Hamerton Zoo Park Hamerton Zoo News 2025

Stygi said:
Should be visiting Hamerton later this week for the first time in several years, so I have a couple of questions, I was hoping could be answered.
1. Any viewing advice/good times for the echidnas, howler monkeys and oncillas?
2. What animals are in the area marked small cats on the map?
3. Are the new aardwolf on display yet and if so where in the zoo are they?
4. Does the zoo still hold jaguarundi?
Many thanks for any help given.
Click to expand...
1. Oncillas usually show in the afternoon for me, howler monkeys usually seem to be up, I’ve never had luck with the echidna.
2. Oncilla and slender mongoose, there used to be rusty spotted cat where the mongoose are. Tayras and binturongs are also in this area.
3. I’m not sure if they’re on show yet but they are next to the macaw aviary (There is new housing that has been built there so it should be pretty obvious when you see it)
4. No, unfortunately
I hope this helps:)
 
Had a lovely day out at Hamerton today, weather was warm and brought lots of the animals outside, particularly the birds where I finally got really good views of all the recent arrivals. The zoo was mostly quiet apart from a school trip but they were having such a fun time when I ran into them a few times, you couldn't complain.

The bears were off show for some work in their paddock, which looked to be around the pond area with diggers going all day (barriers were in place up at the tiger end where they are during torpor). I can understand the zoo doing that work out of holidays when less visitors are there, so will have to get my bears in the water on a nice day fix another time! Other work around the site included some large drainage works in the wallaby / red breasted geese space and work in the picnic area opposite the cheetahs.

The tiger signs had swapped around with the white tiger signed in the left hand side of the enclosure and the Malayan on the right.

The refurbished restaurant looks smart and the new pathway shortcut to get to it is well done. It was fun to see Water dragon, Queensland Lungfish and Short finned eel in the tank inside.

Saw the Slender Mongoose quite near the end of the day which was great and had good views of the Corsacs.

There were youngsters for the Bennett's and Parma wallabies. Young Brush Turkeys appear to have hatched a while ago with more juveniles spread about the enclosures. The young Cheetahs were out and about in the former anteater enclosure. Nice to see a couple of juveniles for the Scarlet Ibis.

The White Lipped Tamarin are no longer signed opposite the dik dik and I couldn't see them elsewhere. Sad not to see them as they have always been a bit of a favourite of mine. The nearby Marmosets have had youngsters again though with twins on board so that was fun to see.

The former Meerkat enclosure outside the Sloth area now houses Potoroo, so Meerkats now in one of those spaces as well as the large new enclosure.

Red Siskin were in with the Lovebirds which I was delighted to see and had good views of a few individuals.

The enclosure next to the Civets on the way around to the sloth house near the Scarlet Ibis enclosure was empty and unsigned.

The Red Crowned cranes were making a lot of noise around a nest in progress and when I went past later in the day an egg had appeared in it. Not sure if it had been laid (I would like to think so!) or it was a dummy that had been placed there by a Keeper, but the cranes were enthusiastically stacking things around it and settling it in with great care and attention which was really interesting to watch.
 
I was at Hamerton today, enjoying the lovely spring weather as well as the Hamerton range of creatures. To supplement the report by @Lafone above, work on the bear's pool is not finished yet, but there was activity opposite the spot-nosed guenons, although there is no complete structure yet: this did not seem to trouble the red-crowned cranes next door as they are incubating 2 eggs now. Unfortunately the aquariums in the cafe seemed quite empty, except for some blind cave fish and a water dragon
My highlight of the day was seeing a ringtail possum eating its lunch - the first time I have ever seen this species. Needless to say, I took plenty of photos; I hope to post one or two next week. I don't know how regular possums' habits are, but if you have nearly given up hope of seeing this species at Hamerton, as I had, I suggest checking the indoor section around 1.40 pm. I then went to see the oncilla, where I had the pleasure of a conversation with @amur leopard while we waited for the little cat to settle down and pose nicely. We also glimpsed a slender mongoose in the former rusty-spotted cat enclosure, and he showed me how to check out the new aardwolves in their indoor enclosure, but as there are barriers in front of the viewing window and there were a lot of reflections, I could see they were there but little more. So I have something to look forward to next time I visit.
 
gentle lemur said:
My highlight of the day was seeing a ringtail possum eating its lunch - the first time I have ever seen this species. Needless to say, I took plenty of photos; I hope to post one or two next week. I don't know how regular possums' habits are, but if you have nearly given up hope of seeing this species at Hamerton, as I had, I suggest checking the indoor section around 1.40 pm.
Click to expand...

Ooooh, that's great you got to see it! We've been over 30 times now since 2022 and it's the only animal we've not been able to see.
 
gentle lemur said:
I was at Hamerton today, enjoying the lovely spring weather as well as the Hamerton range of creatures. To supplement the report by @Lafone above, work on the bear's pool is not finished yet, but there was activity opposite the spot-nosed guenons, although there is no complete structure yet: this did not seem to trouble the red-crowned cranes next door as they are incubating 2 eggs now. Unfortunately the aquariums in the cafe seemed quite empty, except for some blind cave fish and a water dragon
My highlight of the day was seeing a ringtail possum eating its lunch - the first time I have ever seen this species. Needless to say, I took plenty of photos; I hope to post one or two next week. I don't know how regular possums' habits are, but if you have nearly given up hope of seeing this species at Hamerton, as I had, I suggest checking the indoor section around 1.40 pm. I then went to see the oncilla, where I had the pleasure of a conversation with @amur leopard while we waited for the little cat to settle down and pose nicely. We also glimpsed a slender mongoose in the former rusty-spotted cat enclosure, and he showed me how to check out the new aardwolves in their indoor enclosure, but as there are barriers in front of the viewing window and there were a lot of reflections, I could see they were there but little more. So I have something to look forward to next time I visit.
Click to expand...

Likewise was a pleasure meeting you!
Couple more things, questions more than anything really:
Built into the bear viewing platform there's a cage which appears occupied (given the upstairs viewing is fenced off near it?) - does anyone know what is in there, or what is planned there?
In a similar vein, there's big works going in in the field between the cheetahs/foxes and gibbons/echidnas - does anyone know what this is for?
 
amur leopard said:
Likewise was a pleasure meeting you!
Couple more things, questions more than anything really:
Built into the bear viewing platform there's a cage which appears occupied (given the upstairs viewing is fenced off near it?) - does anyone know what is in there, or what is planned there?
In a similar vein, there's big works going in in the field between the cheetahs/foxes and gibbons/echidnas - does anyone know what this is for?
Click to expand...
I can't answer the first two questions at all, but I saw the pattern of pits filled with concrete in the field: my immediate guess was that they might be foundations for pillars to support a roof over an open-sided picnic shelter - but I could be utterly wrong.
 
amur leopard said:
Likewise was a pleasure meeting you!
Couple more things, questions more than anything really:
Built into the bear viewing platform there's a cage which appears occupied (given the upstairs viewing is fenced off near it?) - does anyone know what is in there, or what is planned there?
In a similar vein, there's big works going in in the field between the cheetahs/foxes and gibbons/echidnas - does anyone know what this is for?
Click to expand...

When it was first constructed (it's metal mesh roofed housing with a number of separation areas, when the platform is open you can see into the spaces) the enclosure at the end of the bear platform was said to be for the dingoes who would then have the paddock opposite the bears, leaving their current enclosure for something else, possibly a bigger space for the hyenas. Nothing had moved in however.

The other construction had a temporary sign on the fence about a play area / family area extension when I was there.
 
A lovely day at Hamerton today (after me not visiting for almost three years now) par the countless school groups going about the site. Though after about 2 o'clock they had all gone so that left the zoo almost practically empty which was very nice. A few things to note:

  • Good views of most if not all inhabitants. Only no-shows included the newly arrived Southern Aardwolves, Oncilla, Tayras, Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starlings, Victoria Crowned Pigeons, Howler Monkeys & all the possums.
  • There was work going on refurbishing an aviary with the over-powering, but in my opinion pleasant smell of creosote in the air.
  • The Wattled Crane was in the enclosure with the Paradise Shelducks until keepers decided to move it in the enclosure behind due to sheer volumes of school children present. However, throughout the day the crane kept bashing itself against the mesh causing some bloodied wounds to its breast and left wing.
  • Had brief but excellent views of the wombat outdoors and the Brown Hyena which were treats. This being my first Brown Hyena, plus also my first Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox and countless other new species sightings.
  • There seemed to be a very recently (couple of days most) flamingo chick in the enclosure.
  • The female Hypocolius made a brief appearance in the laurel bush of its aviary, with a keeper informing me that they have become relatively shy since going on display compared to their outgoing personalities during their quarantine period.
  • The bear pool appears to have construction completed with the animals having access to the full enclosure.
  • @Lafone I noticed some White-lipped Tamarin signage near the Midas Tamarins just as you exit the Aussie Aviary. Alas, I didn't see any.
  • ZTL appears only to list two female Spot-nosed Guenons but doesn't give a source of whether the male passed away or moved on as there were certainly three today.
 
Last edited:
Prochilodus246 said:
A lovely day at Hamerton today (after me not visiting for almost three years now) par the countless school groups going about the site. Though after about 2 o'clock they had all gone so that left the zoo almost practically empty which was very nice. A few things to note:

  • Good views of most if not all inhabitants. Only no-shows included the newly arrived Southern Aardwolves, Oncilla, Tayras, Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starlings, Victoria Crowned Pigeons & Howler Monkeys.
  • There was work going on refurbishing an aviary with the over-powering, but in my opinion pleasant smell of creosote in the air.
  • The Wattled Crane was in the enclosure with the Paradise Shelducks until keepers decided to move it in the enclosure behind due to sheer volumes of school children present. However, throughout the day the crane kept bashing itself against the mesh causing some bloodied wounds to its breast and left wing.
  • Had brief but excellent views of the wombat outdoors and the Brown Hyena which were treats. This being my first Brown Hyena, plus also my first Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox and countless other new species sightings.
  • There seemed to be a very recently (couple of days most) flamingo chick in the enclosure.
  • The female Hypocolius made a brief appearance in the laurel bush of its aviary, with a keeper informing me that they have become relatively shy since going on display compared to their outgoing personalities during their quarantine period.
  • The bear pool appears to have construction completed with the animals having access to the full enclosure.
  • @Lafone I noticed some White-lipped Tamarin signage near the Midas Tamarins just as you exit the Aussie Aviary. Alas, I didn't see any.
  • ZTL appears only to list two female Spot-nosed Guenons but doesn't give a source of whether the male passed away or moved on as there were certainly three today.
Click to expand...

Sounds a great day out! They had two groups of white lipped Tamarins with the ones near the Aviary being the second (I presumed these were the last lot but one of youngsters as they have had them most years). I should have mentioned that but good to know those are still there and assume they have mixed them or are down to one.
 
Lafone said:
Sounds a great day out! They had two groups of white lipped Tamarins with the ones near the Aviary being the second (I presumed these were the last lot but one of youngsters as they have had them most years). I should have mentioned that but good to know those are still there and assume they have mixed them or are down to one.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, the ones near the Goeldi's. Yeah I seem to recall offspring from my last visit so unless numerous youngsters have moved on to other collections.
 
amur leopard said:
Likewise was a pleasure meeting you!
Couple more things, questions more than anything really:
Built into the bear viewing platform there's a cage which appears occupied (given the upstairs viewing is fenced off near it?) - does anyone know what is in there, or what is planned there?
In a similar vein, there's big works going in in the field between the cheetahs/foxes and gibbons/echidnas - does anyone know what this is for?
Click to expand...
Only just seen this. On my last visit in March there were at least 2 spot nosed guenon in one of the cages at the end of bear platform, in addition to the 2 onshow females, I'm sure I posted about it earlier this year
 
Slightly derailing this thread from news, however, I’m planning a Johnston’s of Old Hurst’s and Hamerton trip in mid-June. For those who’ve done both collections on the same day, I’m curious which way is the best to attend both.

Johnston’s in the morning - Hamerton in the afternoon
Hamerton in the morning - Johnston’s in the afternoon

I’ve visited Hamerton three times in the last decade, but there’s a variety of taxa I’ve yet to see (those damn possums :D), so I have seen the majority of taxa at Hamerton.
 
Baringogiraffe12 said:
Slightly derailing this thread from news, however, I’m planning a Johnston’s of Old Hurst’s and Hamerton trip in mid-June. For those who’ve done both collections on the same day, I’m curious which way is the best to attend both.

Johnston’s in the morning - Hamerton in the afternoon
Hamerton in the morning - Johnston’s in the afternoon

I’ve visited Hamerton three times in the last decade, but there’s a variety of taxa I’ve yet to see (those damn possums :D), so I have seen the majority of taxa at Hamerton.
Click to expand...

100% Hamerton in the afternoon - you'll do much better for the small mammals. Also you can get a nice cooked breakfast at Johnson's. ;)
 
Baringogiraffe12 said:
Thanks Maguari - I suspected as much, and hopefully it gives me the better chance to see those elusive aforementioned possums with it (hopefully) being quieter.
Click to expand...

On the flipside, last time I was there, I saw the ring-tailed possum at about 10.30am. I think it is probably just pure damn luck...
 
Yeah, I wouldn't necessarily include the possum in my statement. :D

But cats, canids, grisons, hyaenas, active wombats and civets - all solidly more likely in the afternoon. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top