Dudley Zoo's sticky solution to bedtime snack
- Details
- Category: Theme Parks and Zooalogical
- Written by Assistant Editor
- Hits: 9
Keepers at Dudley Zoological Gardens found themselves in a sticky situation when trying to round up the site’s 11 pygmy marmosets for the night.
The perky primates didn’t want to come in to go to bed, but staff solved the problem by offering them their favourite treat – gum arabic, a gluey tree sap which the mini marmosets adore.
Although keepers say the gum tastes like glue on envelopes, the marmosets are so keen they come running to get their share, and staff are then able to secure them in their overnight quarters.
Lemurs in Love
- Details
- Category: Theme Parks and Zooalogical
- Written by Assistant Editor
- Hits: 10
As Valentine's Day approaches there are two little lemurs at West Midland Safari Park that are celebrating the season of love in style.
After spending the chilly winter months snuggling up and getting to know one another, the loveable pair of Black and White Ruffed Lemurs that share a home in the Park's Discovery Trail are quite clearly besotted and now only have eyes for each other.
Nicknamed Romeo and Juliet, Park staff love nothing more than a good romance between their charges and it can be said that they are actively encouraging the lovey-dovey bond that is developing in their midst.
And, just to make sure that their efforts don't go to waste, staff didn't hesitate in ordering the food of love for the cuddlesome couple to feast upon - hand delivered to their love nest, naturally.
Year of the Dragon at Dudley Zoo
- Details
- Category: Theme Parks and Zooalogical
- Written by Assistant Editor
- Hits: 27
Chinese New Year celebrations got off to a flying start today at Dudley Zoological Gardens with the help of an authentic Shanghai kite.
Staff are marking the Year of the Dragon with a range of activities and using a traditional Chinese kite and lanterns as part of the educational display.
Small tame ‘dragons’ within the collection will also be making an appearance with specialist talks throughout the week and enrichment workshops for young visitors.
Head of Media and Communications, Jill Hitchman, said: “There’s lots going on to mark Chinese New Year and one of the items in the display is a 20ft-long traditional dragon kite that I brought back from Shanghai last year.
“The dragon is the mightiest symbol in the Chinese zodiac and our talks will explain various myths and legends, plus take an indepth look at four bearded dragons within our collection.”
Cheeky monkeys settling in at Dudley Zoo
- Details
- Category: Theme Parks and Zooalogical
- Written by Assistant Editor
- Hits: 17
Two cheeky little monkeys who surprised staff with a December birth are settling in well.
The baby squirrel monkeys, who have not yet been sexed or named, are the offspring of mums Stumpy and Mrs Elvis, and dominant male, Oscar.
Curator, Matt Lewis, explained that the youngsters are inseparable from their mums until three months of age.
He said: “Until they are twelve weeks old they will ride on their mums’ backs so we really have no idea what sex they are until we catch them up to microchip them. At this point they will be sexed and named."
Grumpy Thursday as Dudley Zoo penguin pool cleaned. . .
- Details
- Category: Theme Parks and Zooalogical
- Written by Assistant Editor
- Hits: 20
Thursdays are grumpy days at Dudley Zoo - at least for the site’s 60-plus rare Humboldts penguins, who hate having their pool cleaned.
During the weekly big clean the colony has access to gallons of drinking water, but that doesn’t up the happy stakes when the pool is drained and keepers scrub down.
And super-sulky penguins have been known to snap at staff and shun all offers of fishy snacks until the pool is refilled.
The two hour-long cleaning routine is carried out by a couple of keepers, and the pool refilled with icy water from the zoo’s well.
The penguins can’t wait to get their feet back in the water, and start splashing around as soon as the pool begins to fill up.
Read more: Grumpy Thursday as Dudley Zoo penguin pool cleaned. . .
