25 July 2010
More Otter Cubs Born at Park
The four Asian Small-clawed Otter cubs (unknown sexes) who were born on July 10th are now spending in their den along with their parents.
Behind the scenes, the otters build a nest of hay in a large wooden box in an off-exhibit area. All family members participate in the process. After giving birth, the male will bring food to the female while she is in the nest.
The silver gray-coloured cubs are born approximately 4 to 5 inches long. At about three weeks old, the four siblings began to open their eyes.
Park update: The Scottish Wild cat enclosure has been built with a new netting roof, meanwhile a new arrival of male Scottish Wildcat has now joined our female.
19 June 2010
First baby meerkats in four years born in wildlife park
A pair of baby meerkats are drawing huge crowds after becoming the first pups to be born for four years.
The new arrivals are just four weeks old and have only this week started to be brought to the surface of the meerkat enclosure by their mother. The first three weeks of their lives have been spent completed underground in their burrows under her protection.
The babies are not yet old enough for their sexes to be determined but mature quickly as they reach adulthood in just 12 months. They spend the first six weeks of life totally dependent on their mother, but will then quickly acquire a taste for worms and grubs. The adult members of the colony at the Park will act as babysitters and teachers showing the newcomers how to forage and find foods, while visitors will also see the new play fighting as they learn together and grow stronger.
The babies are as a result of a new breeding programme following the death of two older meerkats last year.
Experts have urged people not to buy meerkats as pets, following a much talked about ad campaign – www.savethemeerkat.com
4 May 2010
Birth of North American Porcupine 'Spike'
He’s fuzzy and cute, in a prickly sort of way. Recent arrivals to the wildlife park, the North American porcupines gave birth a single youngster, which has been named Spike was born on 1st May 2010 and weighed 649 g (1lb 70z).
Porcupines are born with very soft quills that harden within a couple of hours after birth. He will have to spend this few days on the ground as mum suckles him as he gathers strength!
18 April 2010
Red Panda Network
GWCP is delighted to donate £200 to the Red Panda Network supporting the project in the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat and our continued support of their efforts to raise awareness and save wild red panda. Red pandas are nearly extinct in the western part of their range because their forest home is being cut down.
Red Panda Network website: www.redpandanetwork.org
29 March 2010
World Tapir Day
GWCP is participating in celebrating the World Tapir Day, the annual day that raises awareness about the four species of tapir that inhabit Central and South America and South-East Asia – and the threats to their survival that they face.
We will be hosting a fundraising event, which will include keeper talks and a ‘meet the tapirs’ session at the Wildlife Conservation Park on Tuesday 27th April 2010, where we have a pair of Lowland Tapirs, as tapirs are generally very friendly and love the attention.
Monies raised for World Tapir Day will be donated to support the World Land Trust’s Ecuador Rainforest Project, which will help protect the environment of the Mountain Tapir, the most endangered of the four extant tapir species.
World Tapir Day website: www.tapirday.org
5 February 2010
Efforts to Save the Tiger of the Highlands
GWCP is pleased to support the Scottish Wildcat Association, the official captive breeding-for-release program for the Wildcats, and promote conservation work for those still in the wild, which these cats now numbered fewer than 400 and could become extinct within a decade. In the meantime, we are now fundraising for refurbishment of our wildcat enclosure and re-establish a breeding programme in the near future. Scottish Wildcat Association website:- www.scottishwildcats.co.uk
15 January 2010
Snowy Days
It has been a long harsh, icy winter during while we were closed to the visitors for the winter period. Although the snow gives us some glorious pictures but it has just been a bit too treacherous underfoot providing extra special care and heating that the animals need during this particular cold time. Obviously during the closed period always have a financial impact on us, not to mention the extra costs involved with foods and heating, we would be most grateful for any donations received to help us. The harsh winter slowed down a lot of the building work and planned animal moves that were expected this winter period. We have been very grateful for your kind of support by very generous donations in lieu of visits you had made during last year.
All the zoo livestock endured the freezing conditions extremely well, while most of them are staying in the warm, a few brave souls are coming out. The red panda youngsters, Cai and Liang are grown up, thriving and can bear the bitterly winter very well.
19 December 2009
Biodiversity is our life — 2010 International Year of Biodiversity UK
2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by United Nations. Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park (GWCP) have signed up to be a part of it.
Hundreds of organizations and groups across the UK are joining together to play a part in the global awareness campaign, International Year of Biodiversity 2010 (IYB2010). From charities to farmers, councils to wildlife rangers, schools and colleges to zoos and museums and botanic gardens, the UK has one of the strongest programmes in the world to celebrate IYB2010.
The aim of this programme is to help people discover the connections between themselves and the world around them and to realize the consequences of biodiversity loss , as well as the huge benefits that are shared if we conserve and use life on Earth in a sustainable way.
For information on how to get involved, or find out about UK events during the International Year of Biodiversity, log on to www.biodiversityislife.net
16 November 2009
GWCP Director meets Sir David Attenborough
John Denerley (director of GWCP) was delighted to have the opportunity to meet Sir David Attenborough last month at the Natural History Museum, London, for signing of copies of his new publication “Life Stories”. This was a memorable moment for John has held him in high esteem for many years.
David Attenborough is considered one of the pioneers of the nature documentary, his career as the respected face and voice of British natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years. He is best known for writing and presenting the eight “Life” series, which collectively from a comprehensive survey of all life on the planet.
16 October 2009
Young Red Pandas now active! (new video clip - Nov 09)
Our red panda cubs are now growing bigger and were peeking out of their den a few weeks ago for the first time at 90 days old, exploring the enclosure more making it really interesting to see them. They begin to eat solid food in autumn and are weaned before the onset of winter. They will become sexually mature at the age of 18 months.
See the latest video clip of our red panda cubs here.
28 September 2009
Wettest summer ever!
Kirkcudbright saw its wettest August since records began in 1914, 289.7mm of rain fell last month, more than double the long-term August average of 108.3mm.
We are hoping for a good September and October to lengthen the summer. But at least the newly pair of pheasants arrivals have cheered us up.
The Reeves's Pheasant, (Syrmaticus reevesii), is endemic to the evergreen forests of central and east China. This large pheasant is up to 82 inches (~210cm) long. It has a scaled golden body plumage, grey legs, brown iris and red skin around eye. The head is white with a black narrow band extends from its eyes. The male has an extremely long silvery white tail barred with chestnut brown. The female, on the other hand, is rather plain in comparison - with a mainly brown plumage, a blackish crown, buff face and grey brown barred tail feathers.
This spectacular pheasant is memorialized in the Guinness Book of Records for having the longest natural tail feather of any bird species.
Due to ongoing habitat lost, and over hunting for food and its tail plumes, the Reeves's Pheasant is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. There are thought to be only around 2000 birds remaining in the wild, although they are fairly common in aviculture.
A female Temminck’s tragopan is now joining our male.
05 August 2009
Least known and ferocious weasels newly arrived at park
The Siberian Mountain Weasel (Mustela sibirica), a rust coloured relative of the weasel family. Also known as the Siberian Weasel, Kolinsky or Himalayan Weasel, a pair recently arrived at GWCP from Cambridgeshire Zoo.
Siberian weasel fur makes the finest water colour or oil paint brushes and is especially sought after by artists. The yellow weasel is famed, variously, for its propensity to kill farm chickens at night; its foul odour is comparable to a New World skunk. They are ferocious and efficient predators. Little is known about Siberian Weasels and field studies are needed to learn more about their natural history, ecology, and conservation status.
01 August 2009
GWCP Director Meets First Minister of Scotland
27th July 2009. John Denerley, Director of Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park, was invited to a drinks reception at Melrose Rugby Club where Rugby 7s was founded in 1883. The First Minister was recognising the work of people and organisations in the South of Scotland who are involved in the 'Homecoming Scotland 2009'
Picture L to R:
Sue Mowat, Alex Salmond MP MSP, John Denerley
22 July 2009
Red Panda cubs finally named
On behalf of Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park, we would like to thank everyone who emailed us with suggestions for names for our twin red panda cubs. Due to the publicity in newspapers and on the BBC News website we received many emails from all over the world. These rare red panda cubs have become a big attraction this summer at the wildlife park.
We are proud to announce that the female has been named Cai, which means colourful and the male has been named Liang, which means bright/shining.
It is estimated that there are only a few thousand Red pandas left in the wild.
09 July 2009
video of new-born Red Pandas
You can download your copy for your desktop here >>> Flash Movie (8MB)
(right-click and 'save link as' / 'save target as' to your computer)
Click the Red Panda image (right) to download and use as your wallpaper. [opens in a new window - right-click and 'set as background' or 'save as' to your hard drive]
07 July 2009
Another small calf born
Our female has given a birth to another female calf on 27th June 2009 after a gestation period of 10 months and she has her third calf in five years. The calf has a thick, woolly, golden brown coat. Her name is Sujatmi and she is a bubbly calf.
The species is endangered due to hunting and loss of habitat.
25 June 2009
Record baby boom for Wildlife conservation park
Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park are delighted to announce the births of various babies in the last few days and weeks including the births of twin rare Red Pandas.
More than 15 animals have been born in the past few weeks as part of a baby boom record in the Park’s history.
This year’s new baby arrivals included owls, wallabies, asian small-clawed otters, tree porcupine, and the red pandas. All our newcomers are enjoying the warm weather. More babies are expected to be born in the next few weeks.
1 May 2009
Warm boost for Easter
It has been a successful Easter period with good weather, and increased visitor numbers for a decade.
There are new baby animals born this spring which lead to a baby boom with the arrivals of two red-necked wallaby joeys and three European Eagle Owl chicks, the world’s largest owl. Our Red panda and Lowland Anoa are both pregnant with their babies due in a few weeks time. We are looking forward to our new arrivals with all fingers crossed!
5 April 2009
A pair of Toddy Cats have found a new home
The Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), also known as the 'Common Palm Civet', 'Musang' or the 'Toddy Cat', is a cat-sized mammal in the family Viverridae native to the Southeast Asian tropical rain forests.
The name came about because this creature was apparently fond of drinking from vessels put in palm trees to collect sap for making toddy or palm sugar. It has a distinct musky odour when harassed.
The odour has been likened to fragrance of Pandanus leaves.
The Asian Palm Civet is a nocturnal omnivore. It is a highly adaptive animal and can live in dense forests, agricultural areas and even alongside humans.
14 March 2009
GWCP joins EAZA Carnivores Campaign
The Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park is involved in supporting the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) campaign 2009 which mainly focuses on creating awareness about European Carnivores. Carnivores in some areas live nearly on our doorsteps. In many cases this is precisely the reason they are so threatened. Unfortunately in many such cases of human-carnivore conflict the result is the death or a lifetime in captivity for the carnivore in question.
By creating awareness we want to make people realise that a peaceful co-existence is an option. Beehives, orchards, sheep etc can be protected from potential predators and, as long as we give carnivores enough space and prey and do not attract them to areas of human habitation, the number of conflicts can be much reduced. Hopefully, the Park will organise the event of a Teddy Bears’ Picnic on 21st June 2009. For further information, please visit the website: www.carnivorecampaign.eu
14 February 2009
Male Tapir found a new companion
A female Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) aged 2 was finally introduced to the male tapir on Valentine’s Day (what better day!). The pair have been getting on well.
After a gestation period of 390 - 400 days, Lowland Tapirs give birth to a single young. After several weeks the youngster will begin to eat solid food and at 18 months old they are fully grown. These stripes will eventually disappear after the first six months.
They reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age. They are good swimmers and when frightened they will plunge into water.
7 January 2009
Twin endangered Maned wolf pups born at the Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park
Two Maned wolf pups were recently born on 2nd November 2008 at Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park. The pups are now on exhibit daily, weather permitting. Though, they are shy creatures, come along and have a look.
Maned Wolves are endangered because of habitat destruction through agricultural development in their native home – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia. There are less than 18 in zoos nationwide.
The Maned wolf is believed to have supernatural and medicinal powers. The right eye is said to bring luck with gambling. It is also thought that a necklace with a Maned wolf tooth worn by children prevents future dental problems.
23 October 2008
Newly arrived Male Temminck’s Tragopan
Temminck’s Tragopans are thought by many to be the most beautiful pheasants in the world. Males have bright orangish-crimson feathers spotted with white and black dots. The face and throat are bright blue, with black markings on the neck, head, and throat. They can be distinguished from similar species by large, pale gray spots on the sides and belly. Females are reddish or greyish brown overall, with black patches and oval-shaped white spots. Both males and females have short tails.
Temminck’s Tragopans migrate vertically, moving up and down mountain slopes as the seasons change. They spend the cold winters at lower altitudes, and then move to higher altitudes as the temperature warms up during the spring.
Although their populations are declining due to habitat loss, they are not thought to be globally threatened.
Our new Temminck’s Tragopan has settled in well. Hopefully, a female will be joining him soon.
22 July 2008
Young female anoa's departure
Last year, our pair of Lowland Anoa had a young daughter, and has been transferred to Paignton Zoo in Devon on a breeding loan scheme. She is settled in her new home with another male which was delighted to see her but an emotional time for us all to see her leave. Anoa are the smallest living species of wild cattle and are are part of an European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).
2 May 2008
New Caracal Lynx enclosure
At Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park, a major revamp on the old wallaby enclosure was completed for the caracal lynx (Felis caracal) after the Park raised £10,000. The enclosure is six times bigger than the previous one. Many thanks to the team of nine staff from Chester Zoo that helped to build it. Also It is all thanks to donators, visitors and businesses who helped us raise the finance over the last two years. There are only a few Caracal lynx collections in UK.
24 April 2008
New big eared furry animal arrival
The bat-eared fox was one of our new arrivals earlier this year and very privileged to have the male from Marwell Zoo. He is so unusual to look at and can be seen sleeping under a small house during the day. The most noticeable features of this animal are its remarkably large, funnel shaped ears. These allow the fox to listen for its prey, such as dung beetles and termites, which are often living underground burrows. Their sensitive ears allow them to locate the prey, and they will quickly dig down to find them. As they eat insects, they need to be good at crushing them, and actually have more teeth than similar mammals. We are on a search for a female and we hope we will get one very soon for our male to have companionship and possibly breed in the future.
Archive:
7 September 2007
New arrivals - A pair of short-sighted, prickly animals!
17 July 2007
World's smallest wild cattle, a new born calf arrived
27 June 2007
EAZA Madagascar Campaign 2007
20 June 2007
The birth of a red panda
First Tiny Steps for Otter Cubs
