This month we bid a fond farewell to one of our youngest animals as Baldrick, the male Binturong kit, departed Cotswold Wildlife Park for pastures new. After a few days of crate training, Baldrick was collected by staff from Chessington Zoo, and we are assured that he has settled in well to his new home.
You can find the other members of the Binturong family, including Baldrick’s parents Dobby and Himala, opposite the Reptile House. If you spot the family climbing in the outdoor enclosure, you may even be lucky enough to get a whiff of their unique ‘popcorn’ scent!
An exciting addition to the collection this month saw twenty Seba’s Fruit bats and three male Rodrigues Fruit bats arrive from Chester Zoo to join the established colonies already here at the Park.
We have three bat exhibits, housing four different colonies: Straw-Coloured bats in the Siamang House, Seba’s bats and Rodrigues Fruit bats in the courtyard exhibit, and another colony of Rodrigues Fruit bats in the Tropical House.
Our colony of Leaf Cutter Ants are thriving after arriving at the Park just over a year ago. They have been busy collecting leaves, growing their fungus and making changes to their nest chamber by moving soil in and around their ever-growing subterranean nest.
On your next visit to the Park, be sure to pay a visit to the Invertebrate House to see how this incredible colony are getting on.
EXTRA, EXTRA!
Our White Storks have begun their nesting season, on your next visit be sure to stop by their enclosure opposite the Rhino House and you will see them carefully constructing their nests or nestled down incubating their eggs. You can also learn more about our conservation work with The White Stork Project here https://www.whitestorkproject.org/