South Lakes Wild Animal Park Is South Lakes worth a visit?
- Thread starter LeeMac13
- Start date
Yes it is. It is an easy trip from where you are. The zoo is not that big and you can easily see everything in an afternoon. It has its detractors on this site but they include people who have never been there. The enclosures are generally of a good size and appear well maintained. There is not much indoor cover so go on a sunny day. The most unusual (and contentious) aspects are the mixed exhibits(eg tapir, capybara, otter, capuchin, bear in a single large paddock). Interesting species are several types of lemur including mongoose and belted ruffed lemurs, king vultures, Andean bears, babirusa, swamp and sand wallabies. There still is a reasonable collection of macropods but the number of species has fallen, in particular the rock-wallabies which are very rarely seen outside Australia are no longer there. All in all it is no Chester but definitely worth a look. And then you can tell us what you think.
karenZOO
Well-Known Member
I agree with bongorob they certainly had the most free ranging walk through I have ever been in! Very scary if you don't like beady eyed birds *shudder*
We went in 2007 and had a good day out, very windy spot they have tho and seems like you are going round in circles through the town to find it!
We went in 2007 and had a good day out, very windy spot they have tho and seems like you are going round in circles through the town to find it!
Agreed. There's some nice stuff there and it's certainly an interesting place. There are things there I don't like, but there are most places, and there's a lot that's good. Just watch out for the rather 'friendly' emu in the walkthrough!
taun
Well-Known Member
My daughter found that out! She was backing away from a lemur who was calling only to turn around with this Emu facing her, lets just say she screamed her little head off!
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
The Rock Wallabies are not currently at South lakes!
The place is worth a visit if only to make up your own mind if the place is any good or not,I personnal think the place would be great if they got rid of some of the mixed exhibit`s.But thats for you to make your own mind on.
Finally try to have a good look at the Tapir`s backs to see if they have an scratch marks on them again!
The place is worth a visit if only to make up your own mind if the place is any good or not,I personnal think the place would be great if they got rid of some of the mixed exhibit`s.But thats for you to make your own mind on.
Finally try to have a good look at the Tapir`s backs to see if they have an scratch marks on them again!
taun
Well-Known Member
I agree, I doubt I will ever go back to the place.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
I keep saying that but still end up going at least once a year just to see if it has improved.
taun
Well-Known Member
I went in 2007, I was not that impressed with the place. I will probably end up going again but in a few years time.
If you do decide to go, can you please find out about their expansion plans for the park.
taun
Well-Known Member
Its an advertising ploy by South lakes to draw more people in, it does have some benefits and is used in a few other zoo's. However these zoos do not use it as a ploy to get money in their gates.
I've always wondered if forcing/encouraging the Biggest Cats-Lions & Tigers to jump or climb high poles for food every day could, longterm cause skeletal damage or risk of broken limbs as it is not a natural behavior for them to climb trees rapidly- to catch prey they spring and then cling to an animal (or miss), rather than land heavily on their legs from a great height.
Peter Dickinson
Well-Known Member
According to the story I was told. A tiger...or tigers? that died in the collection and were sent for post mortem and was/were shown to have the best physique, muscle mass and bone structure in comparison to tigers from elsewhere. This was attributed to the 'climbing for dinner' activity.
Good question..why don't all zoos do it? It would be interesting to know of which zoos that do.
It is just that little bit more difficult to feed than is the norm. Climbing a ladder on a slippery muddy slope on a freezing Cumbrian morning hanging on to the ladder with one hand and a chunk of meat with the other. Not for the faint hearted.
I don't know if you recollect that there were problems over this issue several years ago. There was a bit of press (News of the World I imagine) and may well have been a court case resulting. Maybe thats it. Risk assessments...so other zoos don't do it.
London Zoo use a similar method of feeding (or at least, have used this method) and they use a winch tied to the netted roof of the enclosure
Sumatran tigers at London Zoo
(it's toward the end of the video)
Vulpes
Well-Known Member
Yes I have also heard that South Lakes cats have the same muscle structure and mass of wild cats as they use the same muscles to bring down large prey. I would also worry about the hard landing especially with the lions, the seem to come down like a ton of bricks, tigers on the other hand manage to come down the pole a little before hitting the ground! I have just watched the videos on youtube however so cant really judge for sure!