West Midland Safari and Leisure Park New animals

C

chizlit

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
The safari park has been featured on the local news twice in the past few days.
Bob Lawrence was on saying that numbers at the park are about 15% up due to people staying at home and visiting local attractions.
He also said that new animals were being bought in soon....

The story featured a new baby zebra that had a run -in with a rhino but survived to tell the tale, but then Bob said that a new colourful attraction would be coming to the park soon, and all would be revealed in a few weeks time.....
Anyone got any ideas?
 
white peacocks or pheasants? i hear they are extremely endangered and the only way to save them is to heavily inbreed them? (messin! but still wouldn't be surprised by it!)
 
I was going to say more primate species.
 
I also noticed Bob Lawrence's mention of new animals on the news. I too would guess that its probably monkeys - WMSP are aware that its a big attraction they're losing out on, and I'd guess many members of the public ask about it (they've had a note on the homepage of the website for over a year alerting visitors that there are no 'drive-through monkey exhibits').
 
If it's colourful, two big trends at the minute are walk-through lorikeets and butterfies. Would there be room for either of these in the walk-around area after the drive-through? I don't know WMSP, maybe these already exist.
 
I was thinking exactly what Chris said above! But as he said, is there actually room for it?
 
nayer said:
I also noticed Bob Lawrence's mention of new animals on the news. I too would guess that its probably monkeys - WMSP are aware that its a big attraction they're losing out on, and I'd guess many members of the public ask about it (they've had a note on the homepage of the website for over a year alerting visitors that there are no 'drive-through monkey exhibits').
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Nayer,

The park had lots of trouble when they kept monkeys before, they caused alot of damage to cars, so the message on the website could be to advise visitors that their cars will be safe from the monkeys at least, but there was an incident with one of the rhino's and a car earlier this year, I think the rhino won!
 
chizlit said:
Nayer,

The park had lots of trouble when they kept monkeys before, they caused alot of damage to cars, so the message on the website could be to advise visitors that their cars will be safe from the monkeys at least, but there was an incident with one of the rhino's and a car earlier this year, I think the rhino won!
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Indeed there was an incident with a rhino it crushed half a car and could of possibly killed the people inside, it was in a magazine. Apparently the rhino was cournerd by keepers and the rhino was backing away from the keepers jeeps and went into the car.
 
chizlit said:
Nayer,

The park had lots of trouble when they kept monkeys before, they caused alot of damage to cars, so the message on the website could be to advise visitors that their cars will be safe from the monkeys at least, but there was an incident with one of the rhino's and a car earlier this year, I think the rhino won!
Click to expand...

Thanks for that chizlit, I remember that one of the rhinos caused a lot of trouble several years back, but hadn't heard about this new 'attack'. I know what you mean about monkeys damaging the cars (soon after our first ever visit, we decided to sell the car), but it's still one of the highlights of a safari park visit. I was under the impression that the notice on the website was to try and avoid disappointing people once they'd arrived, but that's just how I'd interpreted it. :)
 
zoogiraffe said:
Yes they could use the old Greenhouse next to the main cafe,at least if they used the greenhouse it would get rid of another shop selling rubbish toys etc.
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I spoke with Mark O'Shea a few years back, and he said he'd love to turn said greenhouse site into a crocodile house. If it was left up to him.
 
Bwassa said:
I spoke with Mark O'Shea a few years back, and he said he'd love to turn said greenhouse site into a crocodile house. If it was left up to him.
Click to expand...
He`s wanted to do that for at least 10 tears but never been given the money or chance to do it mores the pity.
 
They had a lot of 'bother' with Monkeys before and I do not think they would consider this again (think the local residents would not be happy about Primates again either). However about 2 years ago there was talk of a Lemur Walkthrough so this could be a possibility but I've heard nothing about this since.
 
Extract from expressandstar newpaper website

Rhino clambers onto car

A terrified family had a lucky escape after a rhino clambered onto their car at West Midland Safari Park.
Lee Aston, aged 36, from Cannock had been enjoying a day trip at the park with his girl-friend Hannah and seven-year-old son Ben when the one-and-a-half ton African white rhino called Tootsie struck their Vauxhall Vectra.
They were heading out of the park in a queue of traffic when the rhino walked in front of the car.
Mr Aston, who was recently made redundant from Bellway Homes, was unable to reverse the company car because of vehicles behind him. He watched in horror as the 16-year-old animal tried to turn around and put its two front feet onto the bonnet.

In seconds, the giant animal had stomped its way onto the car, causing extensive damage, and stepped onto the windscreen, inches from Mr Aston’s head.
He told the Express & Star today: “My instincts took over, and I told Hannah to get in the back of the car with my son, and I was just staring at this huge foot.
“The windscreen bowed but it was a miracle that it didn’t break. If it had shattered, I think I would have been a gonner.
“I must have blacked out because all I can remember is the huge foot and then rangers at the park asking me if I was OK.”
Safari park bosses provided Mr Aston with a car to get home and today said Tootsie was not attacking.
Bob Lawrence, director of wildlife, said: “She wasn’t attacking or charging.
“She was boxed in by cars and was trying to turn around and had to scramble over this car’s bonnet.”
Mr Lawrence said rangers, who were feet away, shunted Tootsie off the bonnet.
He added: “Obviously it is scary if you are not used to having a rhino climb on your car but she was not attacking them. We had a similar incident about 10 years ago but that’s it, so twice in 35 years is not bad.”


Hope this interests you :p
 
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