Went there today and the collection looks really good. The Black Tree Monitor was very active and I finally managed to get good views of the Komodo Dragon. They have both adult and juvenile Galapagos Giant Tortoises and I caught a visitor experience feed of the Nile Crocodiles which was a great draw for the crowd. Not sure where the Fishing Cat was hiding as I could not spot it in the enclosure. Highlight was the young Tomistoma - 3 juveniles on show and I gather the rest are off show for space reasons. The only mammals were a family of Cotton-Topped Tamarins and 2 Asian Short-Clawed otters - not sure if they intend to breed or they are just exhibition animals.
Crocodiles of the World News from Crocodiles Of The World
- Thread starter zoogiraffe
- Start date
Strix
Well-Known Member
Do you know if the fishing cat is still alive? It is listed on ZTL but not on the zoo’s website, though I found a picture of it from september of last year.
I am afraid not, but the sign was still up so I assumed it was just hiding
littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
They posted a photo of one on their facbook in late April, so I think they still have one.
Strix
Well-Known Member
Excellent visit today, a wonderful collection and pleasant place. No sign of the fishing cat, other than the actual sign. Slender-snouted crocs also a no-show. I counted at least 4 baby siamese crocodiles, at least 3 baby tomistomas and at least 3 young black tree monitors in the croc nursery.
Also for future visitors, the nile crocodile feeding experience is definitely worth the price, I saw a stranger doing it and got some incredible videos of them jumping out of the water.
Also for future visitors, the nile crocodile feeding experience is definitely worth the price, I saw a stranger doing it and got some incredible videos of them jumping out of the water.
littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
First visit today, very short as crocs aren't my thing (and it was very hot), but I did see the Fishing cat.
I visited for the first time on Tuesday (3rd August). I arrived early, but there was already a queue and things got very busy very quickly. I was not surprised that most of the visitors were in family parties with young children, but I was surprised by the number of families. I'm sure the visitors were all very welcome, and that the children enjoyed their visits, some of them were obviously quite excited. But it must be said that site is not large and it did get crowded: the paths in the indoor areas are not particularly wide, and even the outdoor areas got quite congested with pushchairs etc. I made a mental note not to visit again during the summer holidays, and perhaps to try later in the day. As it was, I saw all the exhibits, but I did not get a chance to see all the animals properly, which was a pity because there are some very interesting and unusual species to see.
Having had a similar experience at CWP on Tuesday, I struck Crocs of the World off the to-do list for now, I’ll go later in the year.
the Cotswolds in general were absolutely packed this week, there were so many people everywhere. No holidays abroad, everybody looking for somewhere to go….
the Cotswolds in general were absolutely packed this week, there were so many people everywhere. No holidays abroad, everybody looking for somewhere to go….
Two Galapagos giant tortoises have hatched at Crocodiles of the World - it is the first time that they have bred in a UK zoo and they are only the third zoo in Europe to successfully breed them. The four tortoises (females Zuzu, Isabella and Charlie and male Dirk) joined the zoo four years ago from Chester Zoo and ZSL London.
More information can be found in the link below:
Rare Baby Giant Tortoises Born at Crocodile Zoo - Crocodiles Of The World
More information can be found in the link below:
Rare Baby Giant Tortoises Born at Crocodile Zoo - Crocodiles Of The World
Larger group could of been the factor
Giant tortoises laid eggs, which hatched, in the old Tortoise House at London Zoo more than 120 years ago. This is recorded in the books A Walk Through the Zoological Gardens (F. G. Aflalo; 1900) and Where the Crane Danced (C. H. Keeling; 1985 & 2020)
Interesting Tim. Do you know anything about parentage as Rothschildt's imported quite a number of various species of Galapagos tortoise.
The breeding of Galapagos tortoise is a feat, just another disappointment that only male Dirk is a pure-bred (from either Santa Cruz or Isabela, probably the northern part or perhaps taken from the Southern most beaches).
I really do hope that this creates a basis for attempting a last ditch effort to have the 10-15 pure-bred Galapagos giant tortoise be assembled in breeding groups of their own species and that f.i. the single very valuable Antonio the Pinzon tortoise C. duncanensis be shipped back to CDRS (in exchange for some younger porteri and becki and/or other species tortoises). The other male Eberhard a Santa Cruz porteri would actually suit the breeding program at Zuerich Zoo very well as the breeding female is a porteri as well ....
Unfortunately I don't know details of the parentage; when I get the opportunity I'll see if the ZSL Daily Occurences Books provide further information.
Another four Galapagos giant tortoises have recently hatched at Crocodiles of the World.
Information (including a video) comes from the Crocodiles of the World Facebook page.
Information (including a video) comes from the Crocodiles of the World Facebook page.
Excellent news
It’s impressive they’ve achieved breeding results with a single breeding male when other successful facilities have credited the role of a second stimulant male to their success.
There’s more information about them here:
See the four rare baby Giant Tortoises that have hatched at crocodile zoo
The zoo now had six baby Giant Galapagos tortoises after four more were born.
Crocodiles of the World in Oxfordshire is home to four adult Giant Galapagos tortoises, three females called Zuzu, Isabella and Charlie and one male, Dirk.
These gentle giants are part of a European conservation programme and joined the zoo four years ago from Chester Zoo and ZSL London.
1/ in answer to the queries above about the fishing cat -it was sadly PTS after routine treatment for arthritis in it's knee joints, an X-Ray revealed kidney disease. A group of marmosets are now in that enclosure after adaptation.
2/ The otters have moved to another collection and the enclosure has been modified and a binturong now occupies this.
3/ A new species will occupy the vacant cage.
(source- keeper talk)
2/ The otters have moved to another collection and the enclosure has been modified and a binturong now occupies this.
3/ A new species will occupy the vacant cage.
(source- keeper talk)