Random Thoughts On "West Country" Collections

[DesertRhino150]

Exmoor, I love this place, they've got so much crammed in there of interest to the seasoned zoo goer (including Tayra and New Guinea Singing Dogs, Blue Tailed Monitor) and the cat collection is very strong (Leopard, Rusty (not) Spotted Cat, Asian Fishing Cat, Cheetah, Caracal (fantastic), Puma (with adorable cubs), Sand Cat, Jaguarundi (off show at present)). Always a pleasure to visit and should be on the itinerary of any serious zoo goers in the South West

According to the Exmoor Zoo website the jaguarrundi have been relocated to the RSCC with a replacement arriving in August.

Also among the new arrivals are a pair of Southern tamandua- did you see them at all on your visit? It would be great if somewhere else could go into tamanduas and try to breed them.

 

[leiclad20]

I have always noticed this at Bristol in recent years too- the very high percentage of young mums/parents with pushchairs and toddlers/small kids or sometimes grandparents with little ones. Maybe Bristol has an exceptionally high birthrate!

Pertinax, I can tell u now that as a bristolian myself, the birth rate is def very high here and the average age of reproduction seems to be about 14.

I think the reason bristol zoo is so popular with families is that its small and easy to get round with a brood of screaming children. It's great that port lympne has 600 acres, but kids get tired after a couple of hours so few families will have time to see everything,so for most these large parks can be very poor value for money. at only 12 acres, a family can get around it easily and see everything in 3 or 4 hours. Bristol zoo is in the heart of a population dense,area and easy for families to get to before little Kristy or Sarah (oh sorry this is bristol, so prob little chantelle, shivorne or traycee) wets herself in the car.

 

[Pertinax]

[ Bristol zoo is in the heart of a population dense,area and easy for families to get to before little Kristy or Sarah (oh sorry this is bristol, so prob little chantelle, shivorne or traycee) wets herself in the car.

I think that is at the root of it-a very central location to a large urban population. Compare with somewhere like Port Lympne- no large conurbations anywhere near, and its own sister park not far away too. Also it is far more of a long day out/journey for people to make plus realistically its only accessible by car.