Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2011

Just finished reading my new edition of Zoo Matters, and there is a feature on the new sun bear enclosure:

'The enclosure is planned to be constructed on the site of the current home for Pele and Pedro; the two male spider monkeys on Hornbill Hill. The monkeys will move to the temporary gibbon enclosure following the gibbons' move to the Wilds of Asia'.

I'm not sure what everyone else thinks, but from what I can remember, this area isn't magnificently large- if they included the 'Meddelin Monkeys' enclosure too, then it wouldn't be a bad size at all. But as far as I am aware, the area they are due to be moved to is hardly bigger than where they are now. I'd be interested to hear what anyone else thinks about this.
 
I'd imagine it will also include the hornbill/Ibis aviaries and the area behind these, as like you said, there would be no point in the move as the area stated is no bigger then the current home.
 
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Had the latest edition of "Zoo matters" given on tuesday. It says in it that the permanent enclosure for Srey-ya and Jo-Jo will be where the enclosure for the 2 lone black spider monkeys are? But that's no bigger than that of the old orang enclosure? These 2 black spider monkeys shall be moving to where the pleated gibbons have been.

Also the permanent exhibit for the smooth coated otters will hopefully open this coming summer.
 
Maguari said:
That actually does quite a good job of simplifying navigation of what is otherwise one of the most confusingly-laid out zoos in the UK.
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It does look better. I have no trouble navigating round strange cities from a proper map but those 'helpful' cartoony things zoos etc have just confuse me for some reason.
 
Visit update, 13/4/11:

-I very much like the new wilds of asia enclosures, and enjoyed having a better view of the male rhinoceros hornbill. The male Pileated gibbon appeared to be very interested in the L'Hoest monkeys opposite his enclosure!
-Sun bears will have the hillsade between medellin monkeys and the Inca Trail.
-Von der Deckens Hornbills have left the mixed aviary.
-All the invert species were back in their rightful tanks in Kingdom of the wild, Millipedes and Cockroaches have swapped (Cockroaches closest to the entrance).
-The hunting dogs were mating- hopefully we'll see some youngsters soon :D
-Work is underway on the smooth coated otter exhibit again after the winter.
 
Had a good weather visit today, and some of the things I was able to note:

- I personally really like the new Wilds of Asia- the red pandas and gibbons are both in larger enclosures that also allow for great viewing
- One of the rhinoceros hornbills was already checking out the nest box in the outdoor aviary
- Having seen the area planned for the sun bear enclosure (not only the monkey enclosure but also the waldrapp ibises and presumably most of Hornbill Hill) I am much more excited now for the new enclosure.
- One of the female warthogs had dug under the hotwire fence and into one of the small fenced areas containing the vegetation.
- Reed frogs are now back in the Kingdom of the Wild.
- An African spurred tortoise has moved in with the leopard tortoises and weaver birds.
- There was no sign of either Nile monitor lizards in the Kingdom of the Wild.
- A Canadian goose seems to have built a nest at the pool along the new nature trail.
- Victoria crowned pigeons and Montserrat oriole are in the old rufous hornbill enclosure, although only the former was in evidence.
- The signs seem to suggest only scarlet ibis live in the aviary near the Inca Trail, and there was no sign of the cattle egrets.
- Pele and Pedro the black spider monkeys have already moved to the old gibbon enclosure, and the black-and-white ruffed lemurs have taken their previous enclosure.
- Only today noticed that the ring-tailed lemurs now have access to two large trees on their island- I look forward to seeing them use it.
- Only Jo-Jo was out in the early afternoon and he was pacing down the side of the enclosure again.
- And finally, the World's Apart walkthrough has quite quickly become my favourite enclosure. Today the chachalacas, lone golden lion tamarin, two-toed sloths, the Geoffroy's marmosets with their new babies and one of the tamanduas were all outside and active, leaving only the other tamandua and the silvery marmosets with their new young indoors.
 
DesertRhino150 said:
- Pele and Pedro the black spider monkeys have already moved to the old gibbon enclosure, and the black-and-white ruffed lemurs have taken their previous enclosure.
- Only today noticed that the ring-tailed lemurs now have access to two large trees on their island- I look forward to seeing them use it.
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That's actually quite amusing as that enclosure was a long time ago the enclosure for black and white ruffed lemurs.

Do you know for sure as to whether or not the lemurs can climb the trees?
 
Two of the three trees in the ring-tailed lemur enclosure are not hot-wired and can presumably be climbed; the one near to the visitor walkway is still rigged with hot-wire.
 
Some recent news from Colchester (as of this weekend):

- The Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs have moved from the old Spider Monkey enclosure on Hornbill Hill to the former Colobus Monkey enclosure in the Edge of Africa area;
- The remaining Colobus Monkeys have moved in with the breeding pair and offspring in the Out of Africa exhibit;
- The Ring-tailed Lemurs do have access to the two trees furthest from the lake, and have also had a new climbing structure; which is similar in style and shape to the Mandrill one;
- 10 Humboldt's Penguins have moved to London Zoo, leaving 25 at Colchester, split 12/13 between the two pools;
- The female Smooth-Coated Otter is in the late stages of pregnancy according to a sign on their enclosure.

And finally, there's a new climbing frame in the process of being built for the Geladas! Two new male Geladas have also arrived.

Phew, sorry it's so long, but there is always something happening at Colchester Zoo...
 
I don't suppose you know how old the new geladas are ZooSam ? ..... Are either of them mature males ?
 
I really couldn't say - I only glimpsed them as I walked past; they didn't seem to be as large as the previous male though. Sorry I can't be of any more help!
 
ZooSam said:
Some recent news from Colchester (as of this weekend):

- The Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs have moved from the old Spider Monkey enclosure on Hornbill Hill to the former Colobus Monkey enclosure in the Edge of Africa area;
- The remaining Colobus Monkeys have moved in with the breeding pair and offspring in the Out of Africa exhibit;
- The Ring-tailed Lemurs do have access to the two trees furthest from the lake, and have also had a new climbing structure; which is similar in style and shape to the Mandrill one;
- 10 Humboldt's Penguins have moved to London Zoo, leaving 25 at Colchester, split 12/13 between the two pools;
- The female Smooth-Coated Otter is in the late stages of pregnancy according to a sign on their enclosure.

And finally, there's a new climbing frame in the process of being built for the Geladas! Two new male Geladas have also arrived.

Phew, sorry it's so long, but there is always something happening at Colchester Zoo...
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Welcome to Zoo Chat.

Some interesting info here I must say! Especially the new climbing frame for the geladas? Does it have any fake rock work all over it.
Why did the black and white ruffed lemurs ever move enclosures? Surely these other enclosures are much less roomy.
 
The climbing structure for the Geladas was at a very early stage; just the upright poles installed as of today. I think it will be in the style of the Mandrill enclosure, with just wooden poles. There was no sign of any rockwork being installed.

I do not know why the Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs have moved, but the old enclosure down at Lemur 'Islands' has been taken over by the Red-ruffed Lemurs, with the small triangle enclosure between the train and the Geladas removed. They are now in the former Colobus enclosure down by the Cheetah; much, much larger than anywhere they've been before.
 
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