Colchester Zoo Magazine Summer Issue 2015 by Colchester Zoo

Colchester Zoo ISSUE 4

ACTION FOR THE WILD

summer 2015

FREE TO EVERYONE

ECHXIMCP IENTCILONSUGRE !

ENT ! REDEVELOPM

15% off © Kathryn Major

zoo passes

Special events • exclusive offers • behind the scenes news from around the zoo & conservation projects around the world

Hello!

HELLO! The Colchester Zoo Magazine gives you a fascinating insight into not only the work of Colchester Zoo, but also updates from all over the world from its charity, Action for the Wild and the Umphafa Private Nature Reserve in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

To advertise in the next edition of the Colchester Zoo magazine, contact:

David White, david@chalkandcheese.com, Telephone: 01473 221000

e hope to see you soon at Colchester Zoo, to enjoy a fun filled day out, safe in the knowledge that every visit you make assists Colchester Zoo’s vital conservation work. This summer, you can enjoy a number of new enclosures including Butterfly Glade, where you can walk amongst the beautiful butterflies and Australian Rainbows, the walkthrough lorikeet enclosure, where you can feed these inquisitive birds a treat of nectar. Don’t forget our ever popular array of daily displays which also gives you the chance to hand feed our elephants and giraffes! There is plenty of opportunity for kids to release their wild side at our indoor soft play complex, Jungle Tumble, as well as the outdoor Kids’ Safari Adventure play space and many more parks to discover as you explore. There’s over 270 species to see so do make a visit soon. Check out the amazing offers for discounts on entrance with E-tickets. PLUS get even better value with a Zoo Pass for an unlimited number of visits in a year with a fantastic 15% discount!* *Terms and conditions apply

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News from around the zoo • News from around the zoo

Young lambs and kids at Colenso Village! Colchester Zoo has welcomed several young lambs and kids this spring and as summer arrives they are continuing to thrive! Both Cameroon sheep lambs and Pygmy goat kids arrived at the beginning of April 2015, including a set of twins from each breed! All were born at the Colenso Village walkthrough enclosure which has become a busy place with little ones running all around keen to play and meet visitors.

Colchester Zoo’s Inca Trail is unrecognisable! Colchester Zoo’s Inca Trail has changed dramatically. It is one of two places that you can see Colchester Zoo’s Humboldt penguins and now has a new penguin beach for close up encounters with the penguins and an easily accessible ramp to our main viewing area with new glass walls so you can feel closer to our feathery friends than ever before! The viewing platform has also been extended to take you out over the enclosure, which now has a lagoon-like feel with palm trees and a covered canopy area. The penguins, who are pleased with their revamped enclosure, can be seen enjoying a swim in the clear pool water and have also begun to explore the beach area - albeit with caution as they get used to the sand which is a new experience for them!

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News from around the zoo • News from around the zoo

Colchester Zoo introduces a new ant colony! Colchester Zoo has introduced a brand new colony of leaf-cutter ants into the exhibit at the Kingdom of the Wild complex! Leaf-cutter ants may be small but they live in huge underground nests, connected by a thousands of tunnels. Their bodies are also amazingly powerful making it possible for them to carry pieces of leaf that weigh at least 20 times their own body weight!

Like bees, their colonies are made up of different levels of workers and their nest also contains a queen who lays all the eggs needed to keep the colony supplied with new workers. The queen’s survival is key as without her, the rest of the colony will die out. See the new colony at the Kingdom of the Wild house as they work on creating their new home!

Mabaso meets our giraffe! As Mabaso, Colchester Zoo’s male white rhino calf continues to grow bigger and stronger every day he has now been mixed with the giraffes in the Kingdom of the Wild paddock! All went well on their first meeting even though young Mabaso was very curious to meet the giants and did initially entertain himself by playing chase and getting under their long legs and large hooves! He quickly realised that this is not the safest place for a small rhino to be and overall has been keeping a respectful distance! The white rhino is listed as near threatened on the IUCN red list. Due to the current poaching crisis this birth is vital to the survival of this species and we are proud to be part of conserving this magnificent mammal. Colchester Zoo’s charity, Action for the Wild, supports rhino conservation in the wild, find out more at www.actionforthewild.org

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News from around the zoo • News from around the zoo

Our smooth- coated otter family welcome a girl! On the 28th March 2015 keepers heard noises coming from a small den underground within our otter enclosure; a sure sign that Chea, the breeding female had once again given birth.

The latest arrival to our aardvark group has been confirmed as male and given the name Adela Junior or ‘AJ’ for short.

Touch’s parents, dad, Kong Kea, and mum, Chea, joined the collection

The name was given to him after his father Adela, who sadly passed away not long after AJ’s birth, after struggling with an ongoing illness. Since his arrival on the 22nd December 2014, AJ has continued to grow strong and healthy. He joins mum Oq and our two other females Puq and Skyla at the Aardvark Burrow, exploring outside sticking close by mum! AJ is now part of what has been the most successful breeding group in the UK and one of the most thriving groups in Europe. Aardvarks have thick skin which is sparsely covered by hairs and varies in colour from brownish grey to a pale sandy colour. This little one started off hairless but has begun to grow hair and within 12 months will be fully grown.

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at Colchester Zoo in 2010 and originally came to the UK from a rescue centre in Cambodia. Smooth-coated otters are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list and so the breeding success at Colchester Zoo helps to ensure a healthy captive population aiding the continued existence of this species.

However, this successful hatching came under unusual circumstances with the swapping of the zoo’s two breeding pairs.

Successful new pairings Colchester Zoo has welcomed its first vulture chick in a number of years!

For a number of years we have had two breeding pairs named after famous couples, Gomez & Morticia and Jekyll & Hyde. Unusually, the pairs have recently decided to swap partners resulting in - Gomez & Hyde and Jekyll & Morticia! Despite the names no longer matching within their pairs, Gomez and Hyde have welcomed their first chick together on the 4th March 2015. The young bird is doing well and you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse at Vulture Valley!

It’s a boy!

As the cub began to spend more time outside keepers were able to confirm the cub was female and have given her the name ‘Touch’ which means ‘small’ in Cambodian! Touch continues to grow healthy and strong, spending her days outside with the rest of the group and has already become a strong swimmer!

News from around the zoo • News from around the zoo

‘Heart of the Amazon’ gets a new look! Heart of the Amazon has under gone some fantastic changes to create a brand new look and feel at the home of Colchester Zoo’s squirrel monkeys! The redevelopment has seen the introduction of a new, higher climbing frame and generous green planting making the area a really exciting enclosure for both visitors and monkeys alike. The large glass windows mean you feel as though you are immersed in the squirrel monkeys’ surroundings and new educational information and fantastic up close photographic opportunities help you gain a better understanding of these lively little creatures!

Colchester Zoo MAGAZINE • ISSUE 4

VISIT MORE THAN TWICE A YEAR AND IT’S Y CHEAPER TO BU A ZOO PASS!

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SS! PA ZOO A Y BU KET TIC Y DA A OF INSTEAD ONE OF THE GREATEST VALUE ZOO PASSES AROUND! PASSHOLDERS ENJOY

Colchester Zoo MAGAZINE • ISSUE 4

Save 15% off a zoo pass Non-stop fun all year round Zoo Pass offer is only valid if purchased at the zoo in person. Please note this offer is not valid through online bookings, telephone or vouchers. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer.

• Unlimited entry all year round (except Christmas Day)* • 10% off in Ark and Acacia gift shops* • 5% off in selected catering outlets* • Entrance to selected major zoos free of charge • 20% discount off animal experiences* • Exclusive Passholder Adoption opportunities • PLUS, complimentary day tickets for Platinum Passholders only *Further terms and conditions apply.

News from around the zoo • News from around the zoo

Chimp world

redevelopment Big exciting changes underway!

ur chimp family tree has grown and grown and their home is growing too as the redevelopment of ‘Chimp World’ is underway! During this redevelopment our chimps will remain off show and our slender snouted crocodiles have temporarily moved to Crocodiles of the World in Oxfordshire and will return when work is complete. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but thank you for your understanding and patience. The redevelopment will improve animal welfare as well as enhance our visitor’s experience with some fantastic changes being made to the area.The project will focus on the chimps’ current outdoor area making it much larger than its current size and a fantastic HIGH quality facility for our chimp family. Demolition of the old outdoor area is complete and the extension has already begun to take shape! Foundations are Whilst the main focus laid for the new of the project is the outdoor area! chimps’ current outdoor area, the build will also see extensive improvements to other areas.This will include installation of a new roof and the introduction of new toilet facilities for visitors.The building is planned to have sustainability in mind, with a biomass burner for heat, rainwater collection facilities and a green wall.

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News from around the zoo • News from around the zoo As well as working to improve the home of our chimps the redevelopment will also include the extension of our slender snouted crocodile enclosure with a larger area for our crocodiles, enhanced viewing for visitors as well as an off show area for keepers to work in. Watch this space as we update you with photos of this big, exciting redevelopment project! It is hoped that the project will be completed by the end of 2015.

Meet our chimps!

We have 8 chimpanzees here at Colchester Zoo; 3 males and 5 females. Pippin is the adult male who was born at Twycross Zoo in March 1986 and has been here since January 1992. Billy-Joe, an adult female; has been here since March 1983 and is mother to both Tara, born in October 1985, and Kora, who was born in November 1999.

Give us a helping hand

With a donation of £50 you can help our charity, Action for the Wild support our projects currently taking place within the zoo and across the world, all working hard to help animal conservation. By making this donation we would like to highlight your dedication and support to all our visitors by displaying a chimp hand print within the revamped enclosure upon its completion. This will be on display for many years to come and if you wish, you can provide us with a special message of up to 50 characters to go on your hand print... Make your donation today by visiting our website www.colchesterzoo.org

Tara is the mother of Tekita. Tekita, is a female born here at Colchester in February 1996. Tombe is a male who was also born here in August 1996. Our chocolate chimp is Tumba, who was born in 2004 to Tekita and Pippin, making Billy-Joe a proud great-grandmother! Tekita gave birth once again on 14th March 2009 to a black chimp, (not a chocolate one like her older brother Tumba). The baby has been sexed as a female so keepers have decided to call her Talia.

Message to adopters

If you are an adopter of one of our chimps and would like to see your adopted chimp please call into Guest Services on the day of your visit as it may be possible for a keeper to meet you and take you to the enclosure however please note that we cannot guarantee that this can be arranged depending on the current work which is taking place on the day of your visit.

Colchester Zoo

MAGAZINE • ISSUE 4

keeping them

healthy

An insight into our vet’s role by Clive Barwick, Zoo Curator Colchester Zoo is fortunate to work alongside three separate veterinary practises that each in turn, covers all our needs to ensure optimum levels of veterinary support for the animals in our care.

ur vets see a bewildering range of species from our domestic rabbits, sheep and goats to our African elephants, lions, giraffes and smaller patients too, such as the critically endangered Fregate Island beetle, a wonderful yet diminutive insect from the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Perhaps we do not often think about veterinary care for our insects, spiders or maybe even for our fish but they each have their own particular ailments that might affect their health one day and need the services of our vet teams. As we do not have vets permanently on site, every Wednesday we are paid a visit by our vets. On each visit the tasks for vets are always different, they may be involved in vaccinating a leopard and the next time we could t in Stitching up a cu be preparing our ear ’s er tig ur Am an veterinary facility to perform surgery on a fish - it can be that diverse. Leaning on the saying that ‘prevention is

Colchester Zoo MAGAZINE • ISSUE 4

Veterinary examination of a Philippine Spotted Deer

better than cure’ the zoo curators and veterinarians work closely together to formulate a programme of preventive health measures for our animals. This will include aspects that some of you will be familiar with regarding your own pets. Vaccinations; as already mentioned but not just for our big cats but for our elephants, rabbits, llamas and others. Faecal screening for parasites and specific bacteria is really important in detecting potentially harmful organisms and the majority of the animals in our collection are checked yearly, but many others are screened several times a year. It’s not only about vaccinations, microscopes and what animals ‘leave behind’ but many other factors can have an influence on an individual’s well-being and physical health. Diet of course is so often talked about for our own species and a healthy well balanced diet is important for our zoo animals too. We look at all these factors and more to ensure that we are providing the best in terms of veterinary care and excellent animal welfare and husbandry.

Checking the condition of flamingo chick’s feet

Look out for more vet news in the next issue!

ZOO ADOPTIONS Adopt an animal at Colchester Zoo and you are helping to fund our work, as well as our charity, Action for the Wild which assists conservation projects worldwide. 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! Or why not adopt a species on our UmPhafa Reserve to help assist with the conservation work which we complete in South Africa. You’ll receive a photo of your adopted species, a certificate and feature on the roll of honour at our Kingdom of the Wild building as well as being kept up to date with the latest news from the reserve!

to purchase or make an enquiry 01206 331292 ext. 232/237

Penguin 16

Colchester Zoo MAGAZINE • ISSUE 4

Amur tiger

red panda

Giraffe

www.colchesterzoo.org

Colchester Zoo MAGAZINE • ISSUE 4

CONSERVATION AT HOME Make a wildlife pond

Ple as e make sure youn g children are supe rvis e d at all times

Ponds are a great place to watch wildlife, and what is wonderful about this pond is that you can build it anywhere - in a garden, at school or even on a balcony! Once built, your pond will attract brilliant insects like dragonflies and pond skaters, birds will visit for a drink too and you might even see frogs, toads and newts! How to make it: What you will need:

wl or bucket • An old washing up bo and larger pebbles • Some gravel or sand or bricks to line • Wood, sticks, rocks se not to bury it the pond if you choo if you chose to have • Spade to dig a hole a sunken pond wl • Water to fill the bo u can get from yo ich wh • Pond weed centres pet shops or garden te the pond ea • An adult to help cr children and supervise smaller

Step 3

Dig a hole just large enough for the container and sink it into the ground. Alternatively you could place your bowl on the ground and build up ramps around the side with rocks and bits of wood, so that creatures can get in and out

Step 4

Add the water. Make sure you fill the bowl up to the top! REMEMBER - In hot weather keep topping up the water so that your pond doesn’t dry out

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Step 1

Add a layer of gravel to the bottom of your bowl or bucket (about 2 cm)

Step 5

Add pond weed. Just push the roots into the gravel at the bottom of the bowl to keep them in place To give creatures a place to shelter you can pile up extra stones and wood around the edge of your bowl. You can also use branches and twigs to give visiting creatures alternative access

Step 2

Arrange your pebbles around the edge – pile them up in a corner to the top of the bowl to help creatures in and out

Now just sit back and watch the pond you created become home to a variety of thankful creatures!

#wendyswednesdays Tips for conservation at home and around your garden!

top tips

Colchester Zoo is a full day out, so do get here early! We’ve come up with some top tips for visiting and a list of must sees!

You’ll need to visit more than once to see every encounter so we advise you to plan ahead using our FREE app! No need for a picnic! We’ve got a variety of food outlets serving delicious menu options to cater to your needs! Too much to do in one day or thinking of visiting again? Buy a Zoo Pass instead of admission or upgrade your admission ticket at Guest Services to SAVE ££ and visit as many times as you like!* Our ‘Easier Route’ provides a simple way around the zoo and avoids the steepest hills. We recommend this route for people with pushchairs, wheelchair users, or anyone with reduced mobility.

l Experience hand feeding some of our gentle giants at our FREE public feeds! l Visit Jo-Jo and Srey Ya in their wonderful home, Bears of the Rising Sun l Feed a treat of nectar to our colourful lorikeets at Australian Rainbows l Walk among the lemurs at Lost Madagascar by catching the Lost Madagascar Express Road Train and see a variety of species on your journey! l Catch a glimpse of our Amur Leopards, the most endangered big cat, at Leopards of Ussuri Falls l Take a walk on our Nature Reserve to spot the beautiful native wildlife l Let the kids release their wild side in Jungle Tumble, our indoor soft play complex! l Get up close and personal at the Discovery Centre and have a go at bug handling l Get in touch with your senses at the Sensation Station to find out about some of our more familiar friends! l Take a tranquil walk through Butterfly Glade to discover a variety of species of butterfly! l See our sealions swimming through our underwater 24m tunnel at Playa Patagonia! *Terms and conditions apply

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don’t miss

NEWS FROM UMPHAFA PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE • NEWS FROM UMPHAFA PR

UmPhafa welcomes the world’s largest antelope to its land! On 17th April 2015, 14 Eland antelope were released onto Colchester Zoo’s UmPhafa Reserve! Local farmers believe that these magnificent animals had not roamed the foothills of UmPhafa for around 150 years due to hunting. The name Eland is a Dutch word for Elk or Moose. They are the largest antelope in the world with males weighing up to 900kg. Eland are a social animal and will often be seen in large herds. The group on the reserve consists of 2 adult males, 2 juvenile males, 6 adult females and 4 juvenile females. This is a balanced group that will allow growth of the population. We hope that we will see our herd expand and recreate a little of what had been lost from this area.

6,500 hectares united! We are delighted to announce Action for the Wild, Colchester Zoo’s charity, has completed the purchase of a huge area of land that will enable us to link all the areas of the UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve into one continuous area with our released animals able to wonder freely and safely across the whole reserve. We look forward to exploring this new land and seeing what new habitats and species we can bring under UmPhafa’s protection. 22 Colchester Zoo MAGAZINE • ISSUE 4

Since the original reserve was created in 2005, the reserve operated in two distinct, fenced areas with wildlife species released onto just one of the farms, called Gevonden. In 2013, we managed to complete the fencing of the other two areas, Geluk and Vetrek, and released species onto these parts of the reserve too. The linking of this final piece of land called Mount Sully will mean that our wildlife species will now be able to wander freely across the whole 6,500 hectare reserve!

RIVATE NATURE RESERVE • NEWS FROM UMPHAFA PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE

Intern Katie shares her UmPhafa Journey! Anti-poaching team given a boost! Colchester Zoo’s UmPhafa Reserve would like to say a HUGE thank you to the soldiers from the 4th Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s who took time out of their South Africa tour to visit UmPhafa and donate a large selection of kit to the anti-poaching team! Our reserve relies heavily on the donations of others to help fund the vital research and conservation work which is carried out including the anti-poaching patrols which take place to help protect the animals living in the area. This fantastic donation of kit will be extremely useful for our team to stay warm, dry and camouflaged so as to not disturb the animals they work so hard to protect. If you are interested in donating to Colchester Zoo’s UmPhafa Reserve check out the team’s Amazon Wish list at www.umphafa.org

One of the most recent interns to arrive at Colchester Zoo’s UmPhafa Reserve explains why she decided to apply for the programme and how these internships are not just for those looking for a future career in conservation but also for those with a love of nature, looking for an adventure! I found out about placements at UmPhafa through the Colchester Zoo website. I travelled out to the reserve for four weeks in April 2015 to enjoy new experiences and so that I would contribute something worthwhile whilst having a nice long break from work. I’m a water treatment works manager so this placement isn’t at all related to my day job and it has been a fantastic experience. I’ve particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to explore the reserve on foot and learning much more detail about the animals and their tracks and behaviours than I ever would going on a ‘holiday safari’.

becoming an intern For the full information pack on internships at Colchester Zoo’s UmPhafa Reserve visit the UmPhafa website, www.umphafa.org

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Animal Activities Find and circle the animal themed words in this puzzle! Words may be found across, downwards and maybe forwards or backwards! Good luck!

Word search Lion Rock Mammal Reptile Bird Amphibian Insect Animals UmPhafa LEMUR LORIKEET GIRAFFE BUTTERFLY ZOO

fill in the blanks

Use the clues to fill in the blanks and uncover the name of the species!

Ch_mp_n_ees are our closest living relatives.

M__rk_ts

are very social and live in large groups.

S_n be_r_

P__gu_ns

can see underwater as they have built in goggles. 24 Colchester Zoo MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ ISSUE 4

A_U_ TI_E_s

are well adapted to living in the cold with their thick fur coats.

ÂŠ David Marsay / Kathryn Major / Scott Davey

are the smallest of all eight bear species.

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action for the wild news • action for the wild news

Giving animals a helping hand! Colchester Zoo works hand in hand with its charity, Action for the Wild, to give animals a hand in the wild and at the zoo. Every visit you make to Colchester Zoo contributes to this conservation work. We’ve already donated over £1,500,000 to various projects but there is so much more to do. Their future is in our hands!

How the Red Panda Project helps local communities! The Red Panda Network’s Forest Guardian programme not only empowers communities to protect red panda habitat, but it also employs locals as professional forest stewards. They work within their own communities and perform red panda monitoring and outreach activities, they organise public workshops where participants learn about the status of red pandas, what is being done locally to save them, and valuable red panda monitoring skills.

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Helping Zambia’s orphaned elephants Young elephant calf Suni was found in the wild alone and with an axe injury to her spine. Around three years on she still suffers with partial paralysis in her back leg, but Suni has learned to walk wearing a special boot to prevent her ankle rolling and causing damage to her foot, thanks to the dedication of the Elephant Orphanage Project. Suni is just one of the many calves enjoying their new surroundings at the rescue, rehabilitation and release facility in Zambia, where young elephants orphaned as a result of poaching or human-elephant conflict, are helped back into the wild. The dedication, care and medical support from the Elephant Orphanage Project team, means Suni can now put her best foot forward again. Colchester Zoo’s Action for the Wild charity has been supporting the project since 2010, and in May 2015 donated a further £5,000. Find out more about the Elephant Orphanage Project at www.actionforthewild.org Article kindly written by © Sarah Jones Beer

action for the wild news • action for the wild news

Action for the Wild continues to support Primate rehabilitation centre The Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro (CRPL) was established in 2002 in order to care for orphaned primates, providing them with a place for rehabilitation. As of April 2015, the centre is now home to 59 chimpanzees and 69 monkeys, representing more than eleven different species.

Vital funds help with new bear sanctuary construction! In March 2014, Action for the Wild donated £6,000 to Free the Bears. This donation has been used to help with the construction of a new bear house at their Cambodian Bear Sanctuary; to house four of the growing nursery groups of sun bears that have been brought into the centre over recent years. To date, 185 bears have been rescued by the Cambodian sanctuary. Find out more at www.actionforthewild.org

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The CRPL is not only a safe, protected place for orphans of poaching and the pet trade, but the primates have also become ambassadors, with more than a staggering 500 people visiting the centre each month to learn about primates and environmental conservation through awareness programmes.

In 2014, Action for the Wild donated £4,796 to help the centre provide all animals in its care with a high standard of nutrition and medical care. Action for the Wild is pleased to be supporting this project again in 2015 and provided a donation of £4,999.

action for the wild news • action for the wild news

Combating the rhino poaching crisis Rhino poaching in South Africa has reached crisis point. Last year 1,215 rhinos were poached across the country - that’s one every eight hours. If the killing continues at this rate, rhino deaths could overtake births in 2016-2018, meaning in the very near future rhinos could become extinct. The international illegal trade in rhino horn is mainly driving the increase in poaching. Although rhino horn has no scientific medical benefits, ground horn is still used to treat a wide range of conditions from cancer to hangovers, and now, due to its high value, preserved rhino horn has become a status symbol. Protecting

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black and white rhino populations living in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, is a top priority for Save the Rhino. Ground-based and aerial surveillance patrols are collecting valuable rhino-sighting data which increases conservationists’ knowledge of the park’s rhino populations. At the sametime, anti-poaching patrols are carrying out law enforcement activities to combat further rhino poaching losses and are working hard to bring more successful prosecutions and convictions to the criminals involved. Colchester Zoo’s Action for the Wild charity donated £5,309 to the conservation project in April 2015, continuing its ongoing support of Save the Rhino. This will go towards essential equipment such as handcuff

pouches, camouflage overalls and night-vision equipment, which will help the patrols to monitor and protect the park in the hope of combating the poaching crisis and saving future generations of rhinos. Article kindly written by © Sarah Jones Beer You can help too with a donation to Action for the Wild, every little helps and gives hope to a number of endangered species around the world. Visit www.actionforthewild.org

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zoo events 2015 8th & 22nd August Summer Late Night openings Enjoy a summer evening at Colchester Zoo with a whole host of extra events as opening is extended into the evening with special feeds, displays and training sessions.

19th september Starlight Safari Night

Enjoy a magical twilight spectacular at Colchester Zoo with this special extended opening late into the evening. See your favourite animals in a whole new light as some bed down for the evening, whilst for others, their shift is just beginning! With additional events to enjoy, this really is a Safari not to be missed!

23rd july 2nd september

24th October – 1st November

Embark on a Safari as an UmPhafa Ranger!

Shriek Week

The darkness of ‘Shriek Week’ is set to return to Colchester Zoo...are you brave enough?! Why not join in and enjoy plenty of spook-tacular fun during October half term with themed displays and activities throughout the day!

This summer you can find out more about how Colchester Zoo and its charity, Action for the Wild, work together for endangered species on their Private Nature Reserve, Umphafa. You can also take part in some amazing activities and challenges that will test your skills as a

budding Umphafa Game Ranger tracking the illusive leopard!

Themed around the work carried out in Africa by Colchester Zoo and the reserve staff, you are invited to embark on a foot safari to try your skills in tracking. With activities including identifying faeces, camera trapping, tracking and much more, this will be fantastic fun for all the family!

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24th, 26th, 28th, 29th & 31st October Fright Night

For those of you brave enough to stay after dark our Fright Nights are returning to offer hair-raising screams and fits of laughter! Fright Nights take place on selected dates in Shriek Week & DO NOT take place every night of October half term. Animal viewing cannot be guaranteed after dark. Do bring a torch for extended opening events.

Bounce back into shape After the astounding success of indoor trampoline parks in the US and Australia. Jump Street is proud to open its first centre in Colchester, Essex this summer. Why is trampolining the talk of the nation? Well Jump Street explains why: It’s mind-blowing With 125 interconnected trampolines spread over 20,000 square feet the room itself makes you smile. There’s no reason why people of all ages can’t let their hair down and bounce. It has proven health benefits, it’s easy on joints, it’s safe yet exciting – and it’s about time we had a viable alternative to the gym! It’s good for you With health and wellbeing in the spotlight more and more, the need for a range of activities that gets adults and children moving has never been greater. Trampolining is a great way to get fit and stay fit - and because it’s great fun it’s also good for the soul. The freedom and exhilaration people feel when they get jumping is palpable. It’s great to watch but at some point those watching just have to have a go. They can’t help themselves!

It’s varied and fun The colours, music and the variety of areas and activities are enough to keep anyone amused and entertained. For example Jump Street Colchester will have bouncing dodgeball courts, basketball nets, free jumping areas and foam pits as well as wall bouncing areas. Jump Street provides a safe yet exhilarating way to let off steam, socialise, increase your heart rate and build coordination and balance It’s safe Safety is of the greatest importance. There are a few simple but important rules to keep jumpers safe and marshals in every area of the park to ensure everyone is bouncing safely. Each jumper has to wear a pair of our non-slip socks which they can keep and reuse. It’s for everyone Whilst Jump Street is totally geared around family fun, when the kids are in school the park takes on a very slightly more grown up vibe. We’ll be running

a range of fitness classes to help adults bounce back into shape. Jump Street should become a parent’s best friend, as it’s a great way to grab a break while the kids are entertained in a healthy activity – and when the kids are at school you can revel in the serenity of the uninterrupted, fun-filled fitness classes. It’s comfortable There will be a café on the mezzanine where parents can have a break while keeping an eye on their children or where adults can catch up after a fitness class on the tramps! The fact is, doctors and politicians want us to get moving and look after our health. We want to do the things that make us happy. Now there’s a solution that meets both sets of criteria. Jump Street is coming to Colchester this summer. Register for the newsletter on www.jumpstreet.co.uk and keep an eye on the website for the latest news, jobs and developments.

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zoo events 2015 28th & 29th November 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 17th - 24th December Magic of Christmas

Add a spark of magic to your festivities this Christmas with Colchester Zoo’s light spectacular! As the sun sets you’ll be amazed by the illuminations that transport you to our sparkling winter wonderland! You’ll also get the chance to meet Santa’s reindeer, wander around our Christmas market and take part in additional festive events! Of course there is also the opportunity to meet Santa in his enchanted grotto and even receive a present!* *terms and conditions apply

29th November 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 17th & 23rd December Breakfast with Santa

Wake up Santa and meet his real live reindeer. Enjoy a tour of his Enchanted Grotto and a delicious Elven breakfast PLUS receive a wonderful gift from Santa himself! Must be pre-booked in advance.

28th November Christmas Lights Switch On

Our spectacular illuminations are set to be turned on by a special guest!

19th & 23rd December Late nights

Stay after dark to enjoy the Christmas magic at the zoo as the festivities continue into the evening.

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6th & 13th December Mother Christmas

Mother Christmas will be on hand on these dates at Santa’s Enchanted Grotto for those children who would prefer to meet her instead of Santa.

Book E-tickets for Colchester Zoo’s events online and SAVE! Whether it’s for our late night openings, Halloween events or even for Christmas by booking online, in advance, you’ll receive fantastic savings on the cost of admission!

01206 331292 www.colchesterzoo.org

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corporate sponsorship Reach new markets by sponsoring a location at Colchester Zoo

olchester Zoo is well known for its conservation work and attracts visitors from all over the world. It is a powerful, conservation brand for your company to be associated with in order to increase its own recognition and fulfil its CSR goals. With nearly 1 million visitors recorded in 2014 and over 70,000 annual Passholders, Colchester Zoo offers huge marketing opportunities to tap into.

Company VIP Away Days & Team Building

Looking for unique ways of motivating your team and creating a great feel for team spirit? Look no further, we’ve got the perfect solution for you.

With thanks to...

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Corporate Ticket Accounts

Looking to offer a different incentive? Why not become a corporate ticket account holder and offer Colchester Zoo tickets at a reduced rate to staff or customers or even for FREE! Tickets can be purchased in bulk at a largely reduced rate from Colchester Zoo!

Corporate Adoptions

Colchester Zoo’s corporate adoption offers companies the chance to support the zoo as well as to promote its involvement to stakeholders. It includes a choice of adoption of any animal, a plaque at the animal’s enclosure, a VIP half day experience for up to four people, ten entry tickets, an adoption certificate, information about your

animal, a photograph, souvenir book, marketing through our social media channels and website and a 10% discount on Team building bookings or VIP Away Days when booked during the year of support.

Support conservation and build a wider audience...

Colchester Zoo receives no external funding, so corporate support is vital for its further development as well as assisting projects in the wild.

find out more about corporate opportunities www.colchesterzoo.org

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shopping at the zoo We have 2 large gift and souvenir shops at Colchester Zoo with a wide variety of products on offer with something suitable for all ages!

acacia shop BACK TO SCHOOL

We are constantly introducing new ranges and products into the shops so there’s always something new! There’s no need to tackle the hustle and bustle of the town centre when you’ve got our great gift shops available 7 days a week with free entry as you can visit without having to pay admission to the zoo!

A wide range of sc hool necessities such as lunch boxes, back pa cks, beakers, stationery and more!

ures Sculptcent

EDGE magnifi

These f art are o er pieces in a numb e l availab al forms! m of ani

Garden Ornaments

n Our range of moder es ur garden sculpt are perfect to help tch! brighten up your pa

Woodw

Beautif ick Candl es u an org l fragrances anic w with o wick c reating oden sound t of a cr he soothing ackling fire!

Hand in Hand

Help us raise awaren ess of our conservation work with our ‘Han d in Hand’ themed prod ucts!

ark shop

e Clothing Ranshgirt

ur TCheck out o esigns! and hoodie d uvenir The perfect so lover! for an animal

nchos Don’t let w et weather dampe Our fantast n your day out! ic ponchos are the perfect reu sable rain m ac! 40 Colchester Zoo MAGAZINE • ISSUE 4

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Summer meal deals

Colchester Zoo has a number of delicious new meal and snack options this summer! From our brand new range of homemade sandwiches on offer across the site, to our locally sourced Wicks Manor sausages at our new Sausage Hut, through to our range of scooping ice cream from Taywells, we have something for everyone!

BBQ Colchester Zoo’s very own BBQ will be fired up all summer to offer you a selection of delicious beef burgers & pulled pork rolls sourced from our local farm,Wicks Manor. With fresh salad and range of gorgeous chutneys, they offer that wonderful summer feeling.

MEAL DEAL- Classic burger, bottle of drink, packet of crisps JUST £6.00 N.B Please note BBQ closed on wet days. Does not include cheese or bacon which can be added at an additional cost.

naughty AND nic e

SAU SAG E HUT

Another of our newest catering developments, Naughty & Nice offers something completely different! From our delicious warm brownies, to our new range of ice-cream, smoothies & milkshakes, there really is something for everyone this summer! We also offer a range of gluten, dairy and wheat free snacks.

One of our brand new outlets, The Sausage Hut, offers your family a beautiful, locally sourced Olde English sausage, in a fresh warm brioche bun, with a fabulous range of sauces & chutneys for the perfect finish. It’s the ideal accompaniment to a summer stroll around our African paddocks.

MEAL DEAL- Buy 2 smoothies or milkshakes and get a 3rd half price! N.B Only selected flavours available.

MEAL DEAL- Hotdog, cold drink, packet of crisps ONLY £6.00 N.B Only selected drinks and crisps available within offer.

16 20 ming co ant aur st re a st pa and a zz Pi ! W NE

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Crispy Cod and Prawn Fishcakes Sainsbury’s Stanway store Manager ‘Kevin Jones’ talks about some of the work Sainsbury’s is undertaking around ‘Sourcing with Integrity’, one of their corporate values; Providing great products and services at fair prices is our core purpose and this year we’ve committed to improving the quality of over 3000 of our own brand products, we’ve reformulated our own brand lemonade and cola to save 1,310 tonnes of sugar in our customer’s baskets – that’s over 5.2 billion calories!

In addition, all of our chicken, pork, and beef are British and we remain the biggest retailer of MSC fish in the UK – including being the first retailer to offer MSC cod in our cafes. As the world’s largest retailer of Fairtrade products, we supported the Fairtrade Foundation in celebrating their 20 year anniversary. For more information about our corporate values, please visit Sainsburys.co.uk

To support our British Milk farmers our Sainsbury’s Dairy Development Group (SDDG) of farmers benefit from a cost of production model, this sets a price that directly reflects their costs on the farm, builds in a profit, as well as rewarding outstanding animal welfare and environmental standards, reviewed every three months to accommodate for the most volatile elements of costs: feed, fuel and fertiliser, which ensures a fair deal for the farmers involved.

In January 2015 we became the first major UK retailer to launch a washing up liquid made using palm oil from a mass balance certified sustainable source, 95% of the palm oil used to make Sainsbury’s own-brand products is now certified sustainable. We now have almost 400 own-brand products made with segregated certified sustainable palm oil from steak and kidney pie through to hand soap. “We know that this is as important to our customers as it is to us”.

Ingredients

l 260g pack skinless and boneless cod fillet l 450g pack classic buttery mash l 100g bunch spring onions, trimmed and chopped l 4 tablespoons plain flour l ½ x 200g pack cooked and peeled prawns, roughly chopped l 4 tablespoons tartare sauce l 1 large free range Woodland egg, beaten l 90g tub panko breadcrumbs l 2 tablespoons sunflower oil l 120g bag baby leaf bistro salad

Put the cod fillets in a pan and cover with water. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 3 minutes until the fish is opaque. Drain and flake with a fork.

Put the mashed potato in a large bowl and mix in the flaked cod, half the spring onions, 1 tablespoon of the flour, the chopped prawns and half the tartare sauce.

3 Put the remaining flour, egg and 4 breadcrumbs in 3 separate dishes. Lightly dust each fishcake with flour dip into the beaten egg and coat 5 then in the breadcrumbs. Season, with freshly ground black pepper and shape into 8 fishcakes.

Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the fishcakes and fry for 5 minutes, turning once, until golden.

Mix the remaining spring onions with the salad and serve with the fishcakes and remaining tartare sauce. Colchester Zoo MAGAZINE • ISSUE 4