Exotic Zoo Exotic Zoo news

I was back in Telford again this weekend for an event, and I had another lovely visit to Exotic Zoo this afternoon. A few things of note:
- I managed to see a lot more animals than last time, including many previous no-shows like the skunks, genets and kinkajou. The only animals I didn't get to see were the tenrecs and bushbabies in the Noctural House.
- This is my first time seeing the capybaras, Asian small-clawed otters and the recently opened Natural History Museum. While it's a neat idea to have an actual boat as enrichment in the otter enclosure, it does take up a lot of room in their pool, which looks shallow, so there may not be enough room for four otters to swim around.
- The Museum was very nice, with a diverse mixture of real fossils and replicas. I especially liked the psittacosaurus skeletons.
- Unfortunately the zoo no longer has the Burmese pythons, their old enclosure is now home to a blue and yellow macaw. The tailless tenrec, black widow spiders and blue poison dart frogs I saw during my last visit are also gone.
- Other new additions since my last visit include blind cave tetra in the Nocturnal House, and Oxford sandy and black pigs living in the same paddock as the micro pig.
 
Jambi said:
Announced earlier today, the zoo has just acquired four of everybody's favourite aquatic mustelid, Asian small-clawed otters.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=303588705166583
They have a pretty nice looking enclosure too, and their pool even has a boat floating in it, that's pretty unique and adds some creativity.
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Is this where the penguins were meant to go? The layout looks similar but then again I’ve never visited this place.

I guess the penguin idea has been completely scrapped (thank goodness).
 
ISOE said:
Is this where the penguins were meant to go? The layout looks similar but then again I’ve never visited this place.

I guess the penguin idea has been completely scrapped (thank goodness).
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That was a completely different site. Exotic Zoo used to be in a different location, and that is where the plastic penguins made an appearance. The old site, closed in 2020, and they relocated to a much larger and nicer set up in the Telford Town Park in 2021. It's about 15 minutes from Hoo Zoo and both can easily be visited in a day, but as a foot note, the car park at the Town Park where Exotic Zoo is now is a council owned car park, which you have to pay to park at.

So no, the above exhibit is not the one that ever was supposed to house penguins, that was at the old 2 acre zoo, they are no longer at.
 
Alwaysevergreen said:
That was a completely different site. Exotic Zoo used to be in a different location, and that is where the plastic penguins made an appearance. The old site, closed in 2020, and they relocated to a much larger and nicer set up in the Telford Town Park in 2021. It's about 15 minutes from Hoo Zoo and both can easily be visited in a day, but as a foot note, the car park at the Town Park where Exotic Zoo is now is a council owned car park, which you have to pay to park at.

So no, the above exhibit is not the one that ever was supposed to house penguins, that was at the old 2 acre zoo, they are no longer at.
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Ok thanks for your reply and clearing that up for me!
 
On 9/2/2024, the zoo announced on their Facebook page that they acquired 1.0 Eurasian eagle owl named Merlin. He has come from an un-named collection in Norfolk.

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Other 2025 News Not Mentioned:
Between April 10th and April 17th, 8 West African Dwarf goats were born, which are on display in the Farmyard. They were later named Cecilia, Clark, Gordon, Hazel, Jasper, Mabel, and Rose, respectively (the 8th goat may have passed before the naming process).

Exotic Zoo
Exotic Zoo
Exotic Zoo
Exotic Zoo

On April 12th, the zoo announced that 2+ domestic chickens (breed(s) not specified) hatched.

Exotic Zoo

On May 1st, the zoo announced their male (1.0) domestic ferret named Theo passed away.

Exotic Zoo

On March 31st, the zoo announced that 2 Patagonian maras were born, which are on exhibit. On May 2nd, the zoo announced that another Patagonian mara was born, and is on exhibit.

34K views · 404 reactions | Exciting zoo news Baby Mara just being born at the zoo on this beautiful sunny day ❤️ | Exotic Zoo
Exotic Zoo

On April 4th, the zoo announced they acquired 2 common genets (later named Artie and Jelly), which are on exhibit.

9.1K views · 85 reactions | Happy World Civet Day Everyone Come and visit this weekend as we are celebrating Saturday and Sunday with some exciting activities and easing some money for the conservation of this amazing group of animals! ❤️ Our new baby Genets will be on display for you all to see for the first time and keeper Kirsten will be doing a talk with them both days ❤️ World Civet Day aims to educate and protect civets and their related species (the Viverrid family) Here at Exotic Zoo, we are home to 2 Viverrid species - the Asian Palm Civet, and the Common Spotted Genet ☕️ This year’s theme is Civet Coffee - also known as Kopi Luwak, civet coffee is coffee that has been predigested by civets.. meaning it comes from civet poop! ⚠️ However, civet coffee is causing significant threats to civet survival, hence the importance to raise awareness on World Civet Day! Come and see our Spotted Genet talk at our genet enclosure in Nocturnal to learn all about our Common Spotted Genets ️ Get involved with some of our Civet Day fun activities and take home some fun activity packs for free! ☕️ Don’t worry, all coffee served in the café will be civet poop free! Because here at Exotic Zoo, we “Say no to Cat-Poo-Chino” ‍♂️ @thecivetproject #WorldCivetDay2025 #WorldCivetDay #civetcoffee #SayNo2CatPooChino #viverrids #spottedgenet #palmcivet | Exotic Zoo

On April 23rd, the zoo announced they acquired 3 Fiji banded iguanas, which are on exhibit.

Exotic Zoo

On May 16th, the zoo announced that 2+ axolotls hatched, which are off-show in the Vet Room.

Exotic Zoo

On June 17th, the zoo launched a new website to the public.

Also on June 17th, the zoo announced they installed a new "Crocodile vs Alligator" display inside the Rainforest Room.

Exotic Zoo
Welcome To Exotic Zoo
Exotic Zoo

On July 14th, the zoo announced that a Hermann's tortoise named Pip hatched, which is on exhibit.

Exotic Zoo

On July 16th, the zoo announced that a false water cobra hatched.

Exotic Zoo

On July 19th, the zoo announced that they acquired (1.1) laughing kookaburras named Banjo and Indi, which are on exhibit.

Exotic Zoo

On July 21st, it was announced that the zoo transferred a female (0.1) Patagonian mara named Mavis to Battersea Park Children's Zoo in London.

Battersea Park Children's Zoo

On July 26th, the zoo announced they upgraded the false water cobra exhibit inside the Rainforest Room.

Exotic Zoo

On August 27th, the zoo announced that 2+ dwarf mongooses were born, which are now on exhibit.

Exotic Zoo
 
On October 24th, the zoo announced they acquired 3 rufous bettongs, which are now on exhibit.

Exotic Zoo

On November 9th, it was announced that the zoo acquired a (1m.0) red-fronted lemur from Hemsley Conservation Centre in Kent. It was also announced the zoo transferred a (0.1f) red-fronted lemur named Lily to Hemsley Conservation Centre.

Hemsley Conservation Centre
 
Smaggledagle said:
On October 24th, the zoo announced they acquired 3 rufous bettongs, which are now on exhibit.

Exotic Zoo

On November 9th, it was announced that the zoo acquired a (1m.0) red-fronted lemur from Hemsley Conservation Centre in Kent. It was also announced the zoo transferred a (0.1f) red-fronted lemur named Lily to Hemsley Conservation Centre.

Hemsley Conservation Centre
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That's certainly exciting, I've never seen a bettong before. I was planning on visiting Telford again back in September, but I unfortunately had to scrap those plans, so I might see if I can squeeze in another visit to this zoo some time in 2026.
 
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