Yorkshire Wildlife Park Yorkshire Wildlife Park News 2015

Yorkshire Wildlife Park on course for record breaking year

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has recorded increased visitor numbers - for the sixth year in a row.

Visitor numbers are already 29 per cent higher than last year after a busy summer - making the Doncaster-based park the UK’s fastest growing wildlife attraction.

The surge in visitors comes after the birth of rare tiger and leopard cubs at the park, meanwhile the ‘Safari Nights’ of family fun and games every Saturday evening has also proven popular throughout the school holidays.

John Minion, chief executive officer of Yorkshire Wildlife Park, said: “We have already welcomed over 560,261 guests this season compared to 434,000 in 2014.

“We are on track to reach over 682,000 visitors by the end of the financial year (November 2015) which is a remarkable achievement for a business which is only six-years-old.

“It is the support of these visitors that has enabled the investment for the Park to grow over recent years,”

He added: “The park’s reputation keeps growing further afield because there is an increasing awareness and interest in wildlife and how we can all work to protect it.

“We have a unique way here at the park of bringing our guests closer to some amazing wildlife. There is fun too – always something to do for all the family…even when it’s raining.”

The park opened in 2009 and had 66,000 visitors in its first year. It broke through the landmark 500,000 annual visitors for the first time last year and had 556,000 visitors in the 2014 season.

The arrival of a trio of Amur Tiger cubs in March was a major boost – the video of their birth drew a global audience of more than five million people.

More breeding success was to follow recently with three Amur Leopard cubs who were born in June. Both species are critically endangered and the cubs will play a vital role in the European breeding programmes.

Polar bears Victor, a 16-year-old, and two-year-old Pixel, who arrived at Easter, are also huge favourites with visitors.

Earlier this year, the park won the Business of the Year award at the Sheffield City Region Awards.

It was also shortlisted as a finalist in the Large Attraction of the Year category at the Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards.
Click to expand...
 
Sadly the leopard cubs are now down to two following the death of the 3rd cub on Wednesday. Statement issued by the park:

It is with great sadness that YWP announces that one of the three leopard cubs born in June has died. The young male leopard was found in the house on Wednesday and a post mortem will be carried out. The rangers who look after the leopards are devastated at the loss
 
Just seen on Facebook that Khan the breeding male camel has swapped places with Baxter at Flamingo Land. (He was one of those attention seeking types and wanted a chance at winning "Yorkshire's Most Magnificent Attraction" again.)
 
It's a better picture than any I could get today. Looking forward to when the viewing area open.
Both otters (2 females) were out exploring their enclosure this morning, including frequent swims.
 
Olimbai said:
Giant otters arrived yesterday (unless I misheard) and are spending their time running around the outside of the lake and exploring every corner of their exhibit.

The viewing area isn't accessible yet so none of my photos are too good, but there's one below:

http://i.imgur.com/KkAau6m.jpg
Click to expand...
They arrived just under 2 weeks ago,when RSCC had to send them away due to them having to close by a certain date!
 
Visited today (18th Oct 2015)
Nissan settling into the new enclosure away from Victor and Pixel
Keeper said when Nissan is settled in he will be mixed with Victor and Pixel but only one of them at a time. (Not going to put all three together)

The keeper said the gas pipe planning permission was passed and so expected progress on the other enclosures after the otter enclosure competed.

The otter enclosure looks ready just waiting for grass to grow. No otters could be seen.
 
The 2 female giant otters were out in yesterdays autumn sunshine exploring their new enclosure. The groundsman was busy planting round the public walkways and the walkway fencing was being finished.The indoor viewing area with rockwork and pool was being given a lick of paint round the walls too.I would think the area will be fully open for the weekend.

Nissan was out making use of his lake and exploring his enclosure. He was eating a lot of grass and clover,which I suppose is a new experience having grown up in a concrete pen in Moscow (from what I hear. I stand to be corrected)

The payment booths were getting a new paint job,which is surprising as they are all pretty new.

Photos added of Nissan and the otters on the YWP gallery.:D
 
thezootoday said:
They have submitted plans for a African reserve and black rhino enclosure. No further details yet. 15/02236/FULM | Formation of African reserve and black rhino reserve including hoof stock enclosure (24.9m x 16.4m approx. overall), black rhino enclosure (36.2m x 16.6m approx. overall), public observation buildings, landscaping and fencing. | Yorks
Click to expand...

Like buses :D you wait 13 years for a new UK holder of Black Rhino and then three come along in one year... Good luck to YWP on this latest project
 
zoogiraffe said:
Well of course no collection can keep more than 1 species of Rhino:rolleyes:,so expect to see them have a second within the next 5-10 years;)
Click to expand...

Would not be surprised. All the omens for a continuously growing captive population of GOH rhinos is more than likely. I am sure YWP has not changed its original plans, just added upon for ... a hopefully total African experience and sundry (when Asian and South American areas become even more robust).
 
Can't find any detailed plans atm. I guess they haven't been submitted yet?

Very exciting news though, looking forward to seeing the results. I must say it really is exciting to have such a rapidly expanding Park so close to home
 
From looking at all the plans there are doing 3 things.

1 - moving the camels behind the current giraffe house
2 - moving the giraffe house next to the leopard/tiger enclosure at the other side
3 - creating the rhino reserve where the zebra are currently kept

I hope they finish project polar first
 
veeboy31 said:
From looking at all the plans there are doing 3 things.

1 - moving the camels behind the current giraffe house
2 - moving the giraffe house next to the leopard/tiger enclosure at the other side
3 - creating the rhino reserve where the zebra are currently kept

I hope they finish project polar first
Click to expand...

It looks like it will also have the effect of taking the back leopard enclosure offshow as well. Plans look decent, though - and will create a quite big continuous 'African' area all the way from the giraffe house to the African Wild Dogs, with only the rather confused waterfowl paddock interrupting. I do agree with them that the African Plains paddock doesn't really look up to their landscaping standard these days.

The design statement seems to imply the giraffe house will stay in use and the new housing for the zebra/antelope/Ankole will just have a daytime shelter built in (the interior of the new building does not appear to be tall enough in any case, and this would mean the giraffes could take shelter during any brief spells of bad weather without having to be taken all the way in).

Slightly bemused that they don't think rhinos are a 'flagship species', though - they seem to retain that status for carnivores (they have form in this area - the sequence of guide covers from the second onwards always uses the biggest new arrival of the year, except for the year the biggest arrivals were an ungulate - giraffes - when we got a second lion cover).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top