Looks like a nice enclosure if so. Nothing better than seeing otters in natural and/or established ponds.
Peak Wildlife Park Peak Wildlife Park News
- Thread starter Javan Rhino
- Start date
Other Summer 2024 News Not Mentioned:
On July 2nd, the zoo announced that the zebra was sexed as (0.1) and named Nia.
37K views · 926 reactions | Zebra update! | Our baby zebra now has a name, thanks to your votes! Meet Nia! Nia, our rare maneless zebra foal, is thriving and bonding beautifully with her mum,... | By Peak Wildlife Park | Facebook
On August 2nd, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) Nepalese red panda named Riya from Paignton Zoo in Devon which is on exhibit.
34K views · 905 reactions | Big news! Riya The red panda has arrived to join her sister Esha! #redpanda #peakwildlifepark #conservation #endangeredanimals | By Peak Wildlife Park | Facebook
On September 30th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.2) Humboldt penguins named Rudyard and Pip to Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire on September 25th.
Woburn Safari Park
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On February 5th, 2025, the zoo announced they named one of the bush dogs Rolo.
Peak Wildlife Park
On February 21st, the zoo officially announced they built a new exhibit for their Asian small-clawed otters which is now open to the public.
26K views · 725 reactions | New otter home | Our otters have officially moved into their brand new enclosure! Bigger, better, and built just for them come take a look at their new home today! ... | By Peak Wildlife Park | Facebook
On July 6th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) domestic chicken (breed not specified) named Mini passed away.
Peak Wildlife Park
Peak Wildlife Park
On July 2nd, the zoo announced that the zebra was sexed as (0.1) and named Nia.
37K views · 926 reactions | Zebra update! | Our baby zebra now has a name, thanks to your votes! Meet Nia! Nia, our rare maneless zebra foal, is thriving and bonding beautifully with her mum,... | By Peak Wildlife Park | Facebook
On August 2nd, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) Nepalese red panda named Riya from Paignton Zoo in Devon which is on exhibit.
34K views · 905 reactions | Big news! Riya The red panda has arrived to join her sister Esha! #redpanda #peakwildlifepark #conservation #endangeredanimals | By Peak Wildlife Park | Facebook
On September 30th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.2) Humboldt penguins named Rudyard and Pip to Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire on September 25th.
Woburn Safari Park
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On December 8th, the zoo announced that 3 domestic rabbits (breed not specified) were born which are on exhibit.
38K views · 686 reactions | Meet Marilyn’s new babies #babyanimals #cuteanimals #babybunnies #bunnies | Peak Wildlife Park
38K views · 686 reactions | Meet Marilyn’s new babies #babyanimals #cuteanimals #babybunnies #bunnies | Peak Wildlife Park
On February 5th, 2025, the zoo announced they named one of the bush dogs Rolo.
Peak Wildlife Park
On February 21st, the zoo officially announced they built a new exhibit for their Asian small-clawed otters which is now open to the public.
26K views · 725 reactions | New otter home | Our otters have officially moved into their brand new enclosure! Bigger, better, and built just for them come take a look at their new home today! ... | By Peak Wildlife Park | Facebook
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
On May 23rd, the zoo announced that a Humboldt penguin hatched.
80K views · 1.5K reactions | Penguin chick | What should we name this little one? #humboldtpenguin #penguinchick | By Peak Wildlife Park | Facebook
80K views · 1.5K reactions | Penguin chick | What should we name this little one? #humboldtpenguin #penguinchick | By Peak Wildlife Park | Facebook
I visited today for the first time. It is striking how many aviaries there would have been in the old zoo as many of the enclosures still have the steel ‘O’ poles in place for netting.
It is a treat to see the polar bears in the water and I was impressed by their enclosures.
I find it really annoying seeing domestic chickens in functional exotic aviaries.
I’ve never seen a penguin & alpaca mixed exhibit before but the amount of space they have is amazing.
The otter exhibit is fantastic.
I think this place needs an active cat species and some birds to round the collection off?
The huge wallaby mob are moving into a new lake exhibit between the tapir and squirrels very soon to give more room for the lemurs.
It is a treat to see the polar bears in the water and I was impressed by their enclosures.
I find it really annoying seeing domestic chickens in functional exotic aviaries.
I’ve never seen a penguin & alpaca mixed exhibit before but the amount of space they have is amazing.
The otter exhibit is fantastic.
I think this place needs an active cat species and some birds to round the collection off?
The huge wallaby mob are moving into a new lake exhibit between the tapir and squirrels very soon to give more room for the lemurs.
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Birth of a new litter of Bush Dogs earlier this year.
Peak Wildlife Park on Instagram: "Bush Dog pupdate! The little ones have been busy exploring their new space and getting up to plenty of mischief. Come by and say hello before they’re all grown up Video taken by @zookeeperyaz #cuteanimals #puppies #endangeredspecies"
Peak Wildlife Park on Instagram: "Bush Dog pupdate! The little ones have been busy exploring their new space and getting up to plenty of mischief. Come by and say hello before they’re all grown up Video taken by @zookeeperyaz #cuteanimals #puppies #endangeredspecies"
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Hope was actually at Jimmys Farm, but she previously lived at Peak Wildlife Park.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
I made a trip to Peak Wildlife Park today, as I was in the area and had a free day and thought I would check out the newish enclosures and new arrivals.
I've always been a big fan of Peak, and have always felt it is a zoo with a lot of potential to expand and have more species, whilst continuing to offer some of the best enclosures for the species they have.
There was some work going on in the old Otter enclosure, whether this was just removing things from the enclosure, or building work, I don't know, as it was roped off, but there was 2/3 builders/maintenance working in there and I suppose it's possible they could be renovating the enclosure for future use.
The old Visayan Warty Pig enclosure, was boarded up, with signs over the old windows. I always felt this enclosure would suit Capybara & Mara as a nice South American mix and with Bush Dogs near it, it would work well. I do hope it doesn't stay empty for long, but it could definitely work for the previously mentioned, or even a small antelope species like Sitatunga that would suit the forest/marshy land that it sits on.
The Bush Dogs weren't out early, but I saw them after lunch time and I made my way round the main area of the zoo first.
The Vietnamese Sika Deer enclosure is absolutely massive when you actually walk around the enclosure, it's quite impressive. Opposite the enclosure sits a huge Red Panda exhibit, much similar to Manor House's and I did love the ASCO enclosure, which has two big natural ponds, a wooded area and the Otters were thoroughly checking out the whole exhibit. Parts of the enclosure reminded me of looking out on the River Dart and seeing Eurasian Otters in the wild and I loved how overgrown it was, giving the Otters loads of areas to check out and be enriched in. They were in full view one minute and then gone the next, disappeared into the undergrowth.
Heading into the Penguin enclosure, I noticed someone say above that they are mixed with Alpaca, but this is not the case. The two enclosures are separated by a gate, but zoo staff (and experience attendees) do take the Alpacas for a walk, and head out through the Penguin enclosure. I had noticed that the Mara that used to share the Penguin enclosure were no longer signed or in sight, so I can only assume, that these have left the collection, which is a shame, as I do like a Mara.
There is a couple of nature hides as you head around the back of the Wallaby enclosure, and a few signs about the 10th anniversary of the wildlife park, where a couple of big teepee's were fenced off. I assume these are used for some events.
There are still a smaller group of Wallabies on this side of the park, although the keeper did say, that these would either move on, or join the others, and they plan to extend the Lemur enclosure, into the Wallaby enclosure and make it larger. They said there was no current timescale on this, but was the plan of action for the area.
In the Lemur enclosure I saw three of the four species, with only the Red Bellied not making an appearance. There was a baby Lemur, which the keeper said was a boy of around 7-8 weeks. He was starting to get independent from it's mother.
I wandered round to the Maneless Zebra, where I saw Mother and Foal, and what appeared to be last years Youngster. I'm not sure if it was the same mare who had the foal in 2024 and 2025, but if not, I didn't see any other female, and there was no sign of the Stallion, either in the stabling area or the paddock, so there was only 3 on show. I'm not sure if the Stallion, had left the collection, been taken off show or what, but he certainly wasn't currently with mare and foal.
Not sure how many Arctic Foxes the park has, but I saw three very active chasing each other around.
Building work, was going on in the second Polar Bear paddock, although I have never seen the Bears using that side. They were out in the main paddock, just lounging around by the pond, and one got up when the keeper called him to the house to do a Polar Bear experience for a group. I missed the Polar Bear talk, as I decided to take cover in the Bear Cafe as the heavens opened.
After lunch I made my way to the other side of the park, and it really feels now, like this area is a rather big childrens play area. There was multiple Playground items, as well as a picnic area down by the Rabbits, Goats and Sheep, as well as the Zip Wire by the new Wallaby Walthrough. When I last visited, a keeper had said that they were considering making that area for primates, and use the island in the middle for the Squirrel Monkeys. Whilst the Wallaby Walkthrough is impressive, it does feel like a massive use of land, for it and I personally would have been much more in favour of a Primate enclosure, using the little island in the middle for them.
There was a pair of Dik-Dik at the back of their enclosure, and I was lucky enough to see two of the Red Squirrels in the walkthrough, including one that kept running up to the couple of people who were in there. This was the first time, I had actually seen the squirrels in there.
Tapirs were hiding in their shed, as the rain came heavily down.
I do feel that the use of land on this side of the park, has kind of been wasted a little, given as a lot of it has now been used for the Wallaby Walkthrough, and old aviary areas have now been converted into play areas, which doesn't leave much area on this side of the park left to build into, whilst previously there looked a fair bit of space they could utilise.
There is still the area to the right of the Tapir, and the Paddock that joins this area which the park owns, whilst there is the ravine area that you cross from one side of the zoo to the other. I have always felt that area would be amazing for Moose or something like that, and I hope they do something with that area with the natural river at some point.
Over on the main park, there is now the empty Warty Pig enclosure, the old Otter enclosure, and the spacious area to the left of the Polar Bears which can definitely be used, whilst, I would not be surprised if they made use of some of the area the Sika Deer have, because they rarely explore the whole enclosure, and the part they never explore on could very much suit a wetland species.
I do feel that the Park can definitely house another 4/5 species comfortably, whilst maintaining the large enclosures for them, and given the size of two of the areas, there is no reason, why a Large Carnivore couldn't be considered.
The park also now has two large cafes, with the old small Pizza cafe closed and the picnic areas are plentiful.
The one thing I would say is, on a busy day parking would be a nightmare and I know they open up the area to the left of the Polar Bears to park on when it overflows, so that obviously would restrict whether they use that area for another animal enclosure, but I do feel they do need to expand the car park properly. The entry system on a quiet day works well, but I would hate to be there on a busy summers day, with 3 windows open and it being rather clustered.
I had a nice day, and it was nice to see the new babies and the new impressive enclosures, but I still feel that Peak is lacking something to make you really excited by the Park. I do think, based on their species they probably have some of the best enclosures in the country, if not the best, but it's not really a collection which keeps you there all day and I would like to see 2/3 big species now at the park to sort of complete it.
I personally would love to see Moose in the ravine, Sitatunga or Capybara in the old Warty Pig enclosure. Small species of cat or something like a Tayra in the old Otter enclosure area, as well as a Big Cat Species in the land next to the Polar Bears. I think additions like this, would make Peak a really pleasing collection on the whole.
I've always been a big fan of Peak, and have always felt it is a zoo with a lot of potential to expand and have more species, whilst continuing to offer some of the best enclosures for the species they have.
There was some work going on in the old Otter enclosure, whether this was just removing things from the enclosure, or building work, I don't know, as it was roped off, but there was 2/3 builders/maintenance working in there and I suppose it's possible they could be renovating the enclosure for future use.
The old Visayan Warty Pig enclosure, was boarded up, with signs over the old windows. I always felt this enclosure would suit Capybara & Mara as a nice South American mix and with Bush Dogs near it, it would work well. I do hope it doesn't stay empty for long, but it could definitely work for the previously mentioned, or even a small antelope species like Sitatunga that would suit the forest/marshy land that it sits on.
The Bush Dogs weren't out early, but I saw them after lunch time and I made my way round the main area of the zoo first.
The Vietnamese Sika Deer enclosure is absolutely massive when you actually walk around the enclosure, it's quite impressive. Opposite the enclosure sits a huge Red Panda exhibit, much similar to Manor House's and I did love the ASCO enclosure, which has two big natural ponds, a wooded area and the Otters were thoroughly checking out the whole exhibit. Parts of the enclosure reminded me of looking out on the River Dart and seeing Eurasian Otters in the wild and I loved how overgrown it was, giving the Otters loads of areas to check out and be enriched in. They were in full view one minute and then gone the next, disappeared into the undergrowth.
Heading into the Penguin enclosure, I noticed someone say above that they are mixed with Alpaca, but this is not the case. The two enclosures are separated by a gate, but zoo staff (and experience attendees) do take the Alpacas for a walk, and head out through the Penguin enclosure. I had noticed that the Mara that used to share the Penguin enclosure were no longer signed or in sight, so I can only assume, that these have left the collection, which is a shame, as I do like a Mara.
There is a couple of nature hides as you head around the back of the Wallaby enclosure, and a few signs about the 10th anniversary of the wildlife park, where a couple of big teepee's were fenced off. I assume these are used for some events.
There are still a smaller group of Wallabies on this side of the park, although the keeper did say, that these would either move on, or join the others, and they plan to extend the Lemur enclosure, into the Wallaby enclosure and make it larger. They said there was no current timescale on this, but was the plan of action for the area.
In the Lemur enclosure I saw three of the four species, with only the Red Bellied not making an appearance. There was a baby Lemur, which the keeper said was a boy of around 7-8 weeks. He was starting to get independent from it's mother.
I wandered round to the Maneless Zebra, where I saw Mother and Foal, and what appeared to be last years Youngster. I'm not sure if it was the same mare who had the foal in 2024 and 2025, but if not, I didn't see any other female, and there was no sign of the Stallion, either in the stabling area or the paddock, so there was only 3 on show. I'm not sure if the Stallion, had left the collection, been taken off show or what, but he certainly wasn't currently with mare and foal.
Not sure how many Arctic Foxes the park has, but I saw three very active chasing each other around.
Building work, was going on in the second Polar Bear paddock, although I have never seen the Bears using that side. They were out in the main paddock, just lounging around by the pond, and one got up when the keeper called him to the house to do a Polar Bear experience for a group. I missed the Polar Bear talk, as I decided to take cover in the Bear Cafe as the heavens opened.
After lunch I made my way to the other side of the park, and it really feels now, like this area is a rather big childrens play area. There was multiple Playground items, as well as a picnic area down by the Rabbits, Goats and Sheep, as well as the Zip Wire by the new Wallaby Walthrough. When I last visited, a keeper had said that they were considering making that area for primates, and use the island in the middle for the Squirrel Monkeys. Whilst the Wallaby Walkthrough is impressive, it does feel like a massive use of land, for it and I personally would have been much more in favour of a Primate enclosure, using the little island in the middle for them.
There was a pair of Dik-Dik at the back of their enclosure, and I was lucky enough to see two of the Red Squirrels in the walkthrough, including one that kept running up to the couple of people who were in there. This was the first time, I had actually seen the squirrels in there.
Tapirs were hiding in their shed, as the rain came heavily down.
I do feel that the use of land on this side of the park, has kind of been wasted a little, given as a lot of it has now been used for the Wallaby Walkthrough, and old aviary areas have now been converted into play areas, which doesn't leave much area on this side of the park left to build into, whilst previously there looked a fair bit of space they could utilise.
There is still the area to the right of the Tapir, and the Paddock that joins this area which the park owns, whilst there is the ravine area that you cross from one side of the zoo to the other. I have always felt that area would be amazing for Moose or something like that, and I hope they do something with that area with the natural river at some point.
Over on the main park, there is now the empty Warty Pig enclosure, the old Otter enclosure, and the spacious area to the left of the Polar Bears which can definitely be used, whilst, I would not be surprised if they made use of some of the area the Sika Deer have, because they rarely explore the whole enclosure, and the part they never explore on could very much suit a wetland species.
I do feel that the Park can definitely house another 4/5 species comfortably, whilst maintaining the large enclosures for them, and given the size of two of the areas, there is no reason, why a Large Carnivore couldn't be considered.
The park also now has two large cafes, with the old small Pizza cafe closed and the picnic areas are plentiful.
The one thing I would say is, on a busy day parking would be a nightmare and I know they open up the area to the left of the Polar Bears to park on when it overflows, so that obviously would restrict whether they use that area for another animal enclosure, but I do feel they do need to expand the car park properly. The entry system on a quiet day works well, but I would hate to be there on a busy summers day, with 3 windows open and it being rather clustered.
I had a nice day, and it was nice to see the new babies and the new impressive enclosures, but I still feel that Peak is lacking something to make you really excited by the Park. I do think, based on their species they probably have some of the best enclosures in the country, if not the best, but it's not really a collection which keeps you there all day and I would like to see 2/3 big species now at the park to sort of complete it.
I personally would love to see Moose in the ravine, Sitatunga or Capybara in the old Warty Pig enclosure. Small species of cat or something like a Tayra in the old Otter enclosure area, as well as a Big Cat Species in the land next to the Polar Bears. I think additions like this, would make Peak a really pleasing collection on the whole.