Crystal Pallas
Member
Saw the news today that white Tiger Shiva was PTS due to kidney failure. She had been having issues for a while and this deteriorated more recently leading to this sad decision.
Hamerton Zoo Park Hamerton News 2022
- Thread starter pipaluk
- Start date
Might one be able to tell how many white tigers Hamerton now has?
One male.
I'd imagine that after this male's departure, that might be the end of white tigers at Hamerton - though whilst that may be a good thing perhaps, in that it would make space for animals which can be bred, it'd be the end of a rather educational exhibit of white tigers as they actually are.
..Or they could just put the white tiger signage outside and educate visitors regardless = P
..Or they could just put the white tiger signage outside and educate visitors regardless = P
Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Something big, very big, is coming to stay at Hamerton.
Our newly extended road train, the K-T Express will be open on its new route from Saturday 11th June, and give some great views of some of our old favourites and 12 of our new residents - just in time for a special new film release.
More details will be released via social media, next week...
[Attached is a picture of what looks like a model dinosaur]
Something big, very big, is coming to stay at Hamerton.
Our newly extended road train, the K-T Express will be open on its new route from Saturday 11th June, and give some great views of some of our old favourites and 12 of our new residents - just in time for a special new film release.
More details will be released via social media, next week...
[Attached is a picture of what looks like a model dinosaur]
No tigers have ever been bred at Hamerton
Lafone
Well-Known Member
There was another pair of white tigers before the most recent two arrived.
As you say now only the male remains. Mohan (the male) and Shiva (female) were siblings and arrived from Germany in 2014.
None of the white tigers they’ve had were used for breeding.
I may be wrong but I think there was only one white tiger before the 2014 arrivals, it was mixed with a non-sub specific one
Lafone
Well-Known Member
No I think you’re right there! That’s my error - apologies.
The white tiger before the 2014 pair was a male named Blizzard. he lived with a generic female named Lady-Belle.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Up at Hamerton today - very wet indeed and it threw it down the whole time I was there but still lots of animal activity.
New residents in the former sand rat enclosure opposite the hatchery in the shape of spinifex hopping mice (sign picture below) - too many and too fast moving to count! In a few piles of mice related fun and interesting to see them as not a species I’ve seen before.
The binturong in the enclosure near the meerkats and grison has moved onto another zoo and a Tasmanian golden possum has moved in - sign yet to be updated but apparently in residence - good luck to anyone who sees those I have to say they evade me!
6 new eggs in the hatchery incubators labelled as scarlet ibis, currasow and Manchurian crane so some interesting chicks may be ahead.
All the frogmouth chicks seem to be doing well in all their varied sizes with all the eggs now appearing to have hatched. The largest chicks can be seen at the rear of the hatchery through the glass.
The barking owl chicks were out in the enclosure with their parents which was great to see.
Lots of plants going in in the new enclosure between the bears and tigers and the wire fence seemed to be up all the way around (not sure if is getting a top, overhang or other stuff added) with just the viewing panel glass absent.
Just to note if anyone is planning a Hamerton trip on 12th June and coming from the south or west signs all over the place said the road through Alconbury Weston and down to Hamerton itself will be closed from 830am for a cycle race.
New residents in the former sand rat enclosure opposite the hatchery in the shape of spinifex hopping mice (sign picture below) - too many and too fast moving to count! In a few piles of mice related fun and interesting to see them as not a species I’ve seen before.
The binturong in the enclosure near the meerkats and grison has moved onto another zoo and a Tasmanian golden possum has moved in - sign yet to be updated but apparently in residence - good luck to anyone who sees those I have to say they evade me!
6 new eggs in the hatchery incubators labelled as scarlet ibis, currasow and Manchurian crane so some interesting chicks may be ahead.
All the frogmouth chicks seem to be doing well in all their varied sizes with all the eggs now appearing to have hatched. The largest chicks can be seen at the rear of the hatchery through the glass.
The barking owl chicks were out in the enclosure with their parents which was great to see.
Lots of plants going in in the new enclosure between the bears and tigers and the wire fence seemed to be up all the way around (not sure if is getting a top, overhang or other stuff added) with just the viewing panel glass absent.
Just to note if anyone is planning a Hamerton trip on 12th June and coming from the south or west signs all over the place said the road through Alconbury Weston and down to Hamerton itself will be closed from 830am for a cycle race.
Attachments
I was there this morning just after opening. I saw a golden Possum eating in the original enclosure around 1030. Was first time I've seen one in 6 visits this year though!
A Ring-tailed Possum also left its box for a few minutes shortly after that!
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The "really big" arrival has at last been revealed...
And what did one think it was going to be otherwise? A train-ride with animatronic Jurassic Park-esque dinos. Whoopee...
If anything their tails look fairly animated at least...
Lafone
Well-Known Member
One for the kids for sure (imagine it will be very popular) and better on the train which raises money for Hamerton than scattered about all over the zoo. Not my thing but most places have some sort of Dino action.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Was up at Hamerton today in the sun (bit of a detour due to the bike race but the officials were very friendly in providing a route that worked).
The new dinosaur experience also alters the train route so the entrance is now at the top of the fox enclosure and the route goes back down from there past the cheetahs to the main picnic space and then around the back of the cheetah area where there has been no public access before to the Dino spot at the far end of the park. The train now doesn’t follow the old route to the tigers. Couple of pics to illustrate.
On more animal sort of news another new alpaca has been born so two youngsters in that area now.
The 3 oldest tawny frogmouth youngsters are now out of the hatchery and sharing the enclosure with the firetails (opposite the burrowing owls so just round the corner from their parents). Lovely.
The white storks have also hatched some eggs - saw 2 nests with at least 5 chicks and some of the others appear to be sitting.
Elusive possums remained elusive!
The new dinosaur experience also alters the train route so the entrance is now at the top of the fox enclosure and the route goes back down from there past the cheetahs to the main picnic space and then around the back of the cheetah area where there has been no public access before to the Dino spot at the far end of the park. The train now doesn’t follow the old route to the tigers. Couple of pics to illustrate.
On more animal sort of news another new alpaca has been born so two youngsters in that area now.
The 3 oldest tawny frogmouth youngsters are now out of the hatchery and sharing the enclosure with the firetails (opposite the burrowing owls so just round the corner from their parents). Lovely.
The white storks have also hatched some eggs - saw 2 nests with at least 5 chicks and some of the others appear to be sitting.
Elusive possums remained elusive!
Attachments
Small update from todays trip:
-There’s construction in front of the giant tortoise enclosure, not sure it’s a new house for them or something else, but it looks like it’s designed to hold water.
-Not sure if it’s been mentioned but the ring tailed possums are displayed near the front of the park now near the toilets.
Still no possums for me! Not news, but does anyone know why the Malaysian tigers never seem to use their enclosure? I’ve only ever seen them hanging the small section next to their indoor quarters in 6 visits.
-There’s construction in front of the giant tortoise enclosure, not sure it’s a new house for them or something else, but it looks like it’s designed to hold water.
-Not sure if it’s been mentioned but the ring tailed possums are displayed near the front of the park now near the toilets.
Still no possums for me! Not news, but does anyone know why the Malaysian tigers never seem to use their enclosure? I’ve only ever seen them hanging the small section next to their indoor quarters in 6 visits.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The tiger use of the paddock seems to be a real 'in the mood' thing. I saw them both alternately in the enclosure (on the hill near the rear gate and then sleeping and wandering about near the pond) on the last couple of visits over the last month.
More often as you say they are just near the sleeping area. As it gets warmer they seem to be out and about more though. They do seem to like to keep an eye on each other / greet through the fence etc and as they rotate the use between the two of them rather than having them in the same enclosure, perhaps they like to be nearby.
I think your point about them staying close is probably the reason actually - it’s good to know that they do at least sometimes use the other side of the exhibit, it just seems like a waste considering the effort that’s been made with the containers etc.