SECTION KEEPERS ...

The East Section

Walled Garden

The Walled Garden was originally a kitchen garden supplying vegetables for the Manor House. The high walls now give protection from cold winds not only to seasonal plant displays, but also to animals from warmer climates.

Dotted around the beds and on the lawns, you can still see gnarled old apple trees which remain from the original kitchen garden. This sheltered spot gives us an opportunity to exhibit tropical species.

Over the last few years the Walled Garden area has been having a face lift, this work started in 2004 when the Tropical House was re-glazed and the interior improved for accommodating various bird species.

2006 saw the completion of phase two, a complete overhaul of the top corner of the Walled Garden, including a new and improved Giant Hornbill aviary, a new Weaver aviary, Gentle Lemur Enclosure and an add on to the Tropical House to accommodate our Ground Cuscus and Madagascan Jumping Rats. All this is set amongst some landscaped gardens.

Madagascar

We're delighted to open our much anticipated exhibit - Madagascar. Come and experience this multi species enclosure - at close quarters - and discover more about the plight of endangered Madagascan and Island species throughout the world.  Read more about the Park's Madagascar exhibit.

Please note our new Madagascar exhibit will close at 3pm, this is to ensure the inhabitants of this enclosure have plenty of time to settle for the evening.

Bird Species

The East section team can boast that they have in their care one of the largest and most varied collection of bird species in the UK. Over the years due to the knowledge, dedication and hard work of the keeping staff the breeding successes have been just as impressive, achieving first UK captive breeding for several bird species; Lappet-faced Vulture, Giant Hornbill, Black Stork, and Scheepmaker’s Crowned Pigeon.

Primates

Primate species to be seen in the Walled Garden include Ruffed Lemurs and Alaotran Gentle Lemur from Madagascar, Squirrel Monkeys, Cotton-top Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin, Red-handed Tamarin and Pygmy Marmoset all from South America.

Small Mammals

Long-term residents Asian Small-Clawed Otter, Yellow Mongoose, and Slender-tailed Meerkat are extremely popular with our visitors; watch out for the mammal feeds in the afternoon and feel free to stop and talk with the keeper.

More recent arrivals to the Walled Garden include Prairie Dog, Ground Cuscus, Madagascan Jumping Rat, and Linne’s Two-toed Sloth.

Ungulates

As you drive into the Park on either side of you are two large paddocks containing our herds of Scimitar-horned Oryx and Llama.

Tropical House

The glass building, totally renovated in 2004, occupies the same site in the Walled Garden as the original Estate conservatory, where peaches and carnations were once grown in one of Oxfordshire's oldest greenhouses.

Our Tropical House now accommodates its first ever mammalian guests, Linne's Two-toed Sloth. There is nowhere on the Park more suited to this tropical species; they inhabit forests of northern South America and spend their lives suspended upside down on tree branches.

You will also find a wide range of bird species such as the impressive Scheepmaker’s Crowned Pigeons, Sunbitterns, Speckled Mousebirds, Blue-bellied Rollers, White-eyes and other tropical species.

The Tropical House is also home to a wonderful collection of plants.

Dogs are not allowed in the Tropical House.

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