Noah's Ark Zoo Farm Noah's Ark Zoo Farm

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Here is a list of wild Mammals in Bristol's collections:
Eastern quoll and kowari (Bristol Zoo)

New Guinea ground cuscus and brush-tailed bettong (Bristol Zoo); red-necked wallaby (Noahs Ark); Parma wallaby (Wild Place); Goodfellows tree kangaroo (Bristol Zoo)

Six-banded armadillo (Bristol Zoo)

Linnaeuss two-toed sloth (Bristol Zoo); giant anteater (Noahs Ark)

Lesser hedgehog tenrec (Noahs Ark)

African elephant (Noahs Ark)

Mongoose and red-bellied lemurs (Wild Place); ring-tailed lemur (Bristol Zoo, Noahs Ark & Wild Place); blue-eyed black and crowned lemurs (Bristol Zoo); Lac Alaotra gentle lemur (Bristol Zoo & Wild Place); black and white ruffed lemur (Noahs Ark & Wild Place); aye-aye and pygmy slow loris (Bristol Zoo); white tufted -ear marmoset and cotton-top tamarin (Noahs Ark); golden and golden-headed lion tamarins, common squirrel monkey, black-and-gold howler monkey, Colombian brown spider monkey and lion-tailed macaque (Bristol Zoo); gelada (Wild Place); siamang (Noahs Ark); agile gibbon and western gorilla (Bristol Zoo)

Giant jumping rat, Turkish spiny and western house mice, roof rat, naked mole rat (Bristol Zoo); Cape porcupine (Noahs Ark); Patagonian mara (Bristol Zoo & Noahs Ark); capybara (Noahs Ark); Azaras agouti (Bristol Zoo & Noahs Ark); degu and black-tailed prairie dog (Noahs Ark)

Comoro flying fox (Bristol Zoo)

Northern lynx (Wild Place); cheetah (Wild Place); lion (Bristol Zoo and Noahs Ark); yellow mongoose (Bristol Zoo); meerkat (Bristol Zoo, Noahs Ark & Wild Place); wolf (Wild Place); spectacled bear (Noahs Ark); brown bear (Wild Place): South American fur seal and North American river otter (Bristol Zoo); wolverine (Wild Place); striped skunk and south American coati (Noahs Ark); northern raccoon and red panda (Bristol Zoo)

Plains zebra (Noahs Ark & Wild Place); South American tapir and white rhinoceros (Noahs Ark)

Red river hog (Wild Place); Negros warty pig and pygmy hippopotamus (Bristol Zoo); Java mouse deer (Bristol Zoo); okapi (Wild Place); giraffe (Noahs Ark & Wild Place); red deer (Noahs Ark); Kirks dik-dik (Wild Place); American bison (Noahs Ark); Common eland (Wild Place)

Sorry if this offends anyone or derails the topic at hand but I had to comment on this.

I looked up this "Noah's Ark" Zoo out of curiosity and was suprised to see that the owners of this institution are deeply religious (not a problem in itself of course ) and actually promote a "creationist view" of the natural world by having information panels around enclosures that push this ideology.

I honestly can't believe that this place actually attracts visitors in the first place let alone it priding itself as peforming a valuable "educational" role for the zoo going general public.

Just saying...

 

[Andrew Swales]

Sorry if this offends anyone or derails the topic at hand but I had to comment on this.

I looked up this "Noah's Ark" Zoo out of curiosity and was suprised to see that the owners of this institution are deeply religious (not a problem in itself of course ) and actually promote a "creationist view" of the natural world by having information panels around enclosures that push this ideology.

I honestly can't believe that this place actually attracts visitors in the first place let alone it priding itself as peforming a valuable "educational" role for the zoo going general public.

Just saying...

Apparently, the religious 'aspect' has been moderated somewhat recently and the park is now open to the public on Sundays - but as educational provision is such a major part of the the UK Zoo Licencing law, it was always intriguing how this circle was squared... Noah's Ark attracts around a quarter of a million visitors annually (similar to Wild-Place) and appears to be well-liked by them.

 

[Tau]

If you visit the zoo you will find a zoo just like most others. Most of the enclosures have a 'prayer of dedication' or something along those lines but all of the creationist displays are all kept in an exhibition room which is labelled. This is presumably how it fits in with licensing as it is room that is entered only on one's own accord.

 

[Andrew Swales]

If you visit the zoo you will find a zoo just like most others. Most of the enclosures have a 'prayer of dedication' or something along those lines but all of the creationist displays are all kept in an exhibition room which is labelled. This is presumably how it fits in with licensing as it is room that is entered only on one's own accord.

Licencing requires not just (avoidable) casual information for the public, but a formal, approved education programme, class-room(s)/education-unit and education staff - this must be acceptable to Government inspectors, but could certainly be missed by general visitors.

 

[Tau]

They have their own educational programme but what I meant was that the creationist belief is very much a seperate entity and kept in a closed and labelled room. I think this shift in recent years has seen the very high majority of the religious aspect exhibited in such a way it is made to be a choice to see or not rather than displayed all around the site like some parts used to be.

 

[Andrew Swales]

They have their own educational programme but what I meant was that the creationist belief is very much a seperate entity and kept in a closed and labelled room. I think this shift in recent years has seen the very high majority of the religious aspect exhibited in such a way it is made to be a choice to see or not rather than displayed all around the site like some parts used to be.

Thanks. I had not considered the possibility that the owners beliefs and the information on-site could/would be different to the content of the education programme, but maybe there is no reason why not... unless 'creationism' is now included in the UK 'National Curriculum' ?

 

[TNT]

Sorry if this offends anyone or derails the topic at hand but I had to comment on this.

I looked up this "Noah's Ark" Zoo out of curiosity and was suprised to see that the owners of this institution are deeply religious (not a problem in itself of course ) and actually promote a "creationist view" of the natural world by having information panels around enclosures that push this ideology.

I honestly can't believe that this place actually attracts visitors in the first place let alone it priding itself as peforming a valuable "educational" role for the zoo going general public.

Just saying...

Noah's ark is a very nice zoo, with some fantastic keepers... And deserving of its visitors. Many guests will visit without even realising the creationist aspect is present.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Noah's ark is a very nice zoo, with some fantastic keepers... And deserving of its visitors. Many guests will visit without even realising the creationist aspect is present.

That maybe so but it isn't a place I would ever visit if I ever found myself in the South-West of the UK.

I think I'd much rather visit Bristol Zoo any day over an institution with those kind of ideological connections.

 

[Andrew Swales]

That maybe so but it isn't a place I would ever visit if I ever found myself in the South-West of the UK.

I think I'd much rather visit Bristol Zoo any day over an institution with those kind of ideological connections.

It certainly seems incomprehensible to me how anyone involved with animals for any extended period and seeing how quickly they evolve both in the hands of man and in 'nature', can ever believe in creationism.
We just have to accept I guess, that some peoples minds are closed to views alternative to their own - be they creationists or 'liberationists'...

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Apparently, the religious 'aspect' has been moderated somewhat recently and the park is now open to the public on Sundays - but as educational provision is such a major part of the the UK Zoo Licencing law, it was always intriguing how this circle was squared... Noah's Ark attracts around a quarter of a million visitors annually (similar to Wild-Place) and appears to be well-liked by them.

Good that this has been moderated I suppose, but this place still reminds me of somewhere in the US bible belt.

I see that they keep several species that are listed as endangered by the IUCN but do they contribute anything meaningful to ex-situ conservation ?

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

It certainly seems incomprehensible to me how anyone involved with animals for any extended period and seeing how quickly they evolve both in the hands of man and in 'nature', can ever believe in creationism.
We just have to accept I guess, that some peoples minds are closed to views alternative to their own - be they creationists or 'liberationists'...

I couldn't agree more with your comment Andrew.

It seems to me (as someone with an admittedly very secular worldview) to be a totally incompatible and frankly absurd position to occupy.

However, it is a free world ( barely...) and I suppose all that can be said about the matter is each onto their own.

 

[TNT]

Good that this has been moderated I suppose, but this place still reminds me of somewhere in the US bible belt.

I see that they keep several species that are listed as endangered by the IUCN but do they contribute anything meaningful to ex-situ conservation ?

They're taking part in multiple EEPs, and run a couple of studbooks They recently helped raise money for an an African Lion based charity, and have done similar things in the past.

 

[FBBird]

If you visit the zoo you will find a zoo just like most others. Most of the enclosures have a 'prayer of dedication' or something along those lines but all of the creationist displays are all kept in an exhibition room which is labelled. This is presumably how it fits in with licensing as it is room that is entered only on one's own accord.

Noah’s Ark have arguably the most state of the art elephant facilities in t

That maybe so but it isn't a place I would ever visit if I ever found myself in the South-West of the UK.

I think I'd much rather visit Bristol Zoo any day over an institution with those kind of ideological connections.

you would be missing a lot. I have no religious affiliation, but really enjoyed the place. Elephant setup alone was worth it. Also good Andean Bear/Coati mix, Sterrer’s Sea Eagles, Siamangs....

 

[Dassie rat]

Here is the Noah's Ark thread: Noah's Ark Zoo Farm 2020 [Noah's Ark Zoo Farm]

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Noah’s Ark have arguably the most state of the art elephant facilities in t

you would be missing a lot. I have no religious affiliation, but really enjoyed the place. Elephant setup alone was worth it. Also good Andean Bear/Coati mix, Sterrer’s Sea Eagles, Siamangs....

My final point on this Noah's ark place on this thread, wanted to reply to your comment and don't want to appear that I've ignored it.

Good to hear that they have good facilities for their animals, that is very encouraging.

I still don't think I'd ever visit this zoo if I was in that region of the UK.

I think this would be because of what I previously mentioned but also I'm less into the charismatic megafauna and much more into the many smaller species that are more present at the Bristol zoo (which I visited once before many years ago).

 

[BeakerUK]

I visited a couple of years ago and the children's playbarn was literally plastered with creationist propaganda. The children were unlikely to care, but their parents / carers were in there, too.

 

[Andrew Swales]

I visited a couple of years ago and the children's playbarn was literally plastered with creationist propaganda. The children were unlikely to care, but their parents / carers were in there, too.

Mmmm... I wonder whether that is why it was specifically there...
Zoo Licence inspectors looking at conservation and education provision, would not necessarily look in a play-barn. That would come under the L/A H+S inspection, maybe on a different day...

 

[Ned]

In the UK children MUST study religious education by law.
The national curriculum

Religion is a Protected Characteristic i.e it is against UK law to discriminate against a person due to their religious beliefs
Religion or belief discrimination.

Under Article 9 of The Human Rights Act a person has the right to put their thoughts and beliefs into action.
Article 9: Freedom of thought, belief and religion | Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Whilst I I have no religion (in which I include capitalism), Some of the comments on here are a bit too close to intolerance. Some of the views expressed are no more than the indoctrination of people into Atheism.

 

[Giant Panda]

In the UK children MUST study religious education by law.
The national curriculum

Religion is a Protected Characteristic i.e it is against UK law to discriminate against a person due to their religious beliefs
Religion or belief discrimination.

Under Article 9 of The Human Rights Act a person has the right to put their thoughts and beliefs into action.
Article 9: Freedom of thought, belief and religion | Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Whilst I I have no religion (in which I include capitalism), Some of the comments on here are a bit too close to intolerance. Some of the views expressed are no more than the indoctrination of people into Atheism.
Also, went to a school with religious assemblies but I'd worked out that they were nonsense by about the age of six.

This legal argument undermines your case. Yes, it's mandatory to teach religion in religious education classes. On the flip-side, it's prohibited for state-funded schools to teach creationism in biology classes. I have no problem with a zoo exploring the bible from a spiritual, historical or cultural perspective (e.g. see Jerusalem Biblical Zoo). The issue arises from explicitly teaching pseudoscience as science, and explicitly undermining 90 years of consensus in biology. Noah's Ark Zoo Farm's "educational" materials would be illegal in a state-funded school.

 

[Andrew Swales]

On the flip-side, it's prohibited for state-funded schools to teach creationism in biology classes.

Quite a lot of the comments on this thread appear to have been cut - but I wonder if this above is the case, how schools can organise visits to Noah's Ark,? - as such visits have a curriculum link and are surely being made as an adjunct to the teaching of biology, and not r/e?