Longleat Safari & Adventure Park Longleat Safari Park News 2023

I think regarding koalas it could be nice to send a few more to other UK zoos. Maybe a high-profile zoo like London - they had koalas in the not-too distant past... could be nice to have them again.
And if push comes to hard shove they could always restock the Creek with Queensland koalas...
 
Rosie183 said:
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..
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Fair enough... but one scenario I would've preferred given they have the only one in Europe.. that they could co-ordinate with another collection to import another pair in case something went awry. Then there'd still be chance of breeding if something affected one pair or the other. And if all went well and both pairs bred they could even start a small-scale breeding programme.

This I think is a crux when importing animals - it is cool to say you have the only X in Y country; but then you have to think about what you will do with the progeny - hope that some other zoo in the country or nearby is ready to care for your progeny. If all goes well it ends up with establishment - if all goes wrong then it's a boom'n'bust.
And so I think this is part of the fear of zoo directors - it is too much to worry that an import could go wrong...
 
I don't see them going out of wombats once Ellie passes. She's really popular on their social media and general publicity; am I making this up or does she have a condition that means she'll pass sooner rather than later? I'm not sure where I've got that from but I remember something along the lines of she's being kept to give her the best home possible as she sees out her life.

I've said it before but the arguably best thing about Longleat is their effectively infinite budget. If they want more wombats, they'll just import them. I've only seen Ellie up and about once but she's very popular even when asleep. They had really bad luck with wombats, but the success of her popularity would confirm to me they'd be interested in getting more. Plus they have by far the best Australian themed section in UK zoos.

Also I think her exhibit is able to house a koala if needed as well. But I'd much rather see Monty go to another collection.
 
cerperal said:
I don't see them going out of wombats once Ellie passes. She's really popular on their social media and general publicity; am I making this up or does she have a condition that means she'll pass sooner rather than later? I'm not sure where I've got that from but I remember something along the lines of she's being kept to give her the best home possible as she sees out her life.

I've said it before but the arguably best thing about Longleat is their effectively infinite budget. If they want more wombats, they'll just import them. I've only seen Ellie up and about once but she's very popular even when asleep. They had really bad luck with wombats, but the success of her popularity would confirm to me they'd be interested in getting more. Plus they have by far the best Australian themed section in UK zoos.

Also I think her exhibit is able to house a koala if needed as well. But I'd much rather see Monty go to another collection.
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One of the Animal Park episodes revealed that Ellie had been diagnosed with Bone Cancer.
 
dillotest0 said:
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!
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If she’s not outside, have been lucky to see her on a few occasions there, she’s easily viewable asleep in her inside den.

Agree about the steep pricing. We bought Annual Passes last year at £100 to go to last year’s Festival of Lights, with this year’s also included in our year, and have also visited twice in summer; but now at £130 we won’t be renewing.
 
Rosie183 said:
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!
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This is the issue. Longleat love the fact they're the only zoo outside of Australia with southern koalas. So what happens next? They either move Monty to another zoo and then can't claim that or they send him back to Australia.
I know they want to try and breed Yani with Burke, although would make more sense to use Dennis as it's then a different blood line.
 
Other 2023 News:

On May 10th, the zoo announced that (0.0.2+) Pere David's deer were born in the spring.

Longleat - There aren't enough adorable baby animals on...

hari Jones said:
2 sealion pups have been born one to roo and one to belle
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On June 23rd, the zoo announced the sea lions' names, Baxter and Roscoe.

Roscue and Baxter, our new sea lion pups. | Meet our adorable new sea lion pups, Roscoe and Baxter. Look out for these cuties next time you're on a Boat Safari. | By Longleat | Facebook

On July 2nd, the zoo announced that (0.0.2) rhesus macaques were born which are on exhibit in the Monkey Drive-Through.

Longleat - Beware, there's double trouble in the Monkey...

On August 21st, it was announced that the zoo transferred (3.0) roan antelope were transferred to the Watatunga Wildlife Reserve in Norfolk.

It's finally time to... - Watatunga Wildlife Reserve

On November 17th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (1.1) white-faced whistling ducks to the Wingham Wildlife Park in Kent.

2023 – A year in review - Animal Experiences At Wingham Wildlife Park In Kent
 
MennoPebesma said:
Three male cheetahs were moved from Wilhelma Stuttgart to Longleat yesterday.

Source: Instagram Wilhelma Stuttgart
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Well that's unexpected, but makes sense given the recent losses. Is that now 6 cheetahs at Longleat? They must be on the way to having the largest group in the UK, if they don't already.

Fantastic news anyway. Never had any issues spotting them but another 3 will surely make them impossible to miss, even when not in the main drive-thru.
 
A few updates from Longleat.

Longleat now has 5 Cheetahs, with 3 boys joining the 2 girls already there. Mo and Bolt have gone to the Big Cat Sanctuary.

Sadly, both the Bongo's that were at the park have passed away, leaving Longleat without Bongo.

Roscoe, one of the baby Sea Lion pups has sadly died, leaving only Baxter as one of the young ones at the collection.

Spud, the Tree Porcupine has also died, meaning that they are down to just one in Fennel now.
 
Sadly not new episode some are Christmas 2022 and some are summer 2023 according to the bbc iPlayer link
 

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Has anyone been recently and seen Burke? I know his birthday was yesterday and there has been no mention of it from Longleat or the keepers. I'm just hoping he's okay
 
Springbok said:
The new conservation director has confirmed that the safari will have painted hunting dogs In the future.
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As a slight aside to this, what are the long term plans for the hyenas? Will they be part of the main drive thru? Are there plans to acquire more? Or are they destined to be off show?
 
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