The summer season usually means that we welcome a few new additions here at the Park. Recently there has been a baby boom in the Walled Garden with our Black-tailed Prairie Dogs welcoming a whole new brood of pups to the family!
You will often see them munching on vegetables, poking their heads out of the burrows and playing with one another as they continue to grow in confidence.
The Prairie Dogs are situated in the enclosure opposite the Otters in the Walled Garden and on your next visit, why not try and see how many pups you can count!
Prairie Dogs photo credit: Steve Bagladi
Also in the Walled Garden, the Southern Masked Weaver birds have been carefully constructing their nests in preparation for breeding. Deputy Head Keeper Rich said:“It takes the male around 10 hours in total to build a nest, and he does this by weaving grasses together using his beak. Once completed, he will hang from the bottom and display to the females to come and inspect his work.
If a female is impressed, the male then creates a short tunnel to the entrance of the nest, lining the inside with feathers and leaves, ready for the female to lay her eggs and rear their young in safety.”
You can find the Weaver’s enclosure near the Tamandua house inside the Walled Garden.
Elsewhere in the Park we are celebrating the arrival of a new female Bactrian Camel calf, who aptly arrived just in time for World Camel Day.
The new calf looks incredibly fluffy compared to mum Elsa, who is currently going through her annual moult during these warmer months.
Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months as the calf continues to grow and settles into life within the group.
In final new arrivals news, the Cotton Top Tamarins welcomed twins which can already be seen independently climbing and playing with their family members in the enclosure opposite the Madagascar walkthrough entrance.
The Kirk’s Dik Dik in the Little Africa exhibit also welcomed a new foal and can be seen outside in the paddock as you exit the exhibit. They can be quite shy, but if you’re quiet hopefully you will catch a glimpse!
EXTRA, EXTRA!
Since the easing of some Avian Influenza restrictions, we are delighted that the Peacocks and Guinea Fowl can be free roaming around the Park once again.
One of the Peacocks has been regularly displaying his feathers (very proudly) to the Rabbits on the Children’s Farm, although much to his disappointment they don’t seem overly interested.
You can also see Moorhens roaming the Park, especially around the Walled Garden area, closely followed by their brand-new chicks!
