Best UK European Brown Bear enclosure

Best UK European Brown Bear enclosure

  • Total voters
    35
  • Poll closed .
B

britishzoofan

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
This is just a bit of fun to judge the general consensus on the best enclosure for European Brown Bear's in the UK. I have added a few photos from the gallery to make it easier for members to compare the different exhibits. If anyone wants to make an argument for a particular enclosure, please feel free to do so. Also, I would encourage people to perhaps list the enclosures in order of what they determine to be the best.

Wild Place

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Wildwood

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Whipsnade

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Scottish DC

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Camperdown

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Five Sisters

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Welsh Mountain

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Do we judge on ones we've seen ourselves? Because I love Whipsnades but the Wild place looks incredible
 
ajmcwhipsnade said:
Do we judge on ones we've seen ourselves? Because I love Whipsnades but the Wild place looks incredible
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It’s up to you. A lot of people are voting specific places purely because it’s their local/favourite zoo. Others of us are using the images and other information we know/find to pass judgement.

Whipsnade’s enclosure is fantastic, but Wild Place (whilst I haven’t seen it in person) makes me think of all the good brown bear enclosures I’ve seen on the continent, all of which are heaps better than any place in the UK. Sorry Whipsnade!
 
ajmcwhipsnade said:
Do we judge on ones we've seen ourselves? Because I love Whipsnades but the Wild place looks incredible
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No, definitely don't just judge the ones you have seen yourself. Try to base your decision on a multitude of factors, including arguments posted here by members who have visited the majority of the collections, the photos I have provided (feel free to look for more to gain a better understanding), perhaps the reputation and reports on exhibits in other threads by members who have visited and of course your experience from the exhibits you have visited.

In reality, it is up to you how you judge the best UK enclosure for a particular species. However, try to make the most informed decision that is possible.
 
Having looked at the photos, both are exceptional however I Eventually I went for Whipsnade, which I hope is ok. I also took into account the fact one opened last year and one remains largely unchanged from the 30's which goes to show how good it is.
 
ajmcwhipsnade said:
Having looked at the photos, both are exceptional however I Eventually I went for Whipsnade, which I hope is ok. I also took into account the fact one opened last year and one remains largely unchanged from the 30's which goes to show how good it is.
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Yes, that is fine. Thank you for explaining your reasoning.
 
I have not seen any of the Scottish exhibits, but until very recently. this would have been easy, Whipsnade's exhibit is not only one of my favourite ones in the UK but as has been said earlier, it has stood the test of time, changed little in almost 90 years and still used by its original species.
Wildwood is excellent, but I prefer Whipsnade as it gives better, barrier free viewing.
But Wild Place has brought bear exhibitry to a new level in the UK, natural setting, massive yet still gives great barrier free viewing.
This is difficult but I think I'm leaning towards Wild Place
 
Score Update. Wild Place miles ahead with nearly 90% of the vote. This demonstrates how this exhibit is not just a brilliant UK Brown Bear exhibit but one of the best enclosures for any species anywhere in the UK.
 
britishzoofan said:
Score Update. Wild Place miles ahead with nearly 90% of the vote. This demonstrates how this exhibit is not just a brilliant UK Brown Bear exhibit but one of the best enclosures for any species anywhere in the UK.
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It's such a large and immersive exhibit, photos will never do it justice. I'm lucky it's so close to home, the bears are a treat to watch.
 
I have only been to 4 out of the 7 mentioned.
Wild Place - Absolutely beautiful! Quite a trek to get there, so maybe not great for those who are less mobile, but 100% worth the walk! Interesting having wolves in there as well, although I did not manage to see any. But the cove they have made for public viewing is magical for anyone (zoo nerds or not) to view the species roaming the woodlands.
Wildwood - A little biased as if it wasn't for Covid-19 I'd still be on placement there. No doubt an interesting layout. No way near as large in surface area as Wild Place but has some nice features. I particularly enjoy the body of water they have amongst the greenery, as well as the rope bridge over the top of the exhibit, which is great from a visitor perspective! I have also been able to see their inside quarters and a smaller outdoor area they use for the boys when they go through torpor. It's well designed and partially made from large metal shipping containers - woo recycling!
Whipsnade - An old fashioned bear pit enclosure - understandable as it has been in use for donkeys years, but the naturalistic-looking space is used well! Obviously is not a classic pit, but just has that feel from where the visitor viewing area is mostly raised. I haven't seen the exhibit since the younger bears have been in it, but when they had their geriatric bears, they seemed quite fine with using the natural shelter/shaded areas from the trees. It has a nice viewing experience as one walkway is used for two enclosures (Wolverines/Bears) either side. Inside area was interesting to view also, as keepers have access through mesh to the main enclosure as well as their smaller outdoor area and inside areas.
Welsh Mountain - Quite a lot smaller in comparison to the much newer Wild Place, but it has a lot of character. It seemed they work with what they have, and give their bears enrichment to make up for the lack* in size. Something I noticed more so with Welsh Mountain than any other was their signage. It was very personal to them - for example: enclosure layouts, as well as information regarding their own bear's torpor and diet - to name a couple of factors mentioned on their signs.
*no negative connotations, I still like the enclosure.

All in all, Wild Place has had a lot of money plowed in, but has been worth it. An incredible place.
 
In all seriousness, until Wild Place's exhibit came along, Five Sisters would be a serious contender for this (it's just that hardly anyone's seen it). It's basically a modern update of the Whipsnade enclosure (perhaps a little bigger), very well landscaped and with a nice-sized, well-equipped, separation area (on hard standing) should it be needed. That this was all done on a shoe-string budget for rescued bears only makes the whole thing more impressive.

It's about neck and neck with Wildwood and arguably superior to all the others (except Wild Place, of course -which I've yet to see but which obviously raises the bar to another level).
 
Shorts said:
In all seriousness, until Wild Place's exhibit came along, Five Sisters would be a serious contender for this (it's just that hardly anyone's seen it). It's basically a modern update of the Whipsnade enclosure (perhaps a little bigger), very well landscaped and with a nice-sized, well-equipped, separation area (on hard standing) should it be needed. That this was all done on a shoe-string budget for rescued bears only makes the whole thing more impressive.

It's about neck and neck with Wildwood and arguably superior to all the others (except Wild Place, of course -which I've yet to see but which obviously raises the bar to another level).
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Agreed - I'd rank the exhibits Wildplace, Wildwood, Five Sisters, Whipsnade, WMZ of those I have seen.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Agreed - I'd rank the exhibits Wildplace, Wildwood, Five Sisters, Whipsnade, WMZ of those I have seen.
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Thanks, it's nice to know some other people have seen the exhibit -I think Five Sisters is an over-looked gem (and seemingly off the zoo trail for many). I think it's like an advanced version (about a decade ahead) of those zoos that have opened down south (Axe Valley, Hoo Farm, All Things Wild, Wild Zoological et al) initially with animals from the "exotic pet trade". The last few times I've been to Northern Britain I've relished my trips there (often twinned with the Owl Centre if their opening hours suit) far more than to Edinburgh.
 
I'd still suggest from a visitor viewpoint Whipsnade is better than Wildwood, most of wildwood's is viewed through fencing. You always see the bears at Whipsnade, someone suggested theirs is a pit because you view from above, but the vast majority of Wild Place exhibit is viewed from a much greater height, wonderful exhibit as it is!
 
ThomasNotTom said:
I would note that Wolds Wildlife Park have been missed from the poll.
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You are right. I have been using zootierliste, however as many know it is not always accurate, especially for smaller collections. Here is a photo of the exhibit. If anyone wants to vote for it just post in the thread.

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