I remember seeing that Giraffe, not in Swansea, but yes I think it was Chipperfields Circus.
Folly Farm Folly Farm to get Giraffe
- Thread starter easytigger
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I remember seeing that Giraffe, not in Swansea, but yes I think it was Chipperfields Circus.
camel leopard
Well-Known Member
wonder wat flamingoland are doing with there giraffe
The Folly Farm web-site has quite a bit of recent Zoo news -
A new African Wetlands area has been developed - ' Okavango Swamp ' - with Kafue Flats lechwe , sitatunga , crowned crane , marsh mongoose and sacred ibis . A paddock in one field has long held a few female lechwe with rhea , last year a crane paddock had been added and a small mammal enclosure housing skunk . I assume this is the basis of the new exhibit . A male sitatunga from Blackpool has joined 2 female ( does not say where these came from ) and 4 sacred ibis have arrived to join the singleton who I think came from Manor House where at least 1 of their marsh mongoose probably came from . More lechwe are expected .
A female S. American tapir has been born - the second to the pair - apparently there is a shortage of females in the European population .
A group of 8 Barbary macaque arrived from the Dutch AAP Rescue Centre late last year .
Once the Easter school holidays have finished I will take a trip ' down West ' to check out the developments at Folly Farm and Manor House .
A new African Wetlands area has been developed - ' Okavango Swamp ' - with Kafue Flats lechwe , sitatunga , crowned crane , marsh mongoose and sacred ibis . A paddock in one field has long held a few female lechwe with rhea , last year a crane paddock had been added and a small mammal enclosure housing skunk . I assume this is the basis of the new exhibit . A male sitatunga from Blackpool has joined 2 female ( does not say where these came from ) and 4 sacred ibis have arrived to join the singleton who I think came from Manor House where at least 1 of their marsh mongoose probably came from . More lechwe are expected .
A female S. American tapir has been born - the second to the pair - apparently there is a shortage of females in the European population .
A group of 8 Barbary macaque arrived from the Dutch AAP Rescue Centre late last year .
Once the Easter school holidays have finished I will take a trip ' down West ' to check out the developments at Folly Farm and Manor House .
There has been another hybrid giraffe arriving at Folly Farm.
6-year old Sillan came in early November 2010 from South Lakes.
Link: http://www.folly-farm.co.uk/news-and-events/news/new-giraffe-joins-the-ranks.aspx
6-year old Sillan came in early November 2010 from South Lakes.
Link: http://www.folly-farm.co.uk/news-and-events/news/new-giraffe-joins-the-ranks.aspx
Just reading this thread about giraffes in Wales, yes Chipperfields did travel two giraffes when they had the big show, their names were George and Georgina and their transport was a converted double deck bus. Regarding the snow leopards, I think you will find it was Sir Robert Fossett's Circus who owned them, not their cousins the Robert Brothers, apparently only three big cat trainers in this country have trained and presented snow leopards, Alfred Court, Captain Bailey Fossett and James Clubb, it would have been Bailey Fossetts snow leopards you saw in a mixed group comprising of leopards jaguars and black panthers. I understand that the snow leopard was difficult to train and alot of patience was required to do this.
Yes, the name 'George' rings a bell. I only saw one but remember it being led around the ring and seeing it afterwards as you could visit the animals after the performances. The other had presumably died by then. I never saw the bus though...
Can you put a date to that?
The giraffe appeared in the ring on Chipperfield's Circus during the 50's to early 60's sometimes ridden by a showgirl, they also had a hippo named Harry, who I understand came from Whipsnade.
I remember the Chipperfields circus giraffes, being ridden round the ring, I think accompanied by 'liberty' llamas & zebras, and Henry the hippo being pulled around the ring in a cage. Henry had a big trailer outside with a pool
incorporated. They also had 'The Girl who Swims with Crocodiles' which did what it said on the tin. Leaving aside the moral issues, it is hard to imagine how very exciting the circus was in those days before the delights of computer games. Real live lions in a comparatively flimsy netted cage, elephants and bears [yes bears -- Brown I think--, albeit muzzled] worked loose in the ring only yards away. I'm sure I saw Polar Bears at Chipperfields, too, although these were worked in a big cat style ring cage. Apropos of circuses, I have a tea towel with a print of circus elephants in the sea at Aberystwyth; I also remember Elephants in the sea at Weymouth back in the 70s.
incorporated. They also had 'The Girl who Swims with Crocodiles' which did what it said on the tin. Leaving aside the moral issues, it is hard to imagine how very exciting the circus was in those days before the delights of computer games. Real live lions in a comparatively flimsy netted cage, elephants and bears [yes bears -- Brown I think--, albeit muzzled] worked loose in the ring only yards away. I'm sure I saw Polar Bears at Chipperfields, too, although these were worked in a big cat style ring cage. Apropos of circuses, I have a tea towel with a print of circus elephants in the sea at Aberystwyth; I also remember Elephants in the sea at Weymouth back in the 70s.
As long as the enclosure is correct and the staff are either experenced, or are willing to seek advice. Then once again someone has come up to the mark and said they will take none breeding animals. It is alright zoo's wanting pure breeds but what happens to the hybrides that have been bred for years and no one now wants. At least with none breeding animals they are going to gain experinece in the husbandry or these special animals.
Its worth noting the large number of Giraffe movements which have occurred around the UK in recent months, probably far more so than ever in the past, and others are still to take place as several zoos like Chester, Colchester, South Lakes have switched/are switching from hybrids/crossbreds to purebreds.
Its a classic example of the 'trickledown' effect where the hybrids are going chiefly to the smaller parks that are newer to Giraffe-keeping such as Cotswold, Folly Farm etc. I think that's how it should be really.
Its a classic example of the 'trickledown' effect where the hybrids are going chiefly to the smaller parks that are newer to Giraffe-keeping such as Cotswold, Folly Farm etc. I think that's how it should be really.
That's true, I know 2 of Chester's hybrids went to Blair Drummond. It is a win all around, since the general pubic wants to see a 'giraffe' and not necessarily a 'Rothschild' or 'Reticulated' giraffe. So, it gives the smaller parks a draw species (and experience in keeping giraffe before going into the more 'valuable' (to the breeding program) subspecies. It also frees up room for the bigger parks with plenty of experience to focus on pure subspecies herds. In my opinion, the public AND both the original park and the receiver get something from these moves
It is a win all around, since the general pubic wants to see a 'giraffe' and not necessarily a 'Rothschild' or 'Reticulated' giraffe. So, it gives the smaller parks a draw species (and experience in keeping giraffe before going into the more 'valuable' (to the breeding program) subspecies. It also frees up room for the bigger parks with plenty of experience to focus on pure subspecies herds. In my opinion, the public AND both the original park and the receiver get something from these moves
I just wish they weren't referred to 'hybrids' though as that name(to me anyway) always infers something rather derogatory- in fact despite being 'subspecific crosses' or 'mixed race' they are still 100% beautiful Giraffes. It wasn't that long ago virtually no importance was attatched to the purity of Giraffe races in zoos at all. I think keeping them pure wherever possible is an improvement but the 'mixed race' throwouts still make a wonderful exhibit wherever they are kept.
Again, I agree. That's why I was careful to add (to the breeding program) when I said the more valuable subspecies. All giraffes are valuable and as you say, they are a wonderful species whether they are pure 'rothschild' or the a bit of a 'later point in a party when somebody throws all the booze they have left into a jug' (I would use the proper term, but not on the forum
)@Pertinax
The correct term here would be cross-breeds. Hybridisation infers speciation (which may take place in the long term, but has not to date ...).
I am still very happy vis a vis the current and planned for (2011) movements in UK giraffe in order to allow collections to breed conforming to individual ESU-level, while allowing collections with no experience of or available extra space to maintain single sex "hybrid" groups.
The correct term here would be cross-breeds. Hybridisation infers speciation (which may take place in the long term, but has not to date ...).
I am still very happy vis a vis the current and planned for (2011) movements in UK giraffe in order to allow collections to breed conforming to individual ESU-level, while allowing collections with no experience of or available extra space to maintain single sex "hybrid" groups.