Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens

14/10/2025

This week award-winning photographer Philip Joyce took these beautiful photos of our new Greater Bamboo Lemur babies which we'd like to share with you.

With the addition of four babies, it's the Park's most successful breeding season on record for this species. Births in captivity are extremely rare. In fact, the Park is the only zoological collection in the UK and one of three worldwide to have bred these rare primates this year. With a population of 13, Cotswold Wildlife Park is now home to the biggest breeding group in the world. Congratulations to the Primates, Small Mammals and Birds team for this amazing result.

Natalie Horner, Section Head of Primates, Small Mammals and Birds, explains why every breeding success is important: “The Greater Bamboo Lemur is one of the most endangered species of Lemur, found only in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar. Classified as “Critically Endangered” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, today the global population is estimated between 1,200-1,500 individuals. This is fewer than higher profile species such as the Black Rhino, Tiger and Giant Panda. They are threatened by habitat destruction and fragmentation, which leads to the isolation of the different populations by forest degradation. They are also affected by hunting and mining which causes water pollution”.

Natalie adds: “There are only 41 Greater Bamboo Lemurs in captivity across 9 institutions globally. Here at the Park, we are home to 13 individuals. Our group first successfully bred during lockdown in 2020. Since then, our male Raphael and females Bijou and Veloma have produced 9 youngsters. Bijou and Veloma are wonderful mothers and Raphael is such a playful dad. We have a second group of Greater Bamboo Lemurs, formed with two of our female youngsters born in 2021 and a male from Zoo Lyon. This group had their first breeding success this year with Nomena and Fotsy both producing their first young. This means we are now home to the largest number of Greater Bamboo Lemurs in captivity! We are incredibly proud that both our groups have produced young this year, meaning we have four baby Bamboo Lemurs who are all going from strength to strength every day. They have all had their first taste of solid food and are becoming more confident, spending some time away from their mothers playing and exploring their enclosures”.

The as-yet-unsexed and unnamed new arrivals have made their debut ahead of World Lemur Day (31st October 2025) and visitors can see Bijou and Veloma’s babies inside the Park’s Lemur exhibit Madagascar.

For those interested in photography, Philip Joyce will be running a day of photography at Wokingham on Sunday 19th October (including his presentation "Why Look at Animals"). Please see https://rps.org/regions/thames-valley/presentation-events/ for more details.

02/10/2025

On National Poetry Day, we wanted to share the moment one of our favourite poets, the much-loved Pam Ayres MBE, graced us with her presence when she filmed an episode of 'The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres' at the Park a few years ago. As you can imagine, she was fantastic company and made us all laugh. The episode is available to watch here (episode 4): https://www.channel5.com/show/the-cotswolds-and-beyond-with-pam-ayres?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwd1Q5em5nTWpQc3dIUk01QwEe0sFAJBKHPZWQoJ0h3yVARni_IIvrZsj08Mw36cZItpNozm5seGc2bH5CrT4_aem_pUH34puAtv8CLG1M0qRAcw

Pam has been so important to the Park since the very early days when she visited with her family and has supported many of the Park's various fundraising events over the years. Pam also opened the Butterfly House in 1976 and The Children's Farmyard in 1985 (which was previously known as Pets Corner which Pam refers to in one of her poems). In fact her famous poem "The Embarrassing Experience With A Parrot" was written about one of our very own birds. She went on to win the TV talent show Opportunity Knocks with this very poem back in 1975.

Happy National Poetry Day Pam from all your friends at the Park and thank you so much for all your support over the years. We hope to see you and your family again very soon.

30/09/2025

Cotswold Wildlife Park celebrates a record-breaking breeding season and becomes the only zoological collection in the UK to breed “Critically Endangered” Greater Bamboo Lemurs this year.

Not only has 2025 been a record-breaking year for visitor numbers, but it has also been the most successful breeding season on record for one of the collection’s rarest species – the "Critically Endangered" Greater Bamboo Lemur. Recently, the Primates, Small Mammals and Birds team celebrated the arrival of four Greater Bamboo Lemur babies. Births in captivity are extremely rare. In fact, the Park is the only zoological collection in the UK and one of three worldwide to have bred these rare primates this year. With a population of 13, Cotswold Wildlife Park is now home to the biggest breeding group in the world. In the wild, there are fewer Greater Bamboo Lemurs left than higher profile species such as Black Rhino, Tiger and Giant Panda. The new youngsters have made their debut ahead of World Lemur Day (31 October 2025).

The UK's only Greater Bamboo Lemur births join an impressive baby boom at the Park – over 523 births so far this year. Other new arrivals include:

• Four Great Grey Owl chicks - first brood from the Park's breeding pair.
• Four rare Humboldt Penguin chicks, classified as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN's Red List of Endangered Species. This year was the Park's most successful Penguin breeding season in ten years. One in particular, Pippin, caught the attention of visitors due to her special bond with keepers who hand-reared the chick after she was abandoned in the nest box.
• Four Yellow Mongoose pups from new pair Chip and Nutmeg - their best breeding season since joining the collection.

As well as these new arrivals, visitors can also see the Park’s other recent breeding successes on show too: Bactrian Camel calf Tillie (named after Mammal Keeper Liam’s daughter), a rather energetic young Black-and-White Colobus Monkey named Pili, Parma Wallaby joeys and Straw-Coloured Fruit Bat pups (only two other zoological collections in Europe hold this species).

Read more about the new arrivals here: https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/whats-on/park-news/

Our great thanks to Paul Nicholls Photography, Philip Joyce, Rebecca Louise, the Primates, Small Mammals And Birds Team, Reptile Keeper Matt, Conservation Officer Beth, as well as visitors Brian Lilly and Lauren Crow for their photos/videos.

Help Simus

20/09/2025

To celebrate International Red Panda Day, we wanted to share some facts about these special animals.

A much-loved species at the Park, the Red Pandas have been popular with visitors since they first arrived at the collection in 1972. Although they share their name and love of eating bamboo with the Giant Panda, Red Pandas are actually more closely related to Raccoons and Skunks. This is evident in their talent for climbing trees; as well as having fur on the pads of their paws to insulate from the cold weather, they have flexible ankles which enables them to climb head first down tree trunks. In the wild, Red Pandas face threats of habitat loss and poaching which has led to them being classified as 'Vulnerable’. However, conservation work such as tree-planting across the Himalayas means that the future of this unique species is in good hands.

Thanks to Mammal Keeper Abbie for this video of one of our Red Pandas enjoying their breakfast. Their main diet consists of bamboo but they are also given grapes as a treat.

• International Red Panda Day, 20 September 2025, is a global movement to help protect Red Pandas and their habitat.

• In 1825 French zoologist Frédéric Cuvier awarded the species its name, Ailurus fulgens, meaning shining or fire-coloured cat. He also described it as “quite the most handsome mammal in existence.” Often dwarfed by its black-and-white cousin, Red Pandas were discovered forty-eight years before the first Giant Panda was catalogued. Despite its name, it is only distantly related to the Giant Panda.

Written by Activities Assistant Harriet.

16/09/2025

Dream comes true for 103-year-old WW2 Veteran Beryl Kitchen at Cotswold Wildlife Park.

Earlier this summer, we welcomed a very special visitor to the Park – 103-year-old WW2 Veteran Beryl Kitchen. Being a huge Penguin fan, Beryl’s dream was to feed the Penguins at the Park. So for her upcoming 104th birthday in October, her family got in touch with us to arrange something special.

Beryl, who served in the Royal Corps of Signals during WW2, was an instant hit with everyone she met – the Penguins, keepers and visitors alike. One Penguin in particular – 27-year-old Puff, the oldest of the colony – stayed by her side for the entire time (as you can see in the photos). Beryl was a natural with the animals. As well as feeding the Penguins, Keeper Laura had another surprise up her sleeve for Beryl. She bestowed her with a rare honour and told centenarian Beryl that one of the Park’s new Penguin chicks was going to be named after her. Beryl was over the moon and promised to come back and meet her namesake once the chick had left the nest box.

Last week, we were delighted to welcome Beryl and her family back to the Park. Not only did she meet her new namesake, but Beryl was also gifted a Penguin Adoption of ‘Beryl the Penguin chick’ from the Park. Puff also waddled over to see his friend again. In fact, as you can see from the photos, the Penguins formed an orderly queue to see her!

We look forward to many more visits from Beryl and her family (who have just become Season Tickets holders and plan to come back and see Beryl the Penguin chick whenever Beryl wishes).

Our great thanks to award-winning photographer, and friend of the Park, Paul Nicholls Photography for sharing these photos with us (which also featured in a double-paged spread in the national press). When her family saw the article, Beryl’s son Andrew said: "I've just been over to see Mum. I've never seen her laugh so much when she saw the paper, especially when she said her spread was larger than The King’s!!! Thanks again for all your kindness and support before and on the day. Let us know when Beryl emerges from his or her burrow and hopefully we can all pop and see him/her."

Thanks to Keepers Laura and Chris for making Beryl’s visit one to remember.

And most of all, thank you for your service Beryl.

12/09/2025

Giant Tortoise George is a finalist for BBC's Make A Difference Awards 2025.

We're delighted to announce that Giant Tortoise George, the oldest and longest resident at the Park, has made it through to the finals for the BBC Make A Difference Awards 2025 (Animal Award category). Watch George's story in the BBC Oxford link below.

George has been at the Park since it opened in 1970. Everyone who meets the 89-year-old gentle giant adores him. Due to his very friendly nature, he's one of the most requested residents at the Park for charity events. He is incredibly popular with visitors. One in particular struck up a lovely friendship with George back in 2021. Then 95-year-old D-Day and WWII Veteran, George Winter, spent his first day out since lockdown meeting his namesake at the Park. The pair became inseparable and the WW2 Veteran said it was one of his favourite days ever.

Giant Tortoise George has made lasting connections with the students of Jubilee Gardens (a local charity for adults who experience varying levels of learning disability). Students are so fond of him, they can’t wait to come back and visit George every year. He is also our most requested animal to help grant wishes for Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Finally, George plays an important role for International War Animal Day (which remembers the sacrifice of tens of millions of animals who served – and continue to serve - alongside soldiers in countless wars and conflicts). George, who was born before WW2 started, became the inaugural ambassador for the Purple Poppy Campaign, raising funds and helping to highlight the crucial role animals have played during wartime.

Good luck to George and fellow finalists Poppy, Sooty and Monty for the BBC Make A Difference Awards this Monday.

Meet the fantastic finalists for BBC Radio Oxford's Make a Difference Animal Award! 🙌

Poppy, Sooty, George & Monty - four amazing animals who’ve been making lives better in Oxfordshire. 💖

Tap the link to watch their stories!⤵️
https://bbc.in/468e8OL

03/09/2025

Rewilding Britain’s skies: Cotswold Wildlife Park helps bring back a flying icon not seen in the UK since the 15th century.

Once a common sight in the skies across Britain, White Storks disappeared back in the 1400s. Habitat loss, over-hunting and the fact that they often featured as a delicacy on the menus of medieval banquets all contributed to their demise. Their future looked bleak and it appeared inevitable that the sight of Storks gracing Britain's skies would forever be confined to history books.

Thanks to a pioneering rewilding scheme, hope is on the horizon that these graceful birds may soon make a spectacular return. For the eighth year running, Cotswold Wildlife Park has successfully bred chicks for the White Stork Project (which aims to re-establish a wild, breeding population of White Storks with at least 50 breeding pairs across the south of England by 2030). This year was the most successful breeding season in the Park's history, with a record-breaking 48 chicks reared. They hatched in May and were recently transferred to Sussex for release into the wild.

The Park's White Stork husbandry team act as "fairy godmothers" to the chicks and do everything from providing sticks for the adults to build their nests in the depths of winter to 'assist feeding' the tiny chicks when they hatch in May. This year, for the first time, the moment the chicks hatched and poked their beaks and delicate wings through their egg shells was captured on camera (footage filmed by Deputy Head of Primates, Small Mammals and Birds, Richard Wardle).

Find out more about this year's White Stork release here: https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/whats-on/park-news/

Great thanks to Philip Joyce for these amazing photos, Richard for the videos of the chicks hatching, Conservation Officer Beth for the footage of the young White Storks taking their inaugural flight from one of the release sites in Sussex and the White Stork Project for their great videos/photos too.

All birds involved in the White Stork Project have unique coloured rings on their legs. Anyone who spots a White Stork in the British countryside can report their sightings here: https://www.whitestorkproject.org/report-a-sighting.

29/08/2025

Please can we make you aware that Oxfordshire County Council have announced there will be an upcoming road closure and temporary diversions in place on the A361 between Burford and Bradwell Village (en route to the Park) for one/two days between 30 August - 13 September (weather permitting and dates subject to change).

They anticipate the surface dressing work will be completed in approximately 2 - 4 hours. Diversion routes will be in place so please check your route AHEAD OF VISITING THE PARK. Listen to BBC Oxfordshire on 95.2FM for local travel news. Thank you and have a safe journey.

Map images showing road closure in red and diversion routes in blue from Oxfordshire County Council.

28/08/2025

Happy eleventh birthday to Tapir Lo**ta.

To celebrate Brazilian Tapir’s Lo**ta eleventh birthday, Jenni (Deputy Head of Large Mammals and cake-maker extraordinaire) created a special treat to mark the occasion. She made Lo**ta, affectionately called Loli by keepers, a birthday cake made from soaked pellets, steamed carrots and chopped kale. The numbers were made out of one of Loli’s favourites – swede. As you can see, Loli couldn't wait to eat her cake, which she shared with Tapir Gomez. Not wanting to be left out, Capybaras Twig, Bramble, their mum Freya and even Ducky came over to “help” finish the cake (which didn't take long!). Happy birthday Loli from all of us at the Park.

Tapir facts: Baby Tapirs differ greatly in appearance from the adults. The reason for this is survival. For the first few weeks of their lives, the mother will make sure the vulnerable calf is hidden in thick foliage in the forest while she leaves to browse. Their coats are covered with stripes and spots which mimics the speckled sunlight on the forest floor, so the calf can brilliantly camouflage itself in the wild against predators. When Lo**ta was first born, visitors were unaware that a baby Tapir was just feet away from them until keepers pointed her out.

Tapirs are Brazil’s largest mammal and are related to Horses and Rhinoceroses. Visitors can see the Tapirs and Capybaras in their enclosure in the walkthrough by the Children’s Farmyard. Thanks to Georgia Hicks for her photo of Loli at the very end of the video.

22/08/2025

LATEST VISITOR INFORMATION/THE PARK IN PICTURES

As the summer holidays draw to a close, if visiting the Park this weekend, please read our latest visitor information below ahead of your visit. Thank you and we look forward to welcoming you.

Our great thanks to Rebecca Louise for these photos taken recently at the Park (including some new arrivals).

• TO REDUCE QUEUEING, WE SUGGEST ARRIVING AFTER OUR PEAK TIMES (which are tending to be between 10.30am – 12.30pm). As we are open until 6pm, there’s plenty of time to enjoy the Park if you arrive later in the day. For the latest traffic news, please listen to BBC Radio Oxford on 95.2FM or check an online route planner for up-to-date travel information AHEAD OF YOUR VISIT as roadworks may affect your journey (please see previous post).
• The train will be running daily from 12 noon until 4pm (weather permitting).
• The Oak Tree Restaurant is open daily from 10am - 5pm and kiosks from 10am - 4.30pm.
• As well as the Oak Tree Restaurant and kiosks, visitors are welcome to bring their own picnics to enjoy on the spacious lawns and picnic shelters around the Park.
• The Gift Shop closes at 5pm.

• Please note that parts of our Adventure Playground 'Skymaze' will be closed for the time being for essential maintenance. The rest of the playground, including 'Mini Manor', are open as usual. Thank you for your understanding.

• Please also note that the lake area is currently closed to visitors due to low water levels. To ensure the welfare of our birds we have relocated some of the waterfowl to alternative accommodation. Visitors can still access the Walkthrough Area via the entrance at the Children's Farmyard. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause but thank you for your understanding.

• Well-behaved dogs may be brought to the Park provided they are kept on a lead and under adult control AT ALL TIMES. See the https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/.../frequently.../ for more details.

Please ensure that you check our social media for any updates ahead of visiting the Park. We look forward to welcoming you to the Park over the bank holiday.

15/08/2025

Did you know that this week is officially 'Elvis Week'? We didn't realise such a thing existed until now and we simply couldn't resist a mention of our very own Elvis - the first Wallaby to be hand-reared in the Park’s history.

Elvis was orphaned soon after birth and without intervention, he wouldn't have survived. Jenni, Deputy Head of Mammals, took on the role of surrogate mother (which you can read about here): https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/whats-on/park-news/hand-reared-at-home-keeper-at-cotswold-wildlife-park-becomes-surrogate-mother-to-the-parks-first-orphaned-wallaby-joey/). After months of care and devotion from Jenni, we're delighted to say he's grown into a very confident and healthy young Wallaby and is now back and fully integrated with our Wallaby group at the Park (which includes several joeys who have recently left their mothers' pouch and are exploring their enclosure).

Thanks to Jenni who took these pictures and videos of Elvis today. Thanks also to Philip Joyce for his photos of Jenni and Elvis in the enclosure.

••Please see our pinned message for the latest visitor information ahead of visiting the Park - thank you**

Elvis facts: The joey is named after Jenni’s father’s favourite singer – Elvis Presley. In fact, Elvis was gifted two Wallabies during his life – once while he was filming ‘Jailhouse Rock’ in 1957 and the second time was in 1962. He donated each of the animals to Memphis Zoo.

Visitors can see the Park’s group of Parma Wallabies in their large outdoor exhibit near the Cassowary enclosure.

ELVIS PRESLEY

13/08/2025

We're thrilled to be number one in Metro's "Where the wild things are..." Days Out feature today. Thanks to Polly Humphris for featuring us. Read more here: https://metro.co.uk/newspaper-daily-edition/2025-08-13/mta/spread/10-11/