Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2021

I went for a visit to Colchester today to get my new membership card for the year and managed a visit for most of the morning. Very little of note, with these being the only things I remember:

- The fire skink and false tomato frog terrarium is now open again, although neither species was visible.
- The two female crested wood partridges were visible in Feathers of the Forest and both they and the crowned pigeons seemed a lot more settled compared to my first visit there. Some more information about the partridges can be found in the winter issue of the zoo magazine - the two females (called Abby and Wiz) arrived from The Living Rainforest in Newbury.
 
I also went for another visit to Colchester Zoo this morning - these are things I either noticed today or didn't note down previously:

  • The two-toed sloths in the Worlds Apart walkthrough have moved off-show, although at least one is still visible in the old South American walkthrough
  • Although the chalk bass and bristle-tail filefish are still labelled, the marine aquarium in Worlds Apart (next to the poison-dart frogs) is definitely empty
  • There was a small, probably quite recently born, baby rock hyrax in the aardvark indoor area
  • Heard today that the breeding pair of smooth-coated otters has died quite recently; the last of the male cubs will be moved on soon and Colchester will hold the all-female group of eight siblings born at the zoo.
 
DesertRhino150 said:
I also went for another visit to Colchester Zoo this morning - these are things I either noticed today or didn't note down previously:

  • The two-toed sloths in the Worlds Apart walkthrough have moved off-show, although at least one is still visible in the old South American walkthrough
  • Although the chalk bass and bristle-tail filefish are still labelled, the marine aquarium in Worlds Apart (next to the poison-dart frogs) is definitely empty
  • There was a small, probably quite recently born, baby rock hyrax in the aardvark indoor area
  • Heard today that the breeding pair of smooth-coated otters has died quite recently; the last of the male cubs will be moved on soon and Colchester will hold the all-female group of eight siblings born at the zoo.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update! Did you notice any progress with the wilds of Asia development, and have the discovery centre terrariums been repopulated yet?
 
Roz said:
Thanks for the update! Did you notice any progress with the wilds of Asia development, and have the discovery centre terrariums been repopulated yet?
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The 'no entry' tape has been removed from the Wilds of Asia building but it was still off-access. I have noticed that now the building has become a one-way system with the door near the Komodo dragons an exit only and the entrance at the door nearest the gibbons.

As for the Discovery Centre, the building is still closed (I think they put the Santa's Grotto in there over the Christmas period). I looked through the door and only the blue poison-dart frog terrarium was still labelled and not boarded over.
 
Does anyone know what is going on with the sun bears at Colchester zoo? I know that when they arrived in 2010 they were not allowed to breed due to where they were housed, but I assume this was no longer in place after they moved into Bears of The Rising Sun in 2014, as I believe it was designed for breeding to take place. I am not sure what has happened since, as although I visit frequently the sun bears are never very visible despite having a state of the art enclosure. And in the probably 20+ times (maybe more, maybe less- I don't count) I have probably visited since then, they are normally at the top of the outside area where the climbing frame is, if visible, and I think about TWICE I have seen them at the bottom area- once at an early morning opening in the summer of 2019 (maybe another occasion that summer as well thinking about it now, I have pictures printed out of Srey Ya eating a carrot about halfway down the hill.), and again on one of my most recent visits (August or October) where they were both sitting together in front of the cave. And, adding to this, I don't think I have ever seen them in their inside area. I think when I visit they are hiding in their off-show dens or in a tunnel connecting them to the outdoor area. I have probably gone into too much detail here, as I do, but basically I would like to find out what the situation is at Colchester with Jo-Jo and Srey Ya and breeding, also maybe and explanation for lack of visibility compared to other animals at the zoo. I do know most of their story before and after arriving at Colchester so that could give you some context of what I know.

-I have pasted this from a different thread, as I hope some people here may have some answers to my questions. I am also curious about the situations of many other species including the orangutans and chimps. For the orangutans I am confused as although Mali and Tatau joined Tiga earlier this year, I am not sure if there will be any further transfers of females to Colchester to ensure breeding within the group as the current individuals are related. I assume the family will not change much for a few years now, which is fairly disappointing but I understand if it is the case and I will relish the animals we have at the moment (new arrivals Mali and Tatau). I am also quite interested to see what will happen with the chimps (if anyone knows) as they have one of the best and most recently upgraded facilities in the zoo. Since it was completed the group of 8 has lost 3 individuals (Billy-Joe, Pippin, Tekita) leading to it decrease to 5 members. What I would like to find out is if anyone knows if Colchester zoo will purchase more chimpanzees in the future or plan to phase the species out.
Thank you.
Rajang-GOAT
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
Does anyone know what is going on with the sun bears at Colchester zoo? I know that when they arrived in 2010 they were not allowed to breed due to where they were housed, but I assume this was no longer in place after they moved into Bears of The Rising Sun in 2014, as I believe it was designed for breeding to take place. I am not sure what has happened since, as although I visit frequently the sun bears are never very visible despite having a state of the art enclosure. And in the probably 20+ times (maybe more, maybe less- I don't count) I have probably visited since then, they are normally at the top of the outside area where the climbing frame is, if visible, and I think about TWICE I have seen them at the bottom area- once at an early morning opening in the summer of 2019 (maybe another occasion that summer as well thinking about it now, I have pictures printed out of Srey Ya eating a carrot about halfway down the hill.), and again on one of my most recent visits (August or October) where they were both sitting together in front of the cave. And, adding to this, I don't think I have ever seen them in their inside area. I think when I visit they are hiding in their off-show dens or in a tunnel connecting them to the outdoor area. I have probably gone into too much detail here, as I do, but basically I would like to find out what the situation is at Colchester with Jo-Jo and Srey Ya and breeding, also maybe and explanation for lack of visibility compared to other animals at the zoo. I do know most of their story before and after arriving at Colchester so that could give you some context of what I know.

-I have pasted this from a different thread, as I hope some people here may have some answers to my questions. I am also curious about the situations of many other species including the orangutans and chimps. For the orangutans I am confused as although Mali and Tatau joined Tiga earlier this year, I am not sure if there will be any further transfers of females to Colchester to ensure breeding within the group as the current individuals are related. I assume the family will not change much for a few years now, which is fairly disappointing but I understand if it is the case and I will relish the animals we have at the moment (new arrivals Mali and Tatau). I am also quite interested to see what will happen with the chimps (if anyone knows) as they have one of the best and most recently upgraded facilities in the zoo. Since it was completed the group of 8 has lost 3 individuals (Billy-Joe, Pippin, Tekita) leading to it decrease to 5 members. What I would like to find out is if anyone knows if Colchester zoo will purchase more chimpanzees in the future or plan to phase the species out.
Thank you.
Rajang-GOAT
Click to expand...
I personally think that if Colchester plans to loose their Chimps they should go to Monkey World. I have never visited Colchester but is the Chimp enclosure large enough to house Gorillas?
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
-I have pasted this from a different thread, as I hope some people here may have some answers to my questions. I am also curious about the situations of many other species including the orangutans and chimps. For the orangutans I am confused as although Mali and Tatau joined Tiga earlier this year, I am not sure if there will be any further transfers of females to Colchester to ensure breeding within the group as the current individuals are related. I assume the family will not change much for a few years now, which is fairly disappointing but I understand if it is the case and I will relish the animals we have at the moment (new arrivals Mali and Tatau).
Rajang-GOAT
Click to expand...

As I understand it, Tiga is not considered genetically important enough to breed, as things stand. The situation might change at some point. I would hope that at least Tatty leaves for another zoo in the future and has the chance to breed.
 
The Hedgehog said:
I personally think that if Colchester plans to loose their Chimps they should go to Monkey World. I have never visited Colchester but is the Chimp enclosure large enough to house Gorillas?
Click to expand...

Yet again, you are positing Monkey World as the saviour of all things. Where in practical terms, do you think they could house a whole family of chimps? Have they got the many thousands it would cost to build a new enclosure? The room? The planning permission?

Nobody has said anything about them being got rid of apart from speculation by another person.
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
Does anyone know what is going on with the sun bears at Colchester zoo? I know that when they arrived in 2010 they were not allowed to breed due to where they were housed, but I assume this was no longer in place after they moved into Bears of The Rising Sun in 2014, as I believe it was designed for breeding to take place. I am not sure what has happened since, as although I visit frequently the sun bears are never very visible despite having a state of the art enclosure. And in the probably 20+ times (maybe more, maybe less- I don't count) I have probably visited since then, they are normally at the top of the outside area where the climbing frame is, if visible, and I think about TWICE I have seen them at the bottom area- once at an early morning opening in the summer of 2019 (maybe another occasion that summer as well thinking about it now, I have pictures printed out of Srey Ya eating a carrot about halfway down the hill.), and again on one of my most recent visits (August or October) where they were both sitting together in front of the cave. And, adding to this, I don't think I have ever seen them in their inside area. I think when I visit they are hiding in their off-show dens or in a tunnel connecting them to the outdoor area. I have probably gone into too much detail here, as I do, but basically I would like to find out what the situation is at Colchester with Jo-Jo and Srey Ya and breeding, also maybe and explanation for lack of visibility compared to other animals at the zoo. I do know most of their story before and after arriving at Colchester so that could give you some context of what I know.

-I have pasted this from a different thread, as I hope some people here may have some answers to my questions. I am also curious about the situations of many other species including the orangutans and chimps. For the orangutans I am confused as although Mali and Tatau joined Tiga earlier this year, I am not sure if there will be any further transfers of females to Colchester to ensure breeding within the group as the current individuals are related. I assume the family will not change much for a few years now, which is fairly disappointing but I understand if it is the case and I will relish the animals we have at the moment (new arrivals Mali and Tatau). I am also quite interested to see what will happen with the chimps (if anyone knows) as they have one of the best and most recently upgraded facilities in the zoo. Since it was completed the group of 8 has lost 3 individuals (Billy-Joe, Pippin, Tekita) leading to it decrease to 5 members. What I would like to find out is if anyone knows if Colchester zoo will purchase more chimpanzees in the future or plan to phase the species out.
Thank you.
Rajang-GOAT
Click to expand...

Seriously, why don't you email the zoo if you have all these questions?
 
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