Colchester Zoo
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2008-07-09T10:06:51Z
Tabletop
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{{Infobox zoo
|zoo_name=Colchester Zoo
|logo=colchester-zoo-logo.png
|logo_width=322
|logo_caption=Colchester Zoo logo
|date_opened=1963
|location=[[Colchester]], [[Essex]], [[England]]
|area=60 [[acre]]s (0.243 [[square kilometers|km²]])
|coordinates={{coor dms|51|51|45|N|0|49|58|E|type:landmark_region:GB}}
|num_species=345 (2007)
|num_animals=5666 (2007)
|exhibits = Spirit of Africa, White Tiger Valley, Wilds of Asia
|website=http://www.colchester-zoo.co.uk
}}
'''Colchester Zoo''' in [[Essex]], [[England]] has some of the best [[big cat]] and [[primate]] collections in Europe. The zoo had 547,495 visitors in 2003 (boosted by the birth of its first baby elephant) and 464,684 in 2004.
Colchester Zoo is supported by a charitable organisation called [[Action For The Wild]]. The charity is dedicated to assisting conservation projects worldwide through the provision of both financial and technical assistance.
{{Quote|"To provide a first class experience for all its visitors and at the same time further understanding and respect for animals. Colchester Zoo undertakes breeding programmes for endangered species and funds in situ projects in the wild."|Colchester Zoo's mission statement}}
==Animal exhibits==
The animals habitats at Colchester Zoo are presented in a number of different themed zones.
===Kingdom of the Wild and Edge of Africa===
Kingdom of the Wild is perhaps the best-loved of all the zones of Colchester Zoo. In Kingdom of the Wild the animals feature [[African elephants]], 3 [[giraffes]]. Koife, Edmund and their newest edition Century who has recently arrived from Longleat Safari Park., [[kudu]], [[white rhinoceros]], [[zebra]] and [[aardvarks]]. The elephants here have had two calves Kito and Jambo. Jambo has now left Colchester zoo for Biopark Valencia. There is also a [[vulture]] aviary, [[Pygmy Hippopotamus]], [[Meerkats]], [[Tortoises]], two monitor lizard species, leaf-cutting [[ants]] and a walk-through ibis aviary . Edge of Africa is home to [[warthogs]], [[Mandrill]], [[Red River Hog]]s, [[Black Colobus]], [[Cheetahs]] and a pair of [[Striped hyena]] and one [[Spotted hyena]]. The 'Tanganika' road train also takes you past black-backed [[Jackals]].
===Lakelands Zone===
The Lakelands Zone is home to numerous different birds on the lakes, including [[Pelicans]], [[Flamingos]] and numerous ducks and geese. There is an arena for a falconry display, a [[Harbour seal]] pool and numerous Red-eared [[terrapins]] as well.
===Kidz Zone===
The Kidz Zone is home to the smaller animals for children to pet, such as [[Goats]], [[Sheep]], [[Essex Pig]] from [[Jimmy's Farm]], some [[Cattle]], [[Llamas]], [[Mara]], [[Banded Mongoose]], [[Rocky mountain goat]] and [[Doves]]. Inside the Familiar Friends building, there are [[Ponies]], [[Chinchillas]], [[African Grass Rat|Nile Rats]], [[Spiny mouse|Turkish Spiny Mouse]] and a small nocturnal area for [[Feathertail Glider|Pygmy Glider]]s. There are also [[Chickens]], [[Rabbits]] and [[Guinea pigs]].
===Valley Zone===
The Valley Zone is home to many animals such as [[Colombian]] [[Spider Monkey]], a [[White Tiger]], [[Giant Anteater]], [[Gelada]], Subu and Leoni the [[Lions]], a pair of critically endangered [[Amur Leopard]]s, four species of [[Lemur]], including the rare [[Blue-eyed Black Lemur]], [[Margay]], and Out of Africa, home not only to the blue-eyed lemurs, but also a pair of Black and white colobus monkeys.
===Beginning Zone===
The Beginning Zone is home to the smaller animals of the zoo, and some of the most loved creatures here include the [[Macaws]], [[Orangutan]]s, and a walk-through [[Iguana]] exhibit, which is also home to yellow-footed tortoises. South American world is home to Linnes two toed sloth and various marmosets.
===Heights Zone===
At the beginning of the Heights Zone, you will meet two [[Amur Tigers]], and then [[Gray Wolf|grey wolves]] in Call of the Wild and a variety of birds of prey in the World of Wings, including [[Andean Condor]], [[Great Grey Owl]] and [[Vultures]]. Then, you enter Dragons of Komodo, home to a pair of [[Komodo Dragon]], and in an opposite enclosure is a pack of [[African Wild Dog]]s. In the Wilds of Asia, you can see [[Lion-tailed Macaque]], [[Red Panda]], [[Chevrotain| Greater Malayan Chevrotain]], [[Pallas Cat]] Asian fish, [[reptiles]] and also a [[Southern Tamandua]]. In Chimp World is a troop of [[Chimpanzees]] and [[L'Hoest's Monkey]]s. You then see the [[Fossa]] in Foret de Madagascar and the [[Geoffroy's Cat]].
=== Aquatic Zone ===
In this zone, you may see some of the best loved animals of the zoo, including two goups of [[Humboldt Penguin]]s, and five [[South American Sea Lion]]s that live in the new state of the art Playa Patagonia enclosure that includes a 24 metre, underwater tunnel that you can walk through whilst you watch them swim over head. There are also many different species of fish, reptiles and [[frogs]] and also a critically endangered pair of [[Montserrat Oriole]], which now live in the old keel-billed [[Toucan]] enclosure. The Small Mammal house is also situated in the Aquatic Zone and is home to a mob of [[Meerkat]], [[Rock Hyrax]], [[Porcupine]] and the [[Dwarf Mongoose]]. There is also two enclosures for [[Squirrel Monkey]]s and [[Agouti]], a complex for a second group of Humboldt's penguins and [[Columbian spider monkeys]], and the new enclosure 'Worlds Apart', featuring a [[Water monitor]], a pair of [[Rhinoceros iguana]], a walk-through [[pied tamarin]] enclosure and Colchester Zoo have recently received the arrival of a pair of highly endangered [[Cuban crocodiles]]. At the end of the squirrel monkeys exhibit is a tempory enclosure for two juvenile male [[Gelada Baboons]] waiting two be transferred out of the collection.
===New Projects===
"Orangutan Forest", a new [[Orang-utan]] enclosure is due to open in July 2008 it will also include small exhibits on other asian wildlife as well as various displays on the orangutans and conservation programmes running to save them from extinction.
The zoo has recently subbmited plans for the future of the area currently occupied by the old orangutan house. The new is to become a brand new tropical walkthrough exhibit. The exhibit is planned to spread over two floors and will incorporate an underwater viewing tunnel in which visitors will be able to see crocodiles swim and feed. The second floor is planned to house a large tropical rainforest exhibit which will be home to reptiles, snakes, bird and tamarins.
The building of the new complex is expected to start in the Autumn of 2008 and hoped to be completed by late 2010.
== Television Documentary ==
The third series of the Channel 5 show Zoo Days will come from Colchester Zoo. This series will be presented by former Blue Peter star Konnie Huq and will begin transmission on 9 June and run for 4 weeks. At the end of the last show in the series, konnie hug held a new hand-reared baby [[cheetah]] which is being cared for by zoological director Anthony Tropeano and Conservation Officer Rebecca Perry. The zoo is now hopeful that they will be given a second series of zoo days by channel five as the first has been received so well.<ref>[http://www.colchester-zoo.co.uk/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&id=356 Zoo Day's at Colchester Zoo]</ref>
==Images from Colchester Zoo==
<gallery>
Image:colchesterzoowolf.jpg|A [[wolf]] at Colchester Zoo.
Image:Gelada Baboon male.jpg|A male gelada baboon at the zoo.
Image:Zeedonk 800.jpg|The 'zeedonk' is a cross between a zebra and a donkey.
Image:Tragelaphus strepsiceros female2.jpg|A female greater kudu
Image:Ring tailed lemur and twins.jpg|A mother ring-tailed lemur with day-old twins
Image:Lanner Falcon 800.jpg|Lanner falcon
Image:Sleepy duck at Colchester Zoo.jpg|Sleepy duck
Image:Lion at Colchester Zoo, England.jpg|An adult lion
</gallery>
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Colchester Zoo}}
* [http://www.colchester-zoo.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.mywitham.co.uk/ Essex Online Directory]
* [http://www.actionforthewild.org/ Action For The Wild]
{{British zoos}}
{{Zoos}}
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Essex]]
[[Category:Zoos in England]]