|
|
|
|
|
Small Mammals Building Development
Major re-development work is continuing on the site of the Small Mammals exhibit to create our exciting new immersive South American Walkthrough exhibit!
The new walkthrough will be accessible as you travel through the current World’s Apart exhibit, which will lead through into this atmospheric, submersive enclosure which will feature a number of neo-tropical species.
These species will include our Linnes two toed sloth, Silvery Marmoset, Geoffrey’s Marmoset, Golden Lion Tamarin and the elusive Tamandua.
The exhibit will provide clear, open, unobstructed viewing, with a low-level glass wall installed along a pathway leading you further into the surroundings as you are able to watch in panoramic view as the animals climb and jump around you within the rainforest habitat!
Work is continuing on this exhibit, and we hope that this will be completed for Summer 2010. |
|
Wilds of Asia Re-Development
Initial re-development work has started on the extension of the Wilds of Asia exhibit. This extension is taking place in order to provide new enclosures for species including Gibbons, Otters and Hornbills.
Currently work has started to remove the Binturong enclosure, and whilst this work is taking place the Binturongs have now been housed along with the other Binturongs within the Langur and Otter enclosure. |
|
Plans for Tropical House Development
Colchester Zoo is delighted to announce that plans are now being made for its next state of the art enclosure.
Plans are to be submitted for the development of the site for the new complex which will be where the old Orangutan and Lar Gibbon enclosure currently stands and will also incorporate the area behind where the Encounters Marquee used to be and the area presently known as Parrot Rock. This huge area is to become a brand new tropical walkthrough exhibit which will house over 7 new species to Colchester Zoo, including a brand new species of crocodile. The exhibit will be spread over two floors and will incorporate an underwater viewing tunnel in which you will be able to see crocodiles swim and feed above your heads, before coming out to see them basking around their outdoor pool on their heated rocks through three metre glass windows. Visitors will also be able to appreciate the crocodiles whilst relaxing with a cup of coffee or a snack on the terrace outside the present Kalahari Capers Play area.
On the second floor there will be an immersive tropical rainforest exhibit which visitors will be able to walk through whilst reptiles, snakes and tamarins surround them and birds fly over head. This new exhibit will also house our family of Buffy-headed Capuchins which will be moving from their current home to a brand new enclosure within the new development. The second floor of our new complex will be constructed from glass so that maximum use can be made of the natural sunlight, UV rays for the reptiles and warmth that this generates helping to minimize the environmental impact of the exhibit.
One of the most important and exciting aspects of this new development will be the fact that Colchester Zoo will be able to support the conservation of over five endangered or critically endangered species which we do not currently house within the collection. Many of these species will belong to European Breeding programmes that have been developed to help protect the future of these species. There will be wonderful new opportunities to educate visitors on the plight of the New World and to highlight the level of destruction that is being caused to these animals’ habitats. We will also be able to raise awareness of the work of CEPA, a charity that is fighting to save the Buffy Headed Capuchins (also known as Yellow breasted Capuchins) which is supported by Colchester Zoo’s own charity Action for the Wild. It is thought that there are fewer than 3,000 of these sub-species left in the wild and so it will be fabulous to have this new exhibit to support this cause further here at Colchester Zoo.
This new state of the art complex will be at the forefront of modern zoo design and will be one of Colchester Zoo’s most impressive exhibits to date. It is thought that it will cost over £2 million pounds to create.
Please note that these plans are all subject to planning permission. |
|
Nature Area Development
In an exciting new development Colchester Zoo has recently acquired 1.2 hectares of land to the south of the zoo site. Colchester Zoo aims to manage this land as a conservation area, enabling visitors to see a range of native wildlife species and highlighting local conservation issues. Colchester Zoo have been collaborating with the Essex Biodiversity Project to design a nature trail around this site, running through the riverside marshland and providing close up views of the Roman River. Numerous species already inhabit the site like Celery-leaved buttercup, Bog Stitchwort and Yellow Flag, as well as the locally rare Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly and birds like the Song Thrush and Turtle dove. Using a design created by the Essex Biodiversity Project, Colchester Zoo will create more wetland areas, hopefully increasing the diversity and abundance of invertebrate fauna and thus encouraging more foraging birds to the site. Colchester Zoo’s nature area is now under development as planning permission was approved by the council. Work is continuing and likely to be completed in time for the summer of 2010, with a series of board walks around the area and hides for bird watching.
|
|
«TO
ZOO DAYS
TO
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS »
|
|
|
|
