LeeMac13
Well-Known Member
Whilst on holiday in the Lake District for a couple of days we decided to visit South Lakes for the first time, something we had been meaning to do for a while.
First thing I noticed was the car park which seemed half car back half scrap yard with several large pieces of rubbish left laying around in one corner as well as scrapped cars and even one car with a smashed window screen. I’m assuming the zoo doesn’t have a side business fixing cars?
The first enclosure is a mixed exhibit of Mandrills and Pygmy Hippos only a few of the mandrills where on show and the only view we had of the Hippo was a glimpse of a black lump on the floor through a grubby window. Couldn’t see a dominant male Mandrill do they have one? Next up where the Giraffe bizarrely mixed with a herd of Reindeer! I was told that the Reindeer are used for the grotto at Christmas but surely a separate enclosure could be found for them?
White Rhino next caught a brief glimpse of the Rhino calf on first glance I was struck by how small their enclosure was but realised that they had a large grass paddock behind them, but for the duration of the visit they did not have access to the grass paddock. The indoor Rhino house consisted of a series of wooden and metal pens. To the left of the pens where the indoor enclosure for the Spectacled Bears and Capybara, Which left a lot to be desired I must say to me. Outside is the mixed South American exhibit. I had read a lot about the exhibit on the forums and was interest to see for myself what it was like. What I saw beggared belief whilst im all for mixed exhibits this is just a disaster waiting to happen. A mix of Spectacled Bear, Spider Monkey, Asian Short Clawed Otter, Tapir and Capuchin Monkeys all in one exhibit just left me wondering how could this possibly be allowed. The Tapir looked so nervous and were as far away from the bears as possible could be with the Otters not far behind them.
Next where the African Lions and Sumatran Tiger youngster walking down the hill and into the Lion House I was shocked by how close you actually came to the Lion with a simply guard rail separated you from their cages also wasn’t a fan of when inside the Lions or Tiger had no where to get out of public gaze if they wanted too.
Next up was the primate house (since when were chipmunks primates by the way) the indoor enclosures where fine I suppose and the outdoor enclosures were better than a lot I have saw at other zoos but if comparing to my regular zoo of Chester not in the same league.
One of things I noticed was the amount of animals left to roam around the zoo mostly notably the Ring Tailed Lemurs and Tamarins whilst we where there about four lemurs jumped out of a push right into the path of a young girl who quite understandable was frightened and nearly ran into the path of the small train that runs in a part of the zoo. The Tamarins on more than one occasion also had close calls with said train. I also think that there are certain individuals that could quite easily try and slip a tamarin into a bag or box to take home. Also since when were Lemurs and Kangaroos from the same place?
Also had the misfortune of a close encouter with a Red Ruffed Lemur which decided to jump from a tree right infront of me resulting in me getting a face full of tail and Lemur fur.
First thing I noticed was the car park which seemed half car back half scrap yard with several large pieces of rubbish left laying around in one corner as well as scrapped cars and even one car with a smashed window screen. I’m assuming the zoo doesn’t have a side business fixing cars?
The first enclosure is a mixed exhibit of Mandrills and Pygmy Hippos only a few of the mandrills where on show and the only view we had of the Hippo was a glimpse of a black lump on the floor through a grubby window. Couldn’t see a dominant male Mandrill do they have one? Next up where the Giraffe bizarrely mixed with a herd of Reindeer! I was told that the Reindeer are used for the grotto at Christmas but surely a separate enclosure could be found for them?
White Rhino next caught a brief glimpse of the Rhino calf on first glance I was struck by how small their enclosure was but realised that they had a large grass paddock behind them, but for the duration of the visit they did not have access to the grass paddock. The indoor Rhino house consisted of a series of wooden and metal pens. To the left of the pens where the indoor enclosure for the Spectacled Bears and Capybara, Which left a lot to be desired I must say to me. Outside is the mixed South American exhibit. I had read a lot about the exhibit on the forums and was interest to see for myself what it was like. What I saw beggared belief whilst im all for mixed exhibits this is just a disaster waiting to happen. A mix of Spectacled Bear, Spider Monkey, Asian Short Clawed Otter, Tapir and Capuchin Monkeys all in one exhibit just left me wondering how could this possibly be allowed. The Tapir looked so nervous and were as far away from the bears as possible could be with the Otters not far behind them.
Next where the African Lions and Sumatran Tiger youngster walking down the hill and into the Lion House I was shocked by how close you actually came to the Lion with a simply guard rail separated you from their cages also wasn’t a fan of when inside the Lions or Tiger had no where to get out of public gaze if they wanted too.
Next up was the primate house (since when were chipmunks primates by the way) the indoor enclosures where fine I suppose and the outdoor enclosures were better than a lot I have saw at other zoos but if comparing to my regular zoo of Chester not in the same league.
One of things I noticed was the amount of animals left to roam around the zoo mostly notably the Ring Tailed Lemurs and Tamarins whilst we where there about four lemurs jumped out of a push right into the path of a young girl who quite understandable was frightened and nearly ran into the path of the small train that runs in a part of the zoo. The Tamarins on more than one occasion also had close calls with said train. I also think that there are certain individuals that could quite easily try and slip a tamarin into a bag or box to take home. Also since when were Lemurs and Kangaroos from the same place?
Also had the misfortune of a close encouter with a Red Ruffed Lemur which decided to jump from a tree right infront of me resulting in me getting a face full of tail and Lemur fur.
