Got back from my annual trip to Longleat yesterday with the following to report.
SAFARI PARK
The new male giraffe came from woburn and has been there for about four months now and has settled in very well with the herd.
The nyala herd are all bachelor brothers. A new zebra stallion was brought in from Ireland recently, and keepers confirmed a couple of pregnancies.
Honey the ostrich sadly passed away, they are currently waiting on a new mate for Trevor, who is being temporarily housed in the big game park.
Monkey jungle is closed for 12 months, after which it is hoped it will re-open. There is one bactrian camel in monkey jungle, along with the resident herd of blackbuck. The water buffalo have moved into the big game park. The two young oryx have developed extremely fast, and apart from shorter horns they look almost identical to the parents. They have also has severl pere david calfs again this year, along with eland. The bongo herd has been made bigger, now a mixture of both males and females.
This year for the fest time they have hatched chilean flamingo chicks, with high hopes for the vultures.
I was also told by keepers that last year when the park closed for winter, all the top reserves incl. east african reserve, monkey jungle, big game park, deer park and the new area were all merged and the animals roamed happily with each other. Can't quite imagine this myself but hey ho.
HALF MILE LAKE
Nico is now 49 and still going strong.
The lake now houses 10 californian sea lions, three of which are this years pups, molly(f),kira(f) and flyn(m).
PETS CORNER
The meerkat colony has grown considerably and the mongooses have now been moved to what used to be the degu enclosure. Two african crested porcupines now occupy the old ferret enclosure. The ferrets now reside in the old barn owl quarters. The degus now live in the old richardson's ground squirrel enclsoure, along with chinchillas. Black tailed prairie dogs reisde in the 'hot house' in the old chinchilla enclosure.
ANIMAL ADVENTURE
Now due to open in autumn
The old butterfly house has been demolished to make way for the entrance to animal adventure. The new one is located on the site of the old mystical garden and is the end attraction once animal adventure is open. It also houses the colony of leaf cutter ants who also sport a nice new island enclosure. When it is ready the porcupines will be moving there, and the signs also showed tamanduas and various other animals. I shall post all the pics of the new enclosures and buildings up later
SAFARI PARK
The new male giraffe came from woburn and has been there for about four months now and has settled in very well with the herd.
The nyala herd are all bachelor brothers. A new zebra stallion was brought in from Ireland recently, and keepers confirmed a couple of pregnancies.
Honey the ostrich sadly passed away, they are currently waiting on a new mate for Trevor, who is being temporarily housed in the big game park.
Monkey jungle is closed for 12 months, after which it is hoped it will re-open. There is one bactrian camel in monkey jungle, along with the resident herd of blackbuck. The water buffalo have moved into the big game park. The two young oryx have developed extremely fast, and apart from shorter horns they look almost identical to the parents. They have also has severl pere david calfs again this year, along with eland. The bongo herd has been made bigger, now a mixture of both males and females.
This year for the fest time they have hatched chilean flamingo chicks, with high hopes for the vultures.
I was also told by keepers that last year when the park closed for winter, all the top reserves incl. east african reserve, monkey jungle, big game park, deer park and the new area were all merged and the animals roamed happily with each other. Can't quite imagine this myself but hey ho.
HALF MILE LAKE
Nico is now 49 and still going strong.
The lake now houses 10 californian sea lions, three of which are this years pups, molly(f),kira(f) and flyn(m).
PETS CORNER
The meerkat colony has grown considerably and the mongooses have now been moved to what used to be the degu enclosure. Two african crested porcupines now occupy the old ferret enclosure. The ferrets now reside in the old barn owl quarters. The degus now live in the old richardson's ground squirrel enclsoure, along with chinchillas. Black tailed prairie dogs reisde in the 'hot house' in the old chinchilla enclosure.
ANIMAL ADVENTURE
Now due to open in autumn
The old butterfly house has been demolished to make way for the entrance to animal adventure. The new one is located on the site of the old mystical garden and is the end attraction once animal adventure is open. It also houses the colony of leaf cutter ants who also sport a nice new island enclosure. When it is ready the porcupines will be moving there, and the signs also showed tamanduas and various other animals. I shall post all the pics of the new enclosures and buildings up later
