Zoo Developments
At Marwell, we are constantly updating areas around the park to ensure our standard of animal welfare remains at a high standard, and so that you also have a great experience as a guest.
Over the next few years, you’ll see exciting changes around the park which we will continue to keep you updated on.
See what we’re currently working on below. For more in-depth updates and articles, check out our Zoo News page.
Animals will remain on show while works are being carried out unless stated otherwise. All developments are listed in order of most to least recent.
Ongoing:
- Snow leopard habitat – We’re currently expanding our snow leopard habitat, which, in time, will house more snow leopards. There is a long-term plan to breed them when allowed to by the European breeding coordinator.
Completed:
- Thriving Through Nature – Improvements to this habitat.
- Bokiboky – Improvements to this habitat.
- Cusimanse – Improvements to this habitat.
- Cold-blooded corner – Developments to the prehensile-tailed skink, snake-necked turtle, and green tree monitor habitats.
- Tamarin viewing – This new mixed area will allow guests to see golden lion tamarins, pygmy marmosets and Brazilian guinea pigs all in one space.
- Tiger habitat – Our teams carried out essential maintenance works to the tiger’s territory. Their pond waterfall has been repaired to allow flowing water for the tigers to rest and cool in. This also adds natural noises to reduce external sounds and make their environment more complex.
- Bokiboky viewing – A previously off-show area has been opened for guest viewing. The climbing structures you can now see in this area provide a positive life experience by allowing climbing opportunities as well as foraging. Also, improvements such as updating heating and lighting provisions allows the team to mimic their natural environment.
- Kirks dikdik viewing – A new viewing window into their previously off-show area is giving guests a behind-the-scenes look at their indoor habitat.
- Hippo house – Essential maintenance and roof repairs. The team took out the fence that splits the paddock and replaced it with natural materials.
- Giraffe outdoor area – Previously a gated off-show area, the team introduced natural materials such as rocks to create a natural barrier between the animals and guests, to allow a more interactive up-close experience.
- Red-tailed laughing thrush aviary – The bird’s team recently reviewed the red-tailed laughing thrush’s environment. They made a series of changes which included adding additional materials to give better nesting support. As a result, two eggs were successfully incubated, and the chicks hatched at the end of May!
Ongoing:
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Our Membership Cabin will be closed from Monday 11 March while we carry out a paintwork refresh and a spring clean! We’re planning to reopen the cabin from Saturday 16 March, but please keep an eye out for updates on our website.
During this time, Gate 1 at our admissions area will be available for Membership card printing, renewals, and general enquiries. Our team will be working as quickly as possible, so please bear with us during this time.
Don’t forget you can also email us at membership@marwell.org.uk with any questions or queries you may have regarding your Annual Membership, or call us on 01962 777407.
- Our bongo house and giraffe boardwalk will be temporarily closed from Wednesday 13 March until Friday 22 March. We’re carrying out essential maintenance work to our overhead giraffe gantry and will have to close our bongo house and giraffe boardwalk to our guests. We plan to enable access to guests during the weekend 16/17 March. You’ll still be able to visit our herd inside the giraffe house. Thank you so much for your understanding.
Completed:
- Fur, feather and scales playground – Now open! A new and improved accessible playground has been installed made mainly from recycled materials, the equipment is designed for children 2 years and over.
- Wildflower areas – We’re encouraging native wildlife to thrive with wildflower areas dotted around the zoo. If you spot one, take a closer look and count how many native species you can see! Please take care at these areas.
