South Lakes Wild Animal Park South Lakes Safari Zoo News 2024

[alfiethetortois]

SL is our nearest zoo by a long shot.

With the recent departure of do many animals I really think they're gearing up to relocate. I believe only when this is done will the ever be rid of the problems they seem to be having with ZLC (Gill)

This is purely speculation on my part

We don't visit often, but there has been very little investment in the last few years

 

[Pertinax]

Is this really true?
I'm sure we all were treated to pictures of a bleeding aardvark, somewhere on here; and the sloth housing was described as 'poor treatment'.

Possibly, but that is nothing compared to all the past incidents at South Lakes. The scale there is rather different.

 

[Pertinax]

SL is our nearest zoo by a long shot.

With the recent departure of do many animals I really think they're gearing up to relocate. I believe only when this is done will the ever be rid of the problems they seem to be having with ZLC (Gill)

This is purely speculation on my part

We don't visit often, but there has been very little investment in the last few years

Is it possible they will relocate but run a completely different venture at the TBay site, with the glamping and animal experiences or whatever it is that is planned there? In which case I don't see a place for the main zoo stock...

 

[TeaLovingDave]

The zoo has released a statement on the subject:

Safari Zoo

Key quotes addressing the individual photographs:

Zebra

We are going to address the horrific zebra image that has been published because quite rightly, people are horrified. This tragic event took place in October 2017 in the Africa house.
Zebras had inhabited those very same pens since 2015. Zebra Isa had been on stable rest under veterinary orders due to a hock injury since late September. The stable rest was essential to her healing process (she was on pain medication and being allowed out to run would have risked further damage to her existing injury).
Isa was indoors with a buddy, she was not kept indoors alone. Nothing was different in the house that morning, the same routine carried out by the same team so there was as nothing out of the ordinary to account for her rearing up. Isa became a little excitable, managed to get her leg through the bars. Incredibly sadly it became stuck, resulting in the most tragic accident we have experienced since taking charge of the zoo.
We in no way use the word accident to diminish what went on, or to fail to take responsibility - it shouldn’t have been able to happen. Nothing like that had occurred in that building (to our knowledge) in the years leading up to this incident. The building had been inspected as suitable for hoofstock and we strongly believe the incident could not have been foreseen - these are standard hoofstock pens with standard width bars.
Immediately following this, measures were taken to make sure it would not happen ever again, and it hasn’t. Similar measures were also taken in other houses and enclosures to mitigate the risks of it happening elsewhere. And of course, if we could have gone back in time and took these measures ahead of the incident we would. It was a very sad lesson learned.

Giraffe

We are also going to discuss the accusations regarding the treatment of much-loved Giraffe, Tibor. Tibor’s damage to his ossicones dated back to 2007 with numerous wounds and issues recorded by his keepers. If you look back through our social media, a search for Tibor reveals multiple entries referring to ongoing issues and attempts to treat his ossicones.
When we took over in 2017 it became very obvious, very quickly, that the way public feeding had historically been arranged encouraged him to put his head through the bars to feed, resulting in constant knocking of his ossicones, which opened up and aggravated his wounds, giving them no time to heal. The feeding method and location was stopped and amendments were made to the house to ensure he could not put his head through the bars. We also sought help and advice from the EEP (European Endangered Species Programmes) and from other giraffe holders, as well as the International Zoo Veterinary Group with how to deal with the situation.

Capybara

With regard to the capybaras, when we took over the zoo, there was no population management plan in place, and this is something we have addressed in the intervening period. We now have a settled situation with two family groups, and only one breeding male, with their own range and territory.

If the claims by the zoo are true, the photographs all date from seven years ago, immediately after the zoo left the ownership of Gill - which would carry rather different connotations to the photographs being recent. I also note that in the original BBC article the following text is tucked away at the bottom relating to the most recent licensing inspection this year:

Just months after ordering significant improvements, a council spokesperson told the BBC: "While the issues noted in these most recent inspections have resulted in conditions and directions, it was also noted by inspectors that, with greatly reduced numbers of animals and an excellent veterinary programme, there was no evidence of the serious systemic animal health and welfare problems that characterised the collection in the past."

....which again runs rather counter to the claims in the main body of the article.

 

[Lafone]

The zoo has released a statement on the subject:

Safari Zoo

Key quotes addressing the individual photographs:

Zebra



Giraffe



Capybara



If the claims by the zoo are true, the photographs all date from seven years ago, immediately after the zoo left the ownership of Gill - which would carry rather different connotations to the photographs being recent. I also note that in the original BBC article the following text is tucked away at the bottom relating to the most recent licensing inspection this year:



....which again runs rather counter to the claims in the main body of the article.

It is good to see them release the statement, however the BBC article already notes when the photos were taken in the middle of the article and before the pictures.

They were taken between 2017 and 2019 by staff who say they include:

South Lakes Zoo faces animal welfare and bullying allegations

And there doesn't appear to be a suggestion they are recent, though it does suggest they are a pattern which has not ceased and that's the main issue that I believe makes it problematic as a zoo.

The BBC article clearly states the inspection in June 2024 followed up that 26 of 28 improvements had been met and it's in the middle of the article not the end of it.

Inspectors said it was "extremely concerning" to find a work experience student left unsupervised with dangerous animals.

A further inspection in April raised "grave concerns" and found standards had dropped over the previous three years.

But by June, the council conducted a follow-up "visit" and reported 26 of 28 improvement directions were being complied with.

The suggestion appears to be the BBC is at fault and indeed we've seen comments on this thread that leaked items or stories are invalidated by virtue of them being leaked, but whistleblowing can reveal underlying issues and shouldn't be lightly dismissed.

I would add though that it ridiculous and wrong that staff or owners of the zoo should be hounded or harrassed on social media, the lynching culture we have in the UK is actually harming the exposure of issues that should lead to fixes (closure or otherwise) not burning at the stake.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

I do have concerns about comments made by some staff, current and or/ex employees who may have an axe to grind. Let's face it,it's not unheard of, especially within the world of zoos.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

It is good to see them release the statement, however the BBC article already notes when the photos were taken in the middle of the article and before the pictures.

They were taken between 2017 and 2019 by staff who say they include:

South Lakes Zoo faces animal welfare and bullying allegations

And there doesn't appear to be a suggestion they are recent, though it does suggest they are a pattern which has not ceased and that's the main issue that I believe makes it problematic as a zoo.

The BBC article clearly states the inspection in June 2024 followed up that 26 of 28 improvements had been met and it's in the middle of the article not the end of it.

Inspectors said it was "extremely concerning" to find a work experience student left unsupervised with dangerous animals.

A further inspection in April raised "grave concerns" and found standards had dropped over the previous three years.

But by June, the council conducted a follow-up "visit" and reported 26 of 28 improvement directions were being complied with.

The suggestion appears to be the BBC is at fault and indeed we've seen comments on this thread that leaked items or stories are invalidated by virtue of them being leaked, but whistleblowing can reveal underlying issues and shouldn't be lightly dismissed.

I would add though that it ridiculous and wrong that staff or owners of the zoo should be hounded or harrassed on social media, the lynching culture we have in the UK is actually harming the exposure of issues that should lead to fixes (closure or otherwise) not burning at the stake.

I cannot help but think whereas there was a lot wrong with South Lakes in the past this is old hats' news and pertains to the timeframe 2017-2019 and not beyond and somehow some of those that left the facility have come back to dine ... and dish out dirt. I do feel that lately BBC and other media are not always that reliable on zoo news when it has some negative narrative.

I keep an open mind and genuinely do believe the current management has tried their best to fix most if not all of the ills that best the old South Lakes establishment under a very questionable senior individual in the director's chair. Somehow, the fact that they are near to relocating to a new site and their has been a dispute with the old owner for the land on which the facility sits and that the ownership of the animal collection is disputed.

Further, it is true that in the past YWP stepped in in the interval between new zoo management and the old owner for the site and that did not end unaccrimonuously either....! So a lot of people have an interest in painting others black over themselves ...!

IMO: The old director and his ilk should have been sentenced under law effectively long time ago, never been allowed back into the zoo industry, have his assets revoked/taken away and served a fitting commensurate prison sentence under the failure to maintain good zoo standards, an incredible number of animal cruelty incidents, preventable animal deaths, willful neglect of animal welfare/well being as well as his lacking interpersonal skills vis a vis staff and his very reprehensible behaviours .... otherwise (I shall not go into detail ... here).

 

[jtrbmvcq]

They pale into insignificance compared with the list of historical problems relating to animal husbandry at South Lakes, which are manyfold and almost too numerous to list..

Agreed. Durrell’s Jersey Zoo and Gill’s South Lakes are wholly incomparable. Completely different kettles of fish.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Agreed. Durrell’s Jersey Zoo and Gill’s South Lakes are wholly incomparable. Completely different kettles of fish.

Mr. Gill - for a lack of a better qualification - is not the current manager of the zoo ... most thankfully. May he never ever manage a wild animal collection once more. No second chances for this despicable man.

 

[ZooNews2024]

The whataboutery doesn’t alter the issue at South Lakes which given your comment about Coatis you do appear to know the history of after all.

A history of poor management doesn’t need excusing here and the images being posted isn’t the core issue.

I really dont see what your problem is and why you have to make a personal issue out of someone of differing opinion.
Just why would a basic knowledge of the listings of one invasive species in Europe, make anyone an expert on South Lakes?

 

[ZooNews2024]

I cannot help but think whereas there was a lot wrong with South Lakes in the past this is old hats' news and pertains to the timeframe 2017-2019 and not beyond and somehow some of those that left the facility have come back to dine ... and dish out dirt. I do feel that lately BBC and other media are not always that reliable on zoo news when it has some negative narrative.

I keep an open mind and genuinely do believe the current management has tried their best to fix most if not all of the ills that best the old South Lakes establishment under a very questionable senior individual in the director's chair. Somehow, the fact that they are near to relocating to a new site and their has been a dispute with the old owner for the land on which the facility sits and that the ownership of the animal collection is disputed.

Further, it is true that in the past YWP stepped in in the interval between new zoo management and the old owner for the site and that did not end unaccrimonuously either....! So a lot of people have an interest in painting others black over themselves ...!

IMO: The old director and his ilk should have been sentenced under law effectively long time ago, never been allowed back into the zoo industry, have his assets revoked/taken away and served a fitting commensurate prison sentence under the failure to maintain good zoo standards, an incredible number of animal cruelty incidents, preventable animal deaths, willful neglect of animal welfare/well being as well as his lacking interpersonal skills vis a vis staff and his very reprehensible behaviours .... otherwise (I shall not go into detail ... here).

For perhaps the first time, I find myself agreeing with and supporting you completely - the first three paragraphs at any rate.
The last one I would personally stand back from, and remind readers that the old director had full support from both BIAZA and EAZA, and from their member zoos who actively supplied the animals everyone is referring to.

 

[ZooNews2024]

Agreed. Durrell’s Jersey Zoo and Gill’s South Lakes are wholly incomparable. Completely different kettles of fish.

Yes of course you are right.
One difference of course is that the photographs which are being published and seem to be the cause of much of this discussion
- in the case of one, are historic and illustrate events which have been dealt with satisfactorily (according to the management authority)
- and in the case of the other, are current and have not.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Does anyone know if the previous owner has any sort of relationship with ZIC/Yorkshire Wildlife Park ?

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Does anyone know if the previous owner has any sort of relationship with ZIC/Yorkshire Wildlife Park ?

Zoo Investment Company have employed him as their agent in the past, sending him to inspect and assess their holdings at South Lakes.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Zoo Investment Company have employed him as their agent in the past, sending him to inspect and assess their holdings at South Lakes.

Really, but, he was refused a zoo licence for the same establishment in 2017,I would have thought that he would be the very last person that they would want to be associated with. It all seems quite sinister to me.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Really, but, he was refused a zoo licence for the same establishment in 2017,I would have thought that he would be the very last person that they would want to be associated with.

I believe that he hasn't acted in this capacity for some years now, but as you note it was definitely a bit of a striking choice on the part of ZIC

 

[Alwaysevergreen]

I purely don't get the defence of South Lakes, people may say the above images are 2017 and therefore very old news, but in the same report, a former member of staff spoke of poor treatment and bullying in 2022.

I visited the zoo in 2022 to do a Mammal Keeper experience, it was December 2022. On that day, I witnessed a Tapir who had to be kept indoors, in what I would say was barely a luke warm room, and the pool was non existent, her bed was dirty and they said they fully cleaned it twice a week, and just skipped it out on other days. The bed stank of ammonia and when I asked if she had access to her pool, they said it was outside and depends on the weather and she will get a few hours access a day. I know that any collections wanting Tapir now, have to give them an indoor heated pool, as Wolds faced this with their council 18 months ago, and I've heard other collections say the same, but I felt so sorry for the Tapir at South Lakes that day.

Worse still, was at the time, they had a Sloth, Tortoise and Anteater mixed exhibit. The Anteater had access to both houses (its own, and the tortoise one as well). The Sloth mainly stayed in the tortoise house, but had no arboreal sleeping box, in fact it didn't have a sleeping box at all. It had next to no climbing access and the outside paddock was a rope which went to like a fallen tree and a lot of bushes. The inside room, the sloth used to lay and sleep on the heater on the floor, and during my experience, the Anteater attacked the sloth who defended itself for a good 15 minutes. The sloth could not get away from the anteater as it had nowhere to climb to, and the member of staff I was with, had only been in the job a month, and come straight out of college, and she had to ring a senior member of staff who basically used a broom to move the sloth away and then decided to close the tortoise door hatch, so it couldn't come back in. The screams from the sloth and anteater as they technically fought that day was so unnerving and the anteater also walked with such a limp as well. That animal has since passed away, but it just felt so wrong that the sloth was left in a position it had to sleep on a heater on the floor, which is totally unnatural.

My main worry about this day was that when I asked the keeper / senior keeper and expressed concerns, they were totally unphased about it, like it was normal and very much of the opinion, what do you expect us to do.

I didn't visit in 2023, but this year I went for a day out, and loads and loads of animals had left.

The bird collection consisted of a few ducks, Tigers were due to leave soon, and the zoo whilst declining numbers of certain animals (like the marmots that overrun that area once) was a good sign, the place definitely felt on its way out.

But, there were some huge concerns for me. The volume of Rhino's held in a relatively small exhibit, was not good at all and they had next to zero access of grazing. The bull rhino was kept indoors for all bar 2 hours each day and had hardly any room, and when he was out for those few hours, the large group, I want to say 7/8 of females and calves were held indoors in cramped conditions for that volume of rhino.

They had a single Nyala as well out there who was regularly chased by the singer Wildebeest and they relied on what looked very dry hay chucked out in its masses as there was no grazing.

There was still signs of mixed breed lemurs in the walk through, but Red Ruffed and Black & White Ruffed had bred together and whilst I know this can happen in the wild and has happened in zoos, in 2022 when there was 3/4 of these, the zoo said that they were keeping them separate to stop it happening again, but again they were all mixed. I know this is not a huge issue and is not a welfare issue, but for me, you don't see many if any other zoos freely allowing crossbreed of species.

My biggest gripe as always is the tiny Giraffe exhibit at the bottom of the zoo, where they do the Giraffe feed, where the two giraffe always look so stressed with 30/40 people queueing up to feed them at least four times a day! They often see people and hang around that area thinking they will be fed. Their exhibit is tiny, yet the connecting massive grassland exhibit which they used to have access to, is just home to the baboons now, and they never really utilise all of it.

I did ask someone if they had considered dividing that enclosure to give the giraffe more room and was told, they had considered it, but they would hard to get back to the top for the animal feeds if they did. So the giraffes needs were not the most important thing on their mind, it was the 30/40 people queuing every 90 minutes to feed them browse or carrots.

The Lemur feed also disgusted me, as again this was twice a day, and was 25/30 people deep. It was done in a small area and whilst the lemurs were free to come and go as they pleased, it's always bits of apple or grape given to the people to feed them. Now, I do appreciate that some zoos do still include some fruit in primates diets, but 25/30 people giving fruit twice a day to what is a group of 10/12 lemurs and it often being the same 3/4 that hang around, feels like that is a lot of fruit, and why they can't just give them pepper or sweet potato, a healthier but still appealing snack I don't know.

The Lion enclosure, which only one female lives in now, has always been very odd shaped and size and not really replicating at all of a lion enclosure, but the elderly female has been there a long time and I suspect when she passes the collection wont have lions again.

So yes, whilst the history is poor, and there has been some changes, the same people running it now, were all in high positions when it was owned by Gill, there are still many failings, there is still an attitude of they don't care, and there are still issues which never get rectified. Maybe a new location will help, and give them a fair chance, but I am definitely in the camp, that this place should have been closed down years ago, or when it wasn't, a whole new team came in to run it, who had absolutely no connection to the old ownership, and managers and that there was a complete overhaul.

Most of the staff are young, first jobs in zoos, don't stay there long and I can safely say when you go to most zoos, you see staff you recognise year after year and that, at South Lakes, you'll be lucky if you went every 6 months and didn't see different staff every time, Bar those in charge.

I often feel like, how many times does a zoo have to show such disregard for its animals, staff and be exposed for complete constant failings before someone actually has the guts to close it down!

 

[ZooNews2024]

I purely don't get the defence of South Lakes, people may say the above images are 2017 and therefore very old news, but in the same report, a former member of staff spoke of poor treatment and bullying in 2022.

I visited the zoo in 2022 to do a Mammal Keeper experience, it was December 2022. On that day, I witnessed a Tapir who had to be kept indoors, in what I would say was barely a luke warm room, and the pool was non existent, her bed was dirty and they said they fully cleaned it twice a week, and just skipped it out on other days. The bed stank of ammonia and when I asked if she had access to her pool, they said it was outside and depends on the weather and she will get a few hours access a day. I know that any collections wanting Tapir now, have to give them an indoor heated pool, as Wolds faced this with their council 18 months ago, and I've heard other collections say the same, but I felt so sorry for the Tapir at South Lakes that day.

Worse still, was at the time, they had a Sloth, Tortoise and Anteater mixed exhibit. The Anteater had access to both houses (its own, and the tortoise one as well). The Sloth mainly stayed in the tortoise house, but had no arboreal sleeping box, in fact it didn't have a sleeping box at all. It had next to no climbing access and the outside paddock was a rope which went to like a fallen tree and a lot of bushes. The inside room, the sloth used to lay and sleep on the heater on the floor, and during my experience, the Anteater attacked the sloth who defended itself for a good 15 minutes. The sloth could not get away from the anteater as it had nowhere to climb to, and the member of staff I was with, had only been in the job a month, and come straight out of college, and she had to ring a senior member of staff who basically used a broom to move the sloth away and then decided to close the tortoise door hatch, so it couldn't come back in. The screams from the sloth and anteater as they technically fought that day was so unnerving and the anteater also walked with such a limp as well. That animal has since passed away, but it just felt so wrong that the sloth was left in a position it had to sleep on a heater on the floor, which is totally unnatural.

My main worry about this day was that when I asked the keeper / senior keeper and expressed concerns, they were totally unphased about it, like it was normal and very much of the opinion, what do you expect us to do.

I didn't visit in 2023, but this year I went for a day out, and loads and loads of animals had left.

The bird collection consisted of a few ducks, Tigers were due to leave soon, and the zoo whilst declining numbers of certain animals (like the marmots that overrun that area once) was a good sign, the place definitely felt on its way out.

But, there were some huge concerns for me. The volume of Rhino's held in a relatively small exhibit, was not good at all and they had next to zero access of grazing. The bull rhino was kept indoors for all bar 2 hours each day and had hardly any room, and when he was out for those few hours, the large group, I want to say 7/8 of females and calves were held indoors in cramped conditions for that volume of rhino.

They had a single Nyala as well out there who was regularly chased by the singer Wildebeest and they relied on what looked very dry hay chucked out in its masses as there was no grazing.

There was still signs of mixed breed lemurs in the walk through, but Red Ruffed and Black & White Ruffed had bred together and whilst I know this can happen in the wild and has happened in zoos, in 2022 when there was 3/4 of these, the zoo said that they were keeping them separate to stop it happening again, but again they were all mixed. I know this is not a huge issue and is not a welfare issue, but for me, you don't see many if any other zoos freely allowing crossbreed of species.

My biggest gripe as always is the tiny Giraffe exhibit at the bottom of the zoo, where they do the Giraffe feed, where the two giraffe always look so stressed with 30/40 people queueing up to feed them at least four times a day! They often see people and hang around that area thinking they will be fed. Their exhibit is tiny, yet the connecting massive grassland exhibit which they used to have access to, is just home to the baboons now, and they never really utilise all of it.

I did ask someone if they had considered dividing that enclosure to give the giraffe more room and was told, they had considered it, but they would hard to get back to the top for the animal feeds if they did. So the giraffes needs were not the most important thing on their mind, it was the 30/40 people queuing every 90 minutes to feed them browse or carrots.

The Lemur feed also disgusted me, as again this was twice a day, and was 25/30 people deep. It was done in a small area and whilst the lemurs were free to come and go as they pleased, it's always bits of apple or grape given to the people to feed them. Now, I do appreciate that some zoos do still include some fruit in primates diets, but 25/30 people giving fruit twice a day to what is a group of 10/12 lemurs and it often being the same 3/4 that hang around, feels like that is a lot of fruit, and why they can't just give them pepper or sweet potato, a healthier but still appealing snack I don't know.

The Lion enclosure, which only one female lives in now, has always been very odd shaped and size and not really replicating at all of a lion enclosure, but the elderly female has been there a long time and I suspect when she passes the collection wont have lions again.

So yes, whilst the history is poor, and there has been some changes, the same people running it now, were all in high positions when it was owned by Gill, there are still many failings, there is still an attitude of they don't care, and there are still issues which never get rectified. Maybe a new location will help, and give them a fair chance, but I am definitely in the camp, that this place should have been closed down years ago, or when it wasn't, a whole new team came in to run it, who had absolutely no connection to the old ownership, and managers and that there was a complete overhaul.

Most of the staff are young, first jobs in zoos, don't stay there long and I can safely say when you go to most zoos, you see staff you recognise year after year and that, at South Lakes, you'll be lucky if you went every 6 months and didn't see different staff every time, Bar those in charge.

I often feel like, how many times does a zoo have to show such disregard for its animals, staff and be exposed for complete constant failings before someone actually has the guts to close it down!

Lafone above quoted -
'But by June, (2024 - my addition) the council conducted a follow-up "visit" and reported 26 of 28 improvement directions were being complied with'.
'Directions' is the term given to a new category above 'Recommendations' and 'Conditions' on a Zoo Licence. They are time-linked and result in the potential loss of the licence if not complied with in time. The satisfactory compliance with such a large percentage of a large number of 'Directions' implies that the Local Authority and its consultants is/are happy with progress, and therefore do not agree with your opinion, though the detail of failure to comply with numbers 27 and 28 is not given.
Whilst its licence is being complied with, no-one has the legal right to close it down, regardless of having the 'guts' - and of course the current management is operating on its own and does not have the level of political and practical support enjoyed by their predecessor, which presumably must have had some influence on the Local Authorities ability to deal with what was then a major BIAZA and EAZA member.

 

[alfiethetortois]

Is it possible they will relocate but run a completely different venture at the TBay site, with the glamping and animal experiences or whatever it is that is planned there? In which case I don't see a place for the main zoo stock...

I'd guess that's why a lot of animals are being phased out/transferred. Time will tell....

 

[alfiethetortois]

South Lakes Safari zoo has announced closure at the end of September.

Taken from Facebook page:

"Good morning followers, we have some news which we know will be disappointing for many of you. The zoo will close to the public on 31.12.24

We hope you will come and celebrate or share your memories with us before we close and join us this December to visit your favourite animals be it Kofi , or Remi or even eyebrow.

When we took over in 2017 we did so because of our love and passion for the animals in our care and the wider world, when we look back - hand rearing Cupcake the parma wallaby, training Tibor the giraffe for his jugular blood sample, Remi the jaguar and his cancer removal, Wolfgang the snow leopard and his eye operation, hand rearing capybara, Eloise the giraffe’s pedicures, transforming the lives of Snoopy and the bears with their new enclosure. From day 1 when we opened the doors for free, to today when we will do the same for December, we cannot thank the 3million plus of you who have, over the last 7 years, visited us, supported our ventures and ultimately celebrated with us our amazing animal world.

One of our proudest achievements is the development of a K9 Anti poaching ranger unit in the heart of Africa. From small beginnings with Andy bringing his cute small brown and white spaniel using the zoo to train and heighten those sniffing abilities before being deployed out in the fight against poachers. Fast forward to 2024 where we fund 3 antipoaching k9 rangers, who together with their units are at the forefront of rhino protection in Zululand.

This is our legacy, as 2025 will see that protection extend even further, our way of ensuring White Rhinos remain in the wild, where they belong, for generations to come.

In 2023 we purchased a 120 acre site at Tebay. Stone Holiday Cottages situated right along the Lune Gorge, at the base of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Howgill fells on one side and facing the Lake District Valley of Borrowdale on the opposite side of the River Lune. Alongside the holiday cottages and farm animals the site is home to native wild flora and fauna full of biodiversity from grasslands, trees, Ancient Woodland, Pond, rivers, waterfalls, bluebells, and an array of plant life.

We all agree is that biodiversity matters and everything has an important role to play in the “circle of life” from the smallest bee pollinating the alfalfa plant to the tallest giraffe feeding on it, and in order to protect the biggest we have to look after the smallest.

In the short time we have been on the site we know it is home to bats, badger, breeding birds, woodpeckers, grouse, amphibians, Otter, Brown Hares, Lapwings, nodding birds, We know there are squirrels feeding on the hazelnuts in the forest, greys or red cameras will discover, but we also know with a little work it has the potential to support more.

We know putting families in touch with nature through animals - being able to meet and feed our flock of Valais Blacknose, Highland Coos, Pygmy Goats, help brush our donkeys or help with an enrichment session and giving them wonderful first hand experiences will help with our goals after all "In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." Baba Dioum Seneglese engineer

Part of the site will welcome visitors in 2025.

For December Members are invited to join Kim and Beccaa on a zoo tour for a final time, details of which will follow later this week.

There will be lots of activities for everyone to get involved with or simply just pop along and say good bye to your old favourites - I know we certainly will be pleased to see you all.

"