Heythrop Zoo Open Days 2015

cliffxdavis

cliffxdavis

Well-Known Member
I am going to first open day of 2015 this coming Sunday (6th September). I will post a report of my visit. Is there anything anyone particularly wants a report back on? It's my first visit, any advice?
 
Notes of which species you see will be appreciated for keeping ZTL accurate :) this includes any reptiles and smaller mammals.
 
This was my first visit to HZG and I was very impressed with what I saw.

After getting our wristbands we went to the film theatre to see some of the animals that had been trained to work being put through their paces.The first was a black leopard, then two tigers, and finally two lions,

I was spellbound by their proximity and power and the way they cooperated with the trainer.
I do not support circuses mainly for the way animals are housed when they are on the road (and the allegations of cruelty in their training) but the fact was these big cats were all in fantastic condition and seemed more alert and alive even when they were returned to their normal quarters.

The rest of the zoo reflected the owners choice of species that might appear in adverts, films or tv shows and these all appeared to be in good health and were well housed with the exception of the Humbolt Penguins. The penguin enclosure is new and very nicely landscaped. I think they have been successfully raising young but their pool seems just too small at about 10 foot by 10 foot.

I had a good day out at this zoo that is only open 3 days a year and I would recommend it as an interesting change from the mainstream. Next two days 12 & 13 September 2015. Allow 3 hours to see all the animals and the shows.
 
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TeaLovingDave said:
Notes of which species you see will be appreciated for keeping ZTL accurate :) this includes any reptiles and smaller mammals.
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This is a list of everything that had a sign displayed, in brackets I have included the number I actually saw.

Blackbuck (7), Barasingha (3), Llama, Pygmy Goat, Dromedary (3) and Bactrian Camel (2), Rothschild’s Giraffe (1), Plains Zebra (Burchills?) (4), European Grey Wolf (4), Pygmy Hippopotamus (2), Striped Hyena (1), Red Bellied Piranha (5), Fly River Turtle (1), Clarius Catfish (1), Lyle’s Fruit Bat, Egyptian Fruit Bat, Red Eared Terrapin, Florida Softshell Turtle, Spectacled Caiman, Common Green Iguana, Meerkat (3), African Crested Porcupine (1), Racoon (1), Striped Skunk (2), European Brown Bear (2), Black Leopard (1), Leopard, Greater Flamingo (5), Sinaloan Milksnake (1), Leopard Gecko, Pueblan Milk Snake, Nelsons Milk Snake, Carpet Python, Mexican Black Kingsnake, Royal Python, Cane Toad, Morelet’s Crocodile (4), Australian Water Dragon, Tokay Gecko, Argentine Horned Frog, Veiled Chameleon (1), Red Legged Tarantula, American Alligator (4), Gila Monster (1), Bengal Tiger (2), Rhesus Macaque (5), Red Kangaroo (2), Sulcata Tortoise (1) Aldabra Giant Tortoise (1), African Lion (2), Squirrel Monkey (6+), Ring Tailed Lemur (2+), Polish Mute Swan (3+), West African Crowned Crane, European White Stork, Laughing Kookaburra (2), Raven (1), Grey Squirrel, Crab Eating cross Rhesus Macaque (2), Black Capped Squirrel Monkey, Pink Backed Pelican, Humbolt Penguins(5+), Whites Tree Frogs (1), African Bullfrog, Giant Land Snails, Green Anaconda (1), Egyptian Cobra, Plated Lizard, Cat Eyed Snake and Mangrove Snake.
 
Looking forward to my visit this coming Saturday afternoon , as part of a weekend of visiting Cotswolds collections .
 
cliffxdavis said:
This is a list of everything that had a sign displayed, in brackets I have included the number I actually saw.

Blackbuck (7), Barasingha (3), Llama, Pygmy Goat, Dromedary (3) and Bactrian Camel (2), Rothschild’s Giraffe (1), Plains Zebra (Burchills?) (4), European Grey Wolf (4), Pygmy Hippopotamus (2), Striped Hyena (1), Red Bellied Piranha (5), Fly River Turtle (1), Clarius Catfish (1), Lyle’s Fruit Bat, Egyptian Fruit Bat, Red Eared Terrapin, Florida Softshell Turtle, Spectacled Caiman, Common Green Iguana, Meerkat (3), African Crested Porcupine (1), Racoon (1), Striped Skunk (2), European Brown Bear (2), Black Leopard (1), Leopard, Greater Flamingo (5), Sinaloan Milksnake (1), Leopard Gecko, Pueblan Milk Snake, Nelsons Milk Snake, Carpet Python, Mexican Black Kingsnake, Royal Python, Cane Toad, Morelet’s Crocodile (4), Australian Water Dragon, Tokay Gecko, Argentine Horned Frog, Veiled Chameleon (1), Red Legged Tarantula, American Alligator (4), Gila Monster (1), Bengal Tiger (2), Rhesus Macaque (5), Red Kangaroo (2), Sulcata Tortoise (1) Aldabra Giant Tortoise (1), African Lion (2), Squirrel Monkey (6+), Ring Tailed Lemur (2+), Polish Mute Swan (3+), West African Crowned Crane, European White Stork, Laughing Kookaburra (2), Raven (1), Grey Squirrel, Crab Eating cross Rhesus Macaque (2), Black Capped Squirrel Monkey, Pink Backed Pelican, Humbolt Penguins(5+), Whites Tree Frogs (1), African Bullfrog, Giant Land Snails, Green Anaconda (1), Egyptian Cobra, Plated Lizard, Cat Eyed Snake and Mangrove Snake.
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I spotted a 2 toed sloth, 1 badger, 2 red foxes and a black fox as well on my visit today.

There was also at least 4 lions and tigers on site
 
Their full contact with large carnivores makes me uneasy. As well as the fact that there are also camel rides and squirrel monkeys on harnesses from what has been posted. Feels a bit too circusy to me...Hmm..
 
ISOE2012 said:
Their full contact with large carnivores makes me uneasy. As well as the fact that there are also camel rides and squirrel monkeys on harnesses from what has been posted. Feels a bit too circusy to me...Hmm..
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Well that is their background...
 
stubeanz said:
Well that is their background...
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Absolutely.

They are animal trainers, some of the best in the UK in fact.
They are also very good animal keepers indeed, who know and keep their animals very well.
 
I enjoyed the big cat demonstrations and an insight how adverts using them are created . It was fascinating to see how interested the cats were in the audience , particularly the male tiger , it was good enrichment for them .
 
Heythrop Zoo has issued a statement on their Facebook page, noting that contrary to the claims in the linked article that they had refused to comment, the Mail did not give them the opportunity to do so whatsoever. They then go on to give a detailed rebuttal to the claims made in the article:

HeythropZooFacebook said:
It saddens us that we have to write this post. The purpose of this page is for our employees, guests, friends and supporters to share their happy experiences at Heythrop Zoological Gardens. Unfortunately early this morning we received a call from the police notifying us that The Daily Mail had run a totally unfair report on one of our Open Days and our company in general. Despite the article's claims that we declined to reply we were not given the opportunity. We received no emails, phone calls or answerphone messages. However, we had previously been sent a copy of an article that The Mirror newspaper had intended to run based on the same material. Unlike the Mail, The Mirror gave us our right to reply and a reasonable deadline. Please see below our response.

"We strongly object to the allegation of "cruel" training techniques. Our training is science-based, using operant conditioning. Contrary to Chris Packham's comments we use reward-based training. We have worked with him on numerous occasions throughout his career and he should be aware of this fact. If you watch the entire demonstration it begins with a commentary on the training methods being used and an explanation about how training enriches the lives of captive animals. This all begins with an establishment of the bond and relationship between the animal and trainer. The animals are then trained using "baby steps" (approximation) to develop and shape different behaviours with continuous positive reinforcement. We note the criticism of the trainer cueing the big cats by tapping two tomato cane sticks together. This is a signal to tell the animals to keep going and is paired with a food reward that was established during the early stages of training. This has nothing to do with aversive stimulus (punishment) as Chris implies.
"We disagree with Professor Marc Bekoff’s opinion. We note that he is a patron of CAPS and therefore one assumes agrees with their radical agenda which has possibly influenced his opinion. The fact that he thinks it’s “tragic” that Zara died in captivity is appalling. She was 33 years old, multi generation captive bred. Where else was she supposed to have lived out the end of her days if not in captivity?
"We take stereotypical behaviour very seriously. Unfortunately pacing can be seen in all establishments that keep animals. You even see it with some domestic pets and it has been documented in the wild. However, using Applied Behavioural Analysis (the process of solving practical behaviour problems by changing the environment) we have been addressing these issues. Pacing sometimes occurs when an animal is anticipating being fed or if a favourite keeper is visiting.
"All our members of staff directly involved with the training of our animals possess accredited relevant qualifications and are highly experienced. They regularly attend workshops, seminars and conferences on the all the latest modern animal training methods. Our establishment is also regularly visited by private parties of zookeepers and trainers. We also enjoy working with various agricultural colleges who have students studying various animal courses from management to welfare. They oversee training demonstrations just like the one being cited. We have a work experience programme that has been in place for around 15 years. After a thorough selection process, we take in 20 plus students each year. Some of our work experience students have excelled in their area of study. Many have returned to write their dissertations here at Heythrop Zoo and others have gone on to achieve their PhDs. To imply our establishment or its methods are our outdated is unfair, incorrect and even historically inaccurate.
"When one considers that the footage being cited was taken at a public event and not secretive in any fashion, the allegations are a huge insult to the general public and to the various independent specialist veterinary practitioners who saw these open days. We conduct open weekends on an annual basis and have done so for nearly a decade. Of the 1,000 or so attendees that visit, we receive an overwhelming amount of positive feedback and support. Indeed, a large proportion of those who visit are repeat supporters. The open day was originally conceived as a courtesy to our local community, but quickly gained large support nationwide.
"We are very disappointed with Chris Packham's comments, considering the number of times we have worked closely with him. This began back in the 1980s, early on in his career, when we trained and supplied various zoo-type animals for the "Really Wild Show". We were regularly booked on this show and were commended for our breeding programmes. We worked with Chris again in the early 2000s and recently on "Nature's Weirdest Events". All our members of staff have enjoyed a positive relationship with Chris. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time he has ever voiced concerns regarding our establishment or its practices. We can only assume he has been misinformed and shown edited footage out of context. He isn't the first well-meaning TV personality to be duped and manipulated by the Animal Rights movement.
"Our members of staff are very passionate about their work and are extremely dedicated. They will be devastated to read these allegations, which we believe are politically motivated, prejudicial and veil a sinister Animal Rights agenda. They were made by CAPS, which are not an Animal Welfare group but an Animal Rights group. Our tactical operations officer has advised us that Animal Rights groups are one of the UK's leading domestic terrorist threats. Their eventual agenda leads to the end of pet ownership. CAPS have a history of campaigning against the vast majority of activities that involve animals, including zoos and even aquariums. We fear this article is clearly being used as a fund-raising platform for them and their radical agenda that is not in the interests of the majority of the general public or even the animals they claim they are protecting."

We would be very grateful of any support you can offer in the way of commenting or writing letters to The Mail. Lack of response allows minority, extremist groups to thrive and convince the media and politicians that they represent the views of the majority when this is clearly not the case.
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To distinguish the official statement from the introduction and conclusion, I have placed it in bold in the above quotation.
 
Thin end of the wedge.

This is an attack on an easy target by a special interest anti captivity campaign group. The article starts with an attack on performing animals (and the jury is out there, personally I think interaction with the animals as conducted at Heythorp most likely stimulates them) and goes on to be broadly anti captivity.

"But investigators from the Captive Animals Protection Society claimed its enclosures are so barren that they are likely to cause suffering.
CAPS said big cats held at Heythrop were showing signs of stress such as swaying or head-tilting. Campaigners also claim the penguin pool is not big enough to fit in all the penguins at once, the hippo enclosure appears to be only concrete with a dirty-looking pool and a bit of straw, and that a cockatoo has been kept in a small, inadequate cage."

Penguin enclosure is a good size and nicely landscaped although the pool is too small but the Hippos have plenty of room and the water was clean when I was there but as you know hippo water does not stay clean very long.

Heythrop today, your local zoo tomorrow.
 
CAPS have long been trying to get their claws into Heythrop.
They have made several attempts to undermine their work, and although some of this information is rather dated, their "use of" Chris Packham is a new tactic. Gaining support from an MP is also a tried and tested method used before. It is a shame that Chris Packham has "stabbed Jim in the back" as it appears. Chris Packham is known for his outrageous outbursts, but he is not generally thought of as being anti-zoo.
 
Nanook said:
CAPS have long been trying to get their claws into Heythrop.
They have made several attempts to undermine their work, and although some of this information is rather dated, their "use of" Chris Packham is a new tactic. Gaining support from an MP is also a tried and tested method used before. It is a shame that Chris Packham has "stabbed Jim in the back" as it appears. Chris Packham is known for his outrageous outbursts, but he is not generally thought of as being anti-zoo.
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isn't Chris Packham going out with the lady who runs the Isle of Wight Zoo? (I was just googling him - I don't think we get him on NZ tv). It will be interesting to see if he comes out with his side of the story - i.e. what he actually said!

I had a look at the article and noted a photo used of the polar bear - which died in 2014!
 
Chlidonias said:
isn't Chris Packham going out with the lady who runs the Isle of Wight Zoo? (I was just googling him - I don't think we get him on NZ tv). It will be interesting to see if he comes out with his side of the story - i.e. what he actually said!

I had a look at the article and noted a photo used of the polar bear - which died in 2014!
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Yes he is, or was,? seeing Charlotte Corney, owner of Sandown Zoo.
 
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