Lakeland Wildlife Oasis Lakeland Wildlife Oasis News
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Two male armadillo pups have been born:
South Lakeland zoo breeding programme for endangered species welcome armadillos | ITV News
South Lakeland zoo breeding programme for endangered species welcome armadillos | ITV News
Jambi
Well-Known Member
I managed to get down to Milnthorpe and visit the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis this week, the first time I've been there since childhood.
- The first thing you see as you go in are four fish tanks which, honestly, aren't very nice to look at. They all feature the same ugly plastic rocks in them, and the edges of the tanks had a lot of algae and grime. There also weren't that many species in the tanks, all I could see in the first one was a feather duster tube worm, and I couldn't see anything in the second. The third had a fair number of reef fish in it, as well as a sea slug, and the final one had a selection of corals and some fire gobies. I don't understand why the corals are only in one tank and not all four, it would certainly make them more pleasing to look at.
- Next up is a butterfly hall, but unfortunately I saw no butterflies. According to a staff member there are a small number in there, a lot are still developing in their chrysalis, and the zoo is holding off sourcing any more until the weather improves and it isn't as cold at nights. Still, there were plenty of other things to look at, including a colony of leafcutter ants, stick insects, tarantulas, and a tank with Lake Malawi cichlids.
- Going through a doorway covered by plastic flaps leads you into a corridor with more fish tanks that look a lot nicer than the first ones. There's an African lungfish, gourami, blind cave fish and axolotl. This leads you into a Tropical hall with quite a lot to see; potoroos with a really nice waterfall feature in their enclosure, a nocturnal area with some Cairo spiny mice, a good selection of reptiles and frogs, and even some free-flying birds and bats, with the bats hanging from a wire mesh on the ceiling. There's an open doorway with no door or anything between the Tropical hall and the corridor with the fish tanks, so I do wonder what's stopping the birds and bats from flying in there, but perhaps it doesn't happen often enough to justify putting in a door. There is a door next to the potoroo enclosure that leads back into the butterfly hall.
- Because it was a cold, wet miserable day I wasn't expecting to see much in the zoo's outdoor section, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I did manage to see. I saw snow leopards, Scottish wild cats, wallabies, lemurs, meerkats, marmosets and tamarins, and an absolutely gorgeous looking fossa, which is the first time I ever remember seeing this species.
- The zoo's walkthrough African aviary was closed because bird flu is going around, but I could still see all of the birds from outside, including hornbills, guineafowl, lilac-breasted rollers and superb starlings. There's also an enclosure next to it with dik-diks and grey crowned cranes, both of which I got a good look at.
- The first thing you see as you go in are four fish tanks which, honestly, aren't very nice to look at. They all feature the same ugly plastic rocks in them, and the edges of the tanks had a lot of algae and grime. There also weren't that many species in the tanks, all I could see in the first one was a feather duster tube worm, and I couldn't see anything in the second. The third had a fair number of reef fish in it, as well as a sea slug, and the final one had a selection of corals and some fire gobies. I don't understand why the corals are only in one tank and not all four, it would certainly make them more pleasing to look at.
- Next up is a butterfly hall, but unfortunately I saw no butterflies. According to a staff member there are a small number in there, a lot are still developing in their chrysalis, and the zoo is holding off sourcing any more until the weather improves and it isn't as cold at nights. Still, there were plenty of other things to look at, including a colony of leafcutter ants, stick insects, tarantulas, and a tank with Lake Malawi cichlids.
- Going through a doorway covered by plastic flaps leads you into a corridor with more fish tanks that look a lot nicer than the first ones. There's an African lungfish, gourami, blind cave fish and axolotl. This leads you into a Tropical hall with quite a lot to see; potoroos with a really nice waterfall feature in their enclosure, a nocturnal area with some Cairo spiny mice, a good selection of reptiles and frogs, and even some free-flying birds and bats, with the bats hanging from a wire mesh on the ceiling. There's an open doorway with no door or anything between the Tropical hall and the corridor with the fish tanks, so I do wonder what's stopping the birds and bats from flying in there, but perhaps it doesn't happen often enough to justify putting in a door. There is a door next to the potoroo enclosure that leads back into the butterfly hall.
- Because it was a cold, wet miserable day I wasn't expecting to see much in the zoo's outdoor section, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I did manage to see. I saw snow leopards, Scottish wild cats, wallabies, lemurs, meerkats, marmosets and tamarins, and an absolutely gorgeous looking fossa, which is the first time I ever remember seeing this species.
- The zoo's walkthrough African aviary was closed because bird flu is going around, but I could still see all of the birds from outside, including hornbills, guineafowl, lilac-breasted rollers and superb starlings. There's also an enclosure next to it with dik-diks and grey crowned cranes, both of which I got a good look at.
Snow Leopard Snow Crystal ('Chris'), born at Lakeland, has recently become a father at Zurich:
Snow leopard birth with surprise | Zurich Zoo
Snow leopard birth with surprise | Zurich Zoo
Jambi
Well-Known Member
I looked up the Facebook photos, the cave shelter thing makes me think it'll be some kind of small carnivore, something like a lynx or serval. I'm planning another visit this month, mostly to see if I can spot and/or photograph and butterflies because there were none last time, but I may hold off until this new species arrives.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis has announced the successful breeding of Seychelles giant millipedes. These endangered invertebrates are currently being held off-show.
Information comes from the zoo's Facebook page.
Information comes from the zoo's Facebook page.
Jambi
Well-Known Member
It turned out to be a pair of Snowy owls. I have two weeks off work in October, so I may arrange another visit down there to see them.
Lazy Prosimian
Member
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis: Zoo's conservation hopes after expansion approved
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-65225776
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-65225776
Other 2023 News:
On January 12th, the zoo announced that the (1.0) Kirk's dik-dik who was born in October 2022 was named Spud.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On February 5th, the zoo announced they transferred (0.0.2) black curassows named Sonny and Cher to another unspecified facility.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On February 11th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.0.15) blue-legged mantellas which are now on exhibit.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On March 6th, the zoo announced they moved their emperor tamarins to the enclosure alongside the Cafe Conservatory.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On March 16th, the zoo announced they moved their tailless whip scorpions off-exhibit to be used as animal ambassadors.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On April 5th, the zoo announced they moved their (0.1) Gambian pouched rat named Jayne to the exhibit opposite the grey crowned crane/Kirk's dik-dik mixed exhibit.
On January 12th, the zoo announced that the (1.0) Kirk's dik-dik who was born in October 2022 was named Spud.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On February 5th, the zoo announced they transferred (0.0.2) black curassows named Sonny and Cher to another unspecified facility.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On February 11th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.0.15) blue-legged mantellas which are now on exhibit.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On March 6th, the zoo announced they moved their emperor tamarins to the enclosure alongside the Cafe Conservatory.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On March 16th, the zoo announced they moved their tailless whip scorpions off-exhibit to be used as animal ambassadors.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
On April 5th, the zoo announced they moved their (0.1) Gambian pouched rat named Jayne to the exhibit opposite the grey crowned crane/Kirk's dik-dik mixed exhibit.
Jambi
Well-Known Member
I've seen them once, on my last visit in February, but that could've been pure luck because their vivarium has a lot of plants and hiding places.
On April 21st, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) Kirk's dik-dik was born on March 23rd.
That's right, our Kirk's dik-dik family has now grown to 4! Parents Cora and Dylan had their second calf on 23rd March 2023, just 6-months after Spud... | By Lakeland Wildlife Oasis | Facebook
That's right, our Kirk's dik-dik family has now grown to 4! Parents Cora and Dylan had their second calf on 23rd March 2023, just 6-months after Spud... | By Lakeland Wildlife Oasis | Facebook
On May 6th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.2) Northern Luzon giant cloud rats named Storm and Rain which are now on exhibit with their northern treeshrews.
EXCITING NEW ARRIVALS! Last week, we were joined by these two ADORABLE Northern Luzon Cloud Rats! These two girls, Storm and Rain, can be... | By Lakeland Wildlife Oasis | Facebook
EXCITING NEW ARRIVALS! Last week, we were joined by these two ADORABLE Northern Luzon Cloud Rats! These two girls, Storm and Rain, can be... | By Lakeland Wildlife Oasis | Facebook
Jambi
Well-Known Member
Lovely news! Edinburgh Zoo is the only other place I've seen giant cloud rats (the ones at Chester Zoo were no-shows last time I went there), so it's good to know there's a zoo close to me that has them now.On May 6th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.2) Northern Luzon giant cloud rats named Storm and Rain which are now on exhibit with their northern treeshrews.
Jambi
Well-Known Member
That's the case for a lot of nocturnal animals unfortunately. I've still never seen Wildlife Oasis's Gambian pouched rat after a few visits. I'll keep an eye out for that too.