Colchester Zoo
Encyclopedia
Colchester Zoo is a zoo
in Essex
, England
. The zoo had 547,495 visitors in 2003 and 464,684 in 2004. It features big cat
and primate
collections as well as many others.
Colchester Zoo is supported by a charitable organisation called Action for the Wild. The charity is dedicated to assisting conservation projects worldwide through the provision of both financial and technical assistance.
and incorporates more space in a natural environment, with lots of height and areas for climbing plus better viewing for visitors. The area was previously home to Jaguar
, Ocelot
, Margay
and several smaller enclosures for various tamarins.
. Also housed in the elephants' indoor area are terrariums for a Nile monitor lizard and Indian star tortoises.
, ostrich
, a pair of female greater kudu
and a group of grey crowned crane
. Indoors is a series of smaller exhibits home to pygmy hippopotamus
, Patas monkey
, plated lizard, Nile monitor lizard, several species of tortoise
, village weaver birds, cichlids from Lake Malawi
, leaf-cutter ants, reed frogs and a variety of invertebrates. There is also an aviary home to African white-backed vultures and Rüppell's Vulture
and the Aardvark Burrow, home to Britain's most successful breeding group of aardvark
.
, black-and-white ruffed lemur
, groups of red river hog
and warthog
, a pair of spotted hyena
, a pair of cheetah
, Kirk's dik-dik
and pairs of grey crowned crane
and blue crane
. Species that have previously been housed in this area included striped hyena
, mantled geureza and blue duiker
.
and Chilean flamingo
along with a large number of red-eared terrapins that live freely in the lake.
. A breeding pair and one of their previous offspring arrived at first from the Rare Species Conservation Centre, but the one youngster left the collection at a later period. The adult otters then went on to have four cubs. The new otter enclosure includes dense vegetation and two different pools.
, chickens, doves
, horses, llamas and rabbits. There is also a walkthrough enclosure for Bennett's wallabies- this enclosure formerly housed a breeding pair of Rocky Mountain goat. The indoor barn features not only sheep and poultry, but reindeer
, chinchillas, degu
, tailless tenrec and a small nocturnal area for a colony of feathertail glider
.
. As well as being a home for the zoo's lions, this area also features a large colony of Asia Minor spiny mouse
in one of the lion viewing areas and also an enclosure for fennec fox. In the past, rock hyrax have been held in the indoor area. Opposite the lion enclosure is Suricata Sands, an enclosure that holds a colony of meerkats.
who died on December 15, 2010 age 15. The enclosure now stands empty but will later be turned into a walkthrough enclosure housing lemurs.
and ring-tailed lemur
. Viewable from the Tanganyika Bridge are not only the lemurs but also a mixed enclosure home to binturong
, Oriental small-clawed otter
and silvery lutung
. There is also a large enclosure called Gelada Plateau, that houses the zoo's group of geladas.
, red-billed blue magpie
and at the top of the hill there is an enclosure that has previously held snow leopard
, fossa
, giant anteater
and various New World monkeys and an African aviary that normally holds purple gallinule
, hamerkop, Von der Decken's hornbill
and curlew
. There is also a small hidden enclosure for Geoffroy's cat
. The Hornbill Hill aviaries and part of the Medellin Monkeys exhibit has been demolished to make way for the new sun bear enclosure.
, but also features silver dollar
, anglefish, green iguana
and a pair of Red-backed bearded saki
. The enclosures just outside of Heart of the Amazon were previously home to both black and brown bears but currently house a pair of L'Hoest's guenon and the troop of yellow-breasted capuchins.
, a pair of pileated gibbon
, rhinoceros hornbill
and red pandas.
exhibit, and houses an all-female group of South American sea lion
.
, that arrived from the Rare Species Conservation Centre. Both the male (Jo-Jo) and the female (Srey-Ya) moved over to the UK from Cambodia, where they had both been rescued at a young age. They are getting a new enclosure near Medellin Monkeys. Another enclosure that formerly held gibbons now holds a surplus pair of Colombian black spider monkeys. In the future, this area will be demolished and become a new tropical house home to Cuban crocodile
, yellow-breasted capuchin and several other tropical species.
and yellow anaconda, poison-dart frogs, coral reef fish, ocellate river stingray
, piranha
, emperor tamarin
, several South American cichlids and pied tamarins.
, Geoffrey's marmoset, silvery marmoset
, Goeldi's marmoset
, Chaco chachalaca
and a pair of Southern tamandua
.
. The adjoining Iguana Forest holds several green iguanas confiscated from airport customs, yellow-footed tortoise and North American box turtle. This walkthrough also previously housed the zoo's Lesser Malayan chevrotain.
. As well as this pair of orangutans, the complex also holds various stick insects, several freshwater and coral reef fish, Giant Asian pond turtle
and Amboina box turtle.
.
and an aviary that currently houses a Montserrat oriole
and Victoria crowned pigeons although in the past it has housed rufous hornbills and keel-billed toucans.
. There are two enclosures so that they can be separated if needed, and both enclosures have a pool and some vegetation. Beyond the tiger enclosure is a large paddock home to a group of the critically endangered Philippine spotted deer
.
. Animals that were formerly housed in this area include American alligator
and rock hyrax.
, collared mangabey
, grey wolf, African wild dog
and black-backed jackal
.
star Konnie Huq
and began transmission on 9 June and ran for 4 weeks.
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The zoo had 547,495 visitors in 2003 and 464,684 in 2004. It features big cat
Big cat
The term big cat – which is not a biological classification – is used informally to distinguish the larger felid species from smaller ones. One definition of "big cat" includes the four members of the genus Panthera: the tiger, lion, jaguar, and leopard. Members of this genus are the only cats able...
and primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
collections as well as many others.
Colchester Zoo is supported by a charitable organisation called Action for the Wild. The charity is dedicated to assisting conservation projects worldwide through the provision of both financial and technical assistance.
Animal exhibits
The animals habitats at Colchester Zoo are presented in a number of different themed zones.Leopards at Ussuri Falls
Completed in February 2010, this new exhibit houses a pair of Amur LeopardAmur Leopard
The Amur leopard , also known as the Far Eastern leopard, Korean leopard, and Manchurian leopard is one of nine recognised subspecies of leopard. It is a wild feline predator native to the mountainous areas of the Russian Far East. It used to inhabit the forests of Korea and China, but it has...
and incorporates more space in a natural environment, with lots of height and areas for climbing plus better viewing for visitors. The area was previously home to Jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
, Ocelot
Ocelot
The ocelot , pronounced /ˈɒsəˌlɒt/, also known as the dwarf leopard or McKenney's wildcat is a wild cat distributed over South and Central America and Mexico, but has been reported as far north as Texas and in Trinidad, in the Caribbean...
, Margay
Margay
The Margay is a spotted cat native to Middle and South America. Named for Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied, it is a solitary and nocturnal animal that prefers remote sections of the rainforest. Although it was once believed to be vulnerable to extinction, the IUCN now lists it as "Near Threatened"...
and several smaller enclosures for various tamarins.
Spirit of Africa
The Spirit of Africa: Elephant Kingdom is home to the zoo's herd of African elephants, and offers the elephants maximum sight, sound and physical contact with each other along with secure and spacious bull elephant accommodation. Two calves have been born since the elephants moved here from their previous enclosure (on the site of Playa Patagonia)- Jambo the younger calf joined a group at Valencia Bioparc while Kito the older calf moved to Dvůr Králové ZooDvur Králové Zoo
Dvůr Králové Zoo is a zoo located in Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czech Republic.Dvůr Králové Zoo is a member of the Czech and Slovak Union of Zoological Gardens , founded in 1990, with 15 Czech and 4 Slovak member Zoos. From 1995 to 2010, Dvůr Králové Zoo was member of the European Association of Zoos...
. Also housed in the elephants' indoor area are terrariums for a Nile monitor lizard and Indian star tortoises.
Kingdom of the Wild
Kingdom of the Wild mainly features an outdoor paddock home to the zoo's herd of Southern white rhinoceros, Reticulated giraffe, Burchell's zebraBurchell's Zebra
Burchell's Zebra is a southern subspecies of the Plains Zebra.-Range:Formerly Burchell's zebra ranged north of the Vaal/Orange river system, extending northwest via southern Botswana to Etosha and the Kaokoveld, southeast to Swaziland and Kwazulu-Natal...
, ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
, a pair of female greater kudu
Greater Kudu
The Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting....
and a group of grey crowned crane
Grey Crowned Crane
The Grey Crowned Crane is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats. This animal does not migrate....
. Indoors is a series of smaller exhibits home to pygmy hippopotamus
Pygmy Hippopotamus
The pygmy hippopotamus is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa . The pygmy hippo is reclusive and nocturnal...
, Patas monkey
Patas Monkey
The patas monkey , also known as the Wadi monkey or Hussar monkey, is a ground-dwelling monkey distributed over semi-arid areas of West Africa, and into East Africa. It is the only species classified in the genus Erythrocebus...
, plated lizard, Nile monitor lizard, several species of tortoise
Tortoise
Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles . Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise...
, village weaver birds, cichlids from Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
, leaf-cutter ants, reed frogs and a variety of invertebrates. There is also an aviary home to African white-backed vultures and Rüppell's Vulture
Rüppell's Vulture
Rüppell's Vulture is a large vulture that occurs throughout the Sahel region of central Africa. The current population of 30,000 is in decline due to ongoing loss of habitat and other pressures...
and the Aardvark Burrow, home to Britain's most successful breeding group of aardvark
Aardvark
The aardvark is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa...
.
Edge of Africa
Edge of Africa is a series of enclosures housing a variety of African species including a troop of mandrillMandrill
The mandrill is a primate of the Old World monkey family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the drill. Both the mandrill and the drill were once classified as baboons in genus Papio, but recent research has determined they should be separated into their own genus, Mandrillus...
, black-and-white ruffed lemur
Black-and-white ruffed lemur
The black-and-white ruffed lemur is the more endangered of the two species of ruffed lemurs, both of which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities...
, groups of red river hog
Red River Hog
The red river hog , also known as the bush pig , is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests...
and warthog
Warthog
The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
, a pair of spotted hyena
Spotted Hyena
The spotted hyena also known as laughing hyena, is a carnivorous mammal of the family Hyaenidae, of which it is the largest extant member. Though the species' prehistoric range included Eurasia extending from Atlantic Europe to China, it now only occurs in all of Africa south of the Sahara save...
, a pair of cheetah
Cheetah
The cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...
, Kirk's dik-dik
Kirk's Dik-dik
Kirk's Dik-dik is a small antelope found in eastern and southwestern Africa. It grows to in length and weighs up to when full grown. It has a reddish-brown head and a tail that is long....
and pairs of grey crowned crane
Grey Crowned Crane
The Grey Crowned Crane is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats. This animal does not migrate....
and blue crane
Blue Crane
The Blue Crane , also known as the Stanley Crane and the Paradise Crane, is the national bird of South Africa. It is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. It is 100–120 cm tall and weighs 4.0–6.2 kg...
. Species that have previously been housed in this area included striped hyena
Striped Hyena
The Striped Hyena is a species of true hyena native to North and East Africa, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Middle and Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent...
, mantled geureza and blue duiker
Blue Duiker
Blue Duiker is a small forest dwelling duiker found in the Central Africa and southern South Africa.Blue Duikers stand around 35 centimetres tall at the shoulder and weigh 4 kilograms.They are the smallest of the antelope family. Blue Duikers have a brown coat with a slight blue tinge – hence...
.
The Lakes
The Lakes currently hold a small collection of waterbirds such as Dalmatian pelicanDalmatian Pelican
The Dalmatian Pelican is a member of the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe to India and China in swamps and shallow lakes. The nest is a crude heap of vegetation....
and Chilean flamingo
Chilean Flamingo
The Chilean Flamingo is a large species closely related to Caribbean Flamingo and Greater Flamingo, with which it was sometimes considered conspecific...
along with a large number of red-eared terrapins that live freely in the lake.
Otter Creek
Living in the former enclosure for harbour seals, Otter Creek is an expanded enclosure that houses a group of six smooth-coated otterSmooth-coated Otter
The Smooth-coated Otter is a species of otter, the only extant representative of the genus Lutrogale. The species is found from southern Pakistan and parts of the India east to Southeast Asia, and there is a disjunct population in Iraq...
. A breeding pair and one of their previous offspring arrived at first from the Rare Species Conservation Centre, but the one youngster left the collection at a later period. The adult otters then went on to have four cubs. The new otter enclosure includes dense vegetation and two different pools.
Familiar Friends
This petting area features a variety of mostly domesticated species including goats, sheep, cattleCattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, chickens, doves
Doves
Doves are an English alternative indie rock band, originating from Wilmslow, Cheshire. The band comprises brothers Jez Williams and Andy Williams , and Jimi Goodwin . The members started working seriously together after meeting at The Haçienda in Manchester. Doves' unofficial fourth member is...
, horses, llamas and rabbits. There is also a walkthrough enclosure for Bennett's wallabies- this enclosure formerly housed a breeding pair of Rocky Mountain goat. The indoor barn features not only sheep and poultry, but reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
, chinchillas, degu
Degu
The degu is a small caviomorph rodent that is endemic to central Chile.It is sometimes referred to as the brush-tailed rat, and is also called the common degu, to distinguish it from the other members of the genus Octodon. Other members are also called degus, but they are distinguished by...
, tailless tenrec and a small nocturnal area for a colony of feathertail glider
Feathertail Glider
The Feathertail Glider , also known as the Pygmy Gliding Possum, Pygmy Glider, Pygmy Phalanger, Flying Phalanger and Flying Mouse, is the world's smallest gliding possum and is named for its long feather-shaped tail. Although only the size of a very small mouse , it can leap and glide up to 25 metres...
.
Lion Rock
Lion Rock houses a trio of lions that all hailed from Woburn Safari ParkWoburn Safari Park
Woburn Safari Park is a safari park located in Woburn, Bedfordshire in the UK. Visitors to the park can drive through the large animal exhibits, which contain species such as White Rhino, Elephants, Tigers and Black Bears...
. As well as being a home for the zoo's lions, this area also features a large colony of Asia Minor spiny mouse
Asia Minor Spiny Mouse
The Asia Minor Spiny Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Turkey.Its natural habitat is temperate forests....
in one of the lion viewing areas and also an enclosure for fennec fox. In the past, rock hyrax have been held in the indoor area. Opposite the lion enclosure is Suricata Sands, an enclosure that holds a colony of meerkats.
Out of Africa
This small area is home to the zoo's blue-eyed black lemurs and mantled geureza, and also features the old den of the zoo's spotted hyenas.White Tiger Valley
This enclosure previously housed Sasha, the zoo's only white tigerWhite tiger
The white tiger is a recessive mutant of the Bengal tiger, which was reported in the wild from time to time in Assam, Bengal, Bihar and especially from the former State of Rewa.-Color comparison:...
who died on December 15, 2010 age 15. The enclosure now stands empty but will later be turned into a walkthrough enclosure housing lemurs.
Lemur Islands and Gelada Plateau
There are three lemur islands viewed by the land train- one is empty but the others hold red ruffed lemurRed Ruffed Lemur
The red ruffed lemur is one of two species in the genus Varecia, the ruffed lemurs; the other is the black-and-white ruffed lemur . Like all lemurs, it is native to Madagascar and occurs only in the rainforests of Masoala, in the northeast of the island...
and ring-tailed lemur
Ring-tailed Lemur
The ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar...
. Viewable from the Tanganyika Bridge are not only the lemurs but also a mixed enclosure home to binturong
Binturong
The Binturong , also known as the Asian Bearcat, the Palawan Bearcat, or simply the Bearcat, is a species of the family Viverridae, which includes the civets and genets. It is the only member of its genus...
, Oriental small-clawed otter
Oriental Small-clawed Otter
The oriental small-clawed otter , also known as Asian small-clawed otter, is the smallest otter species in the world, weighing less than 5 kg. It lives in mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands of Bangladesh, Burma, India, southern China, Taiwan, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines,...
and silvery lutung
Silvery Lutung
The silvery lutung , also known as the silvered leaf monkey or the silvery langur, is an Old World monkey. It is arboreal, living in coastal, mangrove, and riverine forests in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo....
. There is also a large enclosure called Gelada Plateau, that houses the zoo's group of geladas.
Medellin Monkeys and Hornbill Hill
The Medellin Monkeys enclosure is home to one of the main groups of Colombian black spider monkey. Hornbill Hill is a steep and narrow pathway that featured enclosures for Waldrapp ibis, Southern ground hornbill, black hornbillBlack Hornbill
The Black Hornbill, Anthracoceros malayanus, is a species of bird of the hornbill family Bucerotidae.It lives in Asia in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand.-External links:...
, red-billed blue magpie
Red-billed Blue Magpie
The Red-billed Blue Magpie, Urocissa erythrorhyncha is a species of bird in the crow family Corvidae. It is about the same size as the European Magpie but has a much longer tail, the longest tail of any corvid. It is 65-68 cm long and weighs 196-232 grams .-Description:The head, neck and breast...
and at the top of the hill there is an enclosure that has previously held snow leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
, fossa
Fossa
Fossa may refer to:*Fossa dei Leoni, an Italian football supporters association of Milan*La Fossa, an Italian rap group*Formaggio di fossa, a sheep's milk cheese from Sogliano al Rubicone, Italy*Cacio di Fossa, a hard, sharp sheep's milk Italian cheese...
, giant anteater
Giant Anteater
The Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest species of anteater. It is the only species in the genus Myrmecophaga. It is found in Central and South America from Honduras to northern Argentina...
and various New World monkeys and an African aviary that normally holds purple gallinule
Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule is an alternative name for two species of birds in the rail family. It can refer to:* Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio of the Old World* American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica of the New World...
, hamerkop, Von der Decken's hornbill
Von der Decken's Hornbill
Von der Decken's Hornbill is a hornbill. Hornbills are a family of tropical near-passerine birds found in East Africa, especially to the east of the Rift Valley, from Ethiopia south to Tanzania. It is mainly found in thorn scrub and similar arid habitats. It often includes Jackson's Hornbill as...
and curlew
Curlew
The curlews , genus Numenius, are a group of eight species of birds, characterised by long, slender, downcurved bills and mottled brown plumage. They are one of the most ancient lineages of scolopacid waders, together with the godwits which look similar but have straight bills...
. There is also a small hidden enclosure for Geoffroy's cat
Geoffroy's Cat
Geoffroy's Cat is a wild cat in the southern and central regions of South America. It is about the size of a domestic cat. While the species is relatively common in many areas, it is considered to be "Near Threatened" by IUCN because of concern over land-use changes in the regions where it lives...
. The Hornbill Hill aviaries and part of the Medellin Monkeys exhibit has been demolished to make way for the new sun bear enclosure.
Heart of the Amazon
This complex mainly centres around the zoo's large troop of common squirrel monkeyCommon Squirrel Monkey
The common squirrel monkey is a small New World primate from the Cebidae family, and native to the tropical areas of South America.-Location:...
, but also features silver dollar
Silver dollar
Silver dollar may refer to:* A Dollar coin made of any white metal, especially one made of silver.* A Canadian silver dollar commemorative coin.* Silver trade dollars issued by a number of countries...
, anglefish, green iguana
Green Iguana
The Green Iguana or Common Iguana is a large, arboreal herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana native to Central and South America...
and a pair of Red-backed bearded saki
Red-backed Bearded Saki
The Red-backed bearded saki, Chiropotes chiropotes, is a species of bearded saki, a type of New World monkey, from South America. It is found north of the Amazon River and east of the Branco River in Brazil and the Guianas. It is possible the scientific name C...
. The enclosures just outside of Heart of the Amazon were previously home to both black and brown bears but currently house a pair of L'Hoest's guenon and the troop of yellow-breasted capuchins.
Wilds of Asia
Wilds of Asia is made up of an indoor house and several nearby enclosures. The indoor area holds a Philippine sailfin lizard, Burmese pythons, Amboina box turtle, a variety of Asian fish and rufous hornbills. The rufous hornbill enclosure has previously held rhinoceros hornbill, Southern tamandua and fishing cats. The outdoor enclosures hold a group of lion-tailed macaqueLion-tailed Macaque
The lion-tailed macaque is an Old World monkey that is endemic to the Western Ghats of South India.-Physical Characteristics:...
, a pair of pileated gibbon
Pileated Gibbon
The pileated gibbon is a primate in the Hylobatidae or gibbon family.The pileated gibbon has sexual dimorphism in fur coloration: males have a purely black fur, while the females have a white-grey colored fur with only the belly and head black...
, rhinoceros hornbill
Rhinoceros Hornbill
The Rhinoceros Hornbill, Buceros rhinoceros, is one of the largest hornbills, adults being approximately the size of a swan, 110-127 cm long and weighing 2-3 kg . The Rhinoceros Hornbill lives in captivity for up to 35 years...
and red pandas.
Playa Patagonia
Playa Patagonia is on the site of the zoo's previous African elephant and Bactrian camelBactrian camel
The Bactrian camel is a large, even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of central Asia. It is presently restricted in the wild to remote regions of the Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts of Mongolia and Xinjiang. A small number of wild Bactrian camels still roam the Mangystau Province of southwest...
exhibit, and houses an all-female group of South American sea lion
South American Sea Lion
The South American sea lion , also called the southern sea lion and the Patagonian sea lion, is a sea lion found on the Chilean, Peruvian, Uruguayan, Argentine and Southern Brazilian coasts. It is the only member of the genus Otaria...
.
Sun Bears
Living temporarily in the former orangutan enclosure are a pair of sun bearSun Bear
The sun bear , sometimes known as the honey bear, is a bear found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia; North-East India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Southern China, Peninsular Malaysia, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.-Description:The sun bear...
, that arrived from the Rare Species Conservation Centre. Both the male (Jo-Jo) and the female (Srey-Ya) moved over to the UK from Cambodia, where they had both been rescued at a young age. They are getting a new enclosure near Medellin Monkeys. Another enclosure that formerly held gibbons now holds a surplus pair of Colombian black spider monkeys. In the future, this area will be demolished and become a new tropical house home to Cuban crocodile
Cuban crocodile
The Cuban crocodile is a small species of crocodile found only in Cuba's Zapata Swamp and the Isle of Youth, and highly endangered, though it formerly ranged elsewhere in the Caribbean...
, yellow-breasted capuchin and several other tropical species.
Worlds Apart
This indoor display holds a variety of smaller tropical species, including both green anacondaGreen Anaconda
Eunectes murinus is a non-venomous boa species found in South America. It is the heaviest known snake species...
and yellow anaconda, poison-dart frogs, coral reef fish, ocellate river stingray
Ocellate river stingray
The ocellate river stingray , also known as the peacock-eye stingray, is a potamodromous freshwater ray native to the basins of the Uruguay, Paraná, Orinoco, and Amazon Rivers....
, piranha
Piranha
A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes...
, emperor tamarin
Emperor Tamarin
The Emperor Tamarin is a tamarin allegedly named for its resemblance to the German emperor Wilhelm II. It lives in the southwest Amazon Basin, in east Peru, north Bolivia and in the west Brazilian states of Acre and Amazonas....
, several South American cichlids and pied tamarins.
Worlds Apart Walkthrough
The outdoor addition to Worlds Apart is this South American walkthrough that contains some animals from the previous walkthrough such as the pair of Linne's two-toed sloth as well as other species including golden lion tamarinGolden Lion Tamarin
The golden lion tamarin also known as the golden marmoset, is a small New World monkey of the family Callitrichidae...
, Geoffrey's marmoset, silvery marmoset
Silvery Marmoset
The silvery marmoset is a New World monkey that lives in Brazil, south and east of the Amazon basin. Compared to other marmosets, they have a very isolated habitat....
, Goeldi's marmoset
Goeldi's Marmoset
Goeldi's marmoset or Goeldi's monkey is a small, South American New World monkey that lives in the upper Amazon Basin region of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru...
, Chaco chachalaca
Chaco Chachalaca
The Chaco Chachalaca is a species of bird in the Cracidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay....
and a pair of Southern tamandua
Southern Tamandua
The southern tamandua, also called a collared anteater, or lesser anteater , is a species of anteater from South America. It is a solitary animal, found in many habitats from mature to highly disturbed secondary forests and arid savannas. It feeds on ants, termites and bees...
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Iguana Forest and South American Walkthrough
The former walkthrough near the old orangutan exhibit houses a group of golden-headed lion tamarins, as well as emperor tamarinEmperor Tamarin
The Emperor Tamarin is a tamarin allegedly named for its resemblance to the German emperor Wilhelm II. It lives in the southwest Amazon Basin, in east Peru, north Bolivia and in the west Brazilian states of Acre and Amazonas....
. The adjoining Iguana Forest holds several green iguanas confiscated from airport customs, yellow-footed tortoise and North American box turtle. This walkthrough also previously housed the zoo's Lesser Malayan chevrotain.
Orangutan Forest
This enclosure is home to the zoo's pair of orangutans. Both are male, with the older male (Rajang) being a hybrid and the younger male (Tiga) being a pure-bred Bornean orangutanBornean Orangutan
The Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, is a species of orangutan native to the island of Borneo. Together with the slightly smaller Sumatran orangutan, it belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia....
. As well as this pair of orangutans, the complex also holds various stick insects, several freshwater and coral reef fish, Giant Asian pond turtle
Giant Asian Pond Turtle
The giant Asian pond turtle inhabits rivers, streams, marshes, and rice paddies from estuarine lowlands to moderate altitudes throughout Cambodia and Vietnam and in parts of Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand....
and Amboina box turtle.
Inca Trail
This group of enclosures houses the zoos' second large group of Colombian black spider monkeys and a second group of Humboldt penguins along with an aviary home to scarlet ibisScarlet Ibis
The Scarlet Ibis is a species of ibis that inhabits tropical South America and also Trinidad and Tobago. It is the national bird of Trinidad and is featured on the Trinidad and Tobago coat of arms along with Tobago's national bird, the Rufous-vented Chachalaca.-Taxonomy:This species is very...
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Penguin Shores
Penguin Shores houses the zoo's main colony of Humboldt penguins, as well as several aquariums of freshwater and coral reef fish including the butterfly goodeid, Home's hinge-back tortoiseHome's Hinge-back Tortoise
The Home's hinge-back tortoise is a species of turtle in the Testudinidae family.It is found in Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and possibly Togo....
and an aviary that currently houses a Montserrat oriole
Montserrat Oriole
The Montserrat Oriole, Icterus oberi, is a medium-sized black-and-yellow icterid ....
and Victoria crowned pigeons although in the past it has housed rufous hornbills and keel-billed toucans.
Tiger Taiga
This enclosure houses the zoos' pair of Amur tigersAmur Tigers
Amur Tigers are an American Bandy club that play in the Premier Division.-History:In the 2003-2004 season they played in the Bandy World Cup but finished bottom of Group B1 after defeats against Kuzbass, Edsbyns IF and Mjondalens IF. The Tigers finished 3rd in the league in the 2005-2006...
. There are two enclosures so that they can be separated if needed, and both enclosures have a pool and some vegetation. Beyond the tiger enclosure is a large paddock home to a group of the critically endangered Philippine spotted deer
Philippine Spotted Deer
The Visayan Spotted Deer , also known as the Philippine Spotted Deer, is a nocturnal and endangered species of deer located primarily in the rainforests of the Visayan islands of Panay and Negros though it once roamed other islands such as Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte, Masbate, and Samar...
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Dragons of Komodo
This large indoor exhibit holds the pair of Komodo dragons as well as also temporarily housing the zoos' Cuban crocodiles as they await their new enclosure in the tropical house (on the site of the old orangutan enclosure).Chimp World
This older exhibit was custom built to house the zoo's group of chimpanzees. As well as these animals, the Chimp World complex also is home to a breeding group of L'Hoest guenon and a female pair of Slender-snouted crocodileSlender-snouted Crocodile
The African Slender-snouted Crocodile is a species of crocodile. Recent studies in DNA and morphology suggest that it may belong in its own genus, Mecistops, but at present most continue to use Crocodylus for this species.African Slender-snouted Crocodile are native to freshwater habitats in...
. Animals that were formerly housed in this area include American alligator
American Alligator
The American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
and rock hyrax.
Other Species
Other species found in the zoo include giant anteaterGiant Anteater
The Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest species of anteater. It is the only species in the genus Myrmecophaga. It is found in Central and South America from Honduras to northern Argentina...
, collared mangabey
Collared Mangabey
The collared mangabey , also known as the red-capped mangabey, white-collared mangabey , or cherry-crowned mangabey, is a species of primate in the Cercopithecidae family of Old World monkeys. It formerly included the sooty mangabey as a subspecies...
, grey wolf, African wild dog
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
and black-backed jackal
Black-backed Jackal
The black-backed jackal , also known as the silver-backed or red jackal, is a species of jackal which inhabits two areas of the African continent separated by roughly 900 km. One region includes the southern-most tip of the continent, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe...
.
Television Documentary
The third series of the Channel 5 show Zoo Days came from Colchester Zoo. This series was presented by former Blue PeterBlue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
star Konnie Huq
Konnie Huq
Kanak Asha "Konnie" Huq is a British television presenter, who is best known for being the longest-serving female presenter of Blue Peter, having presented it from 1 December 1997 until 23 January 2008...
and began transmission on 9 June and ran for 4 weeks.