Issue 3 Autumn 2014 You’ll always get a warm welcome at Tropical World! New Developments Development works will be taking place at Tropical World this autumn and winter. These will include; improvements to the aquaria, a new toilet block, a new conservatory extension to the café and a new environmentally friendly heating system. We are currently open for business as usual but there are new routes to the entrance, and the entrance to the café is via Princes Avenue. Tropical World will close on 15 December 2014 and we apologise for the inconvenience but hope that you’ll like it even more when it re-opens in February! Follow us on Twitter or Facebook to find out how things are progressing and for details about when we will re-open. New Arrivals LOVABLE LORIS We received a new female Pygmy Slow Loris from Edinburgh Zoo in August. She is still settling into her enclosure for now in the nocturnal area, however we will be introducing our male soon to help them to form a bond. Fingers crossed the introduction goes well and they fall in love! GIGANTIC RATS A new male Giant Jumping rat arrived from Bristol zoo to pair with our female in September. She has been rearing her son for the last couple of years in the nocturnal area, but it is now time for him to leave Tropical World. This will enable our female to breed again. He are hoping for one or two babies next year! MAJESTIC PIGEON We collected a new male Victorian Crowned Pigeon from London Zoo in October to pair with our female. We have moved them both into our isolation area for now to enable them to form a pair bond before we release them into one of the tropical houses. Keep an eye out for them in the coming months, although they are hard to miss being one of the largest species of pigeon in the world - almost the size of a turkey! www.twitter.com/tropicalworld www.facebook.com/tropicalworld-officialsite Group Visits Tropical World was recently visited by children from the local Suzaku Martial Arts group. Their team leader said “We all Loved our trip to Tropical World and know we’ll be back again! A fantastic place for the kids (and big kids) and our jungle guide and tour were amazing! Thanks from ALL at Suzaku Martial Arts!” If you would like a group trip to Tropical World or a companion session in Roundhay Park Contact us at [email protected] or 0113 336 7553 Can you help the Hornbill find the nest? UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES For more details on events and activities call Rob Driver, Zoo Education Officer – (0113) 336 7553 *PLEASE NOTE* - Some meeting points may change due to improvement works at Tropical World, please check the meeting point before attending. National Tree Week A week long FREE fun trail around Tropical World discovering more about the trees in the collection! 29TH November – 7th December Saturday 3rdDecember 2014 10:00 – 13:00 A guided walk around Roundhay Park looking at the native trees and finding out about their importance for our City. Meeting Place : Outside Tropical World Can you match the animals with their habitats? Sunday 25th January 2015 Big Garden Birdwatch 10:00 – 12:00 Take part in the national survey. Learn to identify garden birds and how to make your garden more bird and wildlife friendly! Meeting Place : Workshop Marquee, Outside Tropical World Wednesday 18th February 2015 National Nest Box Week 10:00 – 13:00 Design a nest box for one of the birds at Tropical World! Draw a plan for a practical nest box – will you design a Hornbill Hotel, Finch Flat or a Turaco Tower? Meeting Place: Workshop Marquee, Outside Tropical World Saturday 14th March 2015 Meerkat March! The new Meerkat pups should be immerging from their underground nest in early March. Celebrate the new arrivals by making Meerkat masks and looking at Meerkat-like animals we have living in Britain! Meeting Place: Workshop Marquee, Outside Tropical World. RSPB Community Events The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037645 Wednesday 10th December 2014 : 10:00 – 15:00 Outside Lakeside Cafe Join us at our viewpoint to find out about the fascinating birds that live around the lakes! Monday 9th January 2015 : 13:00 – 15:30 Meeting Point : Outside Lakeside Cafe Join us and take walk around Roundhay park learning to identify trees. Look at bark, Buds and Twigs. Children must be accompanied by an adult For more information call Kate Struthers, Yorkshire People Engagement Officer – 07738 648981 Did you know? Last year 390,000 people visited Tropical World, making it the third most popular paid visitor attraction in the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region. Thanks to all who visited, we hope you had a fantastic time!