Longleat Safari & Adventure Park Longleat Safari Park News 2012
- Thread starter Nisha
- Start date
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
There are seven Cheetahs. I believe there are three males and three females, and one recent arrival still in Quarantine.
On the Sun bear front then that would be very interesting. I wonder if a Safari Park in the UK has ever had Sun bears in a 'car drive through'.
No UK Safari Park has ever kept Sun Bears.(afaik)
Went to Longleat today for the first time this year, the queues to get in were bad, but Longleat have built new ticket booths at the entrance to help reduce waiting times by the looks of it.
The East Africa Game reserve was empty of animals as building work is being carried out to produce the new African Village, and Giraffe feeding stations.
Annes yard was being used for the rhino exercise area today, I think they used to put the bull in there? There is talk of a grass paddock for Anne, im not sure where this has been built, but there was building work going on around the edge of the park.
The new gorilla colony accomodation is coming along well, and Nico was out on his Island eating away!
All in all there is alot of work going on at Longleat, and with sunbears, new gorillas, and penguines all on the way, it looks exciting times ahead for Longleat.
The East Africa Game reserve was empty of animals as building work is being carried out to produce the new African Village, and Giraffe feeding stations.
Annes yard was being used for the rhino exercise area today, I think they used to put the bull in there? There is talk of a grass paddock for Anne, im not sure where this has been built, but there was building work going on around the edge of the park.
The new gorilla colony accomodation is coming along well, and Nico was out on his Island eating away!
All in all there is alot of work going on at Longleat, and with sunbears, new gorillas, and penguines all on the way, it looks exciting times ahead for Longleat.
As far as I can work out they'll have an enclosure on the bank of half-mile lake, towards the far end.
Phew! 
Is the first photo the new African Village? I am a rather surprised they are allowed to eat into Longleat's ancient Parkland like this- that hillside is now something of an eyesore.
The wall of the Gorilla enclosure and indoor house is intrusive too but maybe they will paint it all green...the outdoor area has a long frontage to the Lake, obviously designed for best viewing from the boats.
Is the first photo the new African Village? I am a rather surprised they are allowed to eat into Longleat's ancient Parkland like this- that hillside is now something of an eyesore.The wall of the Gorilla enclosure and indoor house is intrusive too but maybe they will paint it all green...the outdoor area has a long frontage to the Lake, obviously designed for best viewing from the boats.
Warminster Web
Well-Known Member
Three of the cheetahs were let out of their quarantine enclosure for the first time today. Longleat kindly let me know and I went along to photograph them. Chatting with the deputy of cats, Bob Trollope, he tells me that the seventh cheetah was confiscated headed for Russia without chip or papers so they are permanently looking after him for Customs. Photos here Warminster Web | Longleat News & Photos . Also Seaview Wildlife Encounter on the Isle Of Wight tell me that in a change of plans they will do the initial hand rearing of the penguins before they head to Longleat in a few weeks time.
Standpitpony
Well-Known Member
Not sure if this has already been mentioned but gorilla island isnt much of an island,hmm?Also,its directly next to the sea lion/hippo pen(which?)and wont this cause distress if the gorillas escape(not saying their going to).Good to hear about the cheetahs,although isis states there are only two males(am I going mad?)
Warminster Web
Well-Known Member
Since English Heritage wouldn't let them change the shape of the lake to create another island they stopped calling it Gorilla Island and now call it Gorilla Colony. They would need grappling ropes to escape. No idea what ISIS says.
mazfc
Well-Known Member
I think an escaped gorilla would cause distress wherever the enclosure was situated!! I really don't think the location of the enclosure has any relevance to an escape. A well designed enclosure will preclude that so I don't the neighbours need to worry their tawny or grey heads about it.
The outdoor wall looks similar to Port Lympne's and no gorillas have ever escaped from theirs. I don't think anyone need worry on that score!
Does anybody know if the gorilla enclosure being built will be for a breeding group or bachelors ??
GB
GB
Warminster Web
Well-Known Member
Boys initially girls later is apparently the plan.
I would hazard a guess that the Gorillas will be on display for boat visitors by being shut out of their house, at least in summer and in good weather, which is when the boats go out. If they don't do that they are likely to stay indoors much of the time and be invisible!
My understanding is it is for a batchelor group of 5 males. I don't know if these 5 have been sourced yet.
Im confused about the cheetahs. Is the plan for all 7 to be run together as a group? have cheetahs ever been bred from as a large group before? I would also be grateful if any one could enlighten me on where the cheetah enclosure is, and how big it is? I onyl live 10 miles down the road I really should stop being so lazy and just go and visit!
Sun bears would be interesting as a drive through, and probably more active than the lions and tigers who spend 23 hours out of 24 sleeping.
Does anyone have plans for the new penguin enclosure, or know exactly where it would go?
On an unrelated note, I saw in a photograph anteaters at longleat being kept with mara. i have not seen anteaters kept in a mixed enclosure before, is there any reason for this? For example, at edinburgh zoo, the anteaters have a large enclosure on the hillside, with rhea and guanaco also in their own separate fields (while the cats live in small cats). Why couldn't they stick the rhea in with the guanaco and use the spare paddocks for large cat enclosures?
I recently ran the longleat 10km. Why? god knows. I noticed (in between palpitations and vomiting) that the deer are now in a big field beyond the maze, with a feeding area. Who lives in the old deer safari paddock now then? Is it to make way for a bigger african reserve?
Im confused about the cheetahs. Is the plan for all 7 to be run together as a group? have cheetahs ever been bred from as a large group before? I would also be grateful if any one could enlighten me on where the cheetah enclosure is, and how big it is? I onyl live 10 miles down the road I really should stop being so lazy and just go and visit!
Sun bears would be interesting as a drive through, and probably more active than the lions and tigers who spend 23 hours out of 24 sleeping.
Does anyone have plans for the new penguin enclosure, or know exactly where it would go?
On an unrelated note, I saw in a photograph anteaters at longleat being kept with mara. i have not seen anteaters kept in a mixed enclosure before, is there any reason for this? For example, at edinburgh zoo, the anteaters have a large enclosure on the hillside, with rhea and guanaco also in their own separate fields (while the cats live in small cats). Why couldn't they stick the rhea in with the guanaco and use the spare paddocks for large cat enclosures?
I recently ran the longleat 10km. Why? god knows. I noticed (in between palpitations and vomiting) that the deer are now in a big field beyond the maze, with a feeding area. Who lives in the old deer safari paddock now then? Is it to make way for a bigger african reserve?