Yorkshire Wildlife Park Yorkshire Wildlife Park News 2013

[OrangePerson]

Not big news to start with but John Minion was just on the radio talking about 'snow and animals' ably assisted by some very loud lions.

Unsurprisingly he mentioned baboons being next but also suggested that they will expand vastly in the next 3 or 4 yrs, I guess at the rate they are going that's not such a surprise but it would take the park to about 3 times the current size which is a tall order!

He said visitor numbers were up about 10% last year.

Visited on New Years Day, sad to learn that my favourite, Silver the very pale ringtail lemur, has died so they are now left with the one (expanding) family. One of the original brown lemurs also died.

Monty the circus camel is with the others but was sitting on his own.

Some of the eland were separated, possibly just the females. There were tiny lechwe, those animals appear to breed like the proverbial rabbits. The wetlands were certainly living up to their name and the bottom end of the tiger enclosures were flooded.

Nice to be able to go in the giraffe house where Jasper, the biggest was very active checking out the keeper coming to feed them.

Managed to see all 3 leopards but no idea which was which as there was no one about to ask!

 

[cawtey7]

Would be interesting to see what future plans they have

 

[OrangePerson]

There used to be a link to the collection plan - you can try looking through previous threads. I'm waiting (not so) patiently for the orangutans & gorillas!

 

[Parrotsandrew]

Oh no not Gorillas! Can't they get something interesting instead?

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Would be interesting to see what future plans they have

It was reported that Giant Anteaters and Baboons (Species unknown at the moment) were due to arrive within the year. But knowing YWP I suspect some very nice little surprises in store for 2013.

 

[OrangePerson]

Facebook: First phase of the new playbarn will be open for half term and the second phase will have a window looking onto the baboon enclosure which should be completed in spring.

 

[max]

Popped in on Sunday and park was very busy.
Had a look at the new play barn and have to say it looks very impressive. It appears to be mostly timber, as opposed to the "traditional" foam padded, metal type - like an outdoor playarea inside, infact. Provides an extra cafe, seating and somewhere to shelter if the weather turns bad though - YWP is a very open to the eliments type zoo with little shelter or indoor attractions. And with the playbarn being part of the baboon experience (there are carved baboons on the playarea) this will be an added bonus.

 

[Nisha]

Baboons have arrived today. They are Guinea's

 

[Pertinax]

Baboons have arrived today. They are Guinea's

Are they from Edinburgh? If so I wonder if its the whole lot or just part of their group.

 

[BearCat]

If they are from Edinburgh it won't be the whole group as there are 17 baboons now at Yorkshire. Edinburgh has over 30 I believe.

 

[Pertinax]

If from a group already in the UK they have to be from either Edinburgh or Port Lympne, but my guess would be Edinburgh somehow.

 

[OrangePerson]

Edinburgh, the rest are going to France.

They went outside for the first time today and promptly rearranged the planting & ate some of it.

 

[Pertinax]

Edinburgh, the rest are going to France.

They went outside for the first time today and promptly rearranged the planting & ate some of it.

Probably back to Paris Vincennes where they originate from?

The enclosure looks excellent. A pity they will wreck any planting but that's Baboons for you.

 

[Maguari]

Again, a refreshing air of permanence for a relatively small British zoo. Things like the lion bridge and the leopard viewing platform just have a(n almost Germanic) feeling of being built to last - something you don't always get from smaller UK zoos.

 

[OrangePerson]

I really love standing on the bridge with roaring coming from all around and the lions were very lively. If there was a mane growing world record I think Dani (the one with spinal problems) would be in with a chance, his mane is huge.

They are hoping for their millionth visitor over the Easter period. People have really taken to it, many of the people there visit frequently from comments you overhear.

Here's to the giant anteaters!

I guess this (pics) is what you mean

 

[Pertinax]

is this (pics) is what you mean

Did you see the photos of Edinburgh's old Gorilla enclosure(now Pandas) after the Baboons had been in it a few weeks? This could soon look the same. This enclosure looks almost too good for Baboons really! But what I do like about it is that they have clearly designed a terrestrial enclosure for a largely terrestrial species- with only a limited climbing paraphernalia in the centre, which is all they need really.

I have not been here but I agree with Maguari that their enclosures do look very well constructed, not the more usual 'cheap and cheerful' style one associates with smaller and developing zoos and parks. Certainly a refreshing change.

 

[BongoHardwood]

Nice pics Can someone explain the blue tag-looking things in the baboons' ears? I've never seen something like that...

 

[Pertinax]

Nice pics Can someone explain the blue tag-looking things in the baboons' ears? I've never seen something like that...

I didn't notice them till you mentioned it. I haven't either but would guess they are numbered ID tags like the eartags in cattle/antelope etc. I do think they detract a bit from their appearance though.

 

[BongoHardwood]

Yeah that's what they looked like to me. Very odd, never seen then in primates before. Didn't think they were used in such dexterous species! They look rather huge too, almost the same size as their ears!

 

[OrangePerson]

Male eland born, first breeding at the park.

From Facebook

A rare baby Eland antelope has been born at award winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

The male calf is being reared by his mum - much to the delight of
visitors to the walk through attraction.

His birth is significant for the rare breed -- the largest antelope in
the world - as he establishes a new line.

Mum Gunvor, 2, was the first new blood to come into the UK for
Decades when she arrived from a Swedish zoo while proud father Kross, also 2, came to YWP from within the UK.

Their baby was born on April 22 and he has been thriving since.

The new arrival hasn't been named yet -- but his name will start with
the letter F like all animals born in 2013.

While he is small now, when he is fully-grown he is likely to be over 7
feet tall including his horns and weigh a tonne.

The number of Eland antelope in the wild is being constantly monitored by conservation experts in Africa, where they are hunted for meat. Over hunting and habitat destruction threatens their survival.

YWP's Cheryl Williams said: "We are absolutely delighted at the birth.”

"The calf is significant - his mum was the first new line to come to
the UK in many years and this establishes new blood.”

"He is already proving to be extremely popular with visitors as he finds his feet - he is going to be the star of the May bank holiday weekend."