Knowsley Safari Park Knowsley Safari Park News 2012

[karoocheetah]

Lion Cubs

Just a quick update from a visit on sunday morning.

The 2 female lion cubs are 12 weeks old on friday and will be having their 12 week jabs and getting their microchips - after that little 'Jessica' and 'Victoria' will be released into the main pride.

The pride certainly seem interested as they were out playing in the sand paddock yesterday morning and the rest of the pride were lining the fence watching them play, much to mum's consternation!
Their mother is the same Lioness that had the 2 males last year - 'Sam' is still part of the Knowsley Pride and his brother (name escapes me) went to Denmark earlier this year.

The death of a couple of the older females in the pride (Alice et al) has made the average age much younger now and they seem the be a lot more active and playful - either that or I am just lucky when I go

 

[Pootle]

either that or I am just lucky when I go

Funny you should say that, because yesterday we were discussing about safari parks and how hit and miss they can be compared to zoos. Knowsley in particular I can talk about as I visit at least once a week. When you go to a zoo, on the whole you tend to get up close to the animal, there is often a list of feeding times for various animals and you can usually guarantee some activity. However at a safari park sometimes it is true that despite taking time to drive around and view as much as possible, sometimes virtually nothing happens. (yesterday pm at Knowsley for example! – we call them ‘dud safaris’). On the other hand sometimes a safari park can really get you in a situation a zoo never could and they can be really exciting, I have had a few in my time, ie a lion jumped onto the car (long time ago that one), several times I have had rhinos running at the car and genuinely had a heart in my mouth moment. Also at safaris you are probably more likely to see mammals born in the field where as zoos often (not always!) like to do it behind closed doors. At Woburn earlier this year, we arrived at opening time and the bears where very active, pushing and almost wrestling. Come pm and driving round, all I saw of a bear was a paw hanging out of a wooden shelter.
What I am hopefully getting across is that at a zoo you tend to have more of a guarantee to some degree, and a safari can be more hit and miss. I hope to safari in S Africa in the next couple of years and really hope that isn’t a ‘dud safari’ when we go their.

 

[Pertinax]

What I am hopefully getting across is that at a zoo you tend to have more of a guarantee to some degree, and a safari can be more hit and miss. I hope to safari in S Africa in the next couple of years and really hope that isn’t a ‘dud safari’ when we go their.

In Safari Parks the animals are behaving halfway towards how you would see them in the wild. Viewed at a distance in open spaces,, so less reliable viewing, usually with no 'back-up' viewing of indoor areas provided if animals retreat into shelters etc, but on the plus side there is often more natural behaviour and numbers/herd sizes etc.

In the wild some 'common' predators like Lions can be remarkably elusive and difficult to find. It would depend on where you go and how the tours are conducted, but you might have to wait some time before coming across them. Herbivores like Giraffe, Elephant, Zebra and Antelope are far more reliable 'shows'.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

There was 3.0, but one died, it must be at least 12 months ago now

Any idea which giraffe passed over?

 

[Pootle]

Any idea which giraffe passed over?

I am pretty sure the one called 'Jester' died, I think it was something related to a heart problem. The remaining two are called Oliver and Rigsby.

I am sure I recall seeing a sign around the giraffe house a couple of years back that they where to be getting one or two individuals from South Lakes, but it didn't materialise.

 

[Pootle]

Baby Cape Buffalo born this last few days, saw it today looking settled and relaxed, great news as the cow had been looking really big for a few weeks now.

 

[Pertinax]

Baby Cape Buffalo born this last few days, saw it today looking settled and relaxed, great news as the cow had been looking really big for a few weeks now.

Very pleased to hear this. Bothering to get a bull in (from Sweden?) has paid off. Hope they can build up the group with a couple more births perhaps.