Yorkshire Wildlife Park Detailed new plans

[foz]

slightly playing devil's advocate but isnt YWP's development all a bit A B C ish? i.e. Lions and Tigers, hoofstock and flamingo's etc.

In my view it would be much more excited for them to make a massive deal over, say an exhibit for endangered duck species, fossa, civets or unusual pig species than the more pbvious species they have prompted for. This is in no way an outwright criticism of the park (it all looks fabulous) but they could choose to make the collection more original.

 

[OrangePerson]

I guess you have to be able to bring people in and satisfy them that there's enough to justify the visit/entrance fee, don't know how easy it is to get something as big as they seem to be going for on the back of unusual species that few people are that interested in.
Maybe that's a luxury to go for when you are more established. Practise on the easy stuff...
When you start you begin with ABC - as the wise old Julie Andrews told us!

 

[Maguari]

slightly playing devil's advocate but isnt YWP's development all a bit A B C ish? i.e. Lions and Tigers, hoofstock and flamingo's etc.

In my view it would be much more excited for them to make a massive deal over, say an exhibit for endangered duck species, fossa, civets or unusual pig species than the more pbvious species they have prompted for. This is in no way an outwright criticism of the park (it all looks fabulous) but they could choose to make the collection more original.

To my mind the best big zoos are those that balance a good general collection with a good selection of rarer/unusual ones. There can be no doubt from speaking to staff at the park that they have no intention of staying a small or specialist zoo! This is a big zoo in waiting. As such, I don't see a problem with getting some big-hitters in early to consolidate visitor numbers before going for the weirder stuff. And given how zoo-starved the people of South Yorkshire have been, you can't begrudge them some lions and tigers!

I think as a new zoo it's developing in way that clearly shows they are aiming big - no shilly-shallying for a year or five with only small species - they opened with African Wild Dogs on show and brought in 13 lions within 18 months or so. As well as zebras, camels, three antelope species, and soon tigers, possibly around the second anniversary. South Yorkshire has the population to support a major zoo - I for one rather hope YWP will be it.

And a zoo with Addax, Raccoon Dogs and Brown Lemurs isn't doing too badly for the oddities.

 

[rockyredfearn]

I am so pleased the wildlife park is bringing in the tigers and other animals i have visited the park lots of times and think that what they have achived in such a short space of time is amazing carnt wait to see what new animals they are planning for the park .
I took my little grandaughter for the first time last week and to see her little face when she saw all the animals was a joy for me and shes not 1 yet so she can grow with the park and learn to love the animals as much as i do

SO A BIG THANKYOU TO YORKSHIRE WILDLIFE PARK FOR ALL YOU HAVE ACHIVED AND LONG MAY YOU CONTINUE TO GROW INTO A FANTASTIC PARK

 

[tw2310]

I suppose there's a reason why tried and tested methods / "ABC approaches" are exactly what they are, because they work.

When you have a part of the country starved of a zoo / wildlife park for so long it makes sense to do it. I've lived here all my life and when i was a kid we had to go miles to places like this and see all the different creatures, and that was being lucky enough to have parents who were willing to do that. I spend loads of time at the park and one of the nicest things about it is seeing all the little kids marvel at all the different animals, which otherwise they'd maybe never get to see or learn about or appreciate. It isn't the richest part of the world either so options are even more limited for most people.

I agree there are definitely merits in going for the more unusual / weird but they don't necessarily draw the crowds. I've been amazed when i've seen so many creatures for the first time but a lot of them probably aren't what you'd call crowd pullers or ticket sellers. At the end of the day such a place has to pull in the public to survive and develop it's work, and when they do so in large enough numbers consistently then i guess they can move on to adding "weird" to wonderful.

 

[OrangePerson]

Is this just what zebra dads & sons do? I've no knowledge at all!

 

[Pertinax]

Zebras- its just play/interaction. While they only have each other for company they should get along fine. But if they bring in new females, the father is likely to turn aggressive toward the son and try and drive him away and they may have to seperate them then.

 

[thezootoday]

Hi
according to the developers master plan there has been a planning application for a barbary macaques. does anyone no where i could find this?

cheers

 

[rockyredfearn]

hi
put plan in the gallery under yorkshire wildlife park hope this helps

 

[Maguari]

hi
put plan in the gallery under yorkshire wildlife park hope this helps

Thanks for that! Also confirms the hoofstock house on the recent application is intended as a giraffe house for the future.

 

[rockyredfearn]

hi
was talking to someone last week and they was saying they are hoping to get giraffe end of year exciting times for the park

 

[OrangePerson]

I'm very excited by the 'Great ape' bit even if it is only a concept!

They always used to talk about gibbons bu they don't seem to be in the plans any more. Still I'll swap gibbons for great apes, or maybe they can bunk in with the Sumatran orangs

 

[Pertinax]

I'm very excited by the 'Great ape' bit even if it is only a concept!

Beware that some places mistakenly refer to Gibbons as 'Great' Apes though they aren't really. If its really Great Apes I wonder which species they are considering. Easiest to acquire would be Chimps, then Orangs, then lastly Gorillas I think. I suspect it would also only be one of the three species as they are expensive to house(properly) and maintain.

I also notice that 'Asian' as well as 'African' rhinos are on the 'concept' plans. It would be good if they could get Black Rhinos instead of that conventional wildlife park species, the White Rhino.

 

[tw2310]

The masterplan looks very exciting, and amazing to see how much of it is either already done or is currently being built, especially for such a new park. If the plans for rhino and great apes come off i think i might as well move in down there.

The first photo below from earlier today shows the start of the raised walkway, at the rear of the park overlooking the wetlands area.

The second one shows the progress of the South American walkthrough, due to be up and running next month according to the latest park guide. There's also plenty of work going on for the new hoofstock / giraffe housing, with the local news also reporting that works have started on the tiger enclosure this week. Very exciting times for the park.