention:

- The Wilds of Asia seems to have progressed really well, and I live the look of the new hornbill and red panda enclosures. The gibbons seem to have a nice-sized enclosure but I still don't get why there is a car in there?
- The male rufous hornbill is starting to develop the red at the base of the bill- I look forward to seeing the beak develop its full colour
- White-nosed coati now inhabit the Southern ground hornbill enclosure
- Binturong now inhabit the old fossa enclosure
- At least one black-backed jackal is in the old enclosure along the road train track (I was able to see them from the hill to the elephant house
- I managed to see the baby squirrel, capuchin, L'hoest's, colobus and mangabey monkeys, all of them seem to be doing well at the moment
 
DesertRhino150 said:
- At least one black-backed jackal is in the old enclosure along the road train track (I was able to see them from the hill to the elephant house
- I managed to see the baby squirrel, capuchin, L'hoest's, colobus and mangabey monkeys, all of them seem to be doing well at the moment
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I visited this morning. It was quite busy. The points from desert rhino's post I also managed to see.

The chimps were in the main indoor area which had a lot of paper and card bord in it but apart from one piece which both Tombe and Tekita were playing with in a hammock none of it was being used.

Sasha's enclosure says on it: "this enclosure will be redevolped in the near future" it didn't say anything more on it.

I noticed that Rajang had been shut in and was looking through the mesh in the first room whilst Tiga was shut outside he went down the outdoor area then paused at a log top eat some carrouts then moved over to the fake rock work cave. Then inside Rajnag had moved over to the second room and was looking through the mesh there. They did the talk I didn't stay for that I think it's too superfical doubt it would've told about the reason why they've seperated the both? Also all the plants in the pond have died.:(
 
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