Chew Valley Animal Park Animal Question

dillotest0

dillotest0

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
I was considering visiting this collection... and was curious as to whether the following animals were still here.
Virginia Opossum
Siberian Chipmunk
Chinchilla
Puna Ibis
Four-toed Hedgehog
Hausa Genet
 
Not had an Opossum since 2018
Hudson Red Squirrels are where the Chipmunks were and have been since 2019
Probably have Chinchilla in the handling area with the Guinea Pigs, Mice and Rabbits
No idea on Puna Ibis
The Four Toed is actually an African Pygmy, not a rare species and very common pet
They have a Genet, it's signed Hausa
 
Visited today. The only species on your list is the genet.

I would be interested to know what are other peoples views on chew valley are? They had some great animals but we didn't come away with a great feeling about the place sadly.
The striped skunk pacing back and forth a 2 foot section of its enclosure the whole day was sad to see.
Also a bird being picked up and thrown out the way by a keeper to get out the enclosure instead of walking around it was a pretty bad look too.
 
Mike.R. said:
Visited today. The only species on your list is the genet.

I would be interested to know what are other peoples views on chew valley are? They had some great animals but we didn't come away with a great feeling about the place sadly.
The striped skunk pacing back and forth a 2 foot section of its enclosure the whole day was sad to see.
Also a bird being picked up and thrown out the way by a keeper to get out the enclosure instead of walking around it was a pretty bad look too.
Click to expand...
not even the chinchilla?
 
Mike.R. said:
Visited today. The only species on your list is the genet.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought when replied above. I think the Chinchilla is in the handling barn though, in the keeper area.

I've made this point a number of times about smaller UK zoos, that going by ZTL is very risky. I've said to a couple of people who do edits on there in the past, that collections don't have certain animals, but unless you can tell them when it died or where it went, they won't remove them I've found.
BCA, Chew Valley, Axe, Exmoor, and Hoo Zoo are all very out of date.
 
Alwaysevergreen said:
That's what I thought when replied above. I think the Chinchilla is in the handling barn though, in the keeper area.

I've made this point a number of times about smaller UK zoos, that going by ZTL is very risky. I've said to a couple of people who do edits on there in the past, that collections don't have certain animals, but unless you can tell them when it died or where it went, they won't remove them I've found.
BCA, Chew Valley, Axe, Exmoor, and Hoo Zoo are all very out of date.
Click to expand...
I agree with you, would definitely be risky. To be fair chew valleys website seemed pretty up to date and accurate to what we saw.

I'm assuming you have visited chew valley in the past? If so what did you think?
 
Mike.R. said:
I agree with you, would definitely be risky. To be fair chew valleys website seemed pretty up to date and accurate to what we saw.

I'm assuming you have visited chew valley in the past? If so what did you think?
Click to expand...

I used to live very close to Chew Valley, so have been there a number of times. Fantastic restaurant, one of the best I've seen at a zoo, albeit quite expensive.
I don't dislike the place at all, it is after all, more of a farm park than a zoo, so you have to judge it as such. Lots of domestics and that small little aviary run of exotics.
I had visited when they had the Opossum and also been when the collection has been less exotic types. The problem with these smaller quirky animals, is they don't live long, so when you are one of say 2 or 3 collections to have a singular, well in 3-4 years time, no one will have any.
Your comments about animal behaviour and staff behaviour, is not something I've personally witnessed myself, so would be unjust on me to comment, but when I had visited multiple times in the past, I found staff pleasant and helpful, and I've had enjoyable short trips there. I don't think the exhibits are bad, I think some are old and basic and need improving, for sure, but I've seen worse. Also, most of the animals they get are other zoos surplus or rescues, so sometimes, you take on an animal and may not have the greatest exhibit right away, but it's better than the alternative so to speak.
If I were you, I would have expressed my concerns direct to them, and asked for a response, before saying on a public forum, as there is a chance that, senior staff didn't know a member of the team had done that to a bird, and would deal with it, or there may be a reason the skunk is as he is, possibly came from a pet setting with little room etc. I don't know the reasons personally, but it is not something I've experienced myself. But the park has developed a lot over the years of going there and I know they want to move more towards a small wildlife park, than the farm park they started as, and whilst the collection is very basic, they do get some quirky animals now and again.
 
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