Dartmoor Zoo A cat-alogue of cat-astrophes at dartmoor!

[jacks zoo]

Plymouth Evening Herald May 5th 2009

ZOO OWNER IN COURT ON DRINK DRIVE CHARGE

The owner of Dartmoor Zoological Park in Sparkwell has been charged with drink driving. Benjamin Mee, aged 44, of Sparkwell Plymouth, is charged with driving in a public place while being almost twice the legal limit.

The offence is alleged to have happend on March 11th at the Tesco car park in Ivybridge.

Mee, diector of Dartmoor Zoological Park, was not required to appear before the court in Torquay yesterday.

The case was adjourned until May 27th


Plymouth Evening Herald July 10th 2009

FIRE AT ZOO

Firefighters were called to Dartmoor Zoological Park when flames broke out in a workshop.
A fire crew from Plympton was sent to the Sparkwell Wildlife Park at around 6.50pm on Wedensday after reports of a first floor fire in a small building on the site.
No people or animals were hurt during the incident.

 

[Mike11]

First of All, Great that no animals or people were hurt in the Fire incident.
For some reason Ben Mee doesnt seem like the type of guy from what ive seen of him to be drink driving but he has been under alot of stress other the last few years.Then again like Ashley-H has said it could of probs been leftover from the night before.
The Zoo on the other hand is getting better step by step and is great to see the Cheetah in the Old Tiger Mountain and the new Lynx Enclosure and the use of the old Tiger Ridge which does seem very spacious and i think isnt too bad and also the New Tapir yards,Sadly the Meerkat enclosure doesnt look very pleasing for the Meerkats but theres bound to be mistakes along the way.

 

[James27]

Could have just been leftover from the night before, that's happened to some people I know. He doesn't seem like he'd drink and drive fully aware of knowing it.

 

[Mike11]

I agree Ashley-H you are probs right.

 

[foz]

The Zoo on the other hand is getting better step by step and is great to see the Cheetah in the Old Tiger Mountain and the new Lynx Enclosure and the use of the old Tiger Ridge which does seem very spacious and i think isnt too bad and also the New Tapir yards,Sadly the Meerkat enclosure doesnt look very pleasing for the Meerkats but theres bound to be mistakes along the way.

Are the tiger ridge and the tiger mountain enclosures different I thought they were the same enclosure

 

[Mike11]

Tiger Ridge was the original Tiger Enclosure which used to hold the two female Jaguars which where sent to another collection when the new owners took over.
Its a decent size set on a hill with a pool,platforms rocks and is set right in the middle of all the trees.
There are pics in the Gallery of them.
The Tiger Mountain now holds a Cheetah who arrived from Paignton a few weeks ago called Sita.

 

[gentle lemur]

I think I'm going to invent a new proverb

too many cat puns spoil the thread​

Alan

 

[Lion1]

What do you think is wrong with the meerkat enclosure?? I thought it looked good and the two meerkats seemed to be enjoying themselves.

 

[Mike11]

I have varied thoughts about the Meerkat enclosure.
It does seem abit on the small side but the glass walls do seem to make no privacy for the animals and it does seem to get easily crowded aswell - Thats just what i think.
If they Meerkats are happy then we cant complain

 

[James27]

I thought it was in a bad location, as in it was at eye level with car exhausts and was surrounded by people coming out of the cafe (which will lead to feeding). It was also quite small and the sand didn't seem very deep. I'd imagine it's ok though, Meerkats don't seem to hard to please

 

[Mike11]

I agree with your points aswell Ashley-H. But this is probably one of the only dodgy enclosure they have built at the moment from my perspective

 

[Panthera]

Sorry. I fail to see whats dodgy about it. Can someone enlighten me?

 

[Lion1]

I spoke to one of the keepers at dartmoor zoo whilst i was there about the meerkats, they said that due to social behaviour of meerkats it was a ideal place for them. I think that the plan is to build another meerkat enclosure which is linked to the first by tunnels if the group gets to big. Good luck to them, they have had a mammoth of a job to do getting that place up to todays standards.

 

[Mike11]

I do wish Dartmoor the best of luck.
It happens to be one of my favourite zoo's in the country.
Different people have different idea's about what they think is a good enclosure and i did say in my pespective.
By no way is the enclosure poor at all!
The Meerkats seem to be happy so again i have broken my rule and i shoudnt complain!
I think Dartmoor is a great place is really coming on well in steps.It has one of the best/If not the best Big Cat Collection in the South of England which it should be very proud of, Aswell as a good collection of small mammals in good enclosures that all have been updated in some way or another since the take-over.
I am very sorry i did not wish to affend anyone with my post and i really hope i havent.
The People at Dartmoor have been through a hell of alot and i wish them good luck in the future and they seem to be inproving day by day.
Regards

 

[James27]

Indeed, it's by no means bad and they're doing a good job. I imagine it will be great when they're done with it, the site has a lot of potential I think. I was just a tad disappointed with the meerkat enclosure, just seemed like a bad location.