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Leopards at Ussuri Falls -NEW- for 2010
We are pleased to announce that building work for our new Amur leopard enclosure is complete! The new extensive expansion now named "Leopards at Ussuri Falls" can be found opposite Medellin Monkeys and White Tiger Valley and has nearly tripled the size of the leopards’ current home. As leopards are solitary in the wild, we have now created separate enclosures for our male and female leopard which includes an area to mix them during breeding season, which is the only time in the wild that they would interact. This is a much improved home for our leopards, incorporating more space in a natural environment, with lots of height and areas for climbing, plus better viewing for our guests.
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A new training wall has also been fitted at the enclosure so that viewing of training sessions with the keepers and leopards can be observed. This will enable you to see how Colchester Zoo’s training techniques are used to enrich our animals’ lives and aid vital research that is helping conservationists to protect this animal in the wild. The enclosure will become home to Dende and Milena until Sayan, our new arrival, completes his quarantine period. The whole project has cost over £100,000!!
Amur leopards are one of the most critically endangered big cats in the world, with less than 50 left in the wild. They are hunted for their thick coats and for their bones for the Traditional Chinese Medicine trade. They are also losing much of their habitat and are being killed by farmers when they turn to livestock to find food. |
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Aardvark Burrow
After outstanding breeding success with the zoos group of aardvarks, who have become one of the most successful breeding groups of aardvarks in Europe and the only successful group in the UK, the decision was taken to increase the size of the enclosure and incorporate two new burrows. This will enable our female aardvarks to be separated more easily from the group when they are due to give birth as females in the wild would naturally separate from their mates at this time.
The two new burrows allow a private off show area for the expectant mother to give birth in and have privacy and peace at this time. This will also mean that the rest of the family can stay in the main burrow and do not have to be moved out to another enclosure as has been the case in previous years. The main burrow will therefore now remain on show all year round. The mother and baby will be able to return to the main burrow after about a month when the baby is strong enough and big enough to be able to sustain any knocks from the other aardvarks.
This will be a big step forward in breeding aardvarks at Colchester Zoo as there will be less involvement needed from the keepers, whilst the new burrow will provide a more naturalistic environment for the breeding females. Whilst we regret that this new burrow will be off show to visitors to ensure maximum peace and privacy, there will be a web cam fitted in the original visitor tunnel so that the progress of the baby can be viewed from the very start!
The new burrow is now complete and open to the public. The aardvarks have moved in and can be seen enjoying their new home! |
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Wallaby Walkabout
Colchester Zoo is now home to a brand new group of wallabies! The Bennett’s Wallabies or Red-necked Wallabies, as they are also known, were transferred from two collections; Woburn Abbey Safari Park and Reaseheath College, just in time for summer and are now residents of our fantastic new Wallaby Walkabout enclosure!
Wallaby Walkabout is situated near our new African farm walkthrough and enables you to get really close to the wallabies and enjoy walking around the Australian themed exhibit! The group have settled in extremely well and this can be seen in how friendly our wallabies really are, often stopping to sunbathe on the paths and inspect any passing visitors!
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Orangutan Forest
The brand new Orangutan Forest opened in 2009! The site of the new enclosure is next to the old Stanway Church and is accessible via an underground walkway from Playa Patagonia.
In the future it is hoped that the zoo will be able to take on a breeding pair of the endangered primate in the hope that one day Orangutans can be bred at Colchester Zoo.
The new exhibit also features a selection of Asian fish in a wonderful new state of the art aquarium. The existing male in the new freshwater Asian Pond Turtle tank will also be joined by a mate in the next few days. As a greatly endangered species it is great news that Colchester Zoo will be able to breed Asian Pond turtles for the first time.
The new education house is full of interesting facts about the plight of Orangutans in the wild and why the conservation projects that they are supported by are so vitally important to their survival.
Work for this development will have cost in the region of £1,750,000, by the time it is fully complete.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and any enquiries should be e-mailed to mailto:alex@colchester-zoo.co.uk
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Suricata Sands
The brand new Meerkat enclosure was opened in style on 24th May by Michaela Strachan, animal enthusiast and TV presenter. Michaela (with help from keepers Matt and Suzanne) released the meerkats into their amazing new home, situated opposite Lion Rock. The new enclosure, offers the meerkats a much larger area with extensive areas to burrow and several large logs so the meerkats can climb and keep watch over their new home. Indoors there is a warm area for the meerkats to keep dry on those rainy days, with undercover viewing for our visitors too! Michaela Strachan was filming at Colchester Zoo for a Channel 5 programme called 'Michaela's Animal Road Trip', which you may have seen over the summer! As you may have read already, the four males that moved into the new enclosure have recently been joined by a female from Banham Zoo and it is very much hoped that the new enclosure will soon be made even more special by the pitter patter of little tiny feet! |
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Tugela Terrace BBQ
The new Tugela Terrace BBQ area opposite Cafe Umphafa and behind the Ice Cream Parlour is now complete, with the purpose made BBQ Kiosk almost complete and aiming for opening during Easter 2010!
The new terraced area provides plenty of outdoor seating for customers to enjoy a wide range of meals from Cafe Umphafa, food from the BBQ and picnics.
With the warmer weather approaching and the sun finally making a re-appearance this is the perfect place to sit and enjoy a bite to eat whilst making the most of the nicer weather! |
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