About Us
Who We Are
We are a family run animal rescue & rehoming centre specialising in exotics. Here at Mitcham Zoo we aim to give homes to any unwanted, sick or injured reptiles so they can live out their lives in a safe and loving environment.
What We Do
Based in South London, we enjoy nothing more than sharing our love of all animals with our family, friends, neighbours and the local community; we do this by offering Animal Encounters & Handling experiences for schools, community groups like Scouts, public events, private parties and film/tv work .
www.ncrw.co.uk
National Centre for Reptile Welfare
The NCRW is a centre of animal welfare excellence for reptiles and amphibians
The dedicated team at the NCRW are driven by a single goal: to do our part in making the world a better place for all companion reptiles and amphibians. Our decision-making process is driven by informed, comprehensive empirical studies and high quality data evaluation. We strive to build productive relationships and make a positive impact with all of our pursuits and enterprises. Education is a fundamental part of our ethos and we work closely with our partners at Hadlow College to ensure the next generation of animal keepers are provided with the best possible practical and academic knowledge of reptile and amphibian husbandry
Neo's Story
Neo our Green Wing Macaw
On the aternoon of 17th May 2023 we received a phonecall from Medivet in Richmond to ask if we could take in an abandoned macaw.
The bird had been handed over to them after being found by a member of the public, crammed into a plastic hamster cage and left in the street.
Naturally, the macaw was not only terrified but was in a bad way with feathers cut from the wings and tail.
We put together a temporary enclosure that evening and left our feathered friend to acclimatise and relax.
We settled on the name Neo and spent the next few days researching and educating ourselves on the Macaw's needs.
The lack of tail feathers was causing Neo some difficulty with balance but we made sure to provide a nurturing environment with toys and treats for enrichment. We also provided a nutricious diet along with relevant supplements for optimum health.
With good food, regular misting, a lot of human interaction including target traing and play, Neo began to flourish; new feathers sprouted, Neo started to vocalise and was building strong bonds with her human family.
It took many weeks and a great deal of patiene before Neo was comfortable with physical touch. Neo soon enjoyed a head scratch and would shake hands or give a high five. After 14 weeks Neo "stepped up" for the first time which was a huge milestone.
We were able to take Neo to CJ Hall veterinary surgery for a full check up. We had it confirmed by DNA that Neo is a girl and all her blood work came back clear.
She has become so much more confident, loved the spotlight and will come of her own free will every morning for cuddles and kisses. Macaws can be nippy but Neo has stolen our hearts and is a very content bird.
