
UPDATE (23.01.25):
Due to the adverse weather warnings, the departure of chimpanzees, Tombe and Tumba, to Belfast Zoo has been delayed. The family of bush dogs that were also due to depart to Belfast Zoo are also no longer leaving Colchester Zoo today.
These transfers are especially important for the breeding programme and conservation of their species. We will update our website with details of their rescheduled departure as soon as we have them, for now they will remain safely with us here at Colchester Zoo until further notice.
Five bush dogs leave Colchester Zoo to help the conservation of their species!
Nina and Nico were the head of the family of bush dogs at Colchester Zoo and successfully bred 15 offspring helping towards the conservation of their species. Sadly, Nico passed away in June 2024 at the age of 8 years old and more recently, Nina passed away in December 2024 at the age of 9 years old.
Due to the remaining six bush dogs being a family group without an alpha pair, plans are in place for five of them to transfer to Belfast Zoo in Northern Ireland as part of an EEP (EAZA Ex situ Programme) recommendation. Following this departure a new, unrelated male bush dog, Kourou, will be welcomed to Colchester Zoo to join remaining female bush dog, Sabre, who have been matched together by the EEP coordinator.


Kourou is due to arrive from Safari de Peaugres, France in February 2025. It is hoped that Kourou and Sabre go on to have a litter of their very own. With Sabre being the daughter of Nina and Nico it is lovely that their legacy has the chance to live on at Colchester Zoo.
Each EEP has a coordinator who is assisted by a species committee. The coordinator collects information on the species in all EAZA zoos and aquaria, produces a studbook, carries out demographical and genetical analyses, and produces a plan for the future management of the species.
The family of five who will be departing for a new home includes three males, Pele, Pablo and Sith, and two females, Sméagol and Salam. Bush dogs live in family groups from around 12 individuals which includes an alpha pair so it’s common for families to stay together.
With all transfers there’s a long process that takes place before a single paw leaves Colchester Zoo. After many months of preparation, our family of bush dogs are due to depart on 23rd January 2025.


Bush dogs (speothos venaticus) are currently listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and are currently under threat due to habitat loss for farming, loss of prey and an increase in disease affecting canines. Therefore, breeding programmes like these are so important to help the conservation of these species.
We continue to support many conservation projects worldwide both via breeding programmes and funding research and field work with the ultimate aim of caring for wildlife and wild places. By visiting Colchester Zoo, you are contributing to this invaluable and vital work.
With Kourou’s arrival in February 2025, the month of love, we hope that Sabre will fall head over heels and that the pair will become parents in the future. Bush dogs are well adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle and have webbed feet to aid their swimming, so you may spot Kourou and Sabre enjoying a swim in their outdoor pool area whilst they bond. Keep informed with Kourou’s arrival by following Colchester Zoo’s social media channels and website.