Zoo News Archive

Autumn 2006

Birth: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

31
December
2006

A female Asian One-horned Rhino calf has been born, the first for mum Behan and also the first at Whipsnade for 17 years.

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Birth: Newquay Zoo

30
December
2006

A baby rare Western Black and White Colobus Monkey has been born, and is being hand-reared by staff after rejection by its mother. She is doing well, and will hopefully be returned to the main Colobus enclosure in about 3 months.

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Birth: Marwell Wildlife (Marwell Zoological Park)

25
December
2006

A male Nyala calf called Brian has been born, the third for mum Ann. He will stay at Marwell for a year or so.

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Arrival: Blackpool Zoo and Dinosaur Safari

24
December
2006

Male Knue Kune Pig, called Rudolph, has arrived in the children's zoo, having been saved from slaughter as an unwanted pet.

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Update: London Zoo

21
December
2006

The four Komodo Dragons born in April have since been proved to be the result of a virgin birth! Sungai the mother had last mated more than two years before she laid eggs following her arrival from Thoiry Zoo, in France. It was then thought that she had stored the males sperm, but subsequent genetic fingerprinting has proved that no male was involved in the production of the eggs and resulting babies.

She has subsequently mated with London Zoo's male, Raja, and produced a single `normal' baby from a small clutch of eggs. The fact that Komodo Dragons can switch back and forth between asexual and sexual reproduction, depending on the availability of a mate, was previously unknown.

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Open: Colchester Zoo

18
December
2006

The new penguin pool is now open in the Aquatic Zone, and is home to 11 of the zoo's 19 penguins. The other 8 will remain in the existing enclosure, Penguin Shores, and it is hoped that further Humboldt Penguins will join the zoo in the future.

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Birth: Bristol Zoo Gardens

15
December
2006

Baby Western Lowland Gorilla born following ground-breaking fertility treatment. The baby is a boy, now named Komale, and was born to parents Jock and Salome.

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Death: Paignton Zoo

15
December
2006

Topan, the male Sumatran Tiger cub born in the summer, has sadly died, possibly from a heart condition. Parents Tenang and Banda, and sister Kirana, are all doing well.

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Arrival: Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm

13
December
2006

Chinese Gliding Frogs and Leaf Insects have arrived.

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Open: Knowsley Safari Park

December
2006

The Lion and Tiger house has been replaced by a new one designed by the zoo's own staff. The old one has also been demolished.

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Birth: Port Lympne: The Aspinall Wild Animal Experience

December
2006

A female Black Rhino calf has been born, the third for mother Etna.

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Summary: Linton Zoological Gardens

December
2006

Other births this year, that have not been individually announced:

Over 40 Sulcata Giant Tortoises, from 5 clutches of eggs

Two baby pancake Tortoises

Two Asian Elongated Tortoises

Amazon Parrots, Macaws, and Owls, including a baby Spectacled Owl

Two Hammercops chicks, the first for the parents.

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Depart: Blackpool Zoo and Dinosaur Safari

December
2006

Six young male Reindeer have departed for the Highland Wildlife Park. All of the births in 2006 were male, following an all female year in 2005, and could not all be kept in the herd.

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Birth: Banham Zoo

December
2006

Three baby Asian Short-Clawed Otters have been born, the first for the zoo.

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Arrival: Highland Wildlife Park

December
2006

Six male Reindeer have arrived from Blackpool Zoo, to join the existing herd of five in the main reserve.

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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.