mhale
Well-Known Member
I visited Wickid Pets Animal Adventure in Dunstall, Wolverhampton on Friday, as I was curious about it after reading newspaper articles online and following them on Facebook. It is run by brothers Jim and Ben Wick who ploughed their life savings into creating an animal experience on what had previously been a piece of waste land adjoining their exotic pet shop, and Jim has many years' experience of handling exotic animals.
I will say straight off that it probably won't appeal to those members on here who don't agree with public handling or feeding of exotic animals, however, I believe it is worth visiting to make up your own mind. The entrance price is only £1.50 each, so even if you don't like it, you haven't spent much money.
The whole site is quite restricted size-wise, however, the enclosures are certainly adequate and the needs of each species have been considered, with several overhead runs going to offshow indoor areas.
The public can buy a container of live mealworms to feed certain species (coati, marmoset, tamarin, armadillo, skunk, meerkat, mongoose, stork, squirrel monkey, corsac fox and chipmunk) and the staff bring out certain animals to be stroked whilst educating the visitors about how that species should be kept. These animals are all accustomed to human contact.
The family and staff are all very friendly and welcoming, and more than happy to chat about where particular animals came from, what plans they have for the future etc.
The species list includes various reptiles, birds, common marmosets, chipmunks, armadilloes, Egyptian fruit bats, genets, tree porcupines, cotton-top tamarins, goeldi's monkeys, coatis, squirrel monkeys, corsac fox, European red fox, banded mongooses, meerkats, Geoffroy's marmosets, black-eared marmosets, European eagle owl, snowy owl, kestrel, turkey vulture, capybaras, Bennett's wallabies, parma wallabies, wildfowl, crested porcupines, skunks, raccoons and a free-roaming white stork. I believe these animals generally come from private breeders, zoos, sanctuaries or are unwanted pets.
Plans include a nocturnal house and an aquarium, as well as giving the foxes a larger enclosure in another part of the site. The lone male squirrel monkey will be introduced to a female this coming Tuesday.
I will say straight off that it probably won't appeal to those members on here who don't agree with public handling or feeding of exotic animals, however, I believe it is worth visiting to make up your own mind. The entrance price is only £1.50 each, so even if you don't like it, you haven't spent much money.
The whole site is quite restricted size-wise, however, the enclosures are certainly adequate and the needs of each species have been considered, with several overhead runs going to offshow indoor areas.
The public can buy a container of live mealworms to feed certain species (coati, marmoset, tamarin, armadillo, skunk, meerkat, mongoose, stork, squirrel monkey, corsac fox and chipmunk) and the staff bring out certain animals to be stroked whilst educating the visitors about how that species should be kept. These animals are all accustomed to human contact.
The family and staff are all very friendly and welcoming, and more than happy to chat about where particular animals came from, what plans they have for the future etc.
The species list includes various reptiles, birds, common marmosets, chipmunks, armadilloes, Egyptian fruit bats, genets, tree porcupines, cotton-top tamarins, goeldi's monkeys, coatis, squirrel monkeys, corsac fox, European red fox, banded mongooses, meerkats, Geoffroy's marmosets, black-eared marmosets, European eagle owl, snowy owl, kestrel, turkey vulture, capybaras, Bennett's wallabies, parma wallabies, wildfowl, crested porcupines, skunks, raccoons and a free-roaming white stork. I believe these animals generally come from private breeders, zoos, sanctuaries or are unwanted pets.
Plans include a nocturnal house and an aquarium, as well as giving the foxes a larger enclosure in another part of the site. The lone male squirrel monkey will be introduced to a female this coming Tuesday.
