to be honest Thomas I have never heard of that either as it's suppose to be Lake District Wildlife Park
Knowsley Safari Park Knowsley Safari Park 2021
- Thread starter BillBoy80
- Start date
Pootle
Well-Known Member
I'm going on Monday am, I'm going ask someone what going on with the continued loss of animals (numbers & diversity) from the drive.
Nothing exciting has arrived for a while yet top notch animals have gone.
Not long ago, KSP proudly held (with success) four of the 'Big African Five', now that is two and one is a dying out bunch of siblings.
I too am going on Monday hope you have more luck than I do speaking to someone who knows what's happening.
I feel and must sound like I have a grudge against this place but I honestly don't. It's just dissapointment and frustration that they can't be up against the big boys of the safari parks as they certainly have the space.
I know that last 18 months haven't been easy for any business but as we are mostly aware the place has been at a crossroads for a long time prior. Pandemic can't be used as an excuse IMO.
My mistake has been established on the previous page
that's not a problem now
Pootle
Well-Known Member
I'm in your boat with all that.
Needless to say it was Enchanted being advertised.
So I'm on the way home after my visit.
Drive through
There is still areas that are empty or not utilised to their full potential however I am happy to report that I have seen the following;
2:0 Grevy zebra
0:3 ostrich (didn't see a male unless he's not matured)
0:0:9 Forest buffalo
Only 0:0:1 Bongo but could easily have missed it.
Only 0:0:4 rhino on the drive through but nice to see them out.
4:0 wildebeest
Roughly about 15 Eland including calves.
Nilgai- impressive species
Axis deer
0:0:4 Somali wild ass
0:0:9 Kiang
4:0 Bison
The Elk
2:3 lions (Ted is HUGE!!)
Iberian wolves
0:0:5 camels
Only saw 0:2 yak, calf must have been asleep all were in the shelter
Pere David deer
0:0:6 waterbuck
Carnivores (preferably African) are needed on drive through, it's the one thing that is letting Knowsley down.
Foot safari
0:1 Amur tiger but WOW what an enclosure very impressed.
Bush dogs
Only 0:0:2 red River hog
0:0:4 Vicuna
Shame that the elephant enclosure has been left to rot. But I thought that originally you passed the elephant enclosure as you came off the drive through, am I wrong?
Overall it's been a nice day
Drive through
There is still areas that are empty or not utilised to their full potential however I am happy to report that I have seen the following;
2:0 Grevy zebra
0:3 ostrich (didn't see a male unless he's not matured)
0:0:9 Forest buffalo
Only 0:0:1 Bongo but could easily have missed it.
Only 0:0:4 rhino on the drive through but nice to see them out.
4:0 wildebeest
Roughly about 15 Eland including calves.
Nilgai- impressive species
Axis deer
0:0:4 Somali wild ass
0:0:9 Kiang
4:0 Bison
The Elk
2:3 lions (Ted is HUGE!!)
Iberian wolves
0:0:5 camels
Only saw 0:2 yak, calf must have been asleep all were in the shelter
Pere David deer
0:0:6 waterbuck
Carnivores (preferably African) are needed on drive through, it's the one thing that is letting Knowsley down.
Foot safari
0:1 Amur tiger but WOW what an enclosure very impressed.
Bush dogs
Only 0:0:2 red River hog
0:0:4 Vicuna
Shame that the elephant enclosure has been left to rot. But I thought that originally you passed the elephant enclosure as you came off the drive through, am I wrong?
Overall it's been a nice day
Pootle
Well-Known Member
Yes, originally 8-9 years ago now, so a while, you drove past the elephants to leave the drive through and park up for the foot safari or whatever it was you did.
The route changed direction, so you enter the same way, but turn left now on entry and up past the Pere Davids left road, into the section near baboons and onto the rhino area.
Edit - the route direction changed that long ago, you still however did indeed drive past the elephants last in more recent times.
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I went there several times before the pandemic, each time the route had changed completely if I remember correctly. The worst thing was the state of the (pot-holed) roads.
I was interested you only saw 9 Kiang, I remember there were about thirteen previously. Two species you didn't mention were the Blackbuck and Brow-antlered deer, maybe you missed them.
The pot holes are left to make it more safari like and authentic
You wouldn't complain in South Africa about a pot hole on safari would you.
(The blackbuck are certainly still their)
There are probably more Kiang but I was on a coach trip so probably missed some. Yes I did catch a glimpse of the Brow-antlered deer but people kept moving about so again didn't see much of them.
I will probably return but maybe next year or 2.
I don't remember any potholes in the roads in the South African game reserves, but maybe there were.You wouldn't complain in South Africa about a pot hole on safari would you.
(The blackbuck are certainly still their)
Pootle
Well-Known Member
I don't remember any potholes in the roads in the South African game reserves, but maybe there were.
a tad embarrassing that a UK Safari drive is worse than a South African one!
Glad you had a lovely day. I can only imagine how big Ted would look with a mane, he’s far bigger than Sam. He comes across as such a gentleman in the pride. Dust is his closest female friend but obviously he’s super loyal to Sam.
The tiger enclosure is really fantastic. As expected from yourself a very fair critique of some of the strengths and weaknesses of the park.
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Thank you @BillBoy80 I just felt that I needed to try and be positive about the place as its well known its not always been the case with me here.
Pootle
Well-Known Member
Had a quick lap this later afternoon.
I'm no photographer, but I am a counter, so I noticed this of interest.
About 25 blackbuck and certainly one breeding male, although not with a full black back or full horns yet, but nice to see them all together, Also, nice to see was the Nilgai, about 11 in total with one mature male, I would say he was on the young side, but certainly mature.
Do they still have a couple of Blesbok anyone? didn't see them.
Not all rhinos out and about, two female ostrich, forest buffalo about 9 I reckon, certainly one breeding bull amongst them. Bongos hiding from me as always, Eland numbers lower than I ever recall, and two wildebeest peeping out of the eland house.
Baboons breaking cars up and people driving around their enclosure with windows down, keepers telling them off.
4 euro bison and a female moose with more space than required and gardening much in need.
Lions snoozing surprisingly, more people with windows down in Lion area.
Iberian wolves and Somali asses looking good. One wolf enjoying a bone close to the fence which was good viewing.
5 Camels chewing and drooling, Nice herd of Pere Davids still, which is good to see, 9 Kiang and a bloke with a chainsaw - cutting down some trees I must add!
Highlight on a quick drive today was the Nilgai and Blackbucks, nice breeding set ups it seems, good luck to them.
No foot safari today, back home to do some more work.
I'm no photographer, but I am a counter, so I noticed this of interest.
About 25 blackbuck and certainly one breeding male, although not with a full black back or full horns yet, but nice to see them all together, Also, nice to see was the Nilgai, about 11 in total with one mature male, I would say he was on the young side, but certainly mature.
Do they still have a couple of Blesbok anyone? didn't see them.
Not all rhinos out and about, two female ostrich, forest buffalo about 9 I reckon, certainly one breeding bull amongst them. Bongos hiding from me as always, Eland numbers lower than I ever recall, and two wildebeest peeping out of the eland house.
Baboons breaking cars up and people driving around their enclosure with windows down, keepers telling them off.
4 euro bison and a female moose with more space than required and gardening much in need.
Lions snoozing surprisingly, more people with windows down in Lion area.
Iberian wolves and Somali asses looking good. One wolf enjoying a bone close to the fence which was good viewing.
5 Camels chewing and drooling, Nice herd of Pere Davids still, which is good to see, 9 Kiang and a bloke with a chainsaw - cutting down some trees I must add!
Highlight on a quick drive today was the Nilgai and Blackbucks, nice breeding set ups it seems, good luck to them.
No foot safari today, back home to do some more work.
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A man after my own heart re the counting....
Last time I went to Knowsley (about three(?) years ago now,) the Blackbuck herd numbered about 40. There were at least three adult 'black' blackbuck males, of which one appeared to have a broken foreleg (staff were aware as I commented to them about it). Possibly some have since died or been relocated if they are down to 25 now?
Nilgai- there was no mature male then, in fact I didn't see any that looked male at all.
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Pootle
Well-Known Member
Some blackbuck must have died or maybe moved on, there was certainly not 40 the other day. If work goes well this week, I'll be back Friday pm for 'the recount'
.