Chew Valley Animal Park My visit to Chew Valley Animal Park - 20/12/23

[dillotest0]

I visited today as accompiniment to a capybara experiece at Chew Valley Animal Park. And here I will share some of my opinions regarding the place.
The greeting, aside from the camels, is one of some 'grandeur' - the admissions building is aesthetically pleasing. The staff are nice and helpful, and I was given a bag of grass pellets which is specified for goats and deer. The layout from there is a bit odd... north of the admissions building is the petting corner for rodents - rats, mice, rabbits and guinea pigs [no chinchillas...]. It was a cold, miserable day - so at the point where I had one of the mice in my hand, I felt rather little. Some mice are brought into a glass tank for display, and at one corner there are enclosures for rabbits and guinea-pigs. The rats live in an area which guests can look into fairly easily... but can't go into themself.

And to get to the main section of the zoo you have to then go through the admissions building. This is where most of the animal enclosures are. There is a barn with sheep, goats, pigs, llamas and alpacas.

And here I think I saw first-hand the answer to a question I had for a while... why do more public farms choose to keep alpacas rather than llamas, other than the fact that alpacas are smaller and somewhat cheaper to feed? The alpacas here were rather relaxed and indifferent. The llamas whereas... were interrogative very much - without apparent restraint. Very very willing to check your pockets or orifices for feed bags. And undoubtably made bolder by constant feeding...
From there it's a 'hodgepodge'... rather standard fencing, but nothing I'd call inadequate. One particular aviary had several different waterfowl - including buff-necked ibis. Which I quite liked since I like ibises very much.
Sooner or later it was time for the main event - the capybara entry. The party was led into the capybara enclosure where they were given a communal bucket filled with all manner of root vegetables. The capybara were easily fed - all one had to do was hold the vegetable close to the animal's mouth and let their grotesque teeth do the rest. And I will say - if there was any experience that changed my perception of a capybara from that of an aesthetically cute rodent to that of a curiosity displaced in time and space that isn't so cuddly or texturally pleasing after all... then it was this one!

From there I made my way around the remaining section of the zoo - largely a series of runs that go into a corner. There were adjoining runs for red and Arctic fox; of which I only saw the latter. The best photograph I got of the fox beautifully sums up how I felt about the general weather.

Another curious exhibit was that for coati and raccoon; of which I only saw one each. Initially appearing as separate enclosures, the two were in fact merged together by a small hole which either animal could use to get into the other's whereabouts. And I suppose these were their 'remaining stock'... as both looked as rather 'senior' representations of their species.
And it is in this run of aviaries that the 'star of the show' for species-hunters made its appearance - the resident Hausa Genet.


Unfortunately with many of the aviaries the bars were not very condusive for photography... but I still got a few I was happy with. But I must say that around here the grass was very muddy... and of course the onslaught rain didn't help at all. I managed to get to the deer pen [with only does] at the top of the park, but the mud there didn't have me very much in good spirits. The deer have some decent amount of space... but even so seemed almost in suspension.

After that I hadn't seen everything at the park, even if I had seen a fair amount... but needless to say the day didn't have myself in high spirits, so I felt it was time to go to the bar and restaurant onsite. And I will say this - it is very well done, very well furnished. Though it mainly sells pizza aside from a few other roasts, so I'm not sure how vegetarian-friendly it is.
And so...
I do think that it has potential. It seems to have the money certainly to build the fine restaurant and bar it has. Likely the best I have seen at a collection this size. And so I would like to see them invest some of that money into the experience of the visitors who come to see animals... be that investing in larger/better enclosures - or having a cohesive pathway. And it'd help to have a cohesive map as well... as unless you know what you're looking for there is a chance that you may never find the deer. I myself was a bit 'put off' by the general aesthetic as you enter into the deer area.
Though I will say, to speak of the animal collection... I do say it's in the ball-park of 'it's a nice enough place if you're in the area or if you want to stroke a time-displaced megafauna... but it's not really the kind of place I'd go of my own accord.' And that's fine I guess... I do not ask for every zoo I go to to bow to me and have an extensive collection of obscure rodents, obscure waterfowl... as much as I like that. If you have some time to kill and are in the area, not desparately picky as to what you are going to see... then it's nice enough.
The website gives a good impression of what is there... though I will say that I did not see Demoiselle crane, Puna Ibis or Hudson Squirrel on my visit. [and for the record, neither did I see opossum, chinchilla, or four-toed hedgehog - the former two have confirmed to not be there anymore... but not sure about the latter] Though they very well could still be there... and it could just be my negligence
But aside from that aside, most if not all the species listed on their website are there. So if you know what to expect, then expect not to find great disappointment. I didn't find it.
So that's that!

 

[Alwaysevergreen]

Thanks for posting a review, but I do feel in some areas, perhaps you've been a little harsh.

Chew Valley don't advertise themselves as a zoo full of fancy animals, they are simply an animal park, and have always been as such a farm park. Therefore, an emphasis is very much on a family day out, with informative talks, interactive sessions and animals which fit that remit.

Over the years they have taken on some ex pet rescues, and with this at times they have had some unusual animals. However, although Zootierliste has 5 or 6 animals some find interesting, it should be said that most of these animals haven't been there for quite some time, many were never there at the same time and therefore I would always say, go by the zoos website as it is at least a zoo that keeps this updated.

I was a little surprised to see you said you liked rodents, and then called a Capybara grotesque :O

You make comments that money can go into developing enclosures, yet I would say, most enclosures are adequate for the animals they hold. As with a lot of farm parks, the focus is on those types of animals. I do feel their Camel exhibit is one of the larger I've seen at a smaller zoo, and whilst I agree it's tough for photography, the place is mainly designed for families.

I do know that earlier this year they were planning to bring in a new exotic species, but this has had delays.

I can understand your disappointment somewhat if you have gone there expecting to find a zoo, or wildlife park, and been expecting as much, but then I would also say, this was your expectation which makes it a disappointing day out, and not the parks fault.

Chew Valley has always been a farm park, they don't label themselves a zoo, or wildlife park, although they correctly point out they have a full zoo license.
They use the word animal park, as they have more than just farm animals, but that's exactly what Chew Valley is.

The restaurant is top quality and you don't have to enter the animal park to use it, some people go there for Sunday lunch, without any intention of going into the park.

The American Squirrels are around the side from the camels and capybara. Near the Genet. Not a larger exhibit by any means and just before you come to the Coati and Raccoon mixed exhibit, which are ex pets, and are old as you say.

It was in one of these exhibits, that used to house the Opossum.

The Chinchilla did used to be in the handling area in a enclosure by the rats, although rarely came out for handling. I do not know if they have it anymore or not.

Like I said, I feel a few of your comments regarding Chew Valley are a little harsh, as I feel you've gone there expecting a zoo, when in effect, you've visited a farm park, with more expectations of your own. Sorry if I have read that wrong.

I like Chew Valley. It's quiet, the animals are nice to see, there's plenty to see and do, and it's quite relaxed for a farm park, as the kids play areas and all that are away from the animals, whilst at some farm parks they are scattered here there and everywhere which sometimes makes it a noisy visit.

I just feel you've gone there expecting it to be something it isn't and because of that, been disappointed. The weather may have also played a part on that front, as you mentioned a few times it was wet and cold. If you had known you were going to a farm park, with a few exotic rescues, I think you would have been more understanding of the place, and enjoyed it more, but that's just my take on what you have written.

I guess it comes down to what people expect. I would say if you visited a place Little Owl Farm Park, you wouldn't have had the expectations of anymore than that, but you've visited Chew Valley expecting a zoo and not a farm park, and therefore, I feel you were always likely to be a little disappointed, as you were expecting to find something it isn't.

By the way, they do have a lot of vegetarian choice in the restaurant and it's not just pizzas and roasts. They have a full menu, pizza menu, and then the Sunday roast menu for Sunday's. As someone, who eats vegetarian 5 days a week, I've never struggled for vegetarian choice there.

 

[dillotest0]

I can understand your disappointment somewhat if you have gone there expecting to find a zoo, or wildlife park, and been expecting as much, but then I would also say, this was your expectation which makes it a disappointing day out, and not the parks fault.

Chew Valley has always been a farm park, they don't label themselves a zoo, or wildlife park, although they correctly point out they have a full zoo license.
They use the word animal park, as they have more than just farm animals, but that's exactly what Chew Valley is.

The restaurant is top quality and you don't have to enter the animal park to use it, some people go there for Sunday lunch, without any intention of going into the park.

I never recall saying I was disappointed per se... I think I had pretty good expectations on what the place was going to be. And it met those fairly well. And now I have an even better idea of what the place is.

But aside from that aside, most if not all the species listed on their website are there. So if you know what to expect, then expect not to find great disappointment. I didn't find it.

 

[Lafone]

Interesting, I haven't seen a buff necked ibis, will have to pop on my list for 2024. Looks like you could combine this with one of the Bristol area zoos.

 

[Skukuza]

Visited yesterday. Havent been for a year or two.

Some updates for potential visitors that might be of interest.

Just a single buff necked ibis could be seen.


The genets have left the collection (confirmed by staff) unsure if they moved or passed away. Their exhibit is being revamped for a new species.

Coati and racoon singles going well still.

Ring tail lemurs are new since my last visit. Revamped aviary for them.


Porcupines now in a very small run beside meerkats and separated as i believe they may have young in den.

 

[Rajang21]

The three Hausa genets have moved to a college collection.