South Lakes Wild Animal Park South Lakes Safari Zoo News 2021
- Thread starter Embu
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1.0 Maned Wolf, Chewie, has arrived from Sandwich Wildlife Park to partner with resident female, Danna:
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Hello, first time poster long time reader.
There's a post on their Facebook page that's concerning. I don't know if I am reading too much into it but does it seem like they're accusing a director of Yorkshire wildlife park of wanting to take over the zoo?
I thought you guys would be best to ask about this place. Am I right in thinking Gill owns the land but not the zoo? Who runs the place etc at the moment? This place confused me so much.
There's a post on their Facebook page that's concerning. I don't know if I am reading too much into it but does it seem like they're accusing a director of Yorkshire wildlife park of wanting to take over the zoo?
I thought you guys would be best to ask about this place. Am I right in thinking Gill owns the land but not the zoo? Who runs the place etc at the moment? This place confused me so much.
Yes I saw the post too and found it very troubling, especially that the guy from Yorkshire Wildlife Park appears to have involvement with David Gill if I'm reading it correctly? This is a worry!
Gill is one of several part-owners (including the co-founder of YWP and the current non-executive chairman of the organisation which now runs YWP) of the company that owns the lease of the land which South Lakes is built on, but does not own the zoo itself; this is in the - very capable, from all I have heard and know of those involved - hands of a team of zoo professionals under the name Cumbria Zoo Company who took over in spring 2017, and under whose management the zoo has come along by leaps and bounds in recent years.
Incidentally, welcome to the site - it's nice to have a fellow Darlingtonian join us!
What confuses me a bit is that the current management wanted to buy that lease(?) quite recently but announced rather mysteriously that they had unfortunately been outbid by 'another zoological organisation' (or similar phrase) So the lease must have run out recently for that situation to arise?
That's fab thanks for the info and hello fellow Darlingtonian!!
I don't know why their posts keep saying about the link Minion has to Yorkshire wildlife park when from what I gather he has no involvement anymore.
"YORKSHIRE WILDLIFE PARK LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)" YORKSHIRE WILDLIFE PARK LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)
He was the founding member but an investor of zoo investment company (who have appointed David Gill) - Chris Webster is a current chairman of YWP also.
I'm so worried. I love Yorkshire wildlife park, but I don't want to support them if they're now partners with David Gill. I remember the conditions the animals were in when South Lakes was under his care, I've not been back since though.
Does anyone know how much the people South lakes keep mentioning are actually involved with Yorkshire wildlife park? I'm hoping this is all exaggerated by South Lakes.
Does anyone know how much the people South lakes keep mentioning are actually involved with Yorkshire wildlife park? I'm hoping this is all exaggerated by South Lakes.
I'm very concerned that they are throwing YWP's name in this when I think strictly-speaking it's a person or people with involvement in both, not the YWP organisation itself being involved. It's not going to help CZCL's case if they are trying to bring another organisation into disrepute unfairly.
littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
I too am disappointed by this and have sent an email to YWP to express my concern.
littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
YWP have reported the post to facebook.
I think I'll email Safari Zoo, as I was intending passing by while on my way up to Scotland. I don't think I will now.
I think I'll email Safari Zoo, as I was intending passing by while on my way up to Scotland. I don't think I will now.
Yeah, I'd be disinclined to plan a visit right now. One of these days this place will cease to be a millstone on the neck of the British zoo community. There are undoubtedly some good people there doing some good things, but the place has (frankly) been nothing but trouble for a very long time. Every time you think it's sorted out it comes back in a painfully public mudslinging match over something. I don't know if it's all traceable to the founder's involvement or what, but one way or another it needs to end for the good of everyone.
littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
Their facebook names two current YWP managers on Safari Zoo's site presently along with Webster and fear they are facing a takeover.