Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo News 2020

All 4 cheetah Cubs are now exploring the outside enclosure during the day and then swap over late afternoon with the two adult males who spend the night outside
 
Gigit said:
An appeal to anyone visiting Colchester during the next couple of months or so - please could you report back on the work going on in the orangutan enclosure? I'd like to have some idea of when Mali and Tatty will be leaving Paignton for their new home. Thanks.
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All the work that had been done on the outside enclosure prelockdown with the separation fence has been removed from the outdoor area. Seems rather strange
 
4ways NAP said:
All the work that had been done on the outside enclosure prelockdown with the separation fence has been removed from the outdoor area. Seems rather strange
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Very interesting! I have been assuming that the move wouldn't now go ahead, what with all the financial problems zoos are having. Paignton probably still want to move the orangs but Colchester may be not so keen to take them on.
 
A few notes from my second Colchester visit since the lockdown restrictions have been eased. Today was my first visit in which (most) buildings were accessible.
  • The rhinoceros Hornbill in the Wilds of Asia area has been replaced by Wreathed Hornbill. I didn’t see any so can’t say how many there are, however signage was in place and tape across the viewing windows. Good news considering the severe lack of birds currently in the collection.
  • In the Kingdom of the Wild building: the leafcutter ant vivarium has been removed, and the ‘island’ has been converted into a vivarium. Currently this is incomplete, with what I assume will be the viewing window boarded up, no signage was present to indicate species that will be housed in here.
  • Also in kingdom of the wild, the madagascan hissing cockroach, two-spotted assassin bug and False Tomato Frog Vivariums have all been removed. A new, fairly large vivarium is being installed in their place, again this is incomplete and no signage present to indicate species that will be housed here.
  • Areas which currently aren’t open include the discovery centre, aardvark burrow, Pygmy hippo outdoor area, and penguin shores area between the crowned pigeon enclosure and the entrance to the Inca trail. The remainder of the zoo was open which was good to see.
  • The ‘butterfly glade’ was also closed for redevelopment, it appears the pathway layout has been changed, whether this enclosure will continue to house butterflies is unclear.
 
Strange, Pygmy Hippo outdoors was accessible on Thursday, not that they were outside!
 
Main highlights from my visit to a very busy zoo at 3pm on Thursday, despite miserable weather :
All 4 cheetah cubs playing and climbing trees in good view

Baby Pygmy Hippo active indoors

Red Panda, Pileated gibbons, Hyaena, mandrill, barbary macaque also visible and active outside.

Other

Rock Hyrax now with Aardvark, L'Hoests monkey and barbary macaque

Failed to see any Bush dogs

The most crowded zoo I've visited out of 6 since lockdown and even though it was 3pm when I entered, but not awful (if you're worried just wear a mask).

I know it is necessary currently, but the one way system really is a pain and probably not necessary in some places. Walking halfway round the zoo to revisit an exhibit will limit my visits if it stays for too long
 
Roz said:
Also in kingdom of the wild, the madagascan hissing cockroach, two-spotted assassin bug and False Tomato Frog Vivariums have all been removed. A new, fairly large vivarium is being installed in their place, again this is incomplete and no signage present to indicate species that will be housed here.
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I might be reading too much into it, but looking at the new Covid-19 route version of the zoo map at Colchester, it seems the African rock pythons may be moving to the other end of Kingdom of the Wild and some other insects (the symbol on the map resembles the hissing cockroaches) replacing the leaf-cutting ants.
Zoo Map | Colchester Zoo
 
Colchester Zoo have bred 1.2 endangered Fiji banded iguanas:

Colchester Zoo announce the birth of three adorable endangered animals

In June, three Fiji banded iguanas, which are currently an endangered species, hatched at the Essex attraction.

This is the first time ever that Colchester Zoo has bred these lizards, with the parents only coming to Colchester, Essex last year.

Mum Kalara, and dad, Koro were introduced to the park in 2019, with the hope that they would breed.
 
We had an excellent visit to Colchester today. In contrast to what others have posted we thought the one way system worked well and it was a LOT quieter than expected based on previous reports. Possibly this is due to us have 9am entrance slots - maybe that put us 'ahead of the crowd - but it was lovely and quiet / relaxed.

Cheetah cubs playing with Alpaca fleece were the highlight of the day - closely followed by a very very small pygmy hippo (outdoor hippo area was open today).
 
12th Baby Aardvark has been born at the Zoo

Lots of building work is happening at Kingdom of the wild Paddock. The old Path round the back end of the paddock is being put back in.
New Private Giraffe Feeding platform is being build salty means the rhinos have lost one of the mud wallows. The digger did bust the water pipe when digging the foundations

Inside the Kingdom Of the wild House the new Vivariums will hold Tomato Frog, new species of frog as well and a chameleon one finished. The pens down below have been adjusted to make room for Astrid's (female white Rhino) calf due in September.

Zoo are down the just the one Female Ostrich Doris and her Mate Lewa who are trying to breed having made a scrape in the bottom corner of the paddock.

Tiger cubs will be leaving the zoo before the end of the year according to keeper once places have been found for them.

The zoo have moved the Rock Hyraxes about, Last years babies have moved in with the Barbary Macaques, Females are in with the Aardvarks and the Adult Male is living in the L'hoest's Monkey as they don't want any more breeding.

Butterfly Glade is being redeveloped to House the Victoria Crowned Pigeons as a walk through aviary. Their old house along with Penguin shores and the other enclosures in that area are all due to be redeveloped but due to Covid it has been delayed as was suppose to of started work by now.

Zoo would like to breed from the giraffes if they are able to source a male in the future as it will be a first for the zoo.

The Young Male Zebra Ziggy has now taken charge of the females at lost last and the zoo are hopeful they may breed but are worried as the females may be to old now.

According to keeper Nakia and her son Eric (Greater Kudu) may be swapped for a different species of Antelope in the next 6 months but not been decided yet. Zoo haven't had much luck with their Kudu after losing Grace, Mavis, Cedric and Kumu and un-named.

male gelada has moved on to a new collection now.

Crowned Crane Chicks are growing very fast and so are the 4 Cheetah cubs.
 
Although it has already been mentioned on here, Colchester Zoo have announced the hatching of two crowned crane chicks on 8th July.

It does mention at the bottom of the article only three cheetah cubs. I am imagining that this is a typo and that there are still four.

The article is included below:
Crowned Crane chicks hatch! | Colchester Zoo
 
Has this anything to do with Colchester?
@Andrew Swales yes Zoo Days is linked to Colchester Zoo. Zoo Days was a documentary series that was filmed at Colchester Zoo. The series was in the same format as The Secret Life Of The Zoo is at Chester. Zoo Days was presented by the former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq. https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwixt_zb05jrAhXNa8AKHdNdDUEQFjAAegQIBRAB&url=https://www.channel5.com/show/zoo-days&usg=AOvVaw0X98DaRS70KJudyThX0qUp
 
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