Pandaboi
Well-Known Member
The Blesbok had 2 offspring iirc. One was born the day of my visit which was a shock for the guide I was with.
West Midland Safari and Leisure Park West Midland Safari Park 2024
- Thread starter Jedd Cullinan
- Start date
I think you will find at least some of the non-breeding deer and antelope are elderly- e.g. the few remaining(?) Axis and Fallow deer are all females and non-breeders. So are the Blackbuck, though still a large group. The Barasingha recently starting breeding again with the arrival of a new male around three years ago, but only two or three calves have been born in each year since, indicating most/many of the females are probably post-breeding also. The Persian fallow deer is/was another only female group though only three left last time I went.
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Osedax
Well-Known Member
Zootierliste lists Amur, African (sensu lato), West African and generic leopards in former holdings for West Midlands Safari Park.
Olek
Well-Known Member
This might sound dumb of me to say but i've not seen anyone talking about it.
Why is it that the african elephants at WMSP are so much darker than everywhere else?
just look at Coco when he first arrived at WMSP vs now.
Same with Suzy & Gitana
AND if you look at Sutton now, he is so much lighter then how he was at WMSP.
AGAIN, this might sound dumb but its a curiosity of mine.
Why is it that the african elephants at WMSP are so much darker than everywhere else?
just look at Coco when he first arrived at WMSP vs now.
Same with Suzy & Gitana
AND if you look at Sutton now, he is so much lighter then how he was at WMSP.
AGAIN, this might sound dumb but its a curiosity of mine.
Albert Thomas Budd
Active Member
Maybe the location, as WMSP is near the Severn, the mud may be reason. Or humidity, who knows?
Albert Thomas Budd
Active Member
I think that is the reason
Olek
Well-Known Member
i always noticed it since my first visit
SSLees
Well-Known Member
Yeah, and naturally. Elephant skin is adapted to be really wrinkly to trap water and mud so that it evaporates and cool them down to make up for them being unable to sweat.
But of course, that's something that they evolved to live in hot climates. And we're infamous for having very wet and miserable weather here lol.
So when elephants do that, the mud takes much longer to dry out. And odds are by the time it has dried out, it would have rained again.
But of course, that's something that they evolved to live in hot climates. And we're infamous for having very wet and miserable weather here lol.
So when elephants do that, the mud takes much longer to dry out. And odds are by the time it has dried out, it would have rained again.
Yes I remember going to see the leopards at West Midlands Safari Park in 2010
SSLees
Well-Known Member
Sad for nostalgia sake (still have fond memories of feeding elands and other animals)
But not really a big surprise given how they've been limiting what animals you can feed prior to this. And even animals they make clear you should not be feeding for safety reasons (giraffes, zebras and camels), you'll still have people who'll do so anyway.
I do agree with their reasons for stopping it though. You think how much animal feed they're probably eating compared to their usual diet, that can cause issues where they just don't eat their usual food provided by zookeepers, because they'd rather have the palette feed from the safari drive. Which if it's an animal that has health issues and they're adding medication to their food, that can be a massive problem.
As for the traffic, that I approve of so much. There so many times you'll have queues building up on both lanes (even though one is supposed to be for overtaking) to feed a single animal, especially in the African section at the start being the biggest offender for this.
So like I said, while I am sad that something they've done for ages is going. I think it's a much needed change, which I support and appreciate them doing
But not really a big surprise given how they've been limiting what animals you can feed prior to this. And even animals they make clear you should not be feeding for safety reasons (giraffes, zebras and camels), you'll still have people who'll do so anyway.
I do agree with their reasons for stopping it though. You think how much animal feed they're probably eating compared to their usual diet, that can cause issues where they just don't eat their usual food provided by zookeepers, because they'd rather have the palette feed from the safari drive. Which if it's an animal that has health issues and they're adding medication to their food, that can be a massive problem.
As for the traffic, that I approve of so much. There so many times you'll have queues building up on both lanes (even though one is supposed to be for overtaking) to feed a single animal, especially in the African section at the start being the biggest offender for this.
So like I said, while I am sad that something they've done for ages is going. I think it's a much needed change, which I support and appreciate them doing
Excellent news. This will hopefully keep the animals, especially the giraffes, away from cars and make for a smoother drive around the safari. WMSP is one of our least favourite safaris due to the constant build up of traffic so hopefully this will fix this. The animals may then also start to exhibit more natural behaviours for visitors to see.