Longleat Safari & Adventure Park Longleat Safari Park News 2023

Mentioned above but it's good to get confirmation - great news for the Park following the winter.

Anyone heard anything about the baby sloth or binturong? I'm visiting this Sunday so I'll keep an eye out but wondering if anyone's managed to see either.

Spoke to a keeper about the binturong last week and no baby on the horizon - he said the male didn't know what to do and annoyed the female.
 
Ah so the standard binturong experience?

Seriously, I've visited Longleat well over 10 times since they gained them, and the only time I've seen one active is when they were originally held in those awful cages.

Anyway sounds like it could be promising for a young one then. I don't mind animals hiding in their housing, all part of the experience haha

Have always seen the binturong on every visit, even during the colder months for the lantern event. The male is enjoying the new ‘on show’ box and was sleeping in it last week, head out in the sun, and very easy to see (although loads of visitors still took ages to find him!).

The otters below were enjoying the evening sun and ‘death rolling’ each other in the water.

Do wish they’d improve all the viewing experiences of the animals in that area - the windows are terrible.
 
Lovely visit today. Absolutely bucketed down which meant the park was fairly quiet, including the drive through. Fantastic views of just about every animal - went through the drive through in the afternoon for the first time and I'll probably do that from now on. Tapirs were loving the rain and right up at the fence, giraffes were very much not. Didn't see Anne, unsurprisingly. One tiger in the main paddock and asleep by the exit, another in the main holding pen. I believe there were 7 lionesses in the separate pen in Klaus and Simba's paddock, which is the most I can remember seeing. Got some great views of the hyena boys and all 4 cheetahs.

Some things to note...

-Sloths were very active. No baby - no breeding behaviour yet either according to the keepers

-Lo and behold, Baloo was sleeping on top of the nest box when we arrived with the Mrs inside. No baby binturong either but they were looking very cosy in the box when the rain started

-Spot is apparently doing very well, as are the sea lion pups

-There was a carry crate in the fennec fox enclosure, not sure why but assumedly to get them used to it. Didn't see them though.

-Unsure of what the reason was but one of the Ankole seemed to be in discomfort. Appeared lame on one leg and its tail was raised, clearly something was wrong because a keeper ended up driving over to have a look. I don't know if they hold a male currently but could potentially have been pregnant?

All in all great day, even if it coincided with the Wiltshire monsoon season.
 
Spoke to a keeper when I went this week. The baby sloth sadly didn't make it, they said it was hard because Truffles was a first time mum,but apparently Truffles and Chico have been very cuddly again.

They've also had 5 baby ostriches.
Makes sense that the information from the keepers went from "there's a baby" to "what baby". I understand why they choose to say what they do but I do wish they would at least be consistent. But it's good news the pair are hanging around each other. When I went recently they were always on opposite sides of the room.

Ostrich chicks are great news! Suspected there'd been eggs laid because one of the males was being very protective of where the old elk enclosure was. Glad Longleat has young ostriches again
 
Went on a vip tour of Longleat today and loved it! Because the damp weather we got a private tour of the indoor giraffe quarters and their was definitely 5 baby ostrich indoors keeping warm indoors! It did seem like they were being hand raised as the parents were no where to be seen!
IMG_3812.jpegIMG_3812.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3812.jpeg
    IMG_3812.jpeg
    130.9 KB · Views: 33
No more room for baby koala for now according to the keepers.. a lot of animals hiding because of the cold
Like red panda only saw 2 by the boat and none in the other enclosure in monkey kingdom!
They have to keep Red ( tiger) when visitors are around as now he doesn’t only attack cars he can now open car doors and has tried too over the summer when stupid people have windows open.. so they say he is a risk, but they are hopeful of new baby tigers as they have the room despite still having his daughter Yuki as a adult female cat around .
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3809.jpeg
    IMG_3809.jpeg
    232.7 KB · Views: 5
I might be visiting in February 2024. Will I be able to see everything or will some things be closed?
 
Last edited:
VISIT REPORT - 29 OCTOBER

- No sign of boa constrictors in their exhibit, and studs for a new sign have been placed in the wall.

- only one giant otter present on my past eight visits, maybe a death has occurred?

- Springbok
 
No more room for baby koala for now according to the keepers.. a lot of animals hiding because of the cold
Like red panda only saw 2 by the boat and none in the other enclosure in monkey kingdom!
They have to keep Red ( tiger) when visitors are around as now he doesn’t only attack cars he can now open car doors and has tried too over the summer when stupid people have windows open.. so they say he is a risk, but they are hopeful of new baby tigers as they have the room despite still having his daughter Yuki as a adult female cat around .


I'd love to know what they're plans are for Monty as they can't keep him with the girls for much longer and I don't think he can go in with Burke or Dennis.

I love Red . Such a shame though that people have ruined him being out and about though. I honestly don't know why you would even think to open your car windows in the tiger enclosure?

I had mine open in the Ostrich bit (which is allowed) and got pecked at and that was scary enough
 
I presume Monty might go back to Australia and breed with more females their as no where in Europe has southern koala, as I don’t know if Yuri is able to breed as she is the only female not related to the current group along with Dennis and so a new blood line could be formed with her and Monty or Dennis, but that’s the only two options available, or they try and extend koala creek even more!
 
I do wonder what will become of the wombat enclosure now down to one wombat...

Anyways, how visible is the wombat of curiosity? I tried to go earlier this year but was put off by the prices!
 
They have been down to one wombat for many years now as the male died within a year of arrival of a twisted intestine and they said wombat are quite solitary so being alone isn’t a issue.. but they were keeping a eye out incase a male became available..
As for Ellie the photos were taken in May when it was warm 25degree as she seem to like as expected the warmer weather so is more hidden and indoors in the winter but in the late spring summer your near enough guaranteed to see her!
 
Back
Top