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Behind the Scenes Elephant Experience
Elephant Experience - Exclusive to Well Wicked!
Well Wicked are pleased to announce that they can exclusively offer their customers this amazing elephant feeding experience at Colchester Zoo. You will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Elephant Kingdom enclosure to meet the elephants and to find out all about them from their dedicated keepers.
The experience will last approximately 40 minutes and includes admission into this fabulous zoo for the participant. During your experience you will have your own private elephant feeding time alongside the elephant keeper who will be on hand throughout the entire experience to answer any questions that you may have. Don't forget this experience is exclusive to Well Wicked so you won't find it anywhere else!
Elephant Kingdom is one of Colchester Zoo’s most impressive enclosures and is at the forefront of modern zoo design. The unique concept of the design allows all the elephants maximum sight, sound and physical contact and has specially designed night stalls, a roped off “safe area” and spacious indoor bull elephant quarters.
On fine days, you will normally see the elephants in their large outdoor paddocks. Some days the bull, Tembo, will be alone in his paddock as he is reaching an age where the females would normally oust him from the herd and he would begin to lead a naturally solitary life. They feel at Colchester Zoo that whilst they are still able to handle and separate him safely when necessary, they can allow him the company of a one or two of the females each day. Tembo is quite easily recognised. He is the largest of all our elephants at the zoo, he also has a much stockier build, thicker tusks and a very smooth rounded forehead in comparison to the three females. Tembo came to Colchester Zoo after being rescued from Chipperfields Circus in 1998. All of the elephants get on well. Tanya is the matriarch of the herd, which makes her the dominant female. She can be distinguished by the smooth outer edge to her ears, she is also right tusked. Tanya was the first female to breed at Colchester Zoo. She was born around 1981 and came to the zoo in 1985.
Over the last 10 years Tembo has fathered four young, two at Colchester Zoo (Kito and Jambo) and two at other zoos. Kito was the first calf to be born at Colchester Zoo on the 6th December, 2002 to Tembo and to mum Tanya. He was the first elephant in the world to be successfully conceived by Artificial Insemination on the first attempt.
All the elephants at Colchester Zoo are part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme EEP.
All of our gift experiences are presented in an attractive red case with "Congratulations - you are the lucky recipient of a Well Wicked experience day" written on the front. You will also get a DVD featuring many of our experiences. Experience vouchers can be personalised if required.
Duration
This animal experience will last approx 40 minutes but you are free to spend the whole day at this amazing zoo.
Location
This elephant feeding experience takes place at Colchester Zoo in Essex.
Availability
This experience is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year with the exception of Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Experience starts at 10am.
Restrictions
Minimum age is 15 years old. Due to the power and strength of these animals, other than the feeding part of this experience no other physical contact is possible.
Spectators
The price includes admission for the participant only. Other guests are welcome to join you at the zoo and will pay normal admission prices on the day. Guests will have no involvement in the experience.
Disabled Access/Facilities
We are very happy to tailor the content of this experience to accommodate any additional needs that the customer may have - please contact us if you are in any doubt.
Please be aware that Colchester Zoo is very hilly and this may be an issue for some guests, however there is an easier route around the zoo which is recommended for wheelchair users. There are ample disabled toilets, disabled parking spaces, manual wheelchairs for hire and audio information for the visually impaired. All displays/keeper talks are accessible by wheelchair with space available at the front of the tiered seating. You will need to advise when booking if your experience needs to be varied to accommodate a disability.
Other Details
Please wear clothes suitable for working with the animals and for all weathers. Walking boots or wellingtons are ideal. If circumstances dictate, such as bad weather or a particular animal being unwell, it may be necessary to change your activities at very short or no notice. The zoo will, however, always do their best to offer an alternative. This experience is not available for pregnant women, and is not suitable for those allergic to dust, animal fur or bedding.
You will receive a souvenir pack and a presentation certificate! The price includes a complimentary ticket to this fantastic zoo.
Reviews
Review 9th July 2011
Everything was great. My mum had the best day, she loved every minute of the experience and she wants to go again.
Thanks for a wonderful experience. Tia - West Yorkshire
Review 17th December 2011
The experience was perfect, the zoo is lovely and the animals are so well cared for. The keeper was friendly, helpful and informative and I loved every moment of it! The text the day before was a very nice touch!
WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE! Thanks again Robyn - Hertfordshire
Review 4th January 2012
Perfect experience day for my partners birthday! We both had a great time, the experience itself was spot on, EXACTLY what I wanted! Keeper was great and really made the experience special for us.
We both want to do it again now! Regards Tom - Kent
