Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens 2022

[Lafone]

Cotswold has some maintenance closures at the moment and is only open at weekends during the last 3 weeks of Jan and first 10 days of Feb.

There are some new hard surfaces going in around little Africa where things have got a bit muddy in the past and lots of work on fencing and gardening work.

The anteaters are now using the paddocks all the way down to the bottom of the enclosures area opposite the tapier.

The lake / bird area is still closed off due to avian flu risk though you can still view the flamingos from the back of their enclosure in the hide area. The walk through the wolf enclosure has barriers between the exit and the lake but you can still visit the wolves and get a good view. Exit from the wolves exhibit is now back via same route rather than a circle.

The rhinos had been separated when I visited at the weekend (mum and smallest calf in the house area and everyone else in the paddock) and this may have been related to a bit of a scrap as the next youngest rhino had some scratches and recent still bloody cuts (nothing dramatic but obviously a bit of a horn incident) and they were all very active and posturing around. Sure there will be some harmony returned shortly.

 

[trachycarpus]

A new female white rhino calf has born called Queenie.
A small group of Gundi have been put in the original exhibit in Little Africa. Possibly four in number.

 

[Lafone]

Was up at Cotswold today - A new baby Bactrian camel was in the paddock, quite small so fairly recent. Hadn’t seen it announced anywhere on Cotswold’s social media but may have missed it.

Saw only two of the wolves (they were being fed so active and are usually all together). Was no one around to ask if the third one was ok - don’t suppose anyone has heard anything? There were three a few weeks ago when I was last there.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

Hi I'm planning a trip to Cotswold soon and was eager to see the species they have. I haven't visited before so obviously I don't know my way around, but I've been looking at the map and was wondering if there is a good route round the place which covers the most interesting / noteworthy areas? Thanks.

Some bird species I wanted to see don't seem to be on the map which are the wrinkled hornbill, striated caracara and tawny frogmouth.
Any information on where they are in the park is much appreciated.

 

[Lafone]

Hi I'm planning a trip to Cotswold soon and was eager to see the species they have. I haven't visited before so obviously I don't know my way around, but I've been looking at the map and was wondering if there is a good route round the place which covers the most interesting / noteworthy areas? Thanks.

Some bird species I wanted to see don't seem to be on the map which are the wrinkled hornbill, striated caracara and tawny frogmouth.
Any information on where they are in the park is much appreciated.

Luckily Cotswold isn’t very big so you should be able to get around everything. I’d recommend turning right into the Walled garden area straight after the entrance and seeing that first.

The owls are in a path just on the left after the big bird enclosure and the frogmouths are opposite the vultures I believe.

The hornbills are at the back of the route around the walled garden so if you follow it around you’ll find them.

If you like wolverines then the path to those is easy to miss but you can follow the train station sign to find them and there are more aviaries just beyond them on the right.

After that area (and while looking at the birds don’t miss the colobus monkeys, the owl area acts as a bit of a cut through) I’d recommend circling around the childrens play area at the top and past the farm to see the giant anteaters and then follow the walkway to see the tapir, capybara, cassowary, wallabies, bustards and the lovely and must see wolf wood. At the moment due to avian flu restrictions that’s the only way to get to the wolves and you can’t take the other route to the flamingo lake (you can see their area from the back).

You can then retrace your steps and then either go across to see the siamangs and red panda, binturong or turn right and go straight down to the rhino area. I’d recommend going across the grass to ways the house to see the in invetebrate house on its left and binturong family and there’s also a couple of places to get a coffee there too (and a main restaurant). You could then go back past the red panda, to circuit the rhinos. The zebra are then also on the right.

You can see the rhinos either in their house or in the enclosure and walk around it to the clouded leopards on your left and the giraffe house on the right. Then the lions are just beyond that. Back up the path past the lions towards the car park (Camels on your right) there is the little Africa area.

That makes for a pretty easy circuit. The other side of the car park field there are reindeer and ostriches if you still have the energy!

 

[Daubentoniidae]

Luckily Cotswold isn’t very big so you should be able to get around everything. I’d recommend turning right into the Walled garden area straight after the entrance and seeing that first.

The owls are in a path just on the left after the big bird enclosure and the frogmouths are opposite the vultures I believe.

The hornbills are at the back of the route around the walled garden so if you follow it around you’ll find them.

If you like wolverines then the path to those is easy to miss but you can follow the train station sign to find them and there are more aviaries just beyond them on the right.

After that area (and while looking at the birds don’t miss the colobus monkeys, the owl area acts as a bit of a cut through) I’d recommend circling around the childrens play area at the top and past the farm to see the giant anteaters and then follow the walkway to see the tapir, capybara, cassowary, wallabies, bustards and the lovely and must see wolf wood. At the moment due to avian flu restrictions that’s the only way to get to the wolves and you can’t take the other route to the flamingo lake (you can see their area from the back).

You can then retrace your steps and then either go across to see the siamangs and red panda, binturong or turn right and go straight down to the rhino area. I’d recommend going across the grass to ways the house to see the in invetebrate house on its left and binturong family and there’s also a couple of places to get a coffee there too (and a main restaurant). You could then go back past the red panda, to circuit the rhinos. The zebra are then also on the right.

You can see the rhinos either in their house or in the enclosure and walk around it to the clouded leopards on your left and the giraffe house on the right. Then the lions are just beyond that. Back up the path past the lions towards the car park (Camels on your right) there is the little Africa area.

That makes for a pretty easy circuit. The other side of the car park field there are reindeer and ostriches if you still have the energy!

Thank you very much for that! That's very in-depth and helpful, I shall definitely see what I can achieve.

 

[AdrianW1963]

Anyone know if they have completed the refurbishment of the avairies by the car park please and if so which species do they now hold?

 

[gentle lemur]

Hi I'm planning a trip to Cotswold soon and was eager to see the species they have.

@Lafone has given good general guide, but I would add a couple of special points. In the courtyard, after you leave the main Reptile House, don't miss the door opposite the exit, which leads to the mouse lemurs and the siamang indoor area, at the end of that corridor are the straw-coloured fruit bats and the last hammerhead bat (if it is still with us), opposite the anacondas. Also note that the Madagascar walk-through has restricted opening hours, but be sure not to miss it: look out for the gentle lemurs

 

[Daubentoniidae]

@Lafone has given good general guide, but I would add a couple of special points. In the courtyard, after you leave the main Reptile House, don't miss the door opposite the exit, which leads to the mouse lemurs and the siamang indoor area, at the end of that corridor are the straw-coloured fruit bats and the last hammerhead bat (if it is still with us), opposite the anacondas. Also note that the Madagascar walk-through has restricted opening hours, but be sure not to miss it: look out for the gentle lemurs

Thank you, that's good to know. I was particularly keen to try and spot the various lemur species - especially the sifakas and greater bamboo lemurs as I've never seen either before. I would assume that they're both inside the walkthrough which doesn't open until 11:30 and close at 3:30?
Also I am definitely gonna try and spot that hammerhead bat if it's still there.

 

[Strix]

Thank you, that's good to know. I was particularly keen to try and spot the various lemur species - especially the sifakas and greater bamboo lemurs as I've never seen either before. I would assume that they're both inside the walkthrough which doesn't open until 11:30 and close at 3:30?
Also I am definitely gonna try and spot that hammerhead bat if it's still there.

It’s much easier to see the pair of sifakas in the separate enclosure which is in the smaller section of the walled garden, but I think there is also one in the walkthrough.

 

[dillotest0]

but be sure not to miss it: look out for the gentle lemurs

Mmm...
From what I see, they actually don't have gentle lemur any more..
but the bamboo lemurs are a pleasant species!

 

[Daubentoniidae]

It’s much easier to see the pair of sifakas in the separate enclosure which is in the smaller section of the walled garden, but I think there is also one in the walkthrough.

Ok I'll look out for them.

 

[Rajang21]

Mmm...
From what I see, they actually don't have gentle lemur any more..
but the bamboo lemurs are a pleasant species!

I believe you are both referring to the same animals - Greater bamboo lemur / broad-nosed gentle lemur (Prolemur simus).

 

[dillotest0]

ah.
I think I was referring to the Lao Alotra Gentle Lemur..

 

[trachycarpus]

Anyone know if they have completed the refurbishment of the avairies by the car park please and if so which species do they now hold?

The refurbishment of the avairies by the car park seem to have come to a halt over the last few weeks. Very little progress made. However the cages behind the railway station have been totally demolished and the shrubs and trees all cleared.

 

[Cat-Man]

Cotswold wildlife park is 52 years old today. Anybody know what happened to their tigers? Login • Instagram

 

[Lafone]

Cotswold wildlife park is 52 years old today. Anybody know what happened to their tigers? Login • Instagram

According to this article from the 50th anniversary, they died of old age in 1996.

Cotswold Wildlife Park celebrates 50 wild years + amazing old pictures

though this link suggests the two tigers sultan and begum were there until 1994 and the link is from the zoo itself.

https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Cotswold-Wildlife-Park-WILDTALK-2020.pdf

and I think that one is correct as the first of the original two Asiatic lions arrived in 1995.

 

[Lafone]

At Cotswold today (double zoo weekend bonus!) and the spring sun had brought people out in droves.

Still lots of room and not too crowded though - layout pays off for busy days. But it certainly felt like the warmer seasons have arrived visitor wise.

Very active animals including Queenie the new rhino calf out who was out in the paddock with the rest of the crash and running around.

Pretty sure CWP have actually lost one of the wolves as today the same two present as last time I was there and noted the same. Was there for feeding again and only two portions handed out the same as last time. Was at the enclosure for over an hour again so think we must be down to two. Couldn’t find any info on it but good if anyone can confirm.

Through route past the wolves is still closed off due to avian flu risk for anyone planning a visit.

All the Giraffes were out in the paddock enjoying the sun. First time I’ve seen them all out since the winter.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

I also visited CWP (but yesterday in tandem with Crocodiles of the World afterwards), for the first time too and it's one of the best wildlife parks I've ever been to!

I love how spacious and open-plan it is, lots of wide paths and great viewability for the enclosures, also very well-designed exhibits for the animals too.

Particular highlights included the Sifakas, Wolverines and as Lafone said above, Queenie the Rhino calf, along with the rest of the crash. The sun came out for the whole day which was great.

Both the Sifakas were in their own enclosure at the back of the walled garden rather than in the walk-through, despite the signs showing pictures of them beside it.

I also managed to see the Clouded Leopard but not the Pallas Cats unfortunately.

The Reptile House was also really great and the bats. Whether I saw the Hammerhead Bat or not I can't say cause it was pretty dark, but the Mouse Lemurs were a nice bonus.

I didn't get a chance to see the other half of the zoo cause I didn't have time to walk back round to avoid the gate closed due to the avian flu so I missed the wolves and cassowaries.

Overall it was a great visit and I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't been.

Will post photos a bit later in the gallery!

 

[Lafone]

I also visited CWP (but yesterday in tandem with Crocodiles of the World afterwards), for the first time too and it's one of the best wildlife parks I've ever been to!

I love how spacious and open-plan it is, lots of wide paths and great viewability for the enclosures, also very well-designed exhibits for the animals too.

Particular highlights included the Sifakas, Wolverines and as Lafone said above, Queenie the Rhino calf, along with the rest of the crash. The sun came out for the whole day which was great.

Both the Sifakas were in their own enclosure at the back of the walled garden rather than in the walk-through, despite the signs showing pictures of them beside it.

I also managed to see the Clouded Leopard but not the Pallas Cats unfortunately.

The Reptile House was also really great and the bats. Whether I saw the Hammerhead Bat or not I can't say cause it was pretty dark, but the Mouse Lemurs were a nice bonus.

I didn't get a chance to see the other half of the zoo cause I didn't have time to walk back round to avoid the gate closed due to the avian flu so I missed the wolves and cassowaries.

Overall it was a great visit and I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't been.

Will post photos a bit later in the gallery!

Great to hear you had a lovely visit! It’s such a fun place.