Most zoos in my general proximity I have visited multiple times before; or just once. Marwell I have visited on an annual basis, unbroken since 2020 - Whipsnade in 2021 and 2023, and so with Cotswold Wildlife Park. London Zoo in 2016 and 2021, Birdland in 2024, 2021, and numerous years before that, and also Bristol Zoo three times before its closure. But still, all this time one major collection - although local - had gone under the radar. That being Woburn Safari Park.
I am not sure why I never stopped before to visit Woburn. Perhaps these zoos I have described are merely familiar enough so that like one's local restaurant or shopping centre these zoos too became my locals. But somehow never Woburn. Though I have always made point of visiting it.
And this year prime opportunity showed itself - as I recently spent 2 days meeting family friends up north, and so on the third day it was that I could visit an animal collection on the way home. Several options showed themselves; though few of them were very close to the path between my staying location and back home. But four showed themselves as opportunity; Yorkshire, Twycross, Whipsnade - and Woburn. There was a feeling amongst party that a big amount of walking would be excessive - so Yorkshire was ruled out. Although Twycross' collection of primates was appealing, somehow not much else of that interested me. A complete visit to Whipsnade, which I had visited last year, in combination with 'not too much walking' ethos seemed to contradict itself very much ... and so it was that Woburn, a safari park; such I had not been to in years, and never to Woburn; presented itself as appealing. Much of it you can go around by car, and the foot area is not that big. And so Woburn it was!
The previous day I had visited Malham Cove after one such friend had piqued my interest, describing the curlews, grouse, and peregrine he had seen there in times prior... only to realise afterwards he had never seen all three of those in the same day - and certainly not that day. But what was good to see there were the swallows who were in abundance - but hard to photograph!
The animals that made themselves most obvious to one entering on this day were the Soay sheep which were busy at work nibbling away at the estate's grass. And to either side of the road it wasn't long before the first 'big game' was to be seen - in particular, American Bison and Blue Wildebeest. I had not seen the latter species for the longest time, so it was very good to be seeing it again; albeit behind a fence in a car. The wildebeest who made themself most visible that day had lost one of their horns. The bison were even farther away - but having seen them at very close quarters at Berlin in 2022 I was not so phased. I'm sure the bison farms of this country do their bit to advertise themselves to tourists who wish to see a bison anyhow...
And from there it was into the main road safari! And the appeal of the safari park showed itself to me as I brought my medium zoom lens along [300mm] ... often in zoos with hoofstock it is that they stay far away from the public. But from the safety of the car none of the hoofstock minded very much the presence of the photographer. One particular species I saw and photographed here very well compared to before times was the common eland; who I only 'really' photographed before in Zoo Berlin in 2022. Here however they were numerous and easy to photograph.
Another very nice antelope that I had seldom photographed before today was the sable antelope; who is now a rarity in 'superstore zoos' but a safari park staple. I was sure I saw a whole herd from a distance, but upon coming closer only saw a few scattered males. Maybe what I saw were the elands or other 'cattle' in the area?
The carnivores at first were inconsequential. No tigers or wolves to be seen. Lions merely lion-coloured lumps on the shelter roof, as usual ... but the bears were lively and active. However, quite far away often and tricky to photograph in focus! many bears had congregated around a particular stump where I guess food had been placed by one of the rangers. These bears were a significant part of my being there - as they were American Black Bears; the only species of bear whom I had yet to photograph. And so this visit made 8!
It was not long afterwards that larger herbivores made themselves more apparent. Rhinos are always good to see close, as are ankole cattle. I can understand why ankole are not as popular as they once were - potentially dangerous domestic animals; but they are impressive creatures with interesting cultural heritage from the African continent!
Giraffes were good to see also, though blesbok - as always - stayed out of the way from people so to make themselves unshowy. The monkey area had some funny shenanigans happen, although said 'funny shenanigans' was limited to said monkeys sitting atop cars for hitchhiking; and little else. It's funny until that car is yours!
TBC
I am not sure why I never stopped before to visit Woburn. Perhaps these zoos I have described are merely familiar enough so that like one's local restaurant or shopping centre these zoos too became my locals. But somehow never Woburn. Though I have always made point of visiting it.
And this year prime opportunity showed itself - as I recently spent 2 days meeting family friends up north, and so on the third day it was that I could visit an animal collection on the way home. Several options showed themselves; though few of them were very close to the path between my staying location and back home. But four showed themselves as opportunity; Yorkshire, Twycross, Whipsnade - and Woburn. There was a feeling amongst party that a big amount of walking would be excessive - so Yorkshire was ruled out. Although Twycross' collection of primates was appealing, somehow not much else of that interested me. A complete visit to Whipsnade, which I had visited last year, in combination with 'not too much walking' ethos seemed to contradict itself very much ... and so it was that Woburn, a safari park; such I had not been to in years, and never to Woburn; presented itself as appealing. Much of it you can go around by car, and the foot area is not that big. And so Woburn it was!
The previous day I had visited Malham Cove after one such friend had piqued my interest, describing the curlews, grouse, and peregrine he had seen there in times prior... only to realise afterwards he had never seen all three of those in the same day - and certainly not that day. But what was good to see there were the swallows who were in abundance - but hard to photograph!
The animals that made themselves most obvious to one entering on this day were the Soay sheep which were busy at work nibbling away at the estate's grass. And to either side of the road it wasn't long before the first 'big game' was to be seen - in particular, American Bison and Blue Wildebeest. I had not seen the latter species for the longest time, so it was very good to be seeing it again; albeit behind a fence in a car. The wildebeest who made themself most visible that day had lost one of their horns. The bison were even farther away - but having seen them at very close quarters at Berlin in 2022 I was not so phased. I'm sure the bison farms of this country do their bit to advertise themselves to tourists who wish to see a bison anyhow...
And from there it was into the main road safari! And the appeal of the safari park showed itself to me as I brought my medium zoom lens along [300mm] ... often in zoos with hoofstock it is that they stay far away from the public. But from the safety of the car none of the hoofstock minded very much the presence of the photographer. One particular species I saw and photographed here very well compared to before times was the common eland; who I only 'really' photographed before in Zoo Berlin in 2022. Here however they were numerous and easy to photograph.
Another very nice antelope that I had seldom photographed before today was the sable antelope; who is now a rarity in 'superstore zoos' but a safari park staple. I was sure I saw a whole herd from a distance, but upon coming closer only saw a few scattered males. Maybe what I saw were the elands or other 'cattle' in the area?
The carnivores at first were inconsequential. No tigers or wolves to be seen. Lions merely lion-coloured lumps on the shelter roof, as usual ... but the bears were lively and active. However, quite far away often and tricky to photograph in focus! many bears had congregated around a particular stump where I guess food had been placed by one of the rangers. These bears were a significant part of my being there - as they were American Black Bears; the only species of bear whom I had yet to photograph. And so this visit made 8!
It was not long afterwards that larger herbivores made themselves more apparent. Rhinos are always good to see close, as are ankole cattle. I can understand why ankole are not as popular as they once were - potentially dangerous domestic animals; but they are impressive creatures with interesting cultural heritage from the African continent!
Giraffes were good to see also, though blesbok - as always - stayed out of the way from people so to make themselves unshowy. The monkey area had some funny shenanigans happen, although said 'funny shenanigans' was limited to said monkeys sitting atop cars for hitchhiking; and little else. It's funny until that car is yours!
TBC
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