Zoo's in Winter

B

BlackRhino78

Well-Known Member
Hi all
After being a very fair weather goer to the Zoo, and although I visit often in the summer months I have caught the bug and want to go to the Zoo very regularly, but I am very put off going in the cold winter months because surely the animals will just be inside, especially here in England when the grounds frosty I can't see Sumatran tigers etc venturing outside. All I am saying is is the Zoo the same and as enjoyable in the Winter, I live very locally to Chester so would like to visit their more often so I was just wondering is it worth it? Is it better because their are less people or is it pointless as the animals only stay inside.
Hope you can help :)
 
Personally a visit to the Zoo during the autumn winter months is one of my favourites less people and more time to watch the animals. Most will be outside at some point . My advice GO!
 
Better because less people and some animals will actually be more active in cold weather. Although the Sumatran tigers you mentioned are tropical cats, all big cats are very adaptable to a wide range of temperatures and you may very well see them active.

About a year and a half ago we had a very unusual light snow day in my city in Arizona. The zoo posted a video showing that the African elephants went swimming in their pool when the snow started!

So yes you should definitely visit in winter.
 
I agree with what the others have posted.
Zoos in winter are peaceful and you can experience the landscape and the animals at your own pace. The animals that thrive in cold weather are more active than during the summer. If you want to enjoy a Sumatran Tiger go on a summer morning. If you want to enjoy a Siberian tiger, go on a winter day.
 
Definitely visit in winter! You may be surprised what you'll see! :)

(these are from Whipsnade - and, ok, the tiger's not that surprising in this case!)
 

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Winter is the best time to see some creatures. Waterfowl have their full colour plumage and mammals from colder regions grow longer coats, for example wolves and Przewalski's horses.

Alan
 
Hi George,
A great question as I am considering extending a short stay visit to the UK in December, by adding in a 7 day zoo tour but am hesitating as zoo's in winter can be hard work particularly if it's raining.
 
zooman said:
Hi George,
A great question as I am considering extending a short stay visit to the UK in December, by adding in a 7 day zoo tour but am hesitating as zoo's in winter can be hard work particularly if it's raining.
Click to expand...

If the weather is bad, some can be particularly miserable, mainly the more exposed open parks like Whipsnade, the Aspinall Parks etc where there is little cover-for visitors- to retreat into, though at Whipsnade even the indoor accomodation in some houses is quite cosy.

The larger more urban places like London, Chester etc have more indoor housing overall so bad weather has less of an impact on a visit.

As others have said, visiting UK Zoos in fine or just reasonable weather in winter can be very enjoyable- many animals are seen at their best, and with less people about. But of course, the UK is famous for our unreliable weather...:)
 
Pertinax said:
If the weather is bad, some can be particularly miserable, mainly the more exposed open parks like Whipsnade, the Aspinall Parks etc where there is little cover-for visitors- to retreat into, though at Whipsnade even the indoor accomodation in some houses is quite cosy.

As others have said, visiting UK Zoos in fine or just reasonable weather in winter can be very enjoyable- many animals are seen at their best, and with less people about. But of course, the UK is famous for our unreliable weather...:)
Click to expand...

One of my best ever zoo visits was to Whipsnade on a desperately wet and cold day in January. I wore three layers of trousers and basically as much of my wardrobe as I could fit on. So much was out and about that I asked a keeper what was going on. She said that a windy day moves smells around which gets all the animals, and especially the predators, that bit more frisky as they are more aware of their neighbours.
So I'd definitely just go for it.
(Aspinal Parks with all the woodland and primates might be another story though)
 
Pertinax said:
If the weather is bad, some can be particularly miserable, mainly the more exposed open parks like Whipsnade, the Aspinall Parks etc where there is little cover-for visitors- to retreat into, though at Whipsnade even the indoor accomodation in some houses is quite cosy.

The larger more urban places like London, Chester etc have more indoor housing overall so bad weather has less of an impact on a visit.

As others have said, visiting UK Zoos in fine or just reasonable weather in winter can be very enjoyable- many animals are seen at their best, and with less people about. But of course, the UK is famous for our unreliable weather...:)
Click to expand...

My last UK winter was in the late 80's and I have memories of being maybe the only visitor at Port Lymphe. Walking around in the rain looking for a Sumatran Rhino, that I never found. It was cold!!!

I had not considered the indoor exhibits, I will be based in Manchester and looking at visiting the zoo's within a 1-2 hour drive.

Thank you for highlighting indoor facilities I will do some more research.
 
Wondering if these zoo's have the indoor facilities that would make a winter visit more enjoyable? Or are there other zoo's around Manchester worth a winter visit?
First visit **

Birmingham **
Chester (2013)
Blackpool **
South Lakes **
Knowsley Safari park (1990)
Yorkshire Wildlife Park **
Trentham Monkey Forest **
 
Living in south Texas, I know a number of people who actually prefer going to the zoo in the winter because it's not 90 degrees(F). Though I dunno if zoos here get increased attendance.
 
George,

You'll find the inverse of your fears when you give it a try. The animals tend to be far more active, and not lazing around sleeping as they tend to do on hot summer days. Less visitors mean you'll seed more of the shyer species, and the whole experience is so much quieter you'll get a different dimension to what you see. You'll hear the noises the animals are making, see a wider field of view without crowds getting in the way.

I find the difference such that I do very little zoo visiting in summer, certainly July and August. This year I made an exception and popped into Chester twice to check out Islands, but once you experience the other three seasons you will see the place in a whole different light.

Spring and Autumn are my favourite zoo seasons, with regular Chester trips in Winter. Plenty of other things to be doing in high summer!
 
ZooElephantsMan said:
@ro6ca66

Do you know what temperature it was when they took those pictures of rhinos in the snow?
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I took those photos during a visit in Feb 2012. Looking at the temperature records for nearby (lower altitude) areas, it got to about +2degC max during that day. It had snowed a few days previously, but the temperature had stayed around freezing subsequently, so little snow had melted by the time I was able to visit.

If I had to guess, I'd say the temperature when I took the rhino, gemsbok and zebra shots was around -3 to -1 degC, and probably a little warmer by the time I got round to the tigers.
 
zooman said:
Wondering if these zoo's have the indoor facilities that would make a winter visit more enjoyable? Or are there other zoo's around Manchester worth a winter visit?
First visit **

Birmingham **
Chester (2013)
Blackpool **
South Lakes **
Knowsley Safari park (1990)
Yorkshire Wildlife Park **
Trentham Monkey Forest **
Click to expand...

Hi zooman, three of these collections have next to nothing in regards to indoor spaces; Trentham, YWP and South Lakes. YWP would be worth a winter visit just to see the polar bears! :)
Knowsley should be fine as you're in a car for the best part of the visit whilst Blackpool has a fair amount of sheltered area so should be okay. Chester has plenty of covered exhibits so is probably the best choice. Birmingham is only 6 acres so would be easy to see regardless of the weather but because of its small size you may want to visit West Midlands Safari Park as well to justify the travel times! ;)
 
Brum said:
Hi zooman, three of these collections have next to nothing in regards to indoor spaces; Trentham, YWP and South Lakes. YWP would be worth a winter visit just to see the polar bears! :)
Knowsley should be fine as you're in a car for the best part of the visit whilst Blackpool has a fair amount of sheltered area so should be okay. Chester has plenty of covered exhibits so is probably the best choice. Birmingham is only 6 acres so would be easy to see regardless of the weather but because of its small size you may want to visit West Midlands Safari Park as well to justify the travel times! ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you Brum, much appreciated. The polar bears at YWP is very tempting!
 
zooman said:
Thank you Brum, much appreciated. The polar bears at YWP is very tempting!
Click to expand...

You're welcome. :)

One thing I've just remembered is that the wind at Blackpool can be pretty bad in the spring and autumn, it will be even worse in the winter so you would probably have to wear triple layers of everything! :p
 
Knowsley doesn't open all year round, so depending on when you're coming that option could be taken away from you.

I agree the Polar Bears at YWP in snow would be fab, but don't build your hopes up, snow is not that common, you'd need to be fortunate. What a prospect if you were to be though. Trentham would be good in the snow I'm sure; its on my list to do if I get chance over the winter, but as good as it is a monkey exhibit the place is a one trick pony and you won't spend long there. Trentham is close to Peak Wildlife Park but I think that might be a challenge to get to in the snow!

I would do YWP, Blackpool and Chester out of the collections you've listed, and for maximum indoor time, Chester wins.
 
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