Wildlife
Keepers Update
Banded Mongoose
Bertie lends a helping hand
Animal Keeper’s Update - February 2012
At last – start of season. Welcome back!
February looks set to be a month of introductions with some new arrivals and new attractions.
New Arrivals
In addition to our babies born late December and early January, we have some more new comers – mongoose – and lots of them!
A pair of Dwarf Mongoose have just arrived from Marwell, and a female from Chester Zoo. The trio are currently getting to know staff behind the scenes and will venture out into their pen, which is being built for them next to the Yellow Mongoose, as soon as the weather warms up – hopefully, around Easter.
Meanwhile, six Banded Mongoose have joined us from Colchester Zoo and have already taken up residency in the old rearing unit, at the back of the playground near the parrots.
New Attractions
As mentioned in my January update, we have two new attractions planned for 2012 and I’m delighted to say that one of them is being installed as I type!
Animal Athletics
They are finally here! The Animal Athletics units were delivered late in January and we are busy installing them in preparation for half term. So, if you think you can hang like a monkey, hold your breath for as long as an otter or even outrun a cheetah – why not pop along and take on the challenge as you pit your wits against members of the animal kingdom!
Stamping Stations
Keep an eye out, they’re coming soon! Designed to entertain our younger visitors, a series of stamping stations will be installed throughout the Park later this month. Each will pose an educational question featuring “Minibeasts”, which we hope will stimulate and encourage an interest in animals for the next generation.
Nest Box Building Days
Back by popular demand, the Animal Keepers will be holding their annual Nest Box Building Days during half term, as part of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) “National Nest Box Week” (NNBW) - February 14th - 21st 2012. So please do come along and be creative. We are hoping to break our own record of the previous two years by raising more than £500 for BTO conservation work.
The sessions are due to take place 13th, 14th, 15th and 20th, 21st and 22nd February,
2 - 4pm (£5 per box). So if you have not built a box before, why not pop along and create a home for your garden visitors.
Dave Coles, Curator