Longleat Safari & Adventure Park Longleat Safari Park News 2011

Longleat should also have been sent some Roan Antelopes from marwell dont know how many. maybe you could have a look on thursday Zambar
 
I thought that an additional 0:1 White Rhino arrived from Holland around the same time as Ebun? Has she now moved elsewhere? :confused:
 
To answer some questions:

- There were seven wildebeest, and am I right in thinking it was four males originally? If so then three females have arrived, and they're still in the monkey jungle even though they're advertised on the map as being in the big game park.
- No work on the gorilla enclosure except for tree clearance really so WW's 2012 approximate would be accurate.
- Again there were four rhinos together in the reserve, including the new younger one. Other than her couldn't tell which ones were which.
- No sign of any roan antelope so far.
- Cheetah reserve ready but of course they won't be arriving till a few weeks.

Apart from the occasional shower and the fact that the Bat Cave was closed due to a bit of building work going on, it was a good day and I was very happy to see Anne showing herself at her best in her yard, watching the lions getting beastly over a carcass and seeing the new binturongs in Jungle Kingdom, as well as having four lorikeets clamber over me at once for nectar which I've never done before! And for those interested a bit of breakdown on the new stuff:

- Species in Jungle Kingdom are Short-Clawed Otters, Giant Anteaters (plus they're very cute new baby), Binturongs, Coatis, Mara, Chipmunks, Meerkats, Yellow Mongooses and Porcupines, the latter three mixed and in a walk-through except for the porcupines. This bet is well done I 'spose for what it is but what brings it down is video game like 'adventure' music and animal noises pitched up to 11 with only an interval of a few minutes between. Not surprisingly I've learnt this is the wishes of those up high in management, which makes me think of the film Fierce Creatures a bit really. Hope they get enough complaints to stop these eventually.
The next bit, Monkey Temple, involves crossing the railway track under a iguana statue/fountain into what was previously bare grass next to the station which has been turned into a well planted walkway going past another enclosure for a pair of otters toward the 'temple' which has free ranging marmosets and goedlis monkeys. Next to this is the lorikeet feeding aviary, and passing the barn owls on the way out you are lead back into Animal Adventure, which now has kune kune pigs, siberian weasels and arabian rock hyrax in the old porcupine, otter and prarie dog pens.
- Although deer valley is now open, we didn't get round to there so apologies. It's next to the maze and opposite adventure castle if anyone wants to know.
- And then of course the waterhole, cheetah kingdom, gorilla island and hunters of the sky haven't opened yet.

As for the future, there was a bit of work going on behind the boat quay that looked like extension to Jungle Kingdom, and on the new train carriages they have pictures of all the lake animals: Sea lions, hippos, pelicans and, um, king penguins...
 
Great review Zambar, what amazes me is the speed in which the collection has been enlarged and the rate of development at the park is quite astounding.
Some really choice species there, many untypical safari park species, which is nice to see.
 
Sounds like they've made some great improvements, thanks for the review. I'd really love to make a visit here again but the family aren't too keen, even though we have vouchers from Tesco (typical).
 
Warminster Web said:
You may want to support the RSPCA appeal to stop the use of wild animals, like Anne, in circuses, they want us all to drop an email to our MP as they are discussing it in the House Of Commons next week Last chance to help ban wild animals in circuses - News story - Media - rspca.org.uk
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It has always been my contention that circuses with animals should have regulation of their care and handling of animals as is the case of UK zoological collections therefore I welcome the decision of DEFRA to introduce such regulations provided that such regulations are considered and fair. It may come as surprise but many circuses in the UK want licensing and inspection and have campaigned to have this for years - something which is common place in Germany, France and many other European countries.

Moreover, I have never favoured a ban of animals in circuses as from the scientific evidence and from personal observation this seems both unnecessary and unfair to responsible circuses that do take there welfare obligations towards their animals seriously.

There has been two reports commission on the welfare of animals in UK circuses.

The first was undertaken by my colleague Dr Marthe Kiley-Worthington and published in 1990 with the financial support of the RSPCA and The University Federation of Animal Welfare (UFAW). Dr Kiley-Worthington spent some 18 months studying all aspects of animals in circuses, including making detailed quantitative recordings of their behaviour for over 3000 animal hours Her conclusions were that circuses were by their nature not cruel and that any deficits in the husbandry of the animals within these environments could be addressed without the need of banning such enterprises.

To quote her: “..there is no reason why circus training, any more than any other animal training, of its nature causes suffering and distress to the animals, or should be considered ethically unacceptable”

The full report can be found here:

Dr Kiley-Worthington also presented an over-view of her research at the UFAW symposium: “Animal Training: A review and commentary on current practice” in September 1989.

A second circus animal welfare report was of course commission by your department in 2007 and stated: “A ban on using wild animals in travelling circuses because of welfare concerns is not supported by the scientific evidence” and there was "little evidence" that the welfare of animals kept in travelling circuses was any better or worse than that of animals kept in other captive environments.

A copy of the report can be found here:

It certainly is right that people should be concerned about the welfare of animals in the care of humans but as stated these concerns do need to be supported by proper objective research.

And issues of animal welfare aside it should be noted that such a ban may well be illegal under violation of EU Treaty.

Here is press release from the European Circus Association which gives the background:

European Circus Association Challenges Performing Animal Bans

Brussels, Belgium – The European Circus Association (ECA) today announced the filing of legal actions against Austria and the City of Luxembourg to challenge their bans on animals in the circus. ECA President Urs Pilz made the announcement at the European Parliament where the ECA and its partners delivered a report to MEP Doris Pack, Chairwoman of the Committee on Culture and Education, on next steps for the Parliament’s 2005 circus resolution which noted the desirability of further recognition of the classical circus, including the presentation of animals, as part of European culture.

“We have waited nearly five years for the European Commission to take up its responsibilities and challenge the Austrian ban,” Mr. Pilz said. “The right to present well-cared for animals under good welfare conditions in the classical circus in Europe must be established once and for all. Equal treatment for the circus community and enforcement of law also means that bans established by local authorities such as the City of Luxembourg must be invalidated.”

Austria instituted a ban on non-domesticated animals in the circus in January 2005. The European Commission determined that the Austrian ban violated Article 49 of the European Treaty and opened legal proceedings against Austria. However, the Commission dropped the case under pressure from animal rights activists. In June 2009, the European Ombudsman concluded his investigation, finding that the Commission had “abdicated its role as Guardian of the Treaty.” He recommended that the Commission reinstate the action or provide a legally valid reason for not doing so.

Mr. Pilz emphasized the ongoing popularity of performing circus animals across Europe. Data from the Irish Arts Council shows that more Irish visited circuses in 2006 than opera, contemporary dance, and ballet combined. Independent market research determined that 6.4 million Germans visited a circus in either 2006 or 2007. A random sampling of the German public in 2008 found that 86% of the persons surveyed believe that animals are an essential part of the circus.

The ECA reaffirmed its strong commitment to animal welfare. It also announced a new Pledge programme under which ECA members would report on their achievements to the public and its intention to identify one European circus each year for excellence and innovation in animal care.
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Thanks (I think) for such a long reply, but personally I will put more store by the RSPCA as well as the simple logic that no wild animal would choose to live such a confined life, irrespective of how its jailor treats it.
 
Warminster Web said:
Thanks (I think) for such a long reply, but personally I will put more store by the RSPCA as well as the simple logic that no wild animal would choose to live such a confined life, irrespective of how its jailor treats it.
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I put my faith in the actual scientific research as 'simple logic' can be delusional.

The Kiley-Worthington report I refer to was co-funded by the RSPCA but because Kily-Worthington was an objective scientist and reported what she observed and not what the RSPCA thought they would like to see they refused to publish her report under their name. She had to self-publish. I think that speaks volumes for the RSPCA's objectivity.

Sadly it was not so long ago that one of the RSPCA Ruling Councillors Robin Webb was exposed as a "central and pivotal figure" in the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) organisation.

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Webb]Robin Webb - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]


I think you will unfortunately find that the RSPCA isn't held in very high regard by many animal keeping professionals and this includes vets and animal rescue centres. They are a very high profile lobby group who have on a number of occasions been discovered more interested in politics than animal welfare.

RSPCA millions go on politics and HQ - Telegraph

That fact you regrettably use the word 'jailer' sadly speaks volumes and could equally be aimed at zoo keepers.
 
back to the thread..i wouldnt be surprised if longleat jump on the penguin bandwagon (r.e someones earlier post about pictures of penguin on the train) maybe this will be a future development for Jungle Kingdom? Looking at the level of investment they have made in the new exhibits, makes me think they could prob do quite a nice penguin enclosure. pure speculation! :)
 
jacks zoo said:
back to the thread..i wouldnt be surprised if longleat jump on the penguin bandwagon (r.e someones earlier post about pictures of penguin on the train) maybe this will be a future development for Jungle Kingdom? Looking at the level of investment they have made in the new exhibits, makes me think they could prob do quite a nice penguin enclosure. pure speculation! :)
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Yes it seems quite likely and with all the new penguin exhibits being constructed it will not be hard to find captive breed stock. Penguins seemed to be becoming the new Meerkats.

I wonder how well they would do in the lake ;)
 
I bloody well hope they don't stick them in there! :rolleyes: They'd be sea lion cuisine let alone invisible to visitors...
 
Longleat Safari Park

And if the Sealions didn't get them, the Hippos might......
 
Zambar said:
I bloody well hope they don't stick them in there! :rolleyes: They'd be sea lion cuisine let alone invisible to visitors...
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I was joking although you can keep penguins with some species of sea lion. Ocean Park an exhibit like this some years ago.
 
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