Zooreviewsuk
Well-Known Member
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is a small zoo just outside of Carnforth and about 5 minutes from junction 35 of the M6. It's one of my local parks and I like the little place as it's very friendly and they have an unusual collection.
I go to this place more than most as there are cracking photo opportunities and from driving there today I was greeted by a number of recent changes.
The sad part for the park is that it is subject to flooding as it's in an area of Lancashire/Cumbria that always floods. Recently parts of the park were flooded so the outside section had been closed, but it was back open today after a dry few days.
The parks main exhibits are the Snow Leopards, who have bred successfully in the past and the park are awaiting a decision from the stud book manager in the next few weeks as to whether they will attempt to breed more cubs next year.
The park also has a pair of Fossa who are kept apart. With the weather getting cold, they were in their inside quarters and therefore not really visible but they are magnificent creatures.
The slow worm has been taken off show to hibernate in the winter, whilst the Lemurs were happily inside and not too keen to venture outside in minus 2 degrees temperatures.
The park has an inside section, which has Garter Snakes, but I sadly didn't see these today. They also have a Royal Python which is currently off show and a Jamaican Boa who is the main snake on view.
In the greenhouse, they have 4 Rodrigues Fruit Bats and at present, at 3.30 they have a talk and a feeding session with these, which was very enjoyable.
The back section of the inside house has a mini mammals section. In this section there are 3/4 glass enclosures which contain Spiny Mice, Harvest Mice, Tenrec Hedgehogs and also Chinchilla's. There are two other exhibits in the main building which house Long Nose Potoroos. They have an adult pair and a youngster who has now been separated to prevent his father attacking him. This Potoroo will be joining a new collection next year and they plan to house Sugar Glider's in this exhibit.
From the Back section the Chinchilla's will be moving into the Marmoset inside quarters next spring where there are also Tree Shrews. The park is currently also building outside enclosures for the Spiny Mice, Harvest Mice and Tenrec who will move into a trio of exhibits next to the Fossa and Slow Worm.
Below you will see the land set aside for these new exhibits and the animals that will be moving to the new exhibits.
The park also has around 10 Marmoset's in an exhibit with an Agouti and these have access to inside quarters as well.
As you enter the outside section, there are also Degus.
One of the more exciting new exhibits is that of the Red Squirrel's. They currently have around 6/7 in the collection and they have access to two enclosures which join. Well at present these enclosures are going to be moved to be covered and then the Red Squirrel's will have access to an open top outside exhibit. This will contain overgrowth and also three tree's so you can see the animals more naturally than just bombing around their current huts. Other trees have been scaled back and fence put around, so the Squirrel's won't be able to escape. It is a long way off completion but the image below gives a rough idea of the outline of the new exhibit.
The other new addition for 2018, will be Parma Wallaby. The park are busy raising the ground level and building the exhibit but along with the moving of the small mammals and Red Squirrel exhibit's, they aim to be completed for the spring.
Here is how the exhibit looks at present.
The paddocks as you walk along the park has free roaming birds and Mara. Well this was always overgrown, but they have now mowed the lawn, removed all the weeds and plants and now the Mara just have a grass paddock they share with cranes and pheasants but the Mara have access to the whole walk through area. This looks a lot better now it has been cut back and de-cluttered and the Mara's look much happier.
The park also has a large selection of Meerkats and they were all out playing today and catching the sun (although it was freezing).
Well the visit wouldn't be complete without some images of their main attraction the Snow Leopard, so here are a few below. Sadly the Fossa were all tucked up in bed so I couldn't get images of them or the Lemur's.
I love this little park and the inside section when the small mammals have moved, is going to feature something new in the back section but the people who run the park are undecided but they are considering increasing the reptile collection, but did say what they bring in there and rebuild next year will be something unique! Very exciting.
This will sound odd to many but the best part of this park is the cafe ! The food is all home made, from curries, to burgers and toasties, Jacket Spuds, Lasagne and other main meals. It's all fresh and homemade and well priced and delicious. They also have a large range of homemade cakes which is worth the visit alone. The chocolate fudge cake today was amazing !
The staff are also really friendly and happy to interact with you and answer any questions and the keepers really love the animals there.
It's a cracking little park and if you haven't visited before you would certainly find it worth a visit. When the new exhibits open in the spring it will be even better and I can't wait to find out what the new indoor exhibit will be next year.
It's only a small park and they don't really have any room to expand but all the animals have adequate exhibits which are well designed and photographically great. The animals always look happy and the staff do a great job.
For a tenner it's well worth a visit and I had yet another great day today. Hope you like the review/guide/news and images.
I go to this place more than most as there are cracking photo opportunities and from driving there today I was greeted by a number of recent changes.
The sad part for the park is that it is subject to flooding as it's in an area of Lancashire/Cumbria that always floods. Recently parts of the park were flooded so the outside section had been closed, but it was back open today after a dry few days.
The parks main exhibits are the Snow Leopards, who have bred successfully in the past and the park are awaiting a decision from the stud book manager in the next few weeks as to whether they will attempt to breed more cubs next year.
The park also has a pair of Fossa who are kept apart. With the weather getting cold, they were in their inside quarters and therefore not really visible but they are magnificent creatures.
The slow worm has been taken off show to hibernate in the winter, whilst the Lemurs were happily inside and not too keen to venture outside in minus 2 degrees temperatures.
The park has an inside section, which has Garter Snakes, but I sadly didn't see these today. They also have a Royal Python which is currently off show and a Jamaican Boa who is the main snake on view.
In the greenhouse, they have 4 Rodrigues Fruit Bats and at present, at 3.30 they have a talk and a feeding session with these, which was very enjoyable.
The back section of the inside house has a mini mammals section. In this section there are 3/4 glass enclosures which contain Spiny Mice, Harvest Mice, Tenrec Hedgehogs and also Chinchilla's. There are two other exhibits in the main building which house Long Nose Potoroos. They have an adult pair and a youngster who has now been separated to prevent his father attacking him. This Potoroo will be joining a new collection next year and they plan to house Sugar Glider's in this exhibit.
From the Back section the Chinchilla's will be moving into the Marmoset inside quarters next spring where there are also Tree Shrews. The park is currently also building outside enclosures for the Spiny Mice, Harvest Mice and Tenrec who will move into a trio of exhibits next to the Fossa and Slow Worm.
Below you will see the land set aside for these new exhibits and the animals that will be moving to the new exhibits.
The park also has around 10 Marmoset's in an exhibit with an Agouti and these have access to inside quarters as well.
As you enter the outside section, there are also Degus.
One of the more exciting new exhibits is that of the Red Squirrel's. They currently have around 6/7 in the collection and they have access to two enclosures which join. Well at present these enclosures are going to be moved to be covered and then the Red Squirrel's will have access to an open top outside exhibit. This will contain overgrowth and also three tree's so you can see the animals more naturally than just bombing around their current huts. Other trees have been scaled back and fence put around, so the Squirrel's won't be able to escape. It is a long way off completion but the image below gives a rough idea of the outline of the new exhibit.
The other new addition for 2018, will be Parma Wallaby. The park are busy raising the ground level and building the exhibit but along with the moving of the small mammals and Red Squirrel exhibit's, they aim to be completed for the spring.
Here is how the exhibit looks at present.
The paddocks as you walk along the park has free roaming birds and Mara. Well this was always overgrown, but they have now mowed the lawn, removed all the weeds and plants and now the Mara just have a grass paddock they share with cranes and pheasants but the Mara have access to the whole walk through area. This looks a lot better now it has been cut back and de-cluttered and the Mara's look much happier.
The park also has a large selection of Meerkats and they were all out playing today and catching the sun (although it was freezing).
Well the visit wouldn't be complete without some images of their main attraction the Snow Leopard, so here are a few below. Sadly the Fossa were all tucked up in bed so I couldn't get images of them or the Lemur's.
I love this little park and the inside section when the small mammals have moved, is going to feature something new in the back section but the people who run the park are undecided but they are considering increasing the reptile collection, but did say what they bring in there and rebuild next year will be something unique! Very exciting.
This will sound odd to many but the best part of this park is the cafe ! The food is all home made, from curries, to burgers and toasties, Jacket Spuds, Lasagne and other main meals. It's all fresh and homemade and well priced and delicious. They also have a large range of homemade cakes which is worth the visit alone. The chocolate fudge cake today was amazing !
The staff are also really friendly and happy to interact with you and answer any questions and the keepers really love the animals there.
It's a cracking little park and if you haven't visited before you would certainly find it worth a visit. When the new exhibits open in the spring it will be even better and I can't wait to find out what the new indoor exhibit will be next year.
It's only a small park and they don't really have any room to expand but all the animals have adequate exhibits which are well designed and photographically great. The animals always look happy and the staff do a great job.
For a tenner it's well worth a visit and I had yet another great day today. Hope you like the review/guide/news and images.