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News Archive
Below are the news reports for Cotswold Wildlife Park, covering significant events concerning the animal collection, such as births, arrivals, departures, and deaths.
Cotswold Wildlife Park Details
Arrival: March 2010
A 4-year-old male Tapir called Gomez has arrived from Longleat. It is hoped that he will be joined by a mate in the not too distant future.
Arrival: March 2010
A young female Bactrian Camel has arrived from Blackpool Zoo.
Birth: March 2010
Two baby Bactrian Camels have been born, a boy and a girl, to different mothers.
Arrival: March 2010
Four Humboldt Penguins have arrived from Belfast Zoo, to join the existing group in their newly refurbished enclosure.
Arrival: March 2010
A male Capybara has arrived from Blackpool Zoo, and is gradually being introduced to the resident female, in the hope that they will form a new breeding pair.
Arrival: March 2010
A young male Red Panda has arrived from Chester Zoo. He is too closely related to the much older resident female for them to form a breeding pair, but they should provide each other with companionship.
Death: March 2010
Squidge the female Tapir has sadly had to be put to sleep after she developed a severe infection in her jawbone; she began losing her teeth and could not eat.
Death: 24 February 2010
Jessei, the male Amur Leopard, has sadly had to be put to sleep following a marked deterioration in his arthritis and failing eyesight. He had reached the age of 18 and was probably the oldest Amur Leopard in the world.
Arrival: February 2010
Two more male Crowned Sifakas, called Bafana and Douany, have arrived from Besancon Museum, France. They join the existing male who arrived last year, as part of the European breeding programme for this critically endangered Madagascan primate species.
Birth: February 2010
A Parma Wallaby joey has been born.
Birth: 16 January 2010
A baby male Siamang has been born, the 6th for parents Xhulu and Spindle.
Death: 5 January 2010
Bull, the male White Rhino and the last of the original trio of Rhinos at the park, has sadly had to be put to sleep after a prolonged period of veterinary attention for ailments associated with old age. He had reached the age of 41, a very great age for a Rhino, and had been at the park since 1972.
Arrival: January 2010
A male Pallas Cat called Hopalong has arrived from Howletts, to join Tsara, the existing lone female.
Birth: January 2010
A female Jaguarundi kitten has been born.
Birth: 4 December 2009
A male Zebra foal has been born, to proud parents Dampy and Xena.
Arrival: November 2009
A male Wolverine called Sarka has arrived from Nordens Ark in Sweden, and begun his 6-month quarantine period. He will join Sharapova the female who arrived earlier this year and has now completed her quarantine period and is on show in her new enclosure. They are currently the only Wolverines in England.
Arrival: November 2009
A Lioness called Gir has arrived from Dudley Zoo to join the existing pair.
Arrival: 20 October 2009
Two female White Rhinos have arrived from South Africa, having been captive bred on a game farm.
Birth: 2 September 2009
Six baby Morelet's Crocodiles have hatched, the second successful hatching at the park.
Birth: August 2009
Three baby miniature Ouessant Sheep have been born, to separate mothers, and can be seen in the Children's Farmyard.
Birth: August 2009
A baby Rhinoceros Iguana called Rocky has been born, the first at the Park. He is currently being held off-show.
Depart: August 2009
The female Hornbill has been transferred to Dublin Zoo, to form a pair with their male as part of the European Breeding Programme.
Birth: 22 July 2009
Two more baby Ring Tailed Lemurs (twins) have been born.
Birth: July 2009
Two more Black Storks have hatched, and are doing well.
Arrival: July 2009
Two young male Griffon Vultures have arrived from Colchester Zoo.
Birth: July 2009
Jagurundi kittens have been born, for the second consecutive year.
Birth: July 2009
A second clutch of Blue Bellied Roller chicks have hatched, making a total of five this year. The Park is the only collection in Europe successfully breeding this species.
Arrival: June 2009
A family of Red-bellied Lemurs arrived from Paris Zoo in December, and have now moved into the Madagascan Walkthrough exhibit following completion of their quarantine period. This includes an adult male and female, two young males, and a baby that was born on 21 April while in quarantine.
Arrival: June 2009
A male Crowned Sifaka called Youssou has arrived from Besancon Museum in France, and is currently undergoing quarantine before joining the Madagascar exhibit.
Arrival: May 2009
Four male Azara's Agoutis have arrived from Port Lympne Wild Animal Park.
Birth: May 2009
This spring's births so far include: 4 baby Slender-Tailed Meerkats; 3 baby Otters; twin baby Ring-Tailed Lemurs; a baby Yellow Mongoose; 10 baby Striped Skunks; and several White Stork chicks.
Arrival: 11 April 2009
A female Wolverine has arrived from Moscow Zoo. After completing 6 months quarantine she will go on show in a new woodland enclosure, and should be joined by a male from Nordens Ark in Sweden.
Arrival: April 2009
A young male White Rhinoceros called Monty has arrived from Knowsley Safari Park. He joins Bull, one of the earliest residents of the park, and they should be joined by two young females later this year.
Arrival: April 2009
Two young male Reindeer have arrived from Blackpool Zoo. They will initially be held off-show while they settle in before moving into the Children's Farmyard later this year.
Arrival: February 2009
Six African Openbill Storks have arrived, the only members of this species exhibited in UK zoos.
Arrival: January 2009
A breeding group of Turkish Spiny Mice has arrived from Chester Zoo, and several babies have already been born. This species is only found on one mountainside in Silifke, southern Turkey, and was classified as Critically Endangered in the 1995 IUCN Redlist. When surveyed in 2006, none were found, so the species may well now be extinct in the wild.
Arrival: January 2009
A male Tree Shrew has arrived, and taken up residence in the insect house. It is hoped that a female will join him later in the year.
Birth: January 2009
A baby Crested Gecko has hatched, with hopefully more to follow from the same batch of eggs. This species was thought to have been extinct since 1866 until rediscovered in 1994.
Death: 4 December 2008
The Zebra foal born in August has sadly had to be put down following a badly fractured leg and major loss of blood. How he came to break his leg is not known: he was discovered in this state in the morning having spent the night in his normal stable with his mother and other mares.
Birth: October 2008
A baby female Squirrel Monkey called Lulu has been born. She was unfortunately found very weak on her enclosure floor and is being hand-reared by keepers until she can be returned to the group.
Arrival: October 2008
A group of critically endangered Utilan Iguana have arrived.
A Black Mamba snake has also arrived.
Arrival: September 2008
Groups of Pied Avocets, Black Winged Stilts and Redshanks have arrived. Von Der Deckens Hornbills have also arrived.
Birth: 11 August 2008
A male Chapman's Zebra foal has been born.
Birth: August 2008
Three Jaguarundi kittens have been born.
Arrival: July 2008
A pair of White Faced Saki monkeys have arrived, and have now completed their quarantine period and are on show in the Walled Garden.
Arrival: 10 June 2008
A four-year-old Lar Gibbon called Topoff has arrived from Thrigby Hall, to join the existing young female Jara and hopefully make a new breeding pair.
Birth: 4 June 2008
A baby Siamang called Tiku as been born, the fifth for parents Spindle and Xhulu.
Birth: June 2008
A baby Collared Lemur and baby Ring-tailed Lemur have been born.
Birth: 16 May 2008
Two Bactrian Camels have been born, both females. Mei-Li was born on the 16th, Olivia on the 21st.
Arrival: April 2008
A pair of Striped Skunks have arrived, and have taken up residence in the Children's Farmyard.
Birth: 21 March 2008
A baby Bactrian Camel has been born.
Depart: 12 March 2008
The group of Spider Monkeys, all females but of different sub-species, and therefore not appropriate for breeding, have moved to go into retirement at Reaseheath College, near Chester. Their enclosure will be used for a pair of Purple-Faced Leaf Monkeys.
Sadly Gertie, the last remaining mammal who was resident at the Park when it opened in 1970, was not able to go with her companions: on the morning of their departure, she was found to be very weak and it was decided to euthanase her. The age-related problems from which she had been suffering had finally caught up with her, and she was very unlikely to respond to treatment.
Birth: 12 March 2008
Twin Ring-Tailed Lemurs have been born.
Death: 10 March 2008
Winston, the 30-year-old White-Handed Gibbon, has sadly died of age-related causes.
Arrival: March 2008
Two Purple-Faced Langurs, or Leaf Monkeys, (a female and her youngster) have arrived from Belfast Zoo, and should soon be joined by a male from Twycross Zoo. This species is only found on Sri Lanka and is endangered from habitat loss and other threats. It is also currently only kept by three zoos in Europe.
Arrival: February 2008
Chandra, a male Asiatic Lion, has arrived from Bristol Zoo, to replace Sabu (who died last year) as Akela's mate. Chandra is also Sabu's brother, and was previously resident at the Park in 1994-6.
Birth: February 2008
A Sheepmaker's Crowned Pigeon chick has hatched, the fourth for the parents since their arrival at the Park in 2004. The species is the largest of the Pigeon family, and only lays one egg at a time.
Birth: February 2008
Two baby Arapawa Goats have been born.
Birth: January 2008
Twin White-Lipped Peccary babies have been born.
Arrival: January 2008
A male Greater Bamboo Lemur has arrived to join the resident female, in the hope that they will form a valuable breeding pair for this Critically Endangered species, one of the rarest mammals in the world.
Birth: December 2007
A baby Banded Mongoose has been born.
Arrival: December 2007
A Pudu called Winnie has arrived. One of the world's smallest species of deer, and endangered in the wild.
Birth: December 2007
A baby Green Anaconda has been born, the first for the Park and a rare event in captivity.
Death: 21 November 2007
Sabu, the 13-year-old male Asiatic Lion has sadly died from a viral infection, despite the best efforts of vets and staff to treat him. His partner, Akela, is in good health, but is being kept under observation for signs of similar infection.
Birth: November 2007
A baby Capybara has been born.
Arrival: November 2007
Snowy-Headed Robin Chats have arrived.
Arrival: November 2007
Arapawa Goats have arrived, a new rare breed for the Farmyard area.
Arrival: November 2007
A Parma Wallaby Joey has arrived.
Birth: October 2007
Twelve baby Morelets Crocodiles have been born, the first in the UK. They will go on show early next year.
Birth: June 2007
More births this year: Slender-Tailed Meerkat, Emporer Tamarin, Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Humboldt Penguin, Black Stork, Ouessant Sheep, Flamingos.
Birth: April 2007
Two Ring-Tailed Lemurs have been born, to separate mothers.
Arrival: March 2007
A pair of Jaguarondi (a type of small cat) have arrived from Hamerton Zoo. These are the first small cat species to be held at the Park.
Arrival: March 2007
`Tambopata', an 18-month old Linne's Two-toed Sloth, has arrived from Krefeld Zoo, Germany, to join `Kachiri' the existing female in the Tropical House.
Birth: March 2007
`Tikki' the Reticulated Python has laid a clutch of over 44 eggs. The eggs are being incubated off-show, and should hatch in about 3 months.
Arrival: February 2007
Two new lemur species have arrived from Blackpool Zoo: 4 Ring-Tailed and 3 Black. These are destined for the new walk-through Madagascan exhibit currently under construction, but are currently on display in a temporary enclosure in the Walled Garden.
Opening: February 2007
The Insect House refurbishment has now been completed, and the butterflies are back.
Birth: February 2007
The Oriental Small Clawed Otters, Archie and Ellie, have produced another litter of cubs, the fifth for Ellie in the four years she has been ta the Park.
Arrival: February 2007
Two young (13 weeks) British Giant Rabbits have arrived from Dudley Zoo.
Open: February 2007
The narrow gauge railway track has now been extended, to form a complete circuit, and resulting in a longer ride and hopefully less queuing on busy days.
Open: 25 August 2006
Wolf Wood enclosure officially opened, and is now home to four Canadian Timber Wolves. The enclosure features a wooden walkway for visitors leading to a sheltered viewing platform.
Open: August 2006
The new Water Garden in the Walled Garden is nearly complete, and is now open to visitors. The new animal enclosures are not yet occupied, but the pool with waterfall has been stocked with Koi Carp.
Open: May 2006
The pair of Great Indian Hornbills are now back in their enclosure in the Walled Garden. The height of their aviary has been increased, which may help to stimulate breeding activity.
Arrival: March 2006
A pair of Linne's Two-toed Sloths have arrived from Hamerton Zoological Park, and are now housed in the walk-through Tropical House.
Open: March 2006
A new enclosure has been built in the Barn of the Farmyard area, to house a group of Brown Rats. The display should allow visitors an insight into the lives of these much misunderstood animals, and show the true nature of these highly intelligent creatures.
Birth: December 2005
A baby Red-handed Tamarin has been born. The parents are part of a European Breeding Programme for this endangered species.
Birth: 18 June 2005
The Reticulated Python eggs, laid on 22 March, have begun to hatch. The hatching should be completed over the next 8 days. The young snakes will be passed on to other collections in the UK and Europe.
The Jungle Carpet Pythons have also started to hatch, and the Blotched Python has started to lay eggs.
Open: Spring 2005
Five new aviaries opened in a woodland area near the narrow gauge railway `Bradwell Grove' station. They will house a number of species, especially of the pheasant family.
Notes:
Where possible, the dates given are for the event itself, but some zoos do not make this information available, when the date of announcement is used instead.
Seasons: Winter = Jan - Mar, Spring = Apr - Jun, Summer = Jul - Sept, Autumn = Oct - Dec.
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