There have been a few new additions over on the Children’s Farmyard this month, with one of our female African Pygmy Goats, Pico, finally rejoining the walkthrough paddock with her 5-month-old youngster Mary. Pico is a protective mother, but Mary is settling into the larger group well and has been learning where all the best sunbathing spots are!
Caramel
We also have two new female Golden Guernsey Goats from Hogshaw Farm named Toffee and Caramel, joining our current pairing Gary and Daisy. The Golden Guernsey Goats have been a great addition to the Park over the last few years as they are a very friendly and affectionate species by nature.
Caramel enjoys watching visitors go by and will often come to the fence to say hello, while Toffee very much enjoys her food!
Toffee
DID YOU KNOW?
The Golden Guernsey breed was nearly wiped out in the Second World War when most livestock on Guernsey was destroyed during the German occupation. A local woman named Miriam Milbourne was able to hide a small group of the goats, allowing the breed to survive and avoid extinction.
Over in the barn on the Children’s Farmyard, our Guinea Pigs have welcomed 5 new pups to their ever-growing group. Look carefully to see if you can spot the little ones, as they do like to hide themselves in the hay.
In the Walled Garden this month, most of the Humboldt Penguins have now finished their summer moult and are looking beautifully black and white once more! The four chicks born at the start of summer are progressing well and can often be seen poolside during the public talks, learning to join the others for a feed or being hand-fed by the keepers.
Pippin (pictured above) is the most confident of the chicks, having been hand-reared by keepers. She is joined by Oreo and Beryl who are also both now confidently exploring their surroundings and joining in with the public feeds.
Oreo
Beryl
The youngest chick, belonging to pair Marley and Stephen, has been the last to explore her surroundings and has been staying safe in the nest most of the day. However, she is now gaining confidence to venture out and explore the enclosure, even taking her first dip in the pool. Her name is still being decided but as she has a rather defined spot pattern, this may influence the keepers’ ideas!
Marley and Stephen have been wonderful parents once again this year, devoting all their time to their new arrival, and having successfully reared big sister Pea in 2024.
Across the Park, the youngest of our Bactrian Camel group, Tillie, is now 5 months old and is the fourth calf born in the last four years. Tillie is now almost the same size as her mum Elsa, rapidly growing throughout this first year of her life. At this time of year, you will also start to see the camels coming into their winter coats, however Tillie still looks a little shaggy having been born right before the summer moult!
You can find the camel group opposite the Little Africa exhibit at the far end of the Park.
EXTRA EXTRA!
In the Oak Tree Restaurant, the gardens team have been hard at work helping keepers to create a new enclosure for the Pygmy Marmoset pair that have recently moved in. Sinchi, the male, has been happily living with our Coppery Titi Monkeys in their shared exhibit opposite Madagascar, but since a new female joined us, named Coya, it was important to give them their own space.
You can find them in their new enclosure inside the Oak Tree Restaurant – look carefully, as they may be tucked up together on a branch!
DID YOU KNOW?
Pygmy Marmosets are the world’s smallest monkeys, weighing around 100 grams and a newborn is only around 1 inch long!
VISITOR INFORMATION
*Please could we remind you that the clocks go back on Sunday 26 October 2025. The Park is open daily from 10:00am and our closing time will change to 4:00pm or DUSK (whichever is earlier), with last admission at 3:00pm, from this Sunday onwards – many thanks*