Recently Twycross Zoo was alive with excitement when a 24 foot container arrived from Borneo.

In July 2006 Suzanne Boardman, Director of Twycross Zoo, and Twycross Zoo's Zoological Consultant Vasantha Nugegoda travelled to Borneo to purchase genuine artefacts for our new Sabah Longhouse.

Both the maintenance crew and keepers helped to unload the many items that the indigenous people use on a daily basis in a traditional longhouse. The container held traditional machetes, rattan sticks, wooden masks, clay pots, drum beaters, rattan baskets, five wooden canoes, metal bangles, bubus (fish traps) and tonizoks (bamboo water containers). In total there were over hundred and thirty five original artefacts for the new exhibit.

Work is still under construction on the longhouse. At present visitors will notice the timber walkways which ultimately will lead you into the new exhibit. The fishing platform and sleeping area are made from bamboo and will soon be completed. The aviary will feature a variety of bird species, many of which are the subject of critical breeding programmes. These include such birds as azure winged magpies, Palawan peacock pheasants, satyr tragapans, blue crowned laughing thrushes and many more.

The longhouse is due to open to the public 25th July 2007 and is part of the large scale reconstruction of our waterways.