2020 WILD TALKwww.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk New baby White Rhino Stella cuddles up to her mum Ruby Photo: Rory Carnegie Rory Photo: A Stella Year The Park is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2020. We hope to continue to inspire future Ruby and Stella walked out of the stall, giving generations to appreciate the beauty of the lucky visitors a glimpse of a baby White Rhino natural world. 2019 was a great year with Soon after the birth, Ruby and her new calf record visitor numbers, TV appearances, lots walked out of the stall into the sunshine of the of baby animals and a new Rhino calf. yard, giving a few lucky visitors a glimpse of a baby White Rhino less than two hours old. ighlights of the year included the Stella is doing well and Ruby has proved once Park featuring on BBC’s Springwatch again to be an exceptional mother. Having Hprogramme, with our part in the White another female calf is really important for the Storks’ UK re-introduction project. Then in European Breeding Programme of this iconic Astrid October, BBC Gardeners’ World featured the but endangered species. Park and presenter Adam Frost sang the praises OUR 6 RHINO CALVES of our gardens. To top off the year, Ruby gave White Rhinos have always been an important 1. Astrid born 1st July 2013, birth to our sixth Rhino calf in as many years, species at the Park, which was founded by John moved to Colchester Zoo. named “Stella”! Heyworth (1925-2012) in 1970. He had a soft spot 2. Ian born 27th March 2015, for these great creatures and would have been moved to Torino Zoo, Italy. The Park’s Director Reggie Heyworth and delighted at the birth of our sixth baby Rhino in 3. John born 18th August 2015, Head Keeper Mark Godwin witnessed Stella’s time for the Park’s 50th Anniversary in 2020. moved (with half-brother Ian) birth on 7th September 2019. After just fifteen to Torino Zoo, Italy. minutes of labour, a new baby joined the crash Our previous calves born in late 2017, Alan and 4. Alan born 13th September (the collective noun for a group of Rhinos). Belle, are now independent of their mums Ruby 2017. Mark caught the birth on film, along with Stella and Nancy and will probably leave us at the 5. Belle born 2nd October 2017. tentatively taking her first steps within forty end of 2020 to join unrelated Rhinos in other 6. Stella born 7th September minutes of being born. The video can be seen on zoos, as part of the European captive breeding 2019. our You Tube channel. programme for this species. 50 YEARS • www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk • 1970-2020 1 2019 Being a farmer at heart, John Heyworth would have been delighted at all the breeding successes at Baby Boom! the Park in 2019. Bill and Corky hatched on Two Emu chicks 21st and 23rd June (pictured with Keeper Issy Wright). Their young parents had laid two eggs randomly in their enclosure near the car park, but showed no interest in sitting. Keepers decided to take the eggs for Lightning artificial incubation. After hatching, Stripes the chicks were successfully The Park welcomed an hand-reared by the Bird team. energetic female Zebra foal who attracted the attention of visitors with Boulder her incredible speed. When she was Our Africanand Porcupine Shrimpy Hannah just a few days old, the newborn was gave birth to twin boys named Boulder galloping around the paddock. Keepers and Shrimpy in February 2019. Hannah usually name newborns, but pop royalty had only recently arrived at the Park and – Spice Girl Geri Horner (née Halliwell), was paired with the Park’s breeding male – a visited the Park in the summer and Porcupine called Prickle. Keeper Estelle Morgan was given the rare honour of takes up the story: Photo: Rebecca Farrow Rebecca Photo: introduced into the enclosure, they immediately Snap, naming the foal. She decided “As soon as Hannah was to call her Geri! began grooming each other and establishing Crackle and Pop their monogamous pair-bond. They were This was our first litter sleeping side by side from day one and were from our new pair of Dwarf seen mating not long after. Hannah gave Mongoose, natives of East birth overnight and I found the babies Africa. The triplets have been named Snap, running and squeaking at each Crackle and Pop by other in the morning.” their keepers. 2 Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens • Burford • Oxfordshire • OX18 4JP Ripley and Newt The Park welcomed two Penguin chicks. Ripley is pictured left with mum Polly and has a purple/pink/ white identification band, visible at the base of the left flipper. Newt has a purple/turquoise/ white identification band (right). Best Friends Diablo and Fig Later in 2019 Keeper Estelle hand- reared a baby Porcupine named Diablo. He was rejected by his mum Hannah, because he was born too soon after her previous duo of Boulder and Shrimpy. When Diablo was just a few Boulder More days old, Estelle introduced him to her Sausage dog and Shrimpy Our African Porcupine Hannah 2019 Babies puppy Fig for some company and for some essential gave birth to twin boys named Boulder Other births included social interactions to help“When his Diablodevelopment; gets excited, the pair he soonwill do and Shrimpy in February 2019. Hannah two Northern White- became best friends. had only recently arrived at the Park and a buckaroo-style run, where he thrashes his head around was paired with the Park’s breeding male – a faced Owlets and a litter of Naked and jumps up in the air. They ran around the garden Porcupine called Prickle. Keeper Estelle Morgan Mole Rats. together and Fig was very gentle and patient takes up the story: with Diablo.” commented Estelle. Diablo would introduced into the enclosure, they immediately “As soon as Hannah was follow Estelle around her kitchen and come to began grooming each other and establishing her for reassurance. Diablo has now moved their monogamous pair-bond. They were to a new collection when he was sleeping side by side from day one and were weaned, to make porcupine friends. seen mating not long after. Hannah gave birth overnight and I found the babies running and squeaking at each other in the morning.” 50 YEARS • www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk • 1970-2020 3 Skulls, skeletons and scats Emily Craig, the Park’s Veterinarian, introduces our new museum located in what was the old Brass Rubbing room. ast year, 2019, saw the opening of our new on- aiming to showcase in the museum. It is my hope that site museum which has been several years in the by displaying these items to our visitors it will help to Lmaking. This is a project that I first thought about fuel their interest and passion for the animal kingdom doing when I took on the role of full-time veterinary and its amazing diversity. Alongside conservation, one surgeon at the Park back in 2014. It is a requirement of the key roles of a modern-day zoo is education and of the zoo licensing inspections that every animal that we all hope that this museum will be an important addition to the educational resources already available to visitors of the Park. The museum is going to be Having a taxidermy animal right next staffed by volunteers and overseen by the education department who will develop activity trails and learning to its skeleton works well and really sessions within this fantastic space. helps to bring the skeletons to life in There are a variety of skulls and fully articulated the visitor’s eyes skeletons on display in the museum, as well as some taxidermy pieces. Having a taxidermy animal right next dies should undergo a post-mortem examination to to its skeleton works well and really helps to bring the establish the cause of death. It occurred to me what a skeletons to life in the visitor’s eyes. There is also a shame it was that some of the fascinating creatures that “Whose Poo” display where visitors are encouraged to we keep at the Park couldn’t continue their vital role try and match animal species to examples of their poo! of education and raising awareness after their death. In addition to display items in cases there will also be For this reason, I decided to start preparing skulls of lots of items that visitors can handle and interact with animals after I had performed the post-mortems, with under the supervision of the volunteers. the hope that one day I would build up enough of a Top left: collection that we could put them on display. See how a As the opening of the museum will rely upon volunteers Sloth’s bones to oversee it, it will have limited opening hours and allow it to hang So many of the animals that we keep have fascinating and climb will not be open every day. We recommend checking and unique adaptations to their individual ecological before you visit if you are particularly hoping to see it. Top right: niches. Many of these adaptations are obvious in life, Have a go at our We look forward to welcoming you to the museum soon some can only really be appreciated when looking at “Whose Poo” and hope that you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed the skeletons and the dentition. This is what we are game creating it! 4 Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens • Burford • Oxfordshire • OX18 4JP White Storks take flight Jamie Craig, the Park’s General Manager, shares the latest developments in the White Stork project.