Well there were keepers working in there so I don't think we could have got there. Hopefully I'll see them next time! Frustrated at how stupid this all sounds ha!
So I went along to Africa Alive today and it was a really pleasant day out seeing many of the animals that are there. The plains of Africa paddock extension is very impressive and certainly makes a hudge difference to the animals in there. The new rhino was inside all day still separated from the others but hopefully they will mix them all soon. I also saw the new aardvark house which was very cool and is much better than the old one. There are also a lot of babies at the moment including drills, coloubus and mangabey monkeys, zebra, lemurs and Somali wild ass. The main attraction to the park are obviously the lions they have a hudge enclosure and I was very impressed with it. Its got to be the best lion enclosure in the country. Overall very impressed with the place but I wish they had leopards and maybe an ape species such as chimps or even gorillas as thats what this place really needs!
Four fossa cubs were born at Africa Alive back in June. They are not on-show yet and are still inside the cubbing den, but a video from inside the den is available on the zoo's Facebook page.
News from a visit last Sunday: 1. The Golden bellied mangabeys are currently off show as their indoor enclosure is being upgraded. I have heard that the male was PTS end of last year. 2. Saw 6 Sengegal bushbabies, and the young aardvark was quite active during the afternoon (all the adults were still asleep). 3.Two births so far in 2018 - 1 Sitatunga and 1 Nyala. 4. The four Fossa cubs were active late in the day, and supposed to be moving to the bigger enclosure this week.
Tragedy if that is correct, as he was the father of the first of this species ever born in the UK... not too easy to replace either.
Visited today , noticed the old addax enclosure is empty with signs indicating redevelopment. There were 2 addax in what was the Bongo paddock. Not much else to report apart from a new Fennec Fox , yellow mongoose births in March , couple of Barbary Sheep born this year.
Did you notice if the Golden-bellied Mangabeys have a replacement male yet? Probably not with the baby being there- its risky. And how many Drills did you see- three (1.1. + young one)?
Golden-bellied Mangabey - mother and youngster outside, plus what looked like another female or young male was locked inside , it wasn't much bigger than the female outside . Drill - 1.1 plus youngster
That makes sense yes, there was a closed hatch to the back of the house as well , so it is remotely possible there was a male shut in off show, but it wouldn't have much space at all so very unlikely!
And knowing how long it takes for moves to be made and replacements to be acquired, particularly of unusual species like this, I'd say 'not yet'...
Hopefully that would be fantastic. This would also make sense as then this would be a "big cat" area with the lions and cheetahs.
A Chapman's zebra foal was born on the 18th July; it is yet to be sexed. More information on the link below: Birth of Zebra on the African Plains!