We’re celebrating more new arrivals at Woburn Safari Park in the UK, as the slender-tailed meerkat mob welcomed another two babies just last month!
The new pups are the latest of three litters born to proud parents Pansy and Brendan in 2022, with keepers believing this to be the first time that we’ve ever seen this many litters from one breeding pair in a year!
Continue reading "Another Meerkat Litter Join The Woburn Mob!" »
There’s reason to celebrate at Woburn Safari Park, with the exciting arrival of three new Guianan squirrel monkey babies!
The infants were born last week to mothers Ringo and Tye, both aged 13, and Jammie Dodger aged 12, and takes the total squirrel monkey troop at Woburn up to 28!
All mums and offspring are doing well and displaying all the behaviours that keepers would expect from new arrivals and recent parents.
Whilst the males provide no parental care, the squirrel monkey infants will be dependent on mum for almost everything for the first few weeks.
Louise King, Keeper, explains: "Nursing, comfort and protection will be top on the agenda for these experienced mothers in the coming weeks. They’ll also provide a comfortable place for little ones to sleep whilst they become familiar with the rest of the group and their new surroundings.
“Squirrel monkeys are a really sociable species so as the infants grow and become more independent we expect to see a lot more interaction with the other monkeys. We can’t wait until these newest babies are big enough to join in the fun with the other playful primates!
Louise reported that siblings and other members of the troop have already shown an interest, and were seen approaching mums and babies and looking protective over the tiny new arrivals.
Guianan squirrel monkeys are the smallest of the primate family Cebidae, and are found in tropical rainforests in South America. Although not currently listed as endangered, they face threat from forest destruction and fragmentation, so keepers are delighted that visitors to the Park will have the opportunity to learn more about this species and how they interact as the Woburn troop continues to grow.
The tiny trio won’t be sexed until the youngsters grow and begin independently exploring their new home, but with a recently refurbished enclosure featuring a huge network of ropes, vantage points, platforms, and feeding devices it won’t be long until they are confidently bounding about with their brothers and sisters!
Guests can already spot the youngsters out with their mums from the viewing platforms in the Monkey Mayhem enclosure, particularly during one of the demonstration times.
Woburn Safari Park Welcomes Rare And Endangered Ring-tailed Lemur Twins!
Keepers at Woburn Safari Park are ecstatic to have welcomed the arrival of rare ring-tailed lemur twins to proud parents Sambava and Berenty on 25th March 2022. The birth of these two new endangered additions comes just 6 days after another two separate lemur babies were born boosting the troop to 11.
Continue reading "Twin Lemurs Are A Double Delight" »
Keepers at Woburn Safari Park are celebrating the very exciting birth of four North American black bear cubs with incredible CCTV footage capturing the cubs’ first moments as they entered the world. Born to mum Phoenix and dad Xanthos, this is the first time that the birth of any North American black bear cubs has been caught on camera at the Park.
Continue reading "Four Baby Bears Make For Big News!" »
Woburn Safari Park announced the arrival of two African Lion cubs, which were born to parents Zuri and Joco in late July. The cubs spend most of their time in the den with their mother but are expected to move into the Lion exhibit later this month.
Photo Credit: Woburn Safari Park
Keepers have already spotted the youngsters playing with each other and with their mom’s tail and they are looking stronger on their legs every day. Born weighing just over two pounds each, the cubs will begin to be weaned from their mother onto meat at around 10-12 weeks old and will be fully weaned by the time they are 6-8 months old.
Lioness Zuri, 5, is extremely protective of her new young, and naturally can become aggressive if disturbed. Keepers prepared for the birth by creating a secluded den in one compartment of the Lion house for Zuri and her cubs, so they can enjoy bonding in a quiet, private area. In the wild, a Lioness will give birth and keep her cubs in a den of thick dense cover, like acacia bushes, so keepers have tried to replicate this environment as much as possible.
Keepers are feeding Zuri five days out of every seven, monitoring how much she eats each day to decide when she is fed. Normally the Lions are fed large meals every four days to mimic wild hunting patterns, including feast days and fast periods.
Craig Lancaster, Team Leader for Carnivores at Woburn Safari Park, said, “It’s hugely exciting to have new Lion cubs at the Park and we are so pleased that they seem to be settling in so well. They aren’t crying a lot and are already looking chunky and healthy, which indicates that they are feeding well and are content in their surroundings.
“The public will be able to view the cubs in the side pen after all their vaccinations are up to date in late September. We will ensure the vets are happy with their progress before they are moved into the main Lion enclosure later on in the year.”
Once ranging across most of Africa, the Middle East, and southwestern Asia, Lions have suffered drastic population declines in the past 50 years. Most of the 20,000-50,000 Lions remaining in Africa reside in protected areas such as parks and reserves. Tourism, and the revenue it creates, is a strong incentive for Lion conservation. These majestic Cats are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Four Otter pups were born at Woburn Safari Park in late September, and they’re now out of the den exploring their exhibit.
The Asian Small-clawed Otter pups are the second litter born to parents Kovu and Kelani. The first litter of five pups was born in July 2016. The one-year-olds are proving to be great helpers to Kovu and Kelani when it comes to managing the newborns.
Photo Credits: Woburn Safari Park (1,3,4,5); Linda McPherson (2)
The four new pups, one female and three males, recently received their first hands-on health check from keepers. The pups were microchipped, sexed, and given a quick exam. All four are doing well.
Animal keeper Louise Moody said, "We are really excited that Kelani has welcomed another litter successfully and that all the pups are doing well. Their older siblings are helping out their parents and bringing food for them all into the nest box.”
The four pups and seven adult Otters can now be seen playing together in their outdoor enclosure, and the pups are learning to swim. The water level in the exhibit pool has been temporarily lowered until the little Otters grow a bit bigger.
In a few months, the family will say goodbye to the older pups. They will be sent to other zoos to become part of Otter breeding programs.
Asian Small-clawed Otters are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. They live in coastal wetlands in South and Southeast Asia, and their habitat has been degraded and reduced significantly in recent decades.
Pumpkins and Jack-o-Lanterns are indicative of the fall season…and Halloween.
Zoo Keepers work hard to keep their animals healthy and happy. Enrichment toys and activities are an important tool that Keepers utilize to help in that pursuit. Enrichment items encourage natural behavior and stimulate the senses…and what could be more stimulating, this time of year, than celebrating by tearing into a bright orange pumpkin!
Happy Halloween from ZooBorns!
Image 1: (Lynx) Tierpark Hellabrunn / Marc Muller
Image 2: “Red Pandas, Jung and Nima, get into the Halloween spirit”/ Chester Zoo
Image 3: (Snow leopard) Woodland Park Zoo
Image 4: (Amur Tiger) Woburn Safari Park
Image 5: Piglets-in-a-pumpkin/ Tierpark Berlin
Image 6: “Andean Bear, Bernie, tucks into honey-coated treats”/ Chester Zoo
Image 7: “Black Jaguar, Goshi, enjoys and early treat”/ Chester Zoo
Images 8, 9: Elephant Pumpkin Stomp/ Denver Zoo
Image 10: (Chimpanzee)/ Detroit Zoo/ Jennie Miller
Image 11: (Bison)/ Detroit Zoo/ Jennie Miller
Image 12: (Giraffe “Mpenzi”)/ Detroit Zoo/ Jennie Miller
Image 13: (Hippo)/ Woodland Park Zoo/ Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren
Image 14: (Tiger)/ Woodland Park Zoo/ Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren
Image 15: (Maned Wolf)/ Woodland Park Zoo/ Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren
More adorable Halloween pics, below the fold!
Continue reading "“It’s the Great Pumpkin…!”" »
Two critically endangered Amur Tiger cubs born September 17 at the United Kingdom’s Woburn Safari Park are off and running as they explore their nine-acre habitat.
Photo Credit: Woburn Safari Park
The playful five-month-old cubs, both females, are now old enough to live in the main Tiger reserve where they are being given the grand tour by their mother, four-year-old Minerva.
You first met the cubs here on ZooBorns when they were just one month old. Since birth, the cubs have been living with their mother in a den, much like they would in the wild. In the safety of the den, the cubs learned to play, pounce, sharpen their claws, feed on meat, and cause plenty of mischief.
These are the first Tiger cubs to be born at Woburn Safari Park in 23 years, so their birth is an important landmark for keepers. The latest estimates show that numbers of Amur Tigers (also referred to as Siberian Tigers) are as low as 520 in the wild. Less than 100 years ago, only about 40 Amur Tigers remained in the wild. Despite this perceived comeback, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists these cats, which are the largest of all Tiger subspecies, as Critically Endangered due to the persistent threat of poaching and loss of habitat. The international Amur Tiger captive breeding program is of vital importance for the future of this magnificent species.
See more photos below.
Continue reading "Rare Tiger Cubs Are Off and Running" »
Two critically endangered Amur Tiger cubs, born to four-year-old tigress Minerva, have been welcomed at Woburn Safari Park, in Bedfordshire, UK.
These tiny tigers, born September 17th, are amongst the largest and rarest cats in the world. The new cubs signify an important achievement not just for the Park, but also for the international breeding programme of this threatened species.
Photo Credits: Woburn Safari Park
The as-yet unsexed cubs are the first to be born at Woburn Safari Park in 23 years, arriving in the bespoke Tiger House and weighing in at a healthy 800-1200 grams (1.8 to 2.6 lbs.). First time mum Minerva is understandably protective of her new babies and the Park is delighted that she has taken to motherhood brilliantly, remaining settled and calm.
The proud new mum and her two cubs are all together in a special private den, away from the public, with as little disturbance and noise as possible. The cubs will start to explore the 9-acre tiger reserve in early 2016, until then they will continue to be under the constant watchful eye of mum.
Genetically, Minerva is ranked as the 7th most important female in the captive tiger population across Europe; with the cubs’ dad, Elton, the two are a very important genetic match that has been coordinated by the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).
There are 326 Amur Tigers (also referred to as the Siberian tiger) in captivity across Europe and Russia, and only approximately 520 in the wild – a slight increase in wild numbers in the last 10 years.
Jo Cook, Co-ordinator at Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance and also species co-ordinator for the European breeding programme (Europe & Russia) commented, “This is the first litter for Minerva and Elton and so far she’s doing a great job as a new mum, although there is still a lot for her to learn. These cubs will make an important contribution to the European breeding programme for Amur Tigers, as Minerva in particular is genetically very important and doesn't have many relatives in the population.”
“Maintaining a healthy captive population of Amur Tigers in zoos and parks is important because they act as an insurance population and can be used for reintroductions should that become a necessary conservation action to support wild Amur Tigers. The tigers in captivity also help raise awareness and inspire visitors to do what they can to support these projects that are protecting these amazing animals in the Russian Far East and northeast China. Not only is Woburn Safari Park playing a role in the Amur Tiger breeding programme, but it is also raising funds for the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance which supports conservation activities such as anti-poaching and population monitoring in Russia and China.”
Woburn Safari Park is home to five Amur Tigers: two females – Minerva and Neurka, one male - Elton, and the two new cubs. Their home in ‘Kingdom of the Carnivores’ is a specially designed nine-acre enclosure complete with sleeping platforms and bathing pools, as they are the only big cats that like water.
Continue reading "Two Tiny Tigers Welcomed at Woburn Safari Park" »
Two Ring-tailed Lemurs at the United Kingdom’s Woburn Safari Park gave birth to three babies in March!
Both Koko, who delivered a single baby, and Krinidy, who gave birth to twins, are first-time mothers. All three babies are fathered by male Lemur Berenti. Until the babies are about two months old, they’ll cling tightly to their mothers. They’ll then begin climbing and leaping with abandon, as all little Lemurs do. At that time, keepers will observe the babies and determine their genders.
Photo Credit: Woburn Safari Park
The Ring-tailed Lemurs live in a walk-through enclosure at Woburn Safari Park, so visitors should be able to get close-up views of the babies. The Lemurs often sun themselves on the paths, spreading their arms and legs to soak up the warmth on cool mornings.
Ring-tailed Lemurs are primates, native only to the island of Madagascar. Due to habitat loss, these and other Lemurs are listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Ring-tailed Lemurs inhabit forests and scrublands, where they travel in large groups of up to 30 individuals. They are one of the most vocal of all primates, emitting clicks, moans, and wails. They purr when content.