EvilKittie
Well-Known Member
I'm going to Isle of Wight Zoo and Amazon World Zoo Park soon and I would like to know if you could do both in a day or would it take two days to get it done?
Thank you in advance!
Thank you in advance!
Isle of Wight
- Thread starter EvilKittie
- Start date
Have you visited the zoos? They are both very small.
By the way, whilst on the island you may want to check about the owl and monkey haven which may or may not now be open.
EDIT: According to a newspaper article, the park opened at Easter. It seems to be well worth a look despite the small size and got a good write-up in zoo grapevine. By the way, if you do decide to go, be sure to post lots of pictures!
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EvilKittie
Well-Known Member
ok thank you answering and ill consider going to there. I'll try and remeber to post some photos XD
Panthera Puss
Well-Known Member
The Owl & Monkey Haven is open; another small collection on the IOW, Seaview Wildlife Encounter, also has a good reputation.
EvilKittie
Well-Known Member
Ok thank you ill see if it is feasible since it will all be done by public transport 
...we might be adding a few days onto this trip
...we might be adding a few days onto this trip I've spent a day in IOW, it might be small, but they have the best talks, rather than treating you like an idiot and explaining how tigers eat meat and have claws, they tell you about individual animals, their quirks and interactions, I found it fascinating!
This is going back about 5 years, but I'd say it might be worth going first in case you end up needing more time.
This is going back about 5 years, but I'd say it might be worth going first in case you end up needing more time.
Panthera Puss
Well-Known Member
There are talks and presentations throughout the day, including an afternoon big cat feed plus lemur / monkey feeds & enrichment. Look out for antics in the tiger pool late in the day! Many visitors of all types spend a day at the zoo, indeed many come back on another day.
If you're travelling by bus you can buy a zoo ticket ('Zoo Saver') from the driver and get return travel free from anywhere on the Island.
Nonsense. A real Zoochatter would fit as many collections in as possible.
I recall my last zoo trip to IOW. Squeezed in Amazon World, IOW Zoo and Flamingo Park all in one day. Now thats hardcore. Thats dedication to your subject. Cram as much in as you can in the time you have available. Not this namby pamby one collection per day!
If you are spending a few days there then by all means spread the zoos out but if all you have is one day then make the most of it. After all, you don't know when you might ever get back there.
I agree to an extent, but there is a counter argument...... a real Zoochatter will also obsessively hang around and keep returning to the same enclosure(s) in the desparate hope that that a never seen animal will be there on the eighth attempt. This, unfortunately, is at odds with running off to cram in another collection. In reality a balance has to be struck depending on what (species and/or zoos) you really want/need to see.
I think any Isle of Wight strategy has to be a fine balance of both the above. Personally I'd be happy to miss out the fairly routine Flamingo Park (or whatever they're calling it nowadays) to see some of the obscure gems at Amazon World.
It should be noted that Amazon World are fairly flexible and will let you return later in the day for a second chance of seeing things. Therefore I'd recommend an Amazon World "sandwich" visiting there first thing and last thing cramming the other collections in between. A more relaxing alternative would be have a proper holiday there, zoos, many crazy golf courses, beaches, cream teas -what else does one need? (Give the Needles a miss though, rubbish)
I personally wouldn't do two in a day, as a true Zoochatter 
I can easily spend a day at each, with lunch included and then maybe a stroll along the seaside. I think trying to cram them in is a little silly, both attractions have exhibits that can be observed for quite some time, especially Amazon World. Just my opinion. I haven't been to Seaview, it doesn't have the same appeal to me as the other two zoos.
I can easily spend a day at each, with lunch included and then maybe a stroll along the seaside. I think trying to cram them in is a little silly, both attractions have exhibits that can be observed for quite some time, especially Amazon World. Just my opinion. I haven't been to Seaview, it doesn't have the same appeal to me as the other two zoos.
I love the two extreme "Zoochatter" stereotypes, I wonder which one is more common. I'm of the keep revisiting an enclosure because you never know what might happen school. On Monday at Cotswold Wildlife Park, having just about seen the siamangs from a distance on previous passes by their enclosure we went and stood looking at about 4.30 when no one else was around. All 5 of them came and hung on the fence at arms length from us, eating the plants on our side and the baby was swinging back and forth, with variable skill and the odd scuffle with its youngest sibling. I'd have missed that if I'd been up the road ticking another collection off my list!
Of course I am not suggesting you don't take every opportunity to see something particularly noteworthy - I do just that myself. But the chances are that you've seen Siamangs dozens of times before and in dozens of collections. The chance encounter you had was just that - chance. It might have happened at anytime of the day you chose to visit their enclosure - or at any zoo. Each visit to any single exhibit is going to provide an encounter that is unique to you. You shouldn't let "what ifs" and "what might have beens" get in the way of serious zoo visiting.
Remember that whereas the majority of species are the repeated amongst zoological collections, each collection itself is unique - in terms of exhibition techniques, enclosure design, ethics, interpretation, animal husbandry... So if you want to fully comprehend the concept of the zoological garden in 2010 per se then I still would plump for cramming. Leave serious animal observation for your local zoo that you probably visit on a more regular basis.
Paix
Well-Known Member
I guess this is where the "True Zoochatter" thread came from. Ofcourse you must visit each enclosure 6 times!!!
I do not agree with the three zoos in one day, I know it may be "hardcore" but!!!! Zoo visiting is not just about zoos, its about the animals. My grandfather could watch one animal for hours on end. If you really want to enjoy the animals you must view an animal for atleast 10 minutes.
EDIT: Whether an animal is common in collections or not it is still worth enjoying them.
I do not agree with the three zoos in one day, I know it may be "hardcore" but!!!! Zoo visiting is not just about zoos, its about the animals. My grandfather could watch one animal for hours on end. If you really want to enjoy the animals you must view an animal for atleast 10 minutes.
EDIT: Whether an animal is common in collections or not it is still worth enjoying them.
jacks zoo
Well-Known Member
I wouldnt overlook seaveiw, it is a much nicer site than the other two major zoos with beautiful gardens and lots of open space. Although mainly a bird collection they do also exhibit otters, wallabies, meerkats, reptiles and more.
There are some impressive tropical houses and large groups of flamingos (several species) and penguins
There are some impressive tropical houses and large groups of flamingos (several species) and penguins
Ideed. I enjoyed Flamingo Park and was particularly pleased to see the flock of Lesser Flamingos in flight - a beautiful sight - as they are housed in a large aviary. And I still managed to see Isle of Wight Zoo and Amazon World later in the same day. At the zoo we spent a considerable time struggling to observe any noticeable difference in the Tiger with Indo-Chinese blood and accompanied a sickly Tamandua on an ant-finding expedition in the fields behind Amazon World. Memorable experiences at each of the three zoos - all visited on the same day.
Paradoxurus
I would like you to clarify what you mean by ' i accompanied a sickly Tamandua on an ant-finding expedition in the fields behind Amazon World.'
and how long ago has it been since you visited?
I would like you to clarify what you mean by ' i accompanied a sickly Tamandua on an ant-finding expedition in the fields behind Amazon World.'
and how long ago has it been since you visited?
I was intending visiting the island for the first time in September. My plan was to go to Amazon World first and take my time, if there is time left I might then go to the zoo the same day.
In general I don’t like to hurry zoos; I’ve only ever done Blackpool and Southport in a day but I must say I rarely have time to stop for food. I often go all day without eating when at the zoo. Completely out of character as normal my day revolves around food.
In general I don’t like to hurry zoos; I’ve only ever done Blackpool and Southport in a day but I must say I rarely have time to stop for food. I often go all day without eating when at the zoo. Completely out of character as normal my day revolves around food.
A few years ago, on a professional visit. One of the tamanduas used to get taken, on good days, into the fields next to the zoo to forage for ants. Ask your predecessor.
Good enough?
On a different note, I hope the fire damage will not prove too costly. Lucky it didn't reach any of the animals. I recall the tragedy of the first fire many years ago now.