Colchester Zoo Colchester- Zoo with a difference.

No its not all over the zoo but themed music at certain enclosures for example the Amur tigers have very annoying cossack themed music

The piped music gets in your brain...on one previous visit I picked up the theme being played near the Liontailed Macaques(wasn't playing this time)- couldn't get it out of my head.:rolleyes: I really feel its unnecessary.
 
LOL not as bad as Bristol Zoo who were playing lion king songs I ended up singing 'Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze' for days

( lol for legal reasons copywrite Music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice)
 
Colchester Zoo has indeed become Britain's most musical zoo! For no particularly good reason!;):p
 
I would have to say the most annoying music is near the Patas Monkeys :(

It drives me crazzzyyyyyyyy!!!!!!

I suppose its alright for non-zoo enthusiasts. Normal visitors probably don't mind it, its just us regular visitors that get it drowned into our brains every time! :D
 
In respect of Colchester Zoo being hilly and having a confusing layout, I would say that's no different to places such as Paignton Zoo or Edinburgh Zoo which are also built on hillsides and Edinburgh is a very tough one to walk around and make sure you've seen all the animals.
 
Colchester Zoo has indeed become Britain's most musical zoo! For no particularly good reason!;):p

Its interesting to speculate exctly why they use it. Presumably to give more 'atmosphere' to the various exhibits. I can't think of any other zoos which feature music like this. One of the reasons I called this thread 'Zoo with a difference';)
 
In respect of Colchester Zoo being hilly and having a confusing layout, I would say that's no different to places such as Paignton Zoo or Edinburgh Zoo which are also built on hillsides and Edinburgh is a very tough one to walk around and make sure you've seen all the animals.

Two other hilly zoos are Dudley and Port Lympne. I much prefer the flat ones- Chester, Bristol, the 'new' part of Colchester, Howletts for walking around. I guess a flat site is ideal but some hilly sites may be cheaper to purchase in the first place.
 
Hi does anyone remember the African style music that was played on the train in the late 90's, it was very catchy!
 
Pertinax said:
I did not go on the train so I did not see the Jackals. Is there a reason why those old pathways around the Lakes in the zoo's centre are closed off to the public- are they unsafe? It would make viewing some of the nearby exhibits better if they weren't.

I've always wanted to walk round the lake properly but no doubt it's a health and safety thing - not least because the bottom of the wolf, jackal and hunting dog enclosures are, I think, mesh wide enough for hands to poke through ..... and I think those paths on that side would be too narrow to incorporate a decent buffer zone.

I love Colchester for its variety of species, and the approachability of the keepers, but readily admit it's not a pretty zoo with all the rock and the mish mash of styles.
 
Thanks for your answers to my "musical question". How absolutely bizarre! Never heard of anything like it.

I just hope the poor animals are not annoyed by it... :eek:
 
PS

I´m always irritated when otherwise great wildlife features on tv are disturbed by totally unneccesary "soundtracks"...

:mad:
 
I've always wanted to walk round the lake properly but no doubt it's a health and safety thing - not least because the bottom of the wolf, jackal and hunting dog enclosures are, I think, mesh wide enough for hands to poke through ..... and I think those paths on that side would be too narrow to incorporate a decent buffer zone.

If you look down from the Lemur walkway acoss to the 'Asian' area, there are viewing windows in the bottom end of some of the enclosures e.g. the Lion tailed Macaques which could only be looked through from those old concrete paths.
 
PS

I´m always irritated when otherwise great wildlife features on tv are disturbed by totally unneccesary "soundtracks"...

:mad:

Me too. I was rewatching David Attenborough with the mountain gorillas recently and suddenly realised that there was no soundtrack. The only sounds came from him whispering and the gorillas grunting - all that was needed for a memorable scene.
In real life you would never try to tell somebody something important while standing next to a symphony orchestra!
 
I've never noticed that Pertinax ..... will have to try and have a look the next time I'm on that bridge - which I hate (hence my eyes are always set firmly on the horizon and not downwards) but my daughter always insists on going on it. I know there's a ground level (ish) viewing window which allows you to look into the Lion Tailed Macaques about half way down their hill. You have to walk down a very steep hill to get to it with the Pallas Cat on your left.
 
... In real life you would never try to tell somebody something important while standing next to a symphony orchestra!

HAHA, now that is a damn good point! I will remember this quote for quite some time, I suspect... :D
 
Didn't they put those windows in to improve the view from the train?

I hate that bridge to lol I cling on to the side for dear life while most people just stride straight down the middle lol
 
I hate that bridge to lol I cling on to the side for dear life while most people just stride straight down the middle lol

I'm glad it's not just me! Mr Gigit had to walk backwards in front of me, guiding me across it :o
 
I'm glad it's not just me! Mr Gigit had to walk backwards in front of me, guiding me across it :o

Do you mean that funny rope/mesh bridge? Actually I thought that was quite dangerous too- for adults- as although its rigid you could put your foot straight through a square and break your ankle, or worse. I think I'm turning into a real 'safety first' fusspot- no steep stairs, no slippery hills, no rope bridges..:rolleyes: Its the over 60's phenomenum...
 
Yes, that's the bridge. Never again! I'm with you on slippery hills and steep steps :D
 
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