Colchester Zoo Magazine Summer 2016

Colchester Zoo ISSUE 7

ACTION FOR THE WILD Registered Charity No. 1105621

FREE

SUMMER 2016

Ready for an adventure on the UmPhafa Reserve?

WIN an amazing family trip to Borneo with

© Scott Davey

© Christian Volke

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I N TE R A C T

IVE

H T O M M A M CE! EX P E R I E N Find out more inside!

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Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

© David Marsay © Tom Smith © Scott Davey © Christian Volke © Melvin Vinyard

HELLO!

The Colchester Zoo Magazine gives you a fascinating insight into not only the zoo’s conservation work, but also updates from all over the world through its charity, Action for the Wild, and its UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

We hope to see you soon at Colchester Zoo to enjoy a fun-filled day out.

Every visit you make assists our vital conser vation work!

TRUNKS NEW FEATURE Collect the 10 Top Trunks cards throughout the magazine & play!

© Tom Smith

DESIGN • MARKETING • PUBLISHING

To advertise in the next edition of the Colchester Zoo magazine, contact: David White, david@chalkandcheese.com, Telephone: 01473 221000

www.colchesterzoo.org Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

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Tiramisu Pots Whether you're throwing a dinner party or fancy a little treat, these tiramisu pots are gorgeously indulgent!

• Ready in 20 minutes • Cooking time 0 minutes • Prep time 20 minutes • Serves 4

Ingredients • 75ml very strong hot coffee • 3 tbsp Marsala Dolce • 25g caster sugar • 75g dark Cook’s chocolate • 4 tbsp double cream • 2 tbsp golden syrup • 2 medium eggs • 250g tub mascarpone • 12 sponge fingers, broken in half

4

Nutritional Details

(% of the reference intakes)

Each serving provides: Energy 2554kj 610kcal 31% Fat 43.5g 62% Saturates 28.8g 14% Sugars 33g 37% Salt 0.3g 5%

WARNI NG This re cipe contain s RAW E GG

1

Combine the hot coffee with the Marsala Dolce and 1 tbsp of the sugar, then set aside to cool.

2

Break up 60g of the chocolate into a heatproof bowl with the cream and golden syrup and sit over a pan of gently simmering water until melted.

Stir until smooth, then grate the remaining chocolate and set aside.

3

Separate the eggs and put the yolks in a bowl with the remaining sugar. Whisk until creamy and thickened. Gradually add in the mascarpone and combine until the mixture is smooth.

4

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until they are stiff, then fold them into the mascarpone.

5

Take three pieces of sponge finger for each tiramisu and dip in the coffee mixture until they have soaked up some of the liquid, then put them in the base of four 150 - 200ml glass tumblers.

6

Spoon 1 heaped tbsp of the mascarpone mixture on top of each sponge layer, then add another layer of soaked sponge pieces. Divide the melted chocolate mixture between all the glasses and add the rest of the mascarpone on top.

7

Sprinkle the top of the desserts with the grated chocolate. Cover and chill for 1 hour before serving.

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

Respect for the environment Sainsbury’s Stanway store manager, Kevin Jones, talks about some of the work Sainsbury’s is undertaking to help reduce waste and carbon emissions: Sainsbury’s is on a mission to change the way we think about the food we buy, cook, eat and throw away.

We know our customers’ shopping habits are changing; they may just be popping in for a pint of milk, a few bits for dinner or perhaps doing a weekly shop. We know our customers are looking for ways to make their money go further, especially when thinking about potential waste.

The average family bins

Potatoes are one of the most commonly wasted food items, costing UK customers an estimated £230 million a year

£60 worth of food every month

Around 24 million slices of bread are thrown away in the UK every year

4.2

million tonnes of avoidable food waste is thrown away in the UK each year

In September 2015, Sainsbury’s kicked off their ‘Waste less, Save more’ town challenge - a search for a UK town to work with Sainsbury’s, testing out new and creative ways to reduce waste and save money.

Swadlincote town in South Derbyshire was the winner, and during 2016, Sainsbury’s will be investing £1million to test different ideas with local families, businesses, politicians, councils and charities to see what works and what has the greatest impact. Sainsbury’s will then share the best ideas with everyone in the UK, investing in helping everyone make changes that will save them money and benefit the environment.

Carbon emissions!

As part of lowering carbon emissions, Sainsbury’s Stanway store uses natural light to help reduce their electricity usage auto adjust lighting is installed inside the store, plus solar panels are positioned on the roof and a biomass boiler burns recycled wood pellets. These pellets are carbon neutral, helping to provide hot water and heating, cut the store’s carbon emissions and achieve environmental targets set as part of their corporate values.

Colchester Zoo also does this to help the environment.

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

5

s e s s a P Zoo

save! BY BUYING AADZOMOISPASIOSSN! INSTEAD OF

join our family of over 70,000 valued passholders

e c i w t t i s i v s s a p o o z a d an s y a p t s o m l a for itself!

PASSHOLDERS ENJOY: • As many visits to Colchester Zoo as you like until your Zoo Pass expires (except Christmas Day).

• 10% discount in zoo gift shops on selected items.

• 5% discount at all food outlets (except sweets).

• 20% discount off Animal Experiences.

• Special offer when booking a birthday party if the birthday child and host are Zoo Passholders.

• Exclusive Zoo Passholder events.

• Entrance to selected major zoos free of charge.

*Further terms and conditions apply.

For more information: 01206 331292 www.colchesterzoo.org enquiries@colchesterzoo.org

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Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

© Kathryn Major

© David Marsay

© P A Ivory

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE ZOO • NEWS FROM AROUND THE ZOO

Cameroon lambs!

We have welcomed a number of Cameroon lambs at the Colenso Village walkthrough!

They can be seen exploring their new home and investigating our guests!

Why not stop by and meet our latest arrivals during your visit!

Four lemur babies born this spring!

Since March 2016, we have welcomed four healthy young ring-tailed lemurs! The little ones are all doing well spending their time riding on their mothers’ backs and gradually heading off to explore their home although never going too far from mum!

Look out for the little ones next to the Gelada baboons from the Lost Madagascar Bridge!

Experienced mum Madison not only welcomed her own baby but has also become a grandmother to the young of her three older daughters, Alina, Andro and Lexi. As well as being a grandmother, Madison is teaching her daughters the ropes, as they are first time mums.

Penguin chicks!

We have welcomed a number of penguin chicks across our two groups of Humboldt penguins.

With so many eggs hatching it is important to keep a close eye on all the new arrivals. Our team have been closely monitoring them as they continue to grow, weighing them daily to make sure they are growing healthy and strong.

As the chicks begin to fledge their nests, mum and dad will teach them how to eat, swim, nest and call!

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Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

Watch this space over the coming mo nths as our chicks begin to fledge!

NEWS FROM AROUND THE ZOO • NEWS FROM AROUND THE ZOO

New resident!

Colchester Zoo has recently welcomed a new wolf from Thoiry Zoo in France, a 9 year old male called Kera.

You can see Kera alongside Dakota at Call of the Wild. TIP! Kera is a lighter coloured wolf, whereas Dakota is much darker.

When Kera first arrived he was kept separate from resident male wolf, Dakota, to allow him to settle in. After just a few weeks the two males met for the first time and are now living together full time!

Our flamingo flock has grown!

A number of Chilean flamingos from the Isle of Wight have joined our flock down on the lake!

The new arrivals are a young group and have been mixed with our existing flock. It is hoped that the larger flock will encourage more successful breeding of these brightly coloured, flamboyant birds.

Our new arrivals still have some of their grey juvenile feathers so you can easily spot them on the lake if you’re visiting soon.

Our rhino crash has grown in more ways than one!

We are happy to announce the exciting news that our female white rhino Emily has once again conceived naturally.

the Keep up to date with site latest news on our web and social media!

© Robert Palmer

© Christian Volke

This is fantastic news for the species, which continues to face an ever-growing poaching crisis. Emily’s new arrival is due in January 2017 after a gestation period of a whopping 16 months! Emily’s first born, Pembe, left the collection in June 2016 to join a new crash and hopefully have a family of her own.

We are also hoping to welcome another white rhino in the near future so watch this space!

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

9

N EW!

Find a

10

ll

cards throug hou this m agazin t e!

TRUNKS

Cut them out and

PLAY!

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES

For 2 players

ATED OTTER SMOOTLutHrogCO ale perspicillata

DID YOU KNOW?

How to play: 1) Player one shuffles and deals all the cards face down. Each player should have 5 cards each. Both players hold their cards so they can see the top card only.

2) Player two starts by reading out a category from their top card (e.g. pong factor 5). Player one then reads out the same category from their top card. The one with the best or highest value wins and that player collects both cards and moves them both to the bottom of their pile. It is then their turn to choose a category from the next card.

Pong factor: Speed:

3) If two cards share the top value for a particular category then both cards are placed in the middle and the same player chooses again from their next card. The winner of the hand takes the cards in the middle as well!

Height: Weight:

Kg

Noise: © Carol Bennetto

TRUNKS

4) The person with all the cards at the end is the winner!

BIANrctiTctisUbiRntOuronNgG

Collect ds 0 car 1 r e h t o n a xt in the ne play to magazine to 4 with up people!

10

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

Pong factor: DID YOU ?

W O KN Speed: The scent e from th Height: glands under ils their ta Weight: Kg smells like Noise: buttered popcorn!

HAParRRIS HAWK abuteo uni cinctus

DID YOU KNOW?

Pong factor: Speed: Height: Weight:

© Tom Smith

TRUNKS

Kg

Noise: © Tom Smith

TRUNKS

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

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STEP BACK IN TIME!

NEW!

MAMMOTH EXPERIENCE

Head down to ELEPHANT KINGDOM to meet our elephants' ancestors in this amazing interactive experience!

FREE

parking and entry to shops!

Don’t forget your

CAMERA!

Shopping at the Zoo CLOTHING RANGE

Get set for summer!

If yo

ing Check out our cloth ct rfe pe e designs! Th souvenir for an animal lover!

u’re looking fo r a unique gift for someo ne special, a souvenir of your day, or just want to spoil yourself , we have a hug e range to choose fro m!

BACK TO SCHOOL

A wide range of school necessities such as lunch boxes, back packs, beakers, stationery and more!

ACCESSORISE!

ER REMEMBDAY A GREATup

Try something new with our lovely range of jewellery, scarves, cushions, bags and mugs!

Pick nto a meme ay at of your d oo! ter Z Colches

Gift vouchers

Shop online for a variety of gift vouchers so your loved ones can take a trip to Colchester Zoo or even take part in an animal experience!

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Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

Find out more about the experiences we offer on pages 26 / 32

© Debbie Pavier

Find out more about Elephant Kingdom, the home of Colchester Zoo’s four gentle giants!

OUTSIDE AREA

DID YOU KNO W? Colchester Zo o’s Elephant King dom was first ope ned in 1998!

it into The outdoor area is spl e of which two large paddocks, on , Zola houses the females, Tanya for our and Opal. The other is bull elephant , Tembo.

Throughout both enclosures the elephants have a number of rocks for rubbing and scratching posts.

Both outside areas contain pools and mud wallows for bathing and enrichment.

All fixtures an d fit tings, such as lights an d radiators are placed high out of reach of the elephant s.

INSIDE AREA

An undercover shelter for protection from the elements is also included.

KNOW? DID YOU es hant calv Two elep born at n have bee r Zoo s e Colch te and ito n a m ed K m Ja bo.

DID YO U Elephan KNOW? t Kingdo m cost in excess of £1 m illion!

AFRICAN ELEPHANT Loxodonta africana

KNOW? DID YOU our four

age, On aver eat a total ts elephan onnes 3 of .5 t y, ables, ha of veget et s and pell browse k! per wee That’s the same weight as a mini bus with passengers!

mixture of hard The inside area has a high level hay racks stands and sand with hment devices for and a variety of enric whilst inside. the elephants to enjoy

DID YOU KNOW?

Pong factor: Speed: Height:

The indoor enclosure has five separation stalls, which can be altered to create larger stalls or to gain entry to the main are a.

Weight:

Kg

Kg

Kg

Kg

Kg

Noise: © Kathryn Major

TRUNKS © NWY Photography

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

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NEWS FROM UMPHAFA PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE • NEWS FROM UMPHAFA

Future releases to UmPhafa Reserve!

We are excited to announce that there are plans at the UmPhafa Reserve to release cheetah into the area! This project will take time to complete, but work has now begun to make the fence line predator-proof and we look forward to their introduction in the future.

UmPhafa will also be welcoming

a group of impala to increase the species’

existing numbers and encourage breeding.

RHINO TRANSPORT!

ocated a juvenile The UmPhafa staff recently rel the team male rhino. He was tracked by ergoing some using a helicopter before und s then moved onto routine health checks. He wa en to another private a loading van before being tak ome his new home. nature reserve, which has bec

The release of cheetah will be a culmination of 10 years’ work on the reserve!

THANK YOU! A big thank you to Maxine Meadows and everyone at Hanover Court, Witham, for their help in fundraising for UmPhafa and reaching an amazing total of £930.00!

It is essential that we equip the Field Rangers fully for their work and ensure they are adequately trained.

This donation will enable us to purchase essential equipment, such as binoculars, to help them in their role.

Did you know?

UmPhafa’s Fiel d Rangers patrol the rese rve night and day , spending extended per iods of time out in the field monitori ng and protecting ou r wildlife specie s.

UmPhafa Reserve welcomes some new arrivals!

At the end of June, staff at UmPhafa wel comed five African wild dogs to the reserve and are working with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to help hold and bond them.

Staff at UmPhafa had previously worked with the trust back in 2014 and 2015 with a total of 13 wild dogs passing through the UmPhafa boma in just over a year, befo re being relocated to other reserves in South Africa. We are incr edibly proud to have played a crucial part in the bonding pro cess and are pleased to be collaborating on this important project once again.

Watch this e space over th s th n o coming m ct je as this pro develops!

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Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

Pick up your copy of the Colchester Zoo magazine for offer details.

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

15

NEWS FROM UMPHAFA PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE • NEWS FROM UMPHAFA

UmPhafa welcomed its first college group to the reserve!

For 10 days in June 2016, a group of 12 students and 2 lecturers travelled from Writtle Col lege in the UK to get some hands-on experience with our team on UmPhafa as part of their studies.

The group are all current students studying animal management courses who are looking to work in the animal and conservation industry. Their time on the reserve was spent taking part in game counts and help ing to collect data on the flora and fauna, as well as visiting the local area and seeing some of its amazing wildlife first hand .

Did you know?

Colchester Zoo’s UmPhafa Reserve has welcomed over

We hope the experience is one that will stay with them for years to come as their work with anim als continues and that the UmPhafa Reserve will welcome mor e students in the near future.

160 students to date!

Internships

NEW

Second intern accommodation completed 2016

201ye6ar

The for an URE! ADVENT

Find out more about the activities you could be a part of during an internship at the UmPhafa Reserve on our website!

Find out more about how Colchester Zoo’s UmPhafa Reserve assists conservation and how you can help by visiting www.umphafa.org

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Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

© Liam Westall

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

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WINa !family holiday e m i t e f i l a f o to

!

g of th e n e w in n e op e th te ra b ! to ce le at C ol ch e st e r Z oo t ou ok Lo e ze n pa C h im

nt hly Yo u'l l als o be en te re d int o ou r mo prize draw fo r th e ch an ce to wi n...

n

A Premium Animal Adoptio for one of the

apes at

EXPERIENCE

lu s h ra in fo re st j u n g le s sc en ic riv ers st u n n in g m o u n t a in v ist a s & e nco u nt e r o ra n g u ta n s & s u n b e a rs !

A Treetop Junior Adventure Tree Top Junior Adventure for 2 adults & 2 children!

An Animal Experience At including close contact with many species PLUS behind-the-scenes access with your own tour guide!

Family Weekend Pass

Access to enjoy all the facilities, including gym, classes, pool & 9-hole golf course.

Terms and conditions apply.

© Scott Davey

18

Colchester Zoo

A £50 Gift Voucher For

VISIT w w w.colcheste

rzoo.org

and enter for your chan ce to

WIN A 9 DAY HOLI DAY TO BORNEO FOR A FAMILY OF 4 including flights from Lond on!

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

T A E R G E H T GORILLA RUN!

During 2016, Colchester Zoo is raising awareness of our conservation work for chimpanzees and orangutans in celebration of the opening of ‘Chimpanzee Lookout!’

As Colchester Zoo ‘Goes Ape’ for Conservation, some of our team will be taking part in ‘The Great Gorilla Run’ raising money for Gorilla conservation projects as well as awareness of the remaining 880 mountain gorillas left in the world!

! n u f e m i t r Summe

Join us this summer and take part in some fantastic activities!

As well as learning all about the great apes, you can also join our award winning education team as they teach our visitors all about the amazing species we have at Colchester Zoo and how you can do your bit to help them in the wild!

TORTOISE

ALDAAldBabrRachAelys gigantea

Apes are known for their intelligence!

Can you solve this puzzle?!

A lot of thought...

DID YOU KNOW? Male Aldabra tortoises bellow loudly when mating!

What is the number of the parking space containing the car?

Pong factor:

(Answer at the bottom of the next page)

Speed: Height: Weight:

Kg

Kg

Kg

16

06

68

88

98

Noise:

TRUNKS Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

19

t a e s u l o To The way humans make and use tools is perhaps what sets our species apart more than anything else. Colchester Zoo has a whole department dedicated to tool use with the vast majority of the construction work you see around the zoo being carried out by our on-site maintenance team.

Unlike the more traditional hammer used by our maintenance team, chimpanzee s are known to use tools such as stone ham mers to chop up food into bite-sized portion s and to break open hard fruits and nuts!

to fashion sticks into Some chimps have even been known the stick with their a paint brush by splitting the end of e more termites. teeth, which is thought to help retriev ster Zoo maintenance This is certainly not how the Colche team use their paint brushes!

PANZEE CHIM Pan troglodytes

DID YOU KNOW?

Colchester Zoo has a maintenance te am of 36, includin g electricians, plumbers, labo urers, welders and carpenters who use tools on a daily basis, just like chimp s!

Pong factor: Speed: Height: Kg

Kg

Noise:

© Scott Davey

TRUNKS

20

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

Our maintenance team continues to work hard to complete the new outside area. You can find out more about chimpanzee tool use at Chimpanzee Lookout. © Danny Gentry The number is 87 - Turn the page upside down to view the numbers correctly

Weight:

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

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Help our wild WORLD! Adopt your favourite animal at Colchester Zoo!

!

W E N Corporate Adoption

Offers companies the chance to assist conservation and promote their involvement to stakeholders.

Do you share a name with one of our animals or perhaps they remind you a little of someone you know? Or why not mark a special occasion in a unique way?

You can choose any of the animals at Colchester Zoo to adopt and receive a photograph and information all about your new charge, including a personalised certificate... PLUS more benefits!

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Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

An adoption helps contribute to their care and assists our charity,

For more information: 01206 331292 ext. 232 / 237 www.colchesterzoo.org

Š Wendy Salisbury

food fabzoolous food!

There are many delicious food options available to help you on your adventures!

We cater for all tastes and dietary requirements, including gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian options.

Delicious tastes of summer are on offer with 100% British beef burgers.

For ice cream, waffles and shakes!

treat Start your day the right way and st akfa bre yourself to a full English or a lighter option at

Offering family favourites such as pizza and pasta as well as freshly made sandwiches, salads, desserts, cakes and light snacks.

That’s not all!

* Some catering outlets are seasonal and will be closed on quieter days. Please check at Guest Services for details on the day of your visit.

Visit ‘The Patisserie’ for a table service experience, with free range scrambled egg and bacon breakfasts, lunches of jacket potatoes and salads, barista coffee, cream teas and indulgent cakes.

It’s a great place to relax before exploring the lower half of the zoo.

Traditional, locally sourced sausages served in a brioche roll with a range of delicious chutneys.

The Playa Patagonia Coffee Shop, The Meerkat Hangout, The Waterhole, Kingdom of the Wild Food Stop, Safari Snack Shop and Tiger Taiga Food Store all offer tasty refreshme nts from sandwiches and toasties to cakes, crisps, fruit, and thirst-quen ching drinks!

Innocent Drinks This summer, we will be welcoming Innocent as one of our drink suppliers.

Their work helps to support charities and communities worldwide through their Innocent Foundation.

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

23

ALION SE Otaria flavescens

TWOCholoepu -TOED SLOTH s didactylus

TRUNKS For 2 players

DID YOU KNOW? Sealions are lions of the sea!

They roar and the males have a mane!

Speed:

PLAY!

Height: Weight:

Kg

Kg

Kg

Noise:

TRUNKS

GO MnsIN A L F is CHILPhEoeAniN ile ch copterus

DID YOU KNOW?

Speed: Height: Weight:

Kg

Noise:

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES

Collect 0 another 1 next our cards in to play magazine to 4 with up people!

Speed: Height: Kg

Noise:

Pong factor:

TRUNKS

GOLDEN LION TAMARIN Leontopithecus rosalia

Pong factor:

Weight:

DID YOU KNOW?

Cut them out and

Pong factor:

© Tom Smith

READ HOW TO PLAY ON PAGE 10!

DID YOU Pong factor: KNOW? Males help to Speed: raise their babies and Height: often carry Weight: Kg them on their Noise: backs! © Scott Davey

TRUNKS

TRUNKS

Hydrate and donate!

Coca Cola is helping to support Colchester Zoo’s charity,

by donating 1p for every drink purchased at the zoo.

24

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

HELP WILDLIFE!

Look out for the labelled drinks included.

© Wendy Salisbury

Pick up your copy of the Colchester Zoo magazine for offer details.

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

25

Make memories that will last a lifetime!

NEW!

WildNEW! Encounters for Two Amazing close up animal experiences, a delicious two course meal and the chance to adopt your favourite animal at Colchester Zoo! Half day package:

• Exclusive access behind the scenes for 3½ hours • 2 year adoption for an animal of your choice with a plaque at their enclosure, plus 2 free entry tickets • Hot or cold drinks and pastries on arrival • Souvenir gift packs • Entry to the zoo for the whole day • A third person can be added at an additional cost

Team Building

Activities to choose from: • Animal Detective Squad Work together to solve a beastly murder mystery

Be it a work team or a group of friends or family, this experience gets you motivated and strengthens relationships!

• Creations for Creatures Race to design and build a device to test an animal’s skills • Treasure Quest Work together to solve riddles, face challenges and seek out the ‘Lost Tracker’s treasure’!

e: Full or half day packag

for the whole day • Compliment ary entry • Breakfast ivities • Morning/afternoon act affes and penguins gir , nts pha ele of g din • Fee ch lun • Piz za/pasta buf fet individual souvenir bags • Award ceremony and • Team photograph s • Afternoon refreshment *Additional guests can be accommodated at an extra cost.

Maximum group of 10 guests.

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Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

• Animal Training and Communication Learn the secrets and take the animal training challenge!

The Extraordinary Experience

Full day package for up to 5 guests*:

• Exclusive access behind the scenes for the day • Priority complimentary entry for the whole day • Experienced host • Breakfast • Close contact sessions with a host of different animals!

• Two course table service lunch at Penguini’s pizza and pasta restaurant in your own private room • Souvenir gift bags • Afternoon refreshments • Reserved parking

Be VIPs for the day with some of the finest and most intimate close up animal experiences.

Great for a corporate away day, a hen party with a difference or just simply treating the kids!

For more information: 01206 331292 www.colchesterzoo.org experiences@colchesterzoo.org

We offer a choice of four birthday packages designed to suit a range of ages!

at Be a PARTY ANIMAL for outstanding value for money!

Tedd y Bea rs ’ Picnic

2 - 6 yrs ating a bear friend, Includes a treasure hunt, cre ty picnic! par interactive story time and

N at ure Detec tive S qu ad 9 - 14 yrs

Includes solving a beastly crime, examining evidence and visiting ani mal suspects!

Par ty w it h Puddle s

6 - 9 yrs ft activities, Includes par ty games, cra to meet the penguins! nce cha a and , par ty picnic

y Jungle Tumble Play Pa rt All ages ty! Fun, food and Per fect for an after school par use of our soft ve lusi fant astic animals with exc ble!

Tum gle play complex, Jun

All packages include:

· Complimentary entry for the whole day for up to 10 children * (Additional children can be booked at a discounted rate)

· 2 hour hosted party ** · Lunch box for each child - sandwich, savoury snack, a piece of fruit, a sweet treat and a drink · A present for each child · Special gift for the birthday child · Invitations · 2 adults per 10 children are admitted free of charge · Additional persons attending, but not participating qualify for group rate entry * Except Jungle Tumble Party which is up to 15 children

Additional children can be added to parties at an extra cost.

** Adult supervision is required for parties

For more information: 01206 331292 www.colchesterzoo.org experiences@colchesterzoo.org (Age restrictions are recommendations only)

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

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ACTION FOR THE WILD NEWS • ACTION FOR THE WILD NEWS

animaly,s AcatiohenlpforinthegWihald,nd!

Giving Zoo ’s charit Colchester eatened cares passionately about the world’s thrjects species and assisting conservation pro d worldwide. £1.5 million has been donate since 2004 and we need your help to continue this support!

© VulPro

Second sanctuary required as rescued bear numbers increase

New release of the Fisher’s Estuarine Moth On 31st March 2016, batches of eggs from Colchester Zoo’s breeding programme for the Fisher’s Estuarine Moth were successfully introduced onto the National Trust’s Copt Hall Marshes.

The breeding programme has taken place at Colchester Zoo since 2008 in order to provide a readily available supply of eggs for newly-created habitat sites around north-east Essex.

Copt Hall Marshes is one of 27 new sites planted with over 38,000 of the caterpillars’ sole food plant, Hog’s Fennel! This exciting release means that the moth will be able to colonise a new area within Essex and begin to extend its habitat naturally.

We hope that the outlook for the Fisher’s Estuarine Moth will be more favourable into the future as work on this breeding programme continues.

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Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7

© Free the Bears

© Micky Andrews

Colchester Zoo’s charity, Action for the Wild, is continuing to support Free the Bears; this time it’s with their work in Lao PDR.

In particular, they have been working with the Luang Prabang Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office to provide a safe sanctuary for rescued bears. Over the past 13 years, almost 40 sun bears and moon bears have been confiscated from poachers, wildlife traders, or the pet trade. Today the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre is Laos' only dedicated centre for the placement of rescued bears, with 2015 experiencing the biggest ever year for rescues.

With the current sanctuary running at levels higher than ever seen before, Free the Bears has been searching for a suitable location to establish a second sanctuary.

Action for the Wild has donated £5,000 towards the purchase of land for the new sanctuary. Working together with Action for the Wild, this will support wildlife law enforcement efforts, build local support for bear conservation and ultimately offer opportunities to develop programmes aimed at re-releasing rescued bears back into the wild.

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ACTION FOR THE WILD NEWS • ACTION FOR THE WILD NEWS

high possibility of vultures becoming extinct!

Formerly found throughout southern Africa, Cape vultures now only breed in South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana.

Without intervention, the chance of losing Cape vultures, and other vulture species throughout Africa, is a very real possibility.

The most feasible way to estimate the trend in Cape vulture numbers is to examine information from the breeding colonies on a regular basis over an adequate time period. VulPro, a project supported

by Action for the Wild, does just that. In May 2016, VulPro initiated the first of the counts for the 2016 breeding season, which saw an increase on some of the counts from last year, but the full trends will not be determined until all of the counts have been conducted.

Action for the Wild first supported VulPro in 2015 and in June 2016, we donated £5,000 to enable them to continue their vital work in surveying populations of this important, endangered species to help mitigate the threats they face.

Another elephant orphan rescued!

The Elephant Orphanage Project (EOP) team have been working to increase awareness of their work and yet another orphan was reported and successfully rescued!

On arrival, the new orphan, named Muchichili, had a full night of care and comfort from the team and by morning he started to pick up and was drinking and eating soft vegetation.

It wasn’t long before he settled in to life at the Lilayi Elephant Nursery (LEN).

Nkala a second orphan has allowed Muchichili to spend time close to him and they are often seen browsing side by side.

Community donations to Action for the Wild!

We are delighted to have received a number of donations towards our charity Action for the Wild from the local community over recent months!

Nkala is developing his role as leader and ensures that Muchichili never takes a step ahead on their daily walks.

This includes £400.00 from the shoppers of Waitrose Colchester, as part of their Community Matters scheme that ran during February/March 2016, as well as donations from the shoppers of Sainsbury’s Stanway who have kindly donated £1,239.15 via a collection box within the store. Finally we have received a fantastic £1,592 from the HMP Warren Hill Prison 'Wild @ HeArt' wildlife art exhibition, which featured original artwork from the prisoners, with proceeds from sales of their work going to Action for the Wild.

All of these donations will assist a number of conservation projects worldwide and help make a difference to species in the wild.

A huge THANK YOU to all those who donated!

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You can help!

by visiting www.actionforthewild.org or if you are a local business interested in holding a collection box for us please get in touch and be part of protecting species in the wild. © Elephant Orphanage Project

© VulPro

Conservation at home Top tips for your own compost heap!

r own heap Whether you build you are some re e h , in b st o p m o c a or keep at plant re g ng ti a re c r fo s p ti top e for insects m o h a s a ll e w s a , d o fo n waste! using your own garde

It’s best to site your compost bin on level ground and add some drainage material to the bottom of your heap such as straw or twigs.

It’s not just fruit and veg waste that can be added; other kitchen waste such as used tea bags and crushed egg shells can also be a great addition to compost!

Turning your compost heap adds air, which is vital for your waste to break down and leads to faster composting.

by using Get the balance right d brown a mixture of green an waste materials...

Your compost is ready to use when it is dark brown and almost soil like. Anything that hasn’t broken down can be added to the next heap!

Brown: , Dead flowers and leaves rd, shredded paper and ca woodchips and straw.

Green: Grass cuttings, fruit and veg peelings (avoid adding citrus), and weeds.

During warmer months, it is important to keep your compost moist.

You can do this by adding more greens or wet soil.

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Get closer with these amazing packages!

Keeper Shadowing

Full day package includes:

* Minimum age limits apply, please check website for details

Perfect Partners

Partne Have you found the Perfect

• Time spent behind the scenes (11:00 - 15:45) with the animals and their keepers • A voucher for your lunch • A souvenir pack to remember your special day • Access to the zoo before and after your experience.

r?

Open to guests 14 yrs and over. Anyone under the age of 18 yrs must be accompanied by an adult over 18 yrs who is also fully taking part in the experience.

Zoo Academy Choose from aardvark, Amur tiger, African elephant*, giant tortoise, giraffe, hawk & owl, hyena, Komodo dragon, sloth, lemur, lion, mandrill monkey, meerkat, orangutan, penguin and rhino. *Extra cost

This experience is perfect for any child who one day dreams of working with animals, to enjoy a ‘hands on’ lesson with expert tuition from our keepers!

• A close up experience for two with your chosen species • Table service, two course meal at Penguini’s with your choice of drink to accompany your meal • Bouquet of flowers • Souvenir photograph of yourselves on the experience • Souvenir pack

01206 331292 www.colchesterzoo.org experiences@colchesterzoo.org

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Zoo Cadet

Age 10 - 13yrs Morning experience 10:00 - 12:00

Fledgling Keeper

Age 6 - 9yrs Afternoon experience 13:30 - 15:30

30 minute package includes:

For more information:

Three amazing hands on experience days to choose from!

2 hour packages include:

• Complimentary entry for the whole day for participating child and supervising adult over the age of 18yrs • 2 hours spent with the animals and their keepers • Refreshment voucher • Personalised certificate and souvenir bag

© Bill Hutchings

• Complimentary entry for the whole day • Close up 30 minute experience with your chosen animal and their keeper • Meal voucher • Souvenir pack

PLUS, discount for a second person to take part in the experience with you!

© David Cundy

30 minute package includes:

Keeper for the day

g n i n r a e l g n i bring

to life!

School trips

FREE Education sessio ns

FREE Online education resources & homework helper!

Maths Science Conservation and MORE! Find out more www.colchesterzoo.org

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Zoo Events We’re GOING APE for conservation!

23rd July – 31st August

Join us throughout the summer holidays for some fantastic activities that will be great fun for all the family!

Come and see Sid and Scrat from Ice Age

Summer late night openings

TM

24th July

at intervals throughout the day!

(Don’t forget to bring your camera!)

Ice Age & © 2016 Fox

6th & 20th August

The zoo remains open into the evening with special events and activities.

Starlight Safari Night 17th September

A magical twilight spectacular to see your favourite animals in a whole new light as some bed down for the evening, whilst others are just getting lively!

TM

Photography workshops Hone your skills with these great workshops.

Birds of prey - 9th September Big cats - 23rd September Beginners - 14th October Zoo photography for children -

Big cats fighting for survival 13th October, 6:30pm

An evening of conservation talks about big cats.

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

Magic of Christmas!

Christmas light switch-on 26th November

Join Santa and his special guests to kick off Christmas in style with a magical party!

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Fright Nights!

Do you dare to stay after dark for some frightening fun?!

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

Immerse yourself in the Christmas atmosphere of our wonderful winter wonderland!

22nd - 31st October

Join us for some spook-tacular fun for the whole family during the Halloween half term!

Selected nights - 22nd, 25th, 27th, 29th & 31st October

12th November

26th & 27th Nov, 3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th, 17th - 24th Dec

Shriek Week!

Magic of Christmas Eventide 17th & 23rd Dec

Our festivities continue into the evening.

Breakfast with Santa

27th Nov and 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th - 23rd Dec Help Santa and his elves prepare for Christmas with this wonderful experience.

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

SAVE!

by buying e-tickets in advance online!

01206 331292 www.colchesterzoo.org enquiries@colchesterzoo.org

FOR MORE INFO ON COLCHESTER ZOO’S EVENTS & E-TICKET SAVINGS! © David Marsay

© NWY Photography

Pick up your copy of the Colchester Zoo magazine for offer details.

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