W2B-021 Zoo - Environment-0.txt
Who's New

by Mark Challis, Assistant Zoo Manager

One ring-tailed lemur and two black and white ruffed lemurs have been born, both rare species from Madagascar. The ruffed lemurs caused much confusion as we were unsure which of the three females was the mother, as all three were presumed to be pregnant, and all three appeared to be caring for the infants! After some careful observation (and a little guesswork) it would appear that 'Mandy' is the proud mum.

Also among the primates, there has been a birth in the Colombian spider monkey group (the second this year), one Goeldi's monkey and two golden-headed lion tamarins. All these species are endangered in the wild, particularly the golden-headed, whose wild population is in the low hundreds. We are currently the only zoo in the UK breeding this handsome and critically endangered species.

The breeding female Weddell's tamarin gave birth to twins, which will grow up in their large family group, in our off-show breeding accommodation, the group being part of an ongoing behavioural research project at the zoo.

Two mara have also been born, as have a litter of meerkats, though it will be some time before they are old enough to leave their underground den and be seen out in the enclosure.

Among the hoofstock, one blackbuck and one red lechwe have been born, as has an attractive zebra, born to the mare 'Amo', which is now out in the large paddock shared with the giraffe and the ostrich.

The birds have similarly benefited from the onset of summer, and we have already had successful hatchings from bare-eyed cockatoos and red-crested pochard, while a number of other species have recently laid eggs.

The rare domestic breed we keep have also been productive, with the births of two Dexter cattle, five Ronaldsay sheep, fourteen Tamworth pigs, nine Berkshire pigs and eight hybrid pigs, the result of a meeting between a Tamworth boar and a Berkshire sow.

There have been a number of exciting new arrivals including ten species of waterfowl that are now on the lake, and several new species of birds for the new Bird Park, including satyr and Tamminck's tragopans, Palawan peacock pheasants, pink pigeons and Bali mynahs. Parrots have also been moved into the new aviaries and Asian short-clawed otters have arrived for the new exhibit opposite the sea lions.

A trio of fat-tailed dwarf lemurs arrived on breeding loan from Bristol Zoo. Infrequently kept in European collections they are rather shy though very attractive, should you see them in their enclosure in the Nocturnal House.

Perhaps most exciting of all, the old Hyena Enclosure now has four African wild dogs in residence. Severely threatened in the wild, extinction for this species has been forecast, within the next 20 years. Now part of a European Breeding Programme (EEP), the African wild dog has proved a difficult animal to maintain longterm in captivity. Our four brothers on loan from Amsterdam Zoo, will shortly be joined by a single female from another European Zoo.
