Hamerton Zoo Park Hamerton Zoo News 2024

They don't always keep species on show, so it can be a lottery as to what you see, the stock list is now well out of date in the review. The rufous bettong are very rarely kept on show because they spend much of their time hiding and don't really make a good display for people to see, but that is one of the joys of Hamerton never quite knowing what you will see each time you visit.

I know.
But for example, the ring tailed possum, there's 6 I believe it says. We've never seen any, and they are on show.
I get that some animals are either nocturnal, or elusive, but it's just a tad annoying I guess.
 
I know.
But for example, the ring tailed possum, there's 6 I believe it says. We've never seen any, and they are on show.
I get that some animals are either nocturnal, or elusive, but it's just a tad annoying I guess.

Sometimes you can't predict these things - back when they had aardwolves I never failed to see them, but I've only managed to see Asian Short-clawed Otter there once!
 
I know.
But for example, the ring tailed possum, there's 6 I believe it says. We've never seen any, and they are on show.
I get that some animals are either nocturnal, or elusive, but it's just a tad annoying I guess.

They do indeed have six but they don't have six on show
 
Sometimes you can't predict these things - back when they had aardwolves I never failed to see them, but I've only managed to see Asian Short-clawed Otter there once!
Have to concur these thoughts - the Tasmanian possum have eluded me over the years, Hamerton have put the efforts in for the public to see them now with access to an indoor den. Though, I'm sure you feel somewhat more pleased seeing the aardwolves when they were at the zoo rather than the otters :p
 
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I think they could definitely do with some cameras that broadcast to a screen to show the animals if they're in say a nest box. That way it doesn't affect their privacy or they won't be disturbed and I seem to remember Port Lympne having that for some of their species a while ago. A lot of the viewing areas are either obstructed as well which does frustrate me a bit, especially when they have all these exclusive species that you can't see anywhere else.
 
During the talk on Sunday it was said that all female are on show (though some only really visible during the train ride) and all the male are off show.

I got the review guide, and very surprised how many of some animals they have. Especially the ones we never managed to see yet in about 30 visits, lol.
During the talk on Sunday it was said that all female are on show (though some only really visible during the train ride) and all the male are off show.

I got the review guide, and very surprised how many of some animals they have. Especially the ones we never managed to see yet in about 30 visits, lol.
That’s what we heard yesterday on the talk it was lovely to see the young ones
 
Piece of March 2024 News Not Mentioned:

On March 29th, the zoo announced they built a new viewing window in the brush-tailed possum/golden brush-tailed possum inside area which is located at the exit of the Outback Aviary.

Hamerton Zoo

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On May 4th, the zoo announced they acquired (1.1) common marmosets from the Shuttleworth College Zoological Centre in Bedfordshire which are now on exhibit.

Have you seen our latest additions to the park? Two Common Marmosets have joined us from Shuttleworth College and are settling in great! Say a big hi... | By Hamerton ZooFacebook
 
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They don't specify the genders and I'm not going to speculate on threads when I report info (anymore).

Probably best to just say "two marmosets" in cases like this one going forward, given the fact that the 0,0,2 notation itself carries implied information (suggesting sex is unknown to the collection or the animals are juveniles) :)
 
Probably best to just say "two marmosets" in cases like this one going forward, given the fact that the 0,0,2 notation itself carries implied information (suggesting sex is unknown to the collection or the animals are juveniles) :)

Alright, but I am still going to use (0.0.2) if I can't find the sexes. I will however note if the animals are juveniles or not (if it has already been supplied by collection itself using either dates of when they were born or what have you).
 
We had a very nice day at Hamerton today.
Such nice weather, finally!
It was busy, but not over the top busy (seen it busier).

On such busier days when everyone goes to the right, we go to the left. Straight to the Bat Eared Foxes I thought, since it would be quiet on that side.
And we got lucky! It wasn't much, but one of them was poking it's head out for a bit through the latch, so at least we got that, hehe.

We then went to the Cheetas as the cubs were playing and running around.
While the boyfriend stayed there, I went ahead to the Golden Possums, hoping to spot the baby, but then I saw the Brown Lemurs being outside and I shocked myself then by saying "why's that Lemur got 2 heads" o_O Because she's holding a baby, duh! But not 1, 2 babies :eek:
They seem about 3-4 weeks old.

After that, to the Golden Possums. I really like that they made the new viewing windows, both were asleep and couldn't see a baby.

Coati's playing up front on that hammock thing and in the trees.

We then went to the beginning, and made a full tour. We hadn't seen Twizzle the Owl in months, but today we did, and the 2 newest Common Marmosets were outside and 1 was very curious sitting in front of the glass really looking at us.
Also spotted a baby Bennett's Wallaby peeping outside (we spotted multiple Bennett's & Parma Wallabies with Joeys in the pouches).
Moving along we didn't see the Wombats in the viewing windows, so here's hoping we could see them outside, and we did! First time we saw them so clear. Only for 2 minutes, they then went back inside, one of them doing a "famous but scratch" :D
Walking out of the aviary, the Brush Tailed Possums were sleeping, and one was very relaxed on his back with all arm and legs spread out, lolz.
Both Golden Possums, still asleep in a corner.

Walking past the Brown Lemurs again, both parents seemed to want to chill, but both babies just kept squirming and moving around.
The Raccoons had just been fed, so they were all out and about.

We only saw 1 Brown Hyena, was like it never moved from the same spot for at least 3 hours.

We didn't see any Maned Wolves.

After seeing the Tigers, we make our way back via the small cats.
(Has anyone ever seen Binturong outside in their new enclosure? We haven't.)

My boyfriend then spotted the Rusty-Spotted Cat sleeping right behind the big rock.
And much to our surprise, we then saw another peeping out the latch!
I knew there were 3 at some point (1 went to Kent, so 2 now?), and we always saw just the 1 in that enclosure, or maybe we did see both but always just separate, no idea.
Anyways, there's 2 at the moment in the enclosure. But one's quite large/pregnant?

No sign of the Lynx anywhere, and also only saw 1 Jackal (have always seen them both outside previous times).

Before leaving we tried our luck again with the Golden Possums, and yes, we saw the little baby :D
 
Fun afternoon at Hamerton today after a morning at WWT Welney. Arrived after lunch so things were heading to the quieter end of the day which made for some nice wandering about.

The new Corsac fox pups are simply lovely, playing about in the afternoon sun and offering great views. Was interesting to watch all the adults giving up food / not hassling the pups (though hassling each other!) for it when they were fed near closing time, group dynamics at work.

There was a young Tawny Frogmouth in the incubator in the hatchery, signed as born on 14/4 and delivering the classic straight head pose while wrapped in it's little blanket nest. Next door the young Ruppell's Griffon vulture was visible through a partition door with holes drilled in it (visitors are invited to look through by the signage), sitting in a nest like structure - the holes actually offered really good views.

The rocky structure in the Alpaca area continues to be under construction, now painted brown.

ham18thmay2024rockthing.jpg

And the new Meerkat area is complete, with signs stating the Meerkats will be moving in shortly.

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There was a new hard standing being constructed on the corner near the lynx enclosure.

ham18thmay2024standing.jpg

Was nice to be able to see the golden possums through the new viewing windows for their house, great way to see the youngster as mentioned by Moorhune above. Lots of active animals all round too with the young wallabies etc and the young cheetahs were also playing around.

The Manchurian / red crowned cranes looked like they were sitting on a nest and lots of the Storks were also on nests on the floor in the enclosure behind the aviary space. A good amount of fledging finches in the aviary too.
 

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I suppose, now that the possums are more visible, the new "sighting = 0" count will be the skunk/ringtail.

I mean, I've never seen either of them since I arrived except for a possibly maybe of the latter.
 
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