Longleat Safari & Adventure Park Longleat Safari Park 2020
- Thread starter Jedd Cullinan
- Start date
This is it. Are you looking forward to watching it ?
Been in contact with a hoofstock keeper who confirmed that Longleat no longer hold Elk 
They also told me that the 2 black wildebeest are now back in the main African reserve after being off show for a little while. Additionally, I was told that they still have the male warthog but he's off show at the minute as they haven't finished his enclosure yet (he did escape it initially, as seen on Animal Park in December). Finally, they said that there is 2 Zebra in the old elk enclosure due to fighting but they are hoping that they will be able to re-join the herd soon 
They also told me that the 2 black wildebeest are now back in the main African reserve after being off show for a little while. Additionally, I was told that they still have the male warthog but he's off show at the minute as they haven't finished his enclosure yet (he did escape it initially, as seen on Animal Park in December). Finally, they said that there is 2 Zebra in the old elk enclosure due to fighting but they are hoping that they will be able to re-join the herd soon
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Been in contact with a hoofstock keeper who confirmed that Longleat no longer hold Elk
Interesting. They didn’t last long at Whipsnade (where Minnie came from) either, although they successfully bred. Are elk/moose notoriously difficult to keep?
Very susceptible to parasites
I know Moose/Elk can be quite dificult to keep longterm- did Whipsnade lose one/some originally and then decide to stop keeping them. Is that why they went out of them (for the second time)? They were brought in as part of their new 'European' display a few years ago, though on recent visits I felt with the disappearance of the Elk(Moose?) and Wolves the idea of this display seems to have been lost rather.
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Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Yes - wonderful animals and always on our 'would love (!) to have' list.
Heavy clay soil and no natural woodland rules them out, sadly.
Central European zoos are barely able to keep its population of European moose stable despite frequent breeding. Some zoos are doing better than others. New animals are commonly imported from Scandinavia or Baltics, to cover lost ones. Moose often die due to incorrect feeding, they are one of difficult deer species. Also, they don´t tolerate feeding by visitors. Water, shadow and constant supply of leafy branches is basics.
Im intrigued - could you elaborate on the soil type point please Andrew?
Possibly poorly -drained soil leads to more bacteria and therefore risk of infection etc? It now seems very few Moose/Elk remain in the UK again after a small influx of the species. A couple (?) of places in Scotland (SDC & HWP) and the Wildlands centre in Kent seems to be it now.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
We didnt investigate further as to parasite problems or infection being the issue, as our open site just wasnt suitable. As Jana says, woodland cover is so important. Parasite loads (and bacterial diseases) are always harder to control on heavy soils, as the organisms survive far better than they do in dry, sandy soils. We did well with Reindeer by giving them lots of room and very regular worming, but poaching (and winter mud resulting) is an issue too, solved in the case of our Zebras by confining them to hard-standing for part of most winters. Sand paddocks with drainage (horse menage style) are very expensive to install. Specialised Moose diets are available, but stocks still dwindle. The exact reasons for this must be on file within those collections which have attempted them.
There is good and bad news. Bad news is the Festival of Light has been postponed til next year and the Good news is a new winter event is coming and it's called Land of Light https://www.longleat.co.uk/whats-on/land-of-light-2020
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
@Jedd Cullinan My family and I went to I believe Longleat’s first ever Festival of Light’s event. I seen to remember that my younger sister Jesse who is now 10 was about 4 or 5 years old at the time. Jesse danced around the Singing Christmas tree in the courtyard where the Museum,Mirror Maze etc is located.
those were the days! Some of my happiest memories involve Longleat Safari And Adventure Park.
Tomorrow this is it as Animal Park will be on Screens at 10am .
Brilliant to watch Animal Park today and Rio the Cockatoo is still causing trouble for everyone and a natural show off as usual
Information about the Land of Light is right here https://www.longleat.co.uk/news/longleat-unveils-land-of-light-event
There is a wonderful tribute to Lord Bath on Animal Park today at the end of today's episode
Strange. Given his reputation, I’d have thought Animal Park would have devoted more time to him-the piece felt more like a brief acknowledgement. The repetitive koala segments are getting a bit boring now.
Yes and also new pride male Harry who's grandfather is Wallace from Blackpool is brother to Malaika, Sweet Pea & Pepper and possibly the other females.
I'm guessing that the younger females are also Malaika's daughters and sisters (cannot be certain though)