The two red river hog piglets born in April have been sexed - they are one male and one female. Their father was imported from the USA back in 2017. More information is included on the link below: Red river hog piglets named! | Colchester Zoo The Victoria crowned pigeon pair has hatched their seventh chick. More information can be found on the link below: Pigeon pair welcome another chick! | Colchester Zoo
Went for a reasonably long, albeit slightly rainy, trip to Colchester today. Quite a few things of note, not all of them good unfortunately: Species Arrivals, Departures and Movements - It seems the black-and-white colobus are no longer in 'Out of Africa' and may have left the collection. All their signage has now been removed and I couldn't see them in that or any other enclosure around the zoo. - There is now a large school (50-plus) of a fairly small silvery fish mixed with the koi carp and goldfish in Koi Niwa. There is no signage saying exactly what species they are, but I am certain they are a species of bitterling. Births - Saw most of the newborns mentioned earlier in the thread - the blue duiker, a young mandrill, the recently-fledged crowned pigeon chick and the young aardvark on CCTV. Didn't see any of the red river hogs or coppery titi monkeys, so couldn't see their youngsters. Developments - The pygmy hippopotamus indoor extension is now finished, with one of the animals using the enclosure in the afternoon. It is a fairly simple affair, similar to the original indoor area but with the floor level slightly higher so you are closer to the animals. A new access gate has also been built between the current outdoor paddock and the old patas monkey outdoor enclosure. - The aquarium by the pygmy hippos is now finished but is as yet unlit and unoccupied by animals. The signs suggest it will be occupied by two species of Lake Victoria cichlid, the Haplochromis xenognathus and Haplochromis nyererei. - The two larger side terraria that in the past housed species such as Madagascar tree boa, radiated tortoise and Nile monitor lizard now have their newest inhabitants. Both enclosures are now displays for... tropical plants. I was fully expecting a repeat species of reptile or maybe a returning species, but they totally outdid my expectations in terms of disappointment. The middle enclosure has again been drained of water, has no lighting and no animals. General Observations - The Amur leopard main viewing area was closed for almost the entire day today, because the two animals have been mixed for mating. Fingers crossed for some success on that front! - Bull white rhinoceros 'Otto' was quite cantankerous with the three other rhinos in the paddock - when they rebuffed him he proceeded to run straight through the assorted zebras, kudu, ostrich and crowned cranes and scatter them. - For the first time ever, saw a Colombian black spider monkey using the tall trees in its enclosure. Seeing it really use its whole body to clamber around in the canopy was a truly brilliant sight. - Both of the on-show aardvarks were awake when I visited their enclosure, with one of them periodically heading outside and walking around.
Interesting interview with the zoo director about his life growing up with the zoo- The amazing and unusual life of the man who grew up on Colchester Zoo
An article has been released on the Colchester Zoo website about the newly redeveloped pygmy hippopotamus enclosure. It says that in the near-future the old patas monkey outdoor enclosure will be revamped to create an additional pool for the hippos. The article is included below: Our hippos are getting a new pad! | Colchester Zoo
Colchester Zoo have released an article about the birth of a baby mandrill on 11th May. The new youngster has recently been sexed as a male. The article is included below: Our mandrill troop has grown! | Colchester Zoo
Visited yesterday - The Tigers indoor house was closed off the public and in complete darkness no signs of all 3 tigers outdoor pool had been drained. Only 3 kudu visable (one female missing) only one crowned crane in with the dik dik
nope was only a sign on the door saying "closed sorry for the inconvenience" left hand room had the shutter down in complete darkness and the right hand one was open but no sign of tigers laying on the platforms like they normally are. none were visible outside either
That’s fantastic news! It’s great that the zoo has finally had some luck with their big cats and hopefully this will now lead onto more success!
That's what I was hoping for too,,,! I think everyone has learnt to drain the pool after London's disaster!
How long do you think it would be until the cubs would be out and about? (Not that I’m thinking of booking a tiger experience!)
Hi zoochatters, next week I'll be visiting Colchester Zoo for the first time and I'd like to ask you where in the Zoo can I find the enclosures for the Blue Duikers ( would be nice to see them again after many years ) and Red-backed Bearded Sakis ? Thanks for your reply. Jakub
