Hamerton Zoo Park Hamerton News 2022

Had a great day at Hamerton today - weather was warm but not too hot and though the zoo was busy there was plenty of space for animal watching.

Managed to get a good view of the Little bittern today which often eludes me. Most of the animals were active and visible (even the maned wolves and servals were out and about) which was great.

Saw the new miniature donkey foal the zoo reported was born on 12th August in their Facebook news feed - great little addition. Mum was happily showing him off right next to the fence - another successful arrival for Hamerton this year.

The new tawny frogmouth enclosure planting is growing up and offers some lovely backgrounds for photos.

The young cassowary is starting to get its blueish colouring down the neck - interesting to be able see it’s development from the egg up. Having never seen a chick or juvenile before it’s quite something to see it through the stages.

Elusive possum status: elusive.
 
Does anyone know if they are expending and with what?
As there seem to be some new housing being build (next to the raccoons and Jaguarundi) and in the back, where the bears are.
(sorry if it's mentioned, I tried reading through the thread, I may have completed missed it :confused:)

We only found out about this zoo right before Easter Monday this year, and made that our first visit.
It's about a 50 minute drive for us, and we noticed there's so much potential, and it's just really nice to walk around, and some animals I hadn't seen before elsewhere.
So we decided to get an annual pass, and have been 8 times now since.

The only animal we haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet are the golden possums.
But were told 2 days ago we'd have to be very lucky (we have been at opening time and closing time, no luck so far).

We did manage 2 days ago for the first time to get a really good look at both Lynx, which we hadn't seen before this visit really, as they seem to be good in hiding.

Also wish the raccoons wouldn't always be asleep in their log when we are there, haha.
(but then the one time my boyfriend goes alone, he sends me a text while I'm at work "the raccoons are playing outside!!", really?? lol)
I guess I'm more used to seeing them roam around most of the day from other zoo's I have visited.

I did forget to ask if there really is a jackal, I've only just now thought of that one.
As you can see the enclosure when on the little train, but I then kept forgetting to ask a zookeeper.
 
Moorhunhe said:
Does anyone know if they are expending and with what?
As there seem to be some new housing being build (next to the raccoons and Jaguarundi) and in the back, where the bears are.
(sorry if it's mentioned, I tried reading through the thread, I may have completed missed it :confused:)

We only found out about this zoo right before Easter Monday this year, and made that our first visit.
It's about a 50 minute drive for us, and we noticed there's so much potential, and it's just really nice to walk around, and some animals I hadn't seen before elsewhere.
So we decided to get an annual pass, and have been 8 times now since.

The only animal we haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet are the golden possums.
But were told 2 days ago we'd have to be very lucky (we have been at opening time and closing time, no luck so far).

We did manage 2 days ago for the first time to get a really good look at both Lynx, which we hadn't seen before this visit really, as they seem to be good in hiding.

Also wish the raccoons wouldn't always be asleep in their log when we are there, haha.
(but then the one time my boyfriend goes alone, he sends me a text while I'm at work "the raccoons are playing outside!!", really?? lol)
I guess I'm more used to seeing them roam around most of the day from other zoo's I have visited.

I did forget to ask if there really is a jackal, I've only just now thought of that one.
As you can see the enclosure when on the little train, but I then kept forgetting to ask a zookeeper.
Click to expand...

There is indeed a jackal - a single elderly female.
 
Moorhunhe said:
Thank you! Is there anywhere you are able to spot her? We haven't seem to figure that one out yet. We think it's at the back of the tiger enclosures?
Click to expand...
Yes back of tiger enclosure, can be seen at an angle from Malayan tiger enclosure or via the tunnel window looking into the white tiger enclosure, with some luck.
 
Daubentoniidae said:
According to him they have plans to build a new desert house near the Ringtail/Skunk enclosure to add extended viewing to them as well as add Fennec and Bat-Eared Fox, free-flying birds, two species of Ground Squirrels and a species of Mongoose.

They also want to build a new primate house for numerous species including a pair of Lesser Spot-Nosed Guenon which they apparently already have offshow. This would be between the Tigers and Bears I think.

They're also looking at getting more Tiger Quolls and Freshwater Crocodiles from Australia.

Apparently they also have a pair of Black-Backed Jackals offshow separate from the semi-onshow one behind the Tigers which they will put on display soon.

And they want to take away the more domestic based animals and add the Zebras to that area as well as more species in the future.

Lastly their longterm plan is to potentially get Brown Hyena so with luck that will go to plan.

I was surprised at how much of this he was willing to share with just a visitor and am looking forward to seeing how much of this plans out correctly.
Click to expand...

This all sounds super exhiting!!

I've also noticed with reading the entire thread again to read up on some news I may have missed, we were there together with some other forum members :D
 
I was only saying what the staff member told me so honestly I don't know how much of it is speculation or truth, it's just what he told me and I only wanted to share it on here so people could see about possible or imaginative future plans.
 
We did a very last minute trip to Hamerton this afternoon, as we won't be able to go anymore until October 2nd.
Good thing we did, as when looking at the tigers around 4.30 I saw something moving all the way in the back, so I ran into the tiger walkway and saw the jackel! Visit nr 9 for me, and the first time seeing him/her. Boyfriend said he saw 2? But I don't know, I only saw the 1.

Also the lynx was out in the grassy enclosure, so for the first time we also managed to see one of them very clearly finally.

The rusty spotted cat had his head out poking the opening for quite some time.

And both maned wolves were roaming around.

Still no sight of the goldon possums. We won't give up! Lol.
 
littleRedPanda said:
How many spotted cats are there now. I noticed one in cage adjoining the oncilla recently, but not in the usual hut.
Click to expand...

I thought there was one but happy to be corrected.

On another note saw Hamerton posted some news about another successful arrival this year on their Facebook page - new red bellied tamarin twins.
 
Visited yesterday and on my first visit to the enclosure I got lucky with the Ring-tailed Possums again. I was surprised to see all 3 are now in together.
Saw most things apart from the usually elusive golden Possum, brush tailed possum, echidna and jackal.
I have also failed to see the lynx on my last few visits and haven't seen a wombat outside in a while. At least the giant anteater was active outside for a change.
 
I must have been one of the only Zoochatters to have actually seen the golden possums, a few years back when they were pretty new. Not seen them since though.

On my visit on Saturday, the ringtail showed nicely even though it was extremely shy and wary of me, popped out of its crevice for just long enough to grab a morsel before scurrying back in. I'll add pictures from my visit to the gallery after I've tidied them up a bit.

I'm not sure what to think of the new road train though. On the one hand, it's a bit of fun for kids and a chance for a bit of a rest for anyone else, and does help raise extra funds. Plus there's the chance to see more of the cheetahs and corsac foxes, as well as potentially the jackal. But I fear the complete lack of any educational material, either auditory or visual, is a missed opportunity. Hopefully they can add an audio track about cheetah conservation or something instead of the piped music.

Although I tried to visit a few weeks ago upon hearing about the Ting bus here, I wasn't able to go for multiple reasons, so decided to rebook again. The bus is a real godsend - it picked me up from St Neots station and dropped me directly outside the zoo, and I was picked up and dropped back off very conveniently to get back to London. Without the bus, I can't even consider going, unless I pay for taxis from somewhere like Huntingdon. Hoping the trial gets extended, then I can consider getting an annual pass at Hamerton and visit more frequently.
 
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