New Autumn Babies Enjoy First Halloween at Cotswold Wildlife Park
Cotswold Wildlife Park's New Arrivals Enjoy Their First Halloween
Cotswold Wildlife Park is celebrating an autumnal baby boom, with new arrivals enjoying their first Halloween through a range of seasonal enrichments. Keepers provided Halloween-themed activities for the Park’s youngest residents, introducing them to pumpkins and seasonal treats in a delightful showcase of family-friendly fun in Gloucestershire.
Meet the New Arrivals:
- Adorable Capybara Triplets – Twig, Bracken, and Bramble are the Park’s first Capybara pups in six years, born to proud parents Freya and Frankenstein (himself born on Halloween). As the world’s largest rodent species, capybaras are described by Zoologist Desmond Morris as a cross between a Guinea pig and a Hippopotamus.
- Giant Anteater Pup, Anthony – This tiny new addition can be seen riding on his mother Zeta’s back near the Children's Farmyard. The Giant Anteater is one of Central America’s most threatened mammals, making Anthony’s birth a special achievement for the Park.
- Curious Dwarf Mongoose Pup – The new pup joined the Dwarf Mongoose family in exploring a pumpkin carved with holes, popping its head out to enjoy the seasonal enrichment.
All pumpkins used for the Halloween celebrations were grown locally by Jubilee Gardens, a charity supporting adults with learning disabilities. For the fourth consecutive year, students from Jubilee Gardens provided the Park’s animals with seasonal treats, including pumpkins for the trio of Giant Tortoises: George, Sheldon, and Darwin.
Assistant Animal Manager Chris Kibbey shared, “This time of year is a great opportunity for enrichment. Pumpkins can be hollowed, carved, and filled with treats, encouraging natural behaviours and keeping our animals mentally and physically engaged. This Halloween, our newest arrivals loved their first pumpkin treats, from Anthony slurping mealworms with Zeta to the Capybara family’s first pumpkin experience.”
This Halloween marks a memorable first for the new arrivals at Cotswold Wildlife Park, offering a fun, educational experience for visitors looking to enjoy family activities in Gloucestershire this autumn.
Explore Gloucestershire
30 October 2024
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