Mother's Day 22nd March 2009

Mother Nature takes over at Cotswold Wildlife Park

To celebrate Mother’s Day, Cotswold Wildlife Park takes a look at Mother Nature’s maternal instinct.

Collared Lemurs
The female Collared Lemur carries her baby for several months until it is about half to three quarters adult size. She runs jumps and even fights with baby clinging to her! (True for most lemurs.)
*Fact - our first ever Collared Lemur was born at the Park in June 2008. They are one the most threatened sub-species of the Brown Lemur, found only on the Island of Madagascar*

Parma Wallaby
The Parma Wallaby has her young in her pouch until it is big enough to fend for itself. The baby (or Joey) will still jump back into pouch when it is almost adult size if it feels threatened.

Crowned Hornbill
Hornbills are said to mate for life. They have a rather unusual nesting method. The female lays up to 5 eggs after sealing herself into the nest cavity with her own droppings.  A small hole is left, through which she pokes her bill for the food (which the male brings her throughout the incubation period of up to 27 days). The chicks fledge after 55 days.

Morelet’s Crocodiles
Although crocodiles have a fierce reputation, when it comes to rearing its young, the female Morelet’s Crocodile is much gentler creature.
The female lays a clutch of up to 40 eggs, which she vigorously defends during the incubation period (around 80 days). She responds to the vocalisation of hatchlings (known as ‘barking). Once hatched, the mothers carry them around in their jaws for protection, assisting them to the water.
*Fact – In October 2007, 12 baby Morelet's Crocodiles were born at the Park. It was the first time ever in the UK this species has successfully been bred. These crocodiles were hunted almost to extinction though the years 1940 to 1950.

Newest Mother
One of our Oriental Small-Clawed  Otters recently gave birth to several pups. The newborns still remain in their birthing den (they don’t open their eyes for 40 days). All the young otters will stay with their mother until the next litter is born.

However, not all creatures are so maternal!
Most snakes lay eggs and abscond, leaving the young to fend from themselves from the moment they hatch.
The female Chameleon takes no more interest in her offspring once they are born, except that, if she is very hungry, she may eat them!

Enter our Mother's Day competition here.

Want to Help?

A visit to the Cotswold Wildlife Park can now be even more worthwhile. By adopting an animal, you can provide a helpful contribution towards the costs of keeping and feeding the animals and supporting our conservation breeding programmes... click here for more information