I think they may have become established in the surrounding district, or perhaps they have been recovered or controlled by now.
I think there may have been something else too but don't quote me as I can't name it. Did a rhino get out once?
South Lakes Wild Animal Park South Lakes
- Thread starter Kifaru Bwana
- Start date
- Status
I think they may have become established in the surrounding district, or perhaps they have been recovered or controlled by now.
I think there may have been something else too but don't quote me as I can't name it. Did a rhino get out once?
Lets have a thread on Animal Escapes. I'll start one now...
Yes a rhino escaped in 1997 and was shot dead.
Locals are convinced there's a healthy population of coatis living in the Furness area. Gill denies any of his animals are missing, and even the council refuses to believe there's a problem despite the reported sightings. Last summer Gill himself tranquilised a coati that was discovered in a local resident's garden.
They have also had ring-tailed lemurs escape recently.
In fact the council attached a number of new conditions to the zoo's licence last year, including a complete review of enclosure design and the zoo's procedures for dealing with escaped animals. There were particular concerns about the possibility of animals using the elevated walkways as a means of escape, and about vegetation growing near the perimeter fence.
They also had a number of hygiene and public safety concerns regarding the bat flight exhibit and walk-through vulture/condor aviary.
It all suggests that the enclosures are thrown up without much thought given to the safety of animals or visitors.
.. THat is exactly what I thought from everything I've seen and read so far..
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
The Condor aviary is only walk in at certain times of day but luckly they don`t have a female which from my experience are always more aggressive then males.
I've always thought that a walkthrough condor aviary seemed a bit ill-conceived. Doesn't EAZA guidelines forbid a walkthrough with birds of prey etc? I remember once looking through something like that (may've been Biaza).
When the council reviewed South Lakes's zoo licence in 2006, one of the new conditions they attached was that the condor aviary should only be walk-through when a member of staff is on hand to supervise. I don't know whether this was in response to a particular incident.
They also stipulated that the zoo should provide hand cleaner dispensers at the exit of all the walk-through exhibits.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Don`t think EAZA guide lines forbids as Arnhem has Turkey Vultures free flying in the Desert House and they also have a walk in enclosure for Caracara in the same house.
Zoo Doue in France has a large walk-through vulture aviary which is very popular with visitors especially at feeding time, probably the best vulture exhibit I have seen.
I've been to South Lakes a couple of times and although I'm not keen on the walkways I think the standard of the enclosures is pretty good overall and the animals seem well cared for. The macropod collection is good although there are no nocturnal facilities so you don't get to see the woylies or potoroos properly.
Is David Gill British or Australian? Why do the Aussies hate him? Is there a site anyone can direct me to with some background? Thanks
I've been to South Lakes a couple of times and although I'm not keen on the walkways I think the standard of the enclosures is pretty good overall and the animals seem well cared for. The macropod collection is good although there are no nocturnal facilities so you don't get to see the woylies or potoroos properly.
Is David Gill British or Australian? Why do the Aussies hate him? Is there a site anyone can direct me to with some background? Thanks
im about to be guilty of redirecting a british thread back to australia here. one of the reasons why it is so important to ARAZPA zoos that David Gills failed Mareeba Park becomes accredited is that the collection of animals he sourced, mainly from the Tipperary Wildlife Park in the Northern Territory, are incredibly valuable to building sustainable populations in accredited zoos.
as far as im aware, the lions, cheetah, hippo and pygmy hippo, amongst others perhaps, are unrelated to other animals in the region. but lions and cheetahs are going really well, and two lions have been sent to Perth Zoo, but its the hippos we need. as Zoo_Boy pointed out, the 3 River Hippos and 5 Pygmy Hippos really represent the future of this species in the country.
the linking of the only two bloodlines left in ARAZPA zoos has started with the transfer of the male from Melbourne and female from Adelaide to Sydney. But longterm we need the Mareeba hippos. the Seaworld development may be our best chance to secure the river hippos, if the transfer is approved, and hopefully beyond Seaworld offspring could be sent to Dubbo, Weribee etc.
one more question, ive forgotten the status of New Zealands hippos. the male is castrated right? the two females? can they be imported into Australia?
as far as im aware, the lions, cheetah, hippo and pygmy hippo, amongst others perhaps, are unrelated to other animals in the region. but lions and cheetahs are going really well, and two lions have been sent to Perth Zoo, but its the hippos we need. as Zoo_Boy pointed out, the 3 River Hippos and 5 Pygmy Hippos really represent the future of this species in the country.
the linking of the only two bloodlines left in ARAZPA zoos has started with the transfer of the male from Melbourne and female from Adelaide to Sydney. But longterm we need the Mareeba hippos. the Seaworld development may be our best chance to secure the river hippos, if the transfer is approved, and hopefully beyond Seaworld offspring could be sent to Dubbo, Weribee etc.
one more question, ive forgotten the status of New Zealands hippos. the male is castrated right? the two females? can they be imported into Australia?
There's nothing wrong in that- given Mr Gill has had zoos in each country there is bound to be some crossing-over in the discussions.
I have to say this man really isn't liked much by the zoo fraternity- he seems to generate very high feelings in some circles, and mostly negative....
I think I read somewhere that they are getting, or have recieved a female. I'm sure it works fine, but what defensive behaviour do vultures display when nesting? I worked with Snowy owls where you had to cover your eyes on entering the enclosure every time the female laid an egg. Surely the plan is to allow the birds to breed, I guess the aviary would just be closed for the duration.
The whole asphalt car park saga I'm sure would lead the council to come down quite hard on the zoo, I wonder if there is any evidence of this influencing the recommendations they have made?
The Condor aviary especially looks like it was thrown together. Its also a bit of a poor effort when you think of the amazing condor exhibit at Chester which must be 3 times the size of the one at South Lakes. It does seem like David Gill is a bit of an eccentric but sometimes doesn't it take someone with wild ideas to create greater enrichment ideas in zoos. I'm pretty sure he was the first person to place the meat for tigers on a pole and get them to climb it to get their food, now everyone is doing it (e.g. Longleat, Howletts). Wasn't John Aspinall seen as mad for placing Gorillas in large family groups rather than the common place practice at the time of putting them in pairs or one male to two females.
Is there any news on the Rhino pregnancies at South Lakes, according to the website one is due in early 2008. There was an article though that said one of the pregnant females had lost a previous calf and so was being watched carefully during this pregnancy.
Is there any news on the Rhino pregnancies at South Lakes, according to the website one is due in early 2008. There was an article though that said one of the pregnant females had lost a previous calf and so was being watched carefully during this pregnancy.
I think John Aspinall was the only person trying to breed Gorillas who had the foresight and the money to aquire enough Gorillas to try and simulate a wild group. Other conventional zoos just had them essentially for display really.
I don't think the zoo fraternity or anyone else thought it was mad though there may have been an element of curiosity. This millionaire gambler who lived in deepest Kent and took his gorilla group for walks on his estate. But his rather eccentric ideals about 'befriending' animals and entering enclosures etc was frowned on, especially when lack of safety precautions in the early days before Howletts was open to the public, resulted in some horrific injuries to private visitors, such as a society model and a young boy, and that's before several keepers were killed.
I do not know what standing David Gill has in the EAZA zoo community. Perhaps he is somewhat an eccentric as a non-traditional zoo owner (like John Aspinall was in the early days).
I hope though that David's spirit for cooperation is somewhat the greater! Bekesbourne+Port Lympne estates are a wonderful institution, but sometimes I frown upon their lack of ... or sub optimal cooperation with established EEP programmes (lowland gorilla and eastern black rhino) and acting rather out of self interest (rather than taking into account the development of the EEP population and scope to release surplus individuals to outside EEP - read reintroduction purposes - interests.
Regarding the rhino pregnancies: I do not know more than you on them. I really thought the rhino pregnancies were the first confirmed in their animals (the females are both relatively young at 6 years or so of age).
I hope though that David's spirit for cooperation is somewhat the greater! Bekesbourne+Port Lympne estates are a wonderful institution, but sometimes I frown upon their lack of ... or sub optimal cooperation with established EEP programmes (lowland gorilla and eastern black rhino) and acting rather out of self interest (rather than taking into account the development of the EEP population and scope to release surplus individuals to outside EEP - read reintroduction purposes - interests.
Regarding the rhino pregnancies: I do not know more than you on them. I really thought the rhino pregnancies were the first confirmed in their animals (the females are both relatively young at 6 years or so of age).
barrow in furness, barrow news sport, ulverston news sport, lake district news
It mentions in the article about the female 'Tala' having a miscarriage the previous year. Like you said though they are still quite young females.
It mentions in the article about the female 'Tala' having a miscarriage the previous year. Like you said though they are still quite young females.
- Status