A couple of weeks ago myself (Marie, the education research assistant) and the other CIRCLE research assistants headed off down south in order to give presentations at the annual BIAZA (British and Irish Aquaria and Zoo Association) research symposium.

It is with great pleasure that I announce that all lectures went off without a hitch. We even came back with ideas to put into practice here at the zoo. And that is what it is all about – sharing ideas and information to ensure the maximum amount of research is taking part in our zoos.

Our resident capybara population has just seen an increase!

The capybaras are one of Flamingo Land’s most interesting residents. They are the world’s largest rodents and can easily be mistaken for giant guinea pigs! They can reach up to 1.3 metres in length and up to half a metre tall. In the wild they are found in South America. Here in the zoo they can be found in our free-ranging South America section together with alpaca, tapirs and maras.

In the wild the capybaras can be found in thick vegetation close to water. They are excellent swimmers and spend a lot of their time in the water, when they are not grazing on the land. This is why our Mum decided to have her litter right next to our big lake. The first European explorers to see capybaras originally named them water pigs!

We are proud to announce the arrival of 2 new members to our ring-tailed lemur troop. Ruth, our matriarch (the boss of the troop) has given birth to a very healthy infant and Pandora has also given birth.

Here at the zoo, we were all very excited to see the babies clinging on to their mothers’ bellies. The babies are now beginning to move around their mother and begin to ride on her back when they are foraging.

Ring-tailed lemurs are classified as “near threatened” by the IUCN (the international body that researches the risk of species going extinct). Due to this “near threatened” classification, the births are another triumph in Flamingo Land’s breeding of endangered and threatened species.

Our mangabeys can now be found settling in to their new house – previously home to the chimpanzees.

Visitors to the park have become accustomed to seeing our mangabeys swinging around on their ropes or figuring out how to get their food out of their coconuts next to the to the tiger enclosure. Mangabeys are endangered in the wild and due to hunting and habitat destruction their numbers have been seriously decreasing in the wild. Our mangabeys are part of a strict breeding programme called the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme (look out for the EEP sign as you venture around the zoo to see who else is part of this programme). With numbers dwindling in the wild, it is imperative that zoos are breeding up numbers in captivity.

It was this same breeding programme that saw our chimpanzees, Tupolo and Copper, head up north to Blair Drummond Safari Park earlier this year. The chimpanzee enclosure is a fantastic space and it was decided that the mangabeys could go on a bit of a holiday to another part of the zoo. As these monkeys are fascinating to watch, the old chimpanzee house, with its fantastic open windows seemed a perfect place to showcase the mangabeys.

This year we celebrated the 4th annual Tanzania Day at Flamingo Land Resort. Tanzania Day is a day to support all things UFP. The Udzungwa Forest Project (UFP) is Flamingo Land’s conservation project in East Africa. The project focuses on working in the Magombera Forest. Here our local Tanzanian team monitor the health of the forest by measuring tree growth, following and recording the activity of the monkeys which call the forest home and patrolling for illegal logging. Cutting down trees for charcoal production is one of the main threats to this unique and fascinating forest.

With the Jubilee holiday and the mid-term break over, everyone is back at school for the last stretch before the summer holidays. Here in the education centre, we are gearing up for one of our busiest times.

Flamingo Land strives to maximise the number of accessible facilities. This guide has been produced to assist guests with limited mobility, helping to ensure their enjoyment whilst visiting our theme park, zoo and holiday village.

This rather different expedition was never going to reveal new species, but the Kilombero Sugar Company may hold the key to the survival of a forest and many rare species living there. The sugar company are the owners of a large part of the threatened Magombera forest, where the Udzungwa Forest Project (UFP) is carrying out it’s work on forest conservation. As part of efforts to save Magombera from destruction, Dr. Andy Marshall spent two days with the sugar company staff, exchanging ideas and learning about sugar.

We regret to report the death of Langson Mwakisoma, a pioneering botanist in the Udzungwa Mountains. Langson Kisoma (approx 70) died on the 6th July in his home village of Magombera. Kisoma was a longstanding field assistant to ecologists working in the Udzungwa Mountains, particularly in the late 1970s and 1980s. He was an expedition member on some of the first intensive ecological surveys of the Udzungwa area, including Alan Rodger’s first surveys of the colobus monkeys and Jon Lovett’s pioneering surveys of the plants. As a result, Kisoma was central to the current understanding of the biology of the Udzungwa Mountains and to the discovery of several new species.

Located in Dino-Stone Park, this reptile themed coaster has the lowest height restriction of all. An ideal first time roller coaster experience, it also provides the opportunity for the whole family to accompany younger riders.

Part of Flamingo Land Resort entertainment complex, The Gourmet Grill brings together the best burger experience using local meats to create the ultimate burger using 100% British beef!

Part of the Club complex, Zoo Bar provides a family-friendly environment that’s ideal for a great night out or simply a lunchtime drink with friends. It mixes glitzy décor and comfortable furnishing with a large, well-stocked bar.

Details of our camping and caravanning prices throughout the season, plus a range of low season special offers.

Park admission is included with all accommodation bookings made through flamingoland.co.uk We can't wait to welcome you to Flamingo Land in 2024 You can secure your holiday home booking with a deposit: £100 for gold, platinum or platinum plus holiday homes or £200 for lodges and cottages. Full payment is required at least 56 days prior to arrival. For full

You’re now just a few clicks away from finding your ideal holiday home at Flamingo Land Resort. Looking for a fantastic location that offers an extensive range of amenities, is packed with fun & excitement and provides sensational day & night time entertainment for all ages? Then look no further than Flamingo Land Resort! With a wide range of new

Love it live? Then you’ll enjoy our latest and greatest venue!

For visiting golf fans there’s a treat in store, with a nine-hole course just a stone’s throw away.

Originally built in 2008, our leisure centre has now been extensively redeveloped to create Run-Gym-Swim, a multi-discipline sports complex.

Find your way around our Holiday Village with this handy guide. Detailing the location of every holiday home, it also includes amenities, attractions and access points.

Featuring spacious open-plan living areas and gas central heating throughout, our Holiday Lodges have been carefully designed to make cooking, dining and relaxing a truly inclusive experience. Benefiting from an en suite master bedroom and a family bathroom, they are ideal for up to six people.