Zoo News Archive

Winter 2008

Birth: Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

31
March
2008

A baby Golden-cheeked Gibbon has been born to mother Zoey, who was rescued from the illegal pet trade in Taiwan, and father Jake, who came from Los Angeles Zoo to join the European Breeding programme for this endangered species. The baby is the second of the species to be born at Monkey World.

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Birth: Colchester Zoo

30
March
2008

Twin baby Meerkats have been born, to mother Tabbi, who was herself born at the zoo two years ago. The precise date of their birth is not known, since they were born underground. They were first seen above ground on 10 April, but their keepers believe they were born in the last few days of March. Meerkats are not yet classified as endangered, but increasing habitat loss and expansion of the Kalahari Desert could change this in the near future.

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Birth: Newquay Zoo

26
March
2008

Twin baby Black (Hairy) Rumped Agoutis (both males) have been born. They are being hand-reared by keepers after being born outdoors and the first-born quickly showing signs of hypothermia. They are doing well, and should be weaned in about 2 months. They are the first of this species to be born in the UK, and Newquay is the only zoo in the country to keep any.

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Birth: Marwell Wildlife (Marwell Zoological Park)

24
March
2008

Two baby Meerkats have been born, to parents Sharon and Chico.

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Birth: Colchester Zoo

24
March
2008

Eleven Essex piglets have been born.

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Birth: Highland Wildlife Park

22
March
2008

A baby Mishmi Takin has been born, to mother Cava. Four more of this unusual and endangered species have also arrived from Germany and Latvia.

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Birth: Cotswold Wildlife Park

21
March
2008

A baby Bactrian Camel has been born.

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Arrival: Isle of Wight Zoo

20
March
2008

Two male Vietnamese White-Faced Gibbons have arrived on temporary loan while their enclosure at Paradise Wildlife Park is being rebuilt.

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Birth: Drusillas Park

19
March
2008

Cotton-topped Tamarin twins born to parents John and Georgie.

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Birth: Welsh Mountain Zoo

17
March
2008

A baby male Bactrian Camel called Grand Slam (Slammy for short) has been born, the second for parents Lock and Flanka.

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Birth: Woburn Safari Park

15
March
2008

A female Rothschild Giraffe calf has been born to parents Savannah and Doto. This is the second birth of this species at the Park in just 5 months.

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Birth: Banham Zoo

14
March
2008

A female baby Giraffe has been born, to mum `Aisling'. The first for both mother and zoo, the baby has been named `Ruby', in celebration of the zoo's 40th anniversary. Unfortunately, `Aisling' was nervous of the new arrival and would not let her feed, an event not unusual with first-time mothers, so the baby is being hand-reared by keepers.

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Birth: Cotswold Wildlife Park

12
March
2008

Twin Ring-Tailed Lemurs have been born.

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Depart: Cotswold Wildlife Park

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.

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Death: Cotswold Wildlife Park

10
March
2008

Winston, the 30-year-old White-Handed Gibbon, has sadly died of age-related causes.

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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.