We had a great spooky season, welcoming supporters for our award-winning Shriek Week half term.

The week was packed with a range of daytime activities for all ages, including the return of our ever-popular Witches’ Craft Coven, St. Anway’s Scare School and the Exploratorium with additional activities on blood, bats and nocturnal animals.

As day turned into night, creatures began to emerge for our sell-out, Trail of Terror event. This event was put together by the staff at Colchester Zoo and judging from the screams, we did our best at scaring a lot of visitors.

Our animal team have been busy as usual and have welcomed some new arrivals to the zoo. A female rhinoceros iguana arrived at the end of October from Shepreth Wildlife Park and is settling well into her habitat. Moving animals between zoos is an important part of conservation programmes.

These programmes are not just about moving animals to form new groups, but the committees also have scientists, conservationists, educators and vets advising on all aspects of the animals, from their welfare to raising awareness of how we work with them in the wild too.

It’s full sleigh ahead as we start to prepare for the Christmas season. The grounds team are clearing the pathways of autumnal leaves whilst the education team work towards their new schools Christmas experience.

Colchester Zoo is a magical place at Christmas with our Magic of Christmas returning on selected dates in November and December.

Our enchanted trail of light also returns on selected dates in November and December to bring you an evening filled with sparkle and dancing fountains.

We’ve already had an exciting start to November with the release of our Christmas advert after working with Essex-based production company, Deadline Communications, for the second year in a row.

Watch our advert via the zoo’s social media platforms. We hope you enjoy watching Cole’s mammoth adventure as much as we did making it.