I've only ever seen the Brushtail possum once...and even then, it was just a bit of fur from its back (I think).
Hamerton Zoo Park Hamerton News 2023
- Thread starter JurassicMax
- Start date
I have only seen the grey brushtail possum in the walkthrough aviary once, only a bit more success with golden ones (photos posted in gallery), either early morning or late afternoon! I visit approximately 10 times a year
Hamerton have released information about some building works happening at the park currently:
Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
- The fencing around the new binturong enclosure should be done by this week (the article was uploaded late last week).
- Work will then resume on the bear viewing platform and a new dingo paddock between the bears and tigers.
- The dingo enclosure will then be re-fitted for new arrivals due in June.
- The old aardwolf enclosure will be adapted for two new species, hopefully to be ready by the end of summer.
- Two new bird species arrived a couple of weeks ago, and will move out into the park once their isolation period is complete.
Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Fun day out at Hamerton today with lots of the animals out enjoying the sun and their pools, particularly just after opening. Was very hot but as in rainy weather Hamerton’s covered areas come in handy for shade and shelter.
Continues to be a good year for Hamerton youngsters. Was lovely to see the young brown wood owl (born 31/3/23) after seeing the female on her nest at the front of the enclosure on a couple of previous visits. First time seeing a young brown wood owl and a treat. The barking owls are noted as still sitting on 2 eggs.
The young flamingoes who were incubated after the early laying are still in the indoor space next to the hatchery, with three other youngsters with the flock outside. Quite a bumper year!
In the incubators were a cassowary egg which had been laid around 31st May before an established nest was in place so taken for incubation. Also a first ever clutch of anthill python eggs (the snakes arrived late last year). Then an egg from hooded vulture, demoiselle crane and curassow. I always appreciate the signs about the eggs Hamerton put up, letting the visitor know where they are from and why they are being incubated etc. Always interesting.
The new enclosure near the Tayra has a lot of its fencing completed and wire / mesh windows installed. Looks smart. Work was going on on the other side furthest from the path. A few pictures attached.
The raccoons were enjoying their new barrels, climbing in and out and of course sleeping and they also make for some good viewing which is a win. Good new addition.
The tortoises were out enjoying the sun in the dik dik enclosure which made for some good views of both.
Was nice to see the young Bennett’s wallaby outside the pouch and roaming around though a visitor insisted to her family it was a rabbit. One of the ring tailed lemurs in the enclosure shared with the hyrax is looking quite large, but haven’t seen any small lemurs so far this year.
No possum sightings as usual!
Continues to be a good year for Hamerton youngsters. Was lovely to see the young brown wood owl (born 31/3/23) after seeing the female on her nest at the front of the enclosure on a couple of previous visits. First time seeing a young brown wood owl and a treat. The barking owls are noted as still sitting on 2 eggs.
The young flamingoes who were incubated after the early laying are still in the indoor space next to the hatchery, with three other youngsters with the flock outside. Quite a bumper year!
In the incubators were a cassowary egg which had been laid around 31st May before an established nest was in place so taken for incubation. Also a first ever clutch of anthill python eggs (the snakes arrived late last year). Then an egg from hooded vulture, demoiselle crane and curassow. I always appreciate the signs about the eggs Hamerton put up, letting the visitor know where they are from and why they are being incubated etc. Always interesting.
The new enclosure near the Tayra has a lot of its fencing completed and wire / mesh windows installed. Looks smart. Work was going on on the other side furthest from the path. A few pictures attached.
The raccoons were enjoying their new barrels, climbing in and out and of course sleeping and they also make for some good viewing which is a win. Good new addition.
The tortoises were out enjoying the sun in the dik dik enclosure which made for some good views of both.
Was nice to see the young Bennett’s wallaby outside the pouch and roaming around though a visitor insisted to her family it was a rabbit. One of the ring tailed lemurs in the enclosure shared with the hyrax is looking quite large, but haven’t seen any small lemurs so far this year.
No possum sightings as usual!
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A new male Maned Wolf named Zorro has arrived from another UK collection to be paired with their female. Two new species of birds have also arrived from Paignton Zoo; two pairs of Wonga Pigeons and Greater Roadrunner: Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
The new male maned wolf, name Zorro, came from Shepreth Wildlife Park.
Source:
Instagram of Zoo Hamerton (30/06/2023)
Visited Hamerton today. Was a pretty successful day all things considered.
Whilst I never saw the Wonga Pigeons, the roadrunners are currently exhibited alongside the six frogmouths in the "Bird Square", as I call it.
The maned wolves did not present themselves, but the otters did, several times.
Still having no luck seeing the skunk/cacomistle duo.
As well as the baby sloth, I also saw two baby red-handed tamarins.
One of the major highlights aside said babies was the corsac foxes, one of which was playing profusely with its chick-food.
Also of note, the raccoons and wombats were surprisingly active the first time around, albeit the wombats stayed in their burrows.
All in all, another fun visit.
....oh, and I saw the ringtail possum. Nothing too important.
Whilst I never saw the Wonga Pigeons, the roadrunners are currently exhibited alongside the six frogmouths in the "Bird Square", as I call it.
The maned wolves did not present themselves, but the otters did, several times.
Still having no luck seeing the skunk/cacomistle duo.
As well as the baby sloth, I also saw two baby red-handed tamarins.
One of the major highlights aside said babies was the corsac foxes, one of which was playing profusely with its chick-food.
Also of note, the raccoons and wombats were surprisingly active the first time around, albeit the wombats stayed in their burrows.
All in all, another fun visit.
....oh, and I saw the ringtail possum. Nothing too important.
Remember the aardvark
Member
Also visited yesterday, highlight of the visit was at least two Australian Brush Turkey chicks, currently residing in the flamingo house. The new enclosure by the Tayra, now has lots of climbing apparatus and looks ready for its new occupants. Lots more work is evident at the bear viewing platform and new dingo enclosure. The original tiger barn is being revamped ready for some new occupants.
I saw three brush turkeys when I visited.
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
On the 10th of July a female Southern pudu (Pudu puda) was born.
Source:
Instagram of Zoo Hamerton (18/07/2023)
Source:
Instagram of Zoo Hamerton (18/07/2023)
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
I made a morning trip to Hamerton yesterday, and thought I would pay a visit before the school holidays started.
The Meerkat exhibit is looking near completion, so hopefully this will be ready over the summer at some stage.
Plenty of other building work going on all over the zoo, and lots of gardening was taking place.
Was nice to see the Raccoons being a lot more active and they seem to like the barrels, although the leucistic one definitely appears to prefer the log.
I was very fortunate to see the male Golden Possum 'Tayo' in the morning and he was most active after the keeper had cleaned his enclosure and put his morning food out.
Whilst opposite this exhibit, is the Red Handed Tamarins. There have been twins born, and are a couple of weeks old. It's a hard exhibit to photo with the mesh, but this was the best I could do.
It was nice to see the juvenile Red Belied Tamarin now off it's parents back and exploring more and I managed to get a nice photo of him, as he seem very interested in my camera!
Finally, I didn't see any Wonga Pigeons, but did see the two Roadrunners sharing with the Tawny Frogmouth.
Tayo was the only Possum I saw yesterday, and I dream that one day, I may get to see all four species on the same day!
The Meerkat exhibit is looking near completion, so hopefully this will be ready over the summer at some stage.
Plenty of other building work going on all over the zoo, and lots of gardening was taking place.
Was nice to see the Raccoons being a lot more active and they seem to like the barrels, although the leucistic one definitely appears to prefer the log.
I was very fortunate to see the male Golden Possum 'Tayo' in the morning and he was most active after the keeper had cleaned his enclosure and put his morning food out.
Whilst opposite this exhibit, is the Red Handed Tamarins. There have been twins born, and are a couple of weeks old. It's a hard exhibit to photo with the mesh, but this was the best I could do.
It was nice to see the juvenile Red Belied Tamarin now off it's parents back and exploring more and I managed to get a nice photo of him, as he seem very interested in my camera!
Finally, I didn't see any Wonga Pigeons, but did see the two Roadrunners sharing with the Tawny Frogmouth.
Tayo was the only Possum I saw yesterday, and I dream that one day, I may get to see all four species on the same day!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Spent a very enjoyable morning at Hamerton in the rain - really wanted to see the new roadrunners and was not disappointed as they’d just been fed and were running around in good style. Unusual calls too. Lovely birds and my first sighting.
It was pretty quiet due to the weather though a few hardy folk were out.
The new binturong enclosure looks great with the frames in place - the binturong were making best use of the house however and who could blame them. Snapped a couple of pictures on the phone plus one of the remodelling in the old enclosure.
Enjoyed seeing the young brush turkeys (seemed to be three) that’s a great result. I didn’t realise they are fully independent from hatching though I guess being turkeys I should have known but always something to learn on a Hamerton sign!
The two young flamingoes who were raised in the nursery are in the small paddock near the hopping mice (where the young cassowary was) and look great. Very cool to be able to get so near to them and see the first pink feathers on the larger one of the two.
Since my momentary luck with the golden possums the status of all possums on my visits has returned to elusive!
It was pretty quiet due to the weather though a few hardy folk were out.
The new binturong enclosure looks great with the frames in place - the binturong were making best use of the house however and who could blame them. Snapped a couple of pictures on the phone plus one of the remodelling in the old enclosure.
Enjoyed seeing the young brush turkeys (seemed to be three) that’s a great result. I didn’t realise they are fully independent from hatching though I guess being turkeys I should have known but always something to learn on a Hamerton sign!
The two young flamingoes who were raised in the nursery are in the small paddock near the hopping mice (where the young cassowary was) and look great. Very cool to be able to get so near to them and see the first pink feathers on the larger one of the two.
Since my momentary luck with the golden possums the status of all possums on my visits has returned to elusive!
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They aren't actually turkeys, they are megapodes - "brush turkey" is just the common name for this species because it is Australian.
Megapodes bury their eggs rather than sitting on them, either in a huge nest-mound which they create themselves out of earth and vegetation, or directly into holes dug in the ground in geothermal areas, depending on species. The chicks get no parental care - they are fully-feathered and independent from the point of hatching, and can fly within a day or two.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Interesting stuff thanks! The sign highlighted them being removed as they are independent from hatching, fascinating stuff.
Other May 2023 News:
On May 12th, the zoo announced they moved their (0.1) cheetah named Mayron to the main on-show cheetah exhibit.
Hi Mayon! Cheetah Mayon has moved into our main on show cheetah paddock! She's loving exploring her new home! #cheetah #savethecheetah #movingin ... | By Hamerton Zoo | Facebook
On May 25th, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) serval named Tica who is now on exhibit.
Hamerton Zoo
On May 12th, the zoo announced they moved their (0.1) cheetah named Mayron to the main on-show cheetah exhibit.
Hi Mayon! Cheetah Mayon has moved into our main on show cheetah paddock! She's loving exploring her new home! #cheetah #savethecheetah #movingin ... | By Hamerton Zoo | Facebook
On May 25th, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) serval named Tica who is now on exhibit.
Hamerton Zoo
Just a few changes I noticed on my visit last Sunday:
The fence on the old eastern Aardwolf enclosure is being doubled in height, almost complete on both sides of the house. Will be interesting to see what goes in there as it is not a large area.
The new low platforms in the old tiger barn which recently held Caracal/binturong look like resting platforms for a large carnivore possibly . The work in there looks to be complete but the new dingo enclosure a while away so doubt they will be moving for a few weeks at least.
Rufous bettong have finally gone 'onshow', they were signed on the cage next to the Grison which is also meant to also hold brush tailed possum, but needless to say I saw no signs of life!
The fence on the old eastern Aardwolf enclosure is being doubled in height, almost complete on both sides of the house. Will be interesting to see what goes in there as it is not a large area.
The new low platforms in the old tiger barn which recently held Caracal/binturong look like resting platforms for a large carnivore possibly . The work in there looks to be complete but the new dingo enclosure a while away so doubt they will be moving for a few weeks at least.
Rufous bettong have finally gone 'onshow', they were signed on the cage next to the Grison which is also meant to also hold brush tailed possum, but needless to say I saw no signs of life!
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
Noticed this myself on Saturday and half wondered if it may be used for one of the Cassowary.
Remember the aardvark
Member
New exhibit in the café, with one of the fish tanks now housing blind cave fish.
On August 3rd, the zoo announced that (0.0.2+?) European harvest mice were born which are now on exhibit.
A little new arrival! Some new Harvest Mice are joining the gang! These mice will play a vital part in Harvest Mouse conservation, helping to boost... | By Hamerton Zoo - Facebook
A little new arrival! Some new Harvest Mice are joining the gang! These mice will play a vital part in Harvest Mouse conservation, helping to boost... | By Hamerton Zoo - Facebook