Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
On Monday 8th May, I took a trip to the soon to be opening Wildway Wildlife Mini Zoo, which sits in the village of Cookham, just outside Maidenhead, and around 4 miles off Junction 4 of the M40.
The collection sits on the grounds of a pick your own Asparagus farm and is run by Connor and Irfan, a pair of 19 year old, passionate teenagers who want to help fill a gap in the market of old style zoos and new style zoos.
The small one acre site, which sits in an affluent area, has caught the eye of locals, with the mini zoo sold out for it's opening day on Saturday 13th May.
When I visited on Monday, they were still without toilets, and a gift shop, and stand off barriers were still in the progress of being erected, but Irfan advised me that these were arriving on Tuesday and Wednesday and there was a few touch up jobs to do which would all be complete for opening day on Saturday.
I opted not to take photos of exhibits, but they are a combination of wooden structures, with zoo mesh and also 2cm mesh, which remains grey, unpainted and all exhibits are netted over, which acts as a disease prevention and will certainly make dealing with future AI outbreaks in the local area a lot easier for the park.
Most of the exhibits are a fair size, with the largest housing a breeding pair of Indian Caracal, and another holding a bachelor pair of Ring-Tailed Lemur, although the zoo is planning to bring in a female in due course,
Smaller exhibits house Slender Tailed Meerkat, Eurasian Polecat, whilst a trio of exhibits in the middle of the park are home to an Argente Rabbit, a pair of Brazilian Cavy and a sole Belgian Hare.
The mini zoo holds a Four-Toed Hedgehog, African Woodland Doormice and a Royal Python off-show and I am not sure if they plan to have them on-show for the time of opening.
The final two exhibits hold a pair of Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and a trio of Cape Genet (Genetta Tigrina).
Having arrived around 11am, I chatted to Connor, whilst Irfan was cleaning the Wolfdog enclosure and he told me of his history working in zoos, and how he hoped to set up a plethora of mini zoos over the UK, which can act as mini attractions and therefore allow people on budgets to visit smaller collections and enjoy small trips out seeing some lesser known animals and he feels this is a gap in the market that can be exploited. Between Irfan and Connor, they have build all the exhibits themselves and have land they can expand into behind the current zoo, with the opportunity to expand the site further if they wish.
I spent a good 20 minutes, in with the Cape Genet's of which there are three 13 week old youngsters and whilst quite timid, the owners plan to do some form of training with them, to get them used to being around people. I managed to get some nice photos of the trio, before we made our way over to the Meerkats.
We went in with them, giving them their lunch and the two females they have were very friendly, happy to come and eat out of your hands, with one deciding to come and stand on my head performing sentry duty!
Irfan and Connor are clearly passionate, and they hope to breed a number of animals at the zoo, which will help with future expansions, enabling them to trade with other collections, in bringing in new species, in the place of offspring of some of their own animals.
Next up, was a trip to see the Ring-Tailed Lemurs, who were also about to have their lunch and we got to meet them up close. They have lots of platforms in the exhibit, both solid, and rope based, and the Lemurs were happy jumping and running around their exhibit and whilst it wouldn't be what I would call a large exhibit, it would be suitable to house a group of around half a dozen.
Moving on we got to meet the pair of Indian Caracal that the mini zoo houses, and these would easily be the highlight of the collection. A rather friendly male and a sassy female, the owners hope they will breed and it was good to see the cats making good use of all of their exhibit and showing no pacing behaviour. They get on very well, with the female ruling the roost, and Connor told me how he had created a crate next to the exhibit, which he can get the cats to go into for health checks and to take bloods.
The young owners are very passionate about the animals they house, and one close to Connor's heart was the Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs of which were imported from Hungary. The female is still rather timid, but Connor hopes to introduce wolfdog walks with the male in due course!
I got to see the rabbits and cavy's up close, before we went to visit the final animals at the zoo, a group of Eurasian Polecat. Now, the zoo may house category one Ring-Tailed Lemurs and also a pair of Caracal, but perhaps the most dangerous animal the mini zoo houses is Melanie! Melanie, the Eurasian Polecat greets you with a hiss and a bite, and Irfan spoke about putting up a wanted dead or alive posted for Melanie!
I spent from 11am to 4pm at the collection, having informative, and interesting chats with the owners as well as meeting any number of the animals, getting photos of them all, and having a few nice encounters and learning so much more about what Connor and Irfan have planned.
They current have 6 staff, including themselves, volunteers (of which one was a very polite young lady called Maisie) and security who will help with the swift entry of visitors.
Whilst the mini zoo, is obviously a small site, and I suspect many visitors will spend little more than an hour on the site, it is spaced out nicely, with a children's play area away from the animals and the animals it does house are in nice exhibits, which shouldn't create much trouble photographing, and I was pleased to see many of the animals active despite not being the best of days weather wise. The sole bird on show, a Cockatiel called Irwin, was busy trying to whistle the Pirates Of The Caribbean tune, and I am sure he will entertain the visitors this weekend. He won't be the only bird for long, with a exhibit for Asian Wood Owl due to be constructed between the Lemurs and the Wolfdogs in due course, but I would say I had a delightful day.
They plan to host private tours, photography days and more intimate days like the one I had, on days they are not open to the public.
At only £6 an adult, or £20 for a family pass, I would say it will be a good value day out, but don't go there expecting masses of animals or household names. It is very much a small collection, focussed on more smaller and unknown animals and it is very much a progression project, and I am sure, it will improve with time.
I think it is well priced and worth a visit. It could easily be combined with a day out at Beale Park or the Living Rainforest, which are within 45 minutes drive.
Wildway Wildlife Mini Zoo opens Saturday 13th May 2023 for the public for the first time. Below are a few photos of some of the animals at the mini zoo.
The collection sits on the grounds of a pick your own Asparagus farm and is run by Connor and Irfan, a pair of 19 year old, passionate teenagers who want to help fill a gap in the market of old style zoos and new style zoos.
The small one acre site, which sits in an affluent area, has caught the eye of locals, with the mini zoo sold out for it's opening day on Saturday 13th May.
When I visited on Monday, they were still without toilets, and a gift shop, and stand off barriers were still in the progress of being erected, but Irfan advised me that these were arriving on Tuesday and Wednesday and there was a few touch up jobs to do which would all be complete for opening day on Saturday.
I opted not to take photos of exhibits, but they are a combination of wooden structures, with zoo mesh and also 2cm mesh, which remains grey, unpainted and all exhibits are netted over, which acts as a disease prevention and will certainly make dealing with future AI outbreaks in the local area a lot easier for the park.
Most of the exhibits are a fair size, with the largest housing a breeding pair of Indian Caracal, and another holding a bachelor pair of Ring-Tailed Lemur, although the zoo is planning to bring in a female in due course,
Smaller exhibits house Slender Tailed Meerkat, Eurasian Polecat, whilst a trio of exhibits in the middle of the park are home to an Argente Rabbit, a pair of Brazilian Cavy and a sole Belgian Hare.
The mini zoo holds a Four-Toed Hedgehog, African Woodland Doormice and a Royal Python off-show and I am not sure if they plan to have them on-show for the time of opening.
The final two exhibits hold a pair of Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and a trio of Cape Genet (Genetta Tigrina).
Having arrived around 11am, I chatted to Connor, whilst Irfan was cleaning the Wolfdog enclosure and he told me of his history working in zoos, and how he hoped to set up a plethora of mini zoos over the UK, which can act as mini attractions and therefore allow people on budgets to visit smaller collections and enjoy small trips out seeing some lesser known animals and he feels this is a gap in the market that can be exploited. Between Irfan and Connor, they have build all the exhibits themselves and have land they can expand into behind the current zoo, with the opportunity to expand the site further if they wish.
I spent a good 20 minutes, in with the Cape Genet's of which there are three 13 week old youngsters and whilst quite timid, the owners plan to do some form of training with them, to get them used to being around people. I managed to get some nice photos of the trio, before we made our way over to the Meerkats.
We went in with them, giving them their lunch and the two females they have were very friendly, happy to come and eat out of your hands, with one deciding to come and stand on my head performing sentry duty!
Irfan and Connor are clearly passionate, and they hope to breed a number of animals at the zoo, which will help with future expansions, enabling them to trade with other collections, in bringing in new species, in the place of offspring of some of their own animals.
Next up, was a trip to see the Ring-Tailed Lemurs, who were also about to have their lunch and we got to meet them up close. They have lots of platforms in the exhibit, both solid, and rope based, and the Lemurs were happy jumping and running around their exhibit and whilst it wouldn't be what I would call a large exhibit, it would be suitable to house a group of around half a dozen.
Moving on we got to meet the pair of Indian Caracal that the mini zoo houses, and these would easily be the highlight of the collection. A rather friendly male and a sassy female, the owners hope they will breed and it was good to see the cats making good use of all of their exhibit and showing no pacing behaviour. They get on very well, with the female ruling the roost, and Connor told me how he had created a crate next to the exhibit, which he can get the cats to go into for health checks and to take bloods.
The young owners are very passionate about the animals they house, and one close to Connor's heart was the Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs of which were imported from Hungary. The female is still rather timid, but Connor hopes to introduce wolfdog walks with the male in due course!
I got to see the rabbits and cavy's up close, before we went to visit the final animals at the zoo, a group of Eurasian Polecat. Now, the zoo may house category one Ring-Tailed Lemurs and also a pair of Caracal, but perhaps the most dangerous animal the mini zoo houses is Melanie! Melanie, the Eurasian Polecat greets you with a hiss and a bite, and Irfan spoke about putting up a wanted dead or alive posted for Melanie!
I spent from 11am to 4pm at the collection, having informative, and interesting chats with the owners as well as meeting any number of the animals, getting photos of them all, and having a few nice encounters and learning so much more about what Connor and Irfan have planned.
They current have 6 staff, including themselves, volunteers (of which one was a very polite young lady called Maisie) and security who will help with the swift entry of visitors.
Whilst the mini zoo, is obviously a small site, and I suspect many visitors will spend little more than an hour on the site, it is spaced out nicely, with a children's play area away from the animals and the animals it does house are in nice exhibits, which shouldn't create much trouble photographing, and I was pleased to see many of the animals active despite not being the best of days weather wise. The sole bird on show, a Cockatiel called Irwin, was busy trying to whistle the Pirates Of The Caribbean tune, and I am sure he will entertain the visitors this weekend. He won't be the only bird for long, with a exhibit for Asian Wood Owl due to be constructed between the Lemurs and the Wolfdogs in due course, but I would say I had a delightful day.
They plan to host private tours, photography days and more intimate days like the one I had, on days they are not open to the public.
At only £6 an adult, or £20 for a family pass, I would say it will be a good value day out, but don't go there expecting masses of animals or household names. It is very much a small collection, focussed on more smaller and unknown animals and it is very much a progression project, and I am sure, it will improve with time.
I think it is well priced and worth a visit. It could easily be combined with a day out at Beale Park or the Living Rainforest, which are within 45 minutes drive.
Wildway Wildlife Mini Zoo opens Saturday 13th May 2023 for the public for the first time. Below are a few photos of some of the animals at the mini zoo.
