The second pair of Sumatran Civets were only at Hamerton temporarily and have now moved on. Two Parma Wallabies are in the exhibit, just grazing to keep grass down. There is still a pair in the exhibit opposite the Anteater.
Tip for viewing the Tasmanian Golden Possum passed on by @littleRedPanda is to go to their enclosure when the keepers have put out their food - today it was about 4.30 but I had to wait until 5pm when one showed itself even though the food was down for a while. Took quite a few photos before it scampered off - still a bit nervy I think. Tasmanian Golden Possum / Hamerton / 1-4-19 by hmb_zoo posted 1 Apr 2019 at 9:41 PM I've popped a couple more on the Hamerton media page.
I think this tank will be for queensland whistling spider as they are on hamertons website as being currently offshow.
After chatting to a reptile keeper, he explained that he made the tank without knowing what would inhabit it, so my guess was probably wrong and at the moment, nothing’s going in the tank!
Visited yesterday late afternoon hoping the weak sun would remain until closing. The two Cassowary are now fully on show and the female seems very curious and pretty tame and comes right up to the fence - hence the wire showing in the photo that I have just posted! The male however is a real scaredy cat and runs from his own shadow. They are on the right before you get to the Vultures and Marabou storks. Female Two-wattled Cassowary / Hamerton / 8-4-19 by hmb_zoo posted 9 Apr 2019 at 5:25 PM Still no sign of anything new in the reptile house. Lots of ground works going on in various unused enclosures/areas - new concrete hard standings so assume it is for huts. Managed to get a good look at the Eastern Aardwolf who was attempting to sunbathe and the other day did see the Southern Aardwolf out too (briefly). The Brown Wood Owl is trying again to brood some eggs right by the path so there is a small barricade to stop you getting too close, last attempt was unsuccessful - her keeper tells me she insists on nesting on the ground near foot traffic even though she's got lots of box options!
Thanks for the tip, I visited Hamerton this afternoon and saw both Golden Possum eating around 4.45. Also the other 2 possum visible from the walk through were eating at that time as well as the wombats, though they remained inside. My 3 hour visit was successful overall, with the aardwolves, swamp cavy and howler monkey being the only species I failed to see. Was pleased to see 2 jackal and the Maned wolves in view on more than one circuit . Despite the relatively cold conditions most animals were fairly active, especially the new Cassowary, whilst the tiger Quoll were seen mating and the Oncilla appeared in the mood too!
I think the Swamp Cavy have now left the collection (they don’t feature in the new guidebook, which covers all the species currently on show, and includes photographs of about 80% of them).
OK thanks, that would explain why I didn't manage to see them, though they were still signed with the brush turkey and potoroo .
They had swamp cavy two weeks ago, in with the brush turkeys nearest the tortoises, they're usually visible later afternoon.
Some more births and movements from Hamerton's animals have been posted on their news page: - A Ruppell's griffon vulture chick has recently hatched and is being reared off-show to prevent it from becoming too humanised. Two Ruppell's vultures hatched earlier at Hamerton have left for Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia. More information included in the link below: Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire - A young male from the most recent litter of tayra born at Hamerton was moved to Exmoor Zoo yesterday (14th April). More information included in the link below: Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Had a delightful visit this morning - not too long as I was with someone else who was less interested in going back repeatedly to various enclosures! It was busy - we were there before opening time and were near the front of the queue, but by the time they had opened there was a pretty long queue. I knew it would be busy, being the Easter weekend and lovely weather, but even with the crowds, it never feels too busy inside the zoo as people spread out well. Am I the only person who wonders if anyone else at any given zoo (particularly the smaller ones) is from here? If you were at Hamerton this morning and saw someone ignoring the active meerkats, instead loitering hopefully at the Greater Grison enclosure next door, that was me! I did not see the Grison, and to be fair to the meerkats, I had already taken a number of photos and video of them. Anyway, there were a few other things I didn't see, so plans are afoot for another visit, but later in the day. I did see the Southern aardwolf fast asleep inside their den, but only one of the Eastern aardwolves. I also bought the new guide book, which is excellent. Stunning photos!
I have to agree on the guide book, which I bought last week. It is probably the best guide book I've got anywhere for several years. I like that it mentions every species, has information on most or at least on that grouping, along with info on Hamerton's breeding record with them. There are also stunning photos of most of the species too. At £3.95, it is an average kind of price for a well above average guidebook. I wish there were more like it!
If anybody does manage to pick one up as a spare, I would be interested in taking one off their hands!
Thanks for posting that, I thought I may have to buy a few hundred and post them out after my next visit
I’m glad you like the guidebook. One minor correction: it actually sells for £3.50, not £3.95, making it even more of a bargain! The link for this is here: Hamerton Zoo Park - Animal Park Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
