If you pay a visit to the enclosures along Owl Avenue you will notice a new addition in the Northern White-Faced Owls. This little owlet hatched recently and has been spotted perched on the branches towards the front of the enclosure, with parents nearby keeping a watchful eye!
DID YOU KNOW?
Northern White-Faced Owls are known for their incredible shape-shifting abilities. When confronted with a threat of a similar size, it flares its wings and puffs out its feathers to appear menacing. However, when confronted by a much bigger predator (such as an eagle), it elongates its body, narrows its eyes into thin slits and tightens its feathers, mimicking the shape of a tree branch to hide itself.
Photo credit: Sophie Angood
This month collections across the globe celebrated World Meerkat Day and World Snake Day so we wanted to shine a spotlight on the animals housed here at Cotswold Wildlife Park.
Our Meerkats can be found in the Walled Garden with the two groups each having a change of scenery recently; the breeding pair now inhabiting the on-show enclosure and the family of 3 now quietly housed off-show.
Meerkats have several special adaptations that help them to survive in their native desert habitat, such as black fur around their eyes that works like built-in sunglasses and a long snout to be able to sniff out food sources in a habitat where food may be scarce at times. You can read more about them on our website here.
Photo credit: Philip Joyce
Photo credit: Philip Joyce
Over in the Reptile House we are proud to have 10 different species of snake as part of our collection, including the striking Eyelash Viper (affectionately known as ‘Billie Eyelash’, pictured above left), the Western Gaboon Viper (pictured above right) – for which we are one of only two UK collections to house this particular species – and the impressive Green Anacondas (one skin shedding was over 5m long!). You can learn more about each snake species as you travel through the Reptile House on your next visit, along with our other remarkable reptiles.
DID YOU KNOW?
Unlike many snakes that reproduce by laying eggs, Green Anacondas actually give birth to live young. They can give birth to up to 80 independent offspring, each one measuring roughly 2 feet/60cm long at birth!
UPCOMING EVENTS
During the month of August we will have two fundraising events that visitors to the Park can support whilst here with us:
- Lion Weekend – stall on Saturday 8th & 9th August
- Rhino Month – with a stall on Saturday 22nd, Sunday 23rd & Monday 24th August
Photo credit: Sophie Angood
‘Lion Weekend’ will celebrate the Asiatic Lion pairing Rana and Kanha housed here at the Park, shining a conservation spotlight on the threats that Asiatic Lions face and the work that can be done to help conserve wild populations. Proceeds will go to the Safina Lion Conservation fund, a charity set up by one of our keepers along with other charities that prioritise lion conservation.
Please do pop by the Lion House during your visit to meet the keepers and find out more on 8th and 9th August.
‘Rhino Month’ takes place annually across August at the Park, raising awareness and funds for Rhino conservation work in Africa. Keep an eye on our social media pages where we’ll be posting updates about our “crash” (the collective noun for a group of Rhinos), catching up with the Rhino keepers and discovering more about one of the world’s most iconic animals.
The stall on 22nd, 23rd & 24th August will have themed goodies available for purchase and visitors can enter our raffle for the chance to win a Rhino Encounter!
All proceeds from the fundraising stalls will go towards the conservation projects that we support for these species.
Please note that normal admission applies during any fundraising events.
EXTRA EXTRA!
Our friends from Cotswold Falconry Centre will be based at the Park every weekend throughout August. You will be able to meet their incredible birds and watch the displays on the Anniversary Lawn at the side of the manor house overlooking the Rhino paddock.
Opening times: The Park is open DAILY from 10.00 am until 6:00 pm or dusk (whichever is earlier, with last admission being at 4:00 pm).
Please could we remind visitors to always check our website or social media for updates ahead of visiting the Park.