Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2017

Went for a visit today - this is what I noted:

-The pair of bush dogs were both out and about - by my counting that makes five species of wild canid on-show at Colchester. I cannot think of another British zoo that has more species.
- To expand on the above note, there is at least one (I think possibly only one, now) black-backed jackal in their old enclosure along the road train route.
- Bony-headed toad enclosure in the orangutan area is now empty and being refurbished.
- A new species of squirrelfish is now in the African marine aquarium in Kingdom of the Wild - on searching through Google images I think it may be a tailspot squirrelfish Sargocentron caudimaculatum.
- The Kirk's dik-dik calf that was being hand-reared is out with the three adults in the Edge of Africa enclosure.
- The young spider monkey, L'Hoest's monkey and two geladas were all active and exploring away from their parents.
- The slender-snouted crocodile was making use of its small outdoor enclosure this afternoon, despite it being quite overcast.
- Also had my first clear view of the Tanzanian tailless whip-scorpion in one of the terrariums in the Discovery Centre.
 
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DesertRhino150 said:
Went for a visit today - this is what I noted:

-The pair of bush dogs were both out and about - by my counting that makes five species of wild canid on-show at Colchester. I cannot think of another British zoo that has more species.
- To expand on the above note, there is at least one (I think possibly only one, now) black-backed jackal in their old enclosure along the road train route.
- Bony-headed toad enclosure in the orangutan area is now empty and being refurbished.
- A new species of squirrelfish is now in the African marine aquarium in Kingdom of the Wild - on searching through Google images I think it may be a tailspot squirrelfish Sargocentron caudimaculatum.
- The Kirk's dik-dik calf that was being hand-reared is out with the three adults in the Edge of Africa enclosure.
- The young spider monkey, L'Hoest's monkey and two geladas were all active and exploring away from their parents.
- The slender-snouted crocodile was making use of its small outdoor enclosure this afternoon, despite it being quite overcast.
- Also had my first clear view of the Tanzanian tailless whip-scorpion in one of the terrariums in the Discovery Centre.
Click to expand...
Exmoor might run them close on Canids. They have Wolf, New Guinea Singing Dog, Bat-eared Fox, Painted Dog and Maned Wolf.
 
I definitely saw one black-backed jackal in that enclosure a few weeks ago.
 
On a visit today: went on the Madagascar express train and the train driver said that the zoo hold 3:0 African Hunting Dog... I thought that the zoo had a female? Does anyone know what happened?
 
Went along today for a visit and saw that the coloubus and lemur enclosures are now empty and I believe are going to be demolished so the lion enclosure can be extended. The coloubs are now in with the patas monkeys and the lemurs are now by the bridges.

The next two animal projects for the zoo will be the redevelopment of lions and then hippo enclosures.
 
banham.tiger said:
Went along today for a visit and saw that the coloubus and lemur enclosures are now empty and I believe are going to be demolished so the lion enclosure can be extended. The coloubs are now in with the patas monkeys and the lemurs are now by the bridges.

The next two animal projects for the zoo will be the redevelopment of lions and then hippo enclosures.
Click to expand...


Will the extension of Lion Rock mean that the zoo will bring in a unrelated female and try to breed from Bailey?

Will the colobus be staying in the collection or moved out?
 
banham.tiger said:
The next two animal projects for the zoo will be the redevelopment of lions and then hippo enclosures.
Click to expand...

Pygmy hippos I guess?
No chance of them moving over to common hippo
The U.K. Is screaming out for a decent exhibit or just a few more holders
 
kiang said:
Pygmy hippos I guess?
No chance of them moving over to common hippo
The U.K. Is screaming out for a decent exhibit or just a few more holders
Click to expand...

I would assume it would be the pygmy hippo. The pygmy hippos really do need an update!

Although if it was Common Hippo enclosure imagine one built around one the lakes (if possible) that would be incredible!
 
The coloubus will stay in the collection I reckon. I dont think they will bring in another lioness as even with the extension they wont have enough room for a pride. And yes its just a refurbishment of the current hippo enclosure as far as I am aware.
 
Went for a long visit to Colchester today - these are my updates although there is little in the way of actual news:

- Saw a yellow-margined box turtle in the Iguana Forest walkthrough
- The freshwater aquarium (for turtles and fishes) in the Orangutan Forest house was covered over and empty
- The bony-headed toad is refurbished and the toads are still labelled, although I didn't see any on my visit
- Saw six L'Hoest's guenons in the Edge of Africa exhibit; the rock hyraxes are temporarily off-show
 
Went to the "Starlight Safari" this evening...was very busy but delightful evening; was nice to see the Aardvarks awake and also the Tamaundas were very active!

Snippets of news;
-Volunteer confirmed (in a impromptu/unofficial talk) that there is only now 3 male African Hunting Dogs. (so unsure what happened to the female)
-The enclosure which used to house the young Komodo dragon in the Wilds of Asia building is being redeveloped
-Poster now put up saying that Lion Rock is being redeveloped and that Phase 1 is underway (moving the Colobus Monkeys and the Black & White Ruffed Lemurs had been completed) but no other details.
 
One other thing I have just remembered from yesterday's visit (not sure if it has been mentioned earlier in the thread) - the small enclosures along from the chimps that housed the female cherry-crowned mangabeys have been almost completely demolished. On the mangabey front, I only saw two in the main enclosure (I think probably the adult male and his son) with no sign of any others.
 
DesertRhino150 said:
On the mangabey front, I only saw two in the main enclosure (I think probably the adult male and his son) with no sign of any others.
Click to expand...

The female Mangabeys that were seperate were the ones from their own group that were sent to Holland. There should be two unrelated females with the two males by now.
 
From the zoos Facebook page;

On Sunday 10th September, Mandrills Suki and Gismo became first time parents as Suki gave birth to a healthy baby boy!

This is Suki’s first off-spring and she has taken to motherhood extremely well providing the tender loving care which is vital for the youngster during its first few weeks of life.

Visit our Mandrills on your next visit down at the Edge of Africa and see if you can spot the youngster!

Mandrills Suki and Gismo become first time parents! - ZOO NEWS - Colchester Zoo
 
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