Sure, but no one else had been there (or at least had not posted photos) when I I made that post (some 5 years ago!). I've seen been back twice (3 visits in total). It is indeed a lovely place - hence the repeat visits.
Name a zoo which no other zoochatter visited!
- Thread starter Jurek7
- Start date
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
I've been to Ardastra, though they no longer have hutia
regretably no
I too have visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Center; yet alas, I have no intent nor interest in returning there anytime soon.
Forge
Well-Known Member
I thought that it was a nice little place, but I don't need to go back.
Standardiste
Member
I remember a children's park with parrots and farm animals. It was called Jungle City in Belgium. A few years later, I walked past it and thought it would be nice to go back, knowing that admission was free for adults. I was amazed to discover that it had changed a lot, becoming a sort of amusement park for children. It now features emus, wallabys, raccoons, meerkats and lorikeets, among other animals.
The wildlife park that was part of the Dizzy Lamb (amusement) Park (closed 2000) at Carabooda in northern outskirts of Perth, Western Australia (the park's wildlife park had koalas, Tassie devils, western quolls and even a (must of been Lumholtz's) tree kangaroo at one stage which thought was cool, as well as kangaroos (albino ones also), wallabies, dingos, wombats, echidnas, emus, cockatoos, goannas and from memory ponys, alpacas, goats and sheep too). Few years ago would've assumed maybe possibly was the only ZooChatter to have visited Bannamah Wildlife Park (1970-2002) in south-west Western Australia.. but @Bruce Burdon and @Jim Hill used to work at Bannamah back in the day. And Busselton Jaycee's Oceanarium (1970-1997) in south-west Western Australia also. Would say Blue Gum Farm (1986-c.2007) in south-western Sydney but think others probably visited there too.
Anyone else here been to the now closed Fitzsimmons Snake Park in Durban before it closed? or the old Sea World in Durban before moved a bit and became the UShaka Aquarium? (think from memory others on here have visited the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve outside Johannesburg).
Anyone else here been to the now closed Fitzsimmons Snake Park in Durban before it closed? or the old Sea World in Durban before moved a bit and became the UShaka Aquarium? (think from memory others on here have visited the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve outside Johannesburg).
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I think I may have visited Fitzsimmons; I have certainly visited a reptile establishment in South Africa where I watched a chameleon be run over by a tortoise!
Pyzuu funpark
It´s a small petting zoo pretty close to where I live. It keeps mostly different domestics in simple pens - on fenced-off area of a hydroelectric power plant on a small river in central Czechia. It opens only during nice weather and is free. The owner runs a kiosk that sells icecream, drinks and food like hamburgers. I found this place by accident - I met with a real state agent to see some apartments and while waiting for another person to show up, we chatted and she mentioned she volunteers at local kindergarden and takes children on various day trips. And she mentioned this minizoo where she was with them just recently. The next nice weekend I visited and I know I dont need to visit again, but the icecream was not bad.
It´s a small petting zoo pretty close to where I live. It keeps mostly different domestics in simple pens - on fenced-off area of a hydroelectric power plant on a small river in central Czechia. It opens only during nice weather and is free. The owner runs a kiosk that sells icecream, drinks and food like hamburgers. I found this place by accident - I met with a real state agent to see some apartments and while waiting for another person to show up, we chatted and she mentioned she volunteers at local kindergarden and takes children on various day trips. And she mentioned this minizoo where she was with them just recently. The next nice weekend I visited and I know I dont need to visit again, but the icecream was not bad.
ZooTripper365
Well-Known Member
The used to be a small children's zoo in Sherdley Park in St Helens. For those not from England, St Helens is near Liverpool.
Oh yikes the poor chameleon. Its cool you went to Fitzsimons. Didnt realise at time visited as was young but was one of older reptile parks in the world. Was down near the coastal front of inner Durban. I made a typo before its Fitzsimons not Fitzsimmons.
Was known (in herptilogical circles in South Africa at least, to my understanding) for having a two-headed snake born at/brought to park in the 1990s, but believe it only survived a few years maybe a lot less (its body was in a speciment jar when visited in '98. Was a herald snake, but only know that now from the video in link).
Two friendly keepers brought out a both an adult 'leguaan' (rock monitor) and a baby one with a foot missing that they named Tripod, when mentioned or family member mentioned to the keepers that was a fan of monitor lizards, they let people pat the adult one and hold Tripod for a few minutes each.
Was a small place (the term 'park' seemed odd for the place considering its small size, 'centre' seemed to be more fitting looking back on, but then again, there are small parks in the world the same size or smaller, so am 'splitting hairs' by stating that. All the reptiles seemed pretty well looked after from memory and the staff were all very friendly).
Fitzsimons Snake Park in Durban Beachfront, KwaZulu Natal
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The Chameleon was none the worse for being stepped on, fortunately!
I often wondered what happened to Blue Gum Farm. I was there with a zoo friend in circa 1995. The owner was talking about an African savannah with giraffes etc.
Thanks for sharing MRJ. I was surprised too that the Blue Gum Farm didnt continue (not even sure it was viability that was the closing down factor in the end, perhaps the ownership of the final years decided to 'call it a day').
That would of been quite a site a city farm with a big African ungulates savannah paddock(s); imagine as difficult as it would have been to set that up, would of involved acquiring some of the surrounding 6 acres of the property next door on Maxwell Avenue, as the 19(ish) acres of the farm were already utilised from what can remember.
Really liked the big paddocks on the eastern side with the donkeys, dromedaries, water buffalos, highland cattle (ostriches too sometimes from memory); and the kangaroos, wallabys and emus area on the other side of the site. Tbh the koalas exhibit seemed quite small, (but considering how many hours of the day they doze, and were provided their leaves to eat of course); but it did seem too small, couldve been twice the size or more.
When visited a few times in early 2000s they had acquired (brown-handed) spider monkeys and were living on an island on the entrance lake, were they there when you visited in 1995? Had extended the name too to Blue Gum Farm Zoo. Really liked the place. Paintball site now (Google Maps), just like Dizzylamb Park in nth Perth is too.
It's Archived Webpage Early 2000s
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Sorry don't remember much. The owner wanted advice from my friend, and we drove up to look at land that was going to be the savanna, so outside the boundary. My impression was he had access to the land, but he might only have been negotiating.Thanks for sharing MRJ. I was surprised too that the Blue Gum Farm didnt continue (not even sure it was viability that was the closing down factor in the end, perhaps the ownership of the final years decided to 'call it a day').
That would of been quite a site a city farm with a big African ungulates savannah paddock(s); imagine as difficult as it would have been to set that up, would of involved acquiring some of the surrounding 6 acres of the property next door on Maxwell Avenue, as the 19(ish) acres of the farm were already utilised from what can remember.
Really liked the big paddocks on the eastern side with the donkeys, dromedaries, water buffalos, highland cattle (ostriches too sometimes from memory); and the kangaroos, wallabys and emus area on the other side of the site. Tbh the koalas exhibit seemed quite small, (but considering how many hours of the day they doze, and were provided their leaves to eat of course); but it did seem too small, couldve been twice the size or more.
When visited a few times in early 2000s they had acquired (brown-handed) spider monkeys and were living on an island on the entrance lake, were they there when you visited in 1995? Had extended the name too to Blue Gum Farm Zoo. Really liked the place. Paintball site now (Google Maps), just like Dizzylamb Park in nth Perth is too.
It's Archived Webpage Early 2000s
We only saw the collection from a distance, and did not do a walkthrough. My impression was mostly domestics, which fits with what you describe above. There may have been monkeys but I don't remember them.
Tamandua56
Well-Known Member
I don't know if any ZooChatters have visited these establishments, but I seriously think that there must not be many of us who know about them.
The list of establishments (all in France):
The list of establishments (all in France):
- Aquarium des curieux de nature (Aquarium for nature lovers): This small aquarium features a few species native to Brittany's rivers. From memory, there must be six or seven tanks. The aquariums are a fairly simple but effective affair. It can be a pleasant half-hour visit, but without any star species, rarities, or large tanks, there's no point in traveling just to see the aquarium. Year of visit Tamandua56 : 2024
- Tropical Parc : Also in Brittany, this park primarily houses parrots (macaws, lorikeets, cockatoos, etc.) in two walk-through aviaries (Australia and Brazil) or smaller cages, as well as cranes, wallabies, water buffalo, emus, and a petting zoo. The park is also notable for its many gardens, and the landscaping is very high-quality. It's a pleasant half-day visit, but the animal collection is basic. Year of visit Tamandua56 : 2017, 2020
- MicroZoo de Saint-Malo (MicroZoo of Saint-Malo): While the Saint-Malo Aquarium seems well known on this forum, the city walls house a vivarium-aquarium where you wouldn't expect to see one. It's an interesting visit and it's worth a visit if you travel to Saint-Malo. The collection is interesting, but not exceptional. Oddly enough, all the enclosures are the same size, and while the reptiles, amphibians, and fish are fairly well housed, the crowned roulrouls and sugar gliders have the right to complain about their too small space. Even the vivarium of the broad-fronted crocodile, larger than the others, is not very large. Year of visit Tamandua56 : 2022
- Naturoscope : Just outside Paris, this other small (free) aquarium consists of three areas: a room displaying fish from the Seine, a room with a cichlid aquarium and temporary exhibits, and a screening room. This is another very basic and unremarkable aquarium. However, don't be fooled like I was: the aquarium is closed during the Christmas holidays and doesn't indicate this on its website! Year of visit Tamandua56 : 2024