Paradise Wildlife Park Does anyone remember this as Broxbourne Zoo

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garyjp

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
A bit of nostalgia really !! I remember in the late 1970's early 1980's going to PWP when it was Broxbourne Zoo all before the Sampson family. i remember the cages were pretty awful but they had quite a collection of animals.
I can remember they had
Chimpanzee (one escaped in the 1980's)
Bactrian Camel
African Lion (bobby from the post office commercials)
Tigers
Hamadrayas Baboon
Patas Monkey
Diana Monkey
Pig Tailed Macaque (male called Jimmy)
Moor Macaque (called Dracula)
Zebra
Wolves
I'm sure there were a lot more but any information photos what happened to these animals would be great - many thanks
 
sorry to drag up an old thread but over the years I have found a few bits and pieces on the old Broxbourne zoo and then last week stumbled upon this gem.... a councillor telling the tale of a child having her fingers bitten off at the zoo by a chimp.

'It was in June 1977 that a 5-year-old girl, Fiona, the daughter of my constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Napthine, had two fingers of her left hand severed by a chimpanzee when she was trying to feed it crisps. Hon. Members may wonder what on earth is happening in a zoo when a 5-year-old girl can be in a position to attempt to feed crisps to a chimpanzee. Apparently the attention of her parents had been distracted, and she was able to climb over a very small brick wall and put her hand into the cage, or allow the chimpanzee's hand to be put through the cage. As a result, a dreadful accident occurred.'
 
I certainly remember the chimp cage as it was so wouldn't be surprised I also remember in the early 80's they escaped and one had to be shot .
Did they not have Bobby the lion of the post office ads
 
Never been there but found a little notice in the book "Wildlife in Britain " a guide to natural habitats, safari parks and zoos, published by the automobile association.
The following species are mentioned :
Lions *
Leopards *
Tigers
Pumas
Himalayan bears
European bison
Red deer
Sika
Chinese water deer
Chimpanzees
Sacred baboons
Olive baboons
Pig-tailed macaques *
Porcupines
Coypus
Raccoons
Coatis
Kinkajous
Badgars
Dingos
Collaredpeccaries
Penguins
Flamingos
Vultures
Eagles
Tawny owls *
Ducks Geese
Desmoiselle cranes
Sarus cranes
Emus * ( 2 chicks hatched 1974 )
Pets corner with rabbits, Guinea pigs, African pygmy goats, Llamas, St. Kilda sheep, Soay sheep and Jacob's sheep.
* = bred at the collection
 
garyjp said:
I certainly remember the chimp cage as it was so wouldn't be surprised I also remember in the early 80's they escaped and one had to be shot .
Did they not have Bobby the lion of the post office ads
Click to expand...

They certainly did have bobby the lion and from what I am told he was in a circular enclosure with a shipping/lorry container as an indoors!
If you look at the currently raccoon and coati enclosures, believe it or not they used to house lions! With two small concrete dens at the back.
 
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