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Hoo Farm Hoo Farm zoo news

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Nisha, 22 Jul 2015.

  1. MagpieGoose

    MagpieGoose Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Arctic Fox- Only one individual left when I visited in June, should be mixed with the 'Silver' foxes
    Genets- Have been active on all of my visits, so shouldn't be too hard to spot
    Zorilla- They are fed towards the end of the day so it is worth asking a keeper to what time they are likely to be fed, but I have seen one in the nest box also
    Civets- Should have no trouble spotting them, as they have viewing in both the indoors and outdoors
     
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  2. Brum

    Brum Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I've recently seen my first Virginia opossum, unfortunately it was asleep but I definitely saw it! ;) I'm a big fan of tenrecs so will keep my eyes peeled for them as well. :)
     
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  3. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

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    The tentrecs are (well were when we last visited) in the indoor barn type area which is on the left as you walk in. Brushtail posum is also in this area. Like @MagpieGoose we've never had an issue seeing the genets, civets or virginia opossum being active - and the Zorilla were very active in late afternoon.
     
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  4. OstrichMania

    OstrichMania Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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  5. Brum

    Brum Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    After visiting today I can honestly say this place is a joy to visit, staff are friendly, enclosures are large and well furnished, and the species held are great... :)

    And in answer to @Pertinax (as yet unasked) question, we saw three blackbuck, 1.2. ;)
     
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  6. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Thankyou...:)
     
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  7. migdog

    migdog Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Hoo Farm have just announced on social media the arrival of two wolves. One is a hybrid though. Will be on show when the park re-opens in Feb.
     
  8. FunkyGibbon

    FunkyGibbon Well-Known Member

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    Virginia opossum died last year, but has been replaced by brush-tailed possum.

    I have to say, I didn't think most of the enclosures were very large at all. Most aviaries are smallish, and most carnivores are held in closed-top wood and wire exhibits. What is pretty standard for binturong feels fairly cramped for serval...
    (and the zorilla cage is really very small indeed)
     
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  9. Brum

    Brum Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I'd agree that the "one size fits all" approach doesn't work for the servals, or the caracals either, but where they work then they work well. I had bigger objections to certain animals sleeping quarters being predominantly on-show, possibly fishing cats and binturongs maybe?
    The zorilla cage reminded me of a ferrret cage, replete with plastic pipes and sawdust on the floor. I haven't seen a zorilla in person as yet, so don't feel comfortable commenting on the size but aesthetically speaking...

    Any ideas where the wolves will be going when they go on-show at all?
     
  10. FunkyGibbon

    FunkyGibbon Well-Known Member

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    They are up by the wallabies, the exhibit looks finished but the path is still closed.

    Oh, and jungle cat and bobcat are supposed to be arriving.
     
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  11. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Not surprising, given the source of the vast majority of their stock.
     
  12. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    I'm imagining a local Pet Emporium selling Jungle Cats, Bobcats, Zorillas, and Virginia Opossums. That's a thing in the UK right?
     
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  13. Brum

    Brum Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    That was closed when I was there due to the deer rutting, be interesting to see the hybrid to compare to the ones at Gentleshaw.
    And you skip that to tell us about a dead Virginia opossum... Sheesh!
     
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  14. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Not far off :p there's a particular private keeper who Hoo Farm have purchased a LOT of their past and present stock from, and they happen to be one of the only UK private collections with those two cat species.
     
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  15. migdog

    migdog Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Bobcat has arrived and is on show according to Facebook.
     
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  16. Animallover1998

    Animallover1998 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I picked up the newest leaflet for Hoo Farm earlier and it mentions that Jungle Cat are also now at the collection besides the Bobcat and Wolves. I must say I am glad to see that this collection has recently added a few larger carnivores to its collection. :)
     
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  17. littleRedPanda

    littleRedPanda Well-Known Member

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    Nice visit today, with a few arrivals since my previous visit, but mentioned above

    2 Bobcats next to Caracals
    2 Jungle cats (1 melanistic) corner of lemur walkthrough, by capybabra
    1 Grey wolf + 1 wolfdog
    1 Leopard cat in the little yard bit to the right as you are walking in.
     
  18. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the update - did you see all of the new cats?
     
  19. littleRedPanda

    littleRedPanda Well-Known Member

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    I didn't see the Leopard cat
     
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  20. Brum

    Brum Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Definitely need to get back and see the new arrivals! :D
     
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