Wingham Wildlife Park Wingham Wildlife Park news 2014-2016

persimon said:
Maybe the chimp EEP wants Yerkes to solve (and pay) their own "problems", instead of sending their hybrids to Europe, while there are many chimps in Europe that could/should benefit the new enclosure of Wingham?
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That argument doesn't really stand because, as far as I know, Yerkes paid substantially all of the enclosure's construction costs. i.e. without their involvement (in return for taking the chimps) Wingham wouldn't have an enclosure to benefit European chimps.
 
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Arizona Docent said:
Here is another article. I find it shocking (though I should not be) that activists would not want them transferred from a laboratory to a better home.
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They do want them to be transferred from the lab to a better home, they just don't believe Wingham is that 'better home'.
 
OrangePerson said:
They do want them to be transferred from the lab to a better home, they just don't believe Wingham is that 'better home'.
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Are you defending their stance? Have you seen Wingham's new facility? I'm damn sure on they haven't! Wingham described as a roadside zoo, these people shouldn't have any credibility on here at all!
 
pipaluk said:
Have you seen Wingham's new facility?
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I saw it part-built when I visited Kent in September and I'd say that it's at least as good as most, and better than quite a few, in the UK.

To me, NEAVS seem to be another (most likely anti-zoo) organisation that are skilled at generating publicity, playing the media and garnering donations. At the core, their actions appear to be wasting resources preventing ex-lab chimps being transferred to a new, better home. Surely, their own resources would be better used fighting further vivisection (their core function they've received donations for?) rather than stopping "used" animals getting a better life?
 
Am hoping to get to Wingham for a first-time visit on Friday, just need to finish planning the transport route (there are a few trains and a bus involved). The Pardine Genets are the main reason for the trip, but wondered if anyone has any hints for the rest of the collection? Any highlights, best times to see things, animals not to be missed?
 
In terms of animals not to be missed, Wingham has the only Little Red Flying Foxes and Spix's Douroucoulis in Europe.

Both are in enclosures in the foyer of the tropical house (you do need to look carefully for the Little Reds as they are mixed with Egyptian Fruit Bats and despite being a very different colour and rather different shape can be quite hard to pick out!).
 
Good cat collection, excellent reptile collection, don't miss going into the upstairs viewing area of the chimp house, it wasn't signed, but there are several exhibits up there, including Tamandua.
 
Thank you Maguari and Pipaluk, will be sure to check out those places! Looking forward to the visit :)
 
Crowthorne said:
Thank you Maguari and Pipaluk, will be sure to check out those places! Looking forward to the visit :)
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No problem - it's also worth looking for the Black-winged Lory while in the Tropical House - it's not unique in Europe but pretty close: ZootierlisteHomepage
 
Thanks again, will keep an eye out for it! :)
 
Possibly if they could source some Chimps from elsewhere in the interim, it would fill the new house earlier than otherwise appears possible, and also put them in a stronger position regarding their justification in having the US ones- if they already held chimps perhaps. But on the downside its not that easy to arrange obviously and they would also have the problem of different groups also.
 
Pertinax said:
Possibly if they could source some Chimps from elsewhere in the interim, it would fill the new house earlier than otherwise appears possible, and also put them in a stronger position regarding their justification in having the US ones- if they already held chimps perhaps. But on the downside its not that easy to arrange obviously and they would also have the problem of different groups also.
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Yes, that is a good point. It does seem to be a lengthy process.
It may be possible to borrow some on temporary loan or perhaps put some other primates in there in the meantime ?
 
Adrian k said:
From Dudley zoo perhaps
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Is there some opening from Dudley (and EAZA) on this? (Dudley holds some - according to latest studbook - unknown origin chimps and only the one hybrid)

If Wingham, could take some of hybrid chimps here and there in the UK on the basis of accommodating and not breeding them …, it would make their case a better one.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
If Wingham, could take some of hybrid chimps here and there in the UK on the basis of accommodating and not breeding them …, it would make their case a better one.
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It would be a massive undertaking to take chimps 'here and there' and put them into a group! Chester are still trying to integrate their two new females after months, Twycross have ongoing issues amalgamating their chimps, it would take months if not years to get a random assortment of adult chimps to be a group.
 
I suppose that if Dudley wanted to revamp their chimp accommodation (which is a very big if) - Wingham could hold their group of chimps for a couple of months which would help the keepers get experience with chimps, with the assistance of someone from Dudley. That might strengthen their case in the USA.
On the other hand if they acquired some chimps permanently, it might weaken their case as it could be said that they do not need to import the chimps from Yerkes to justify their investment in the new buildings.
And if Dudley did improve their facilities, they might be able to hold a few males and join the breeding programme. I don't suppose it's likely to happen :(

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
On the other hand if they acquired some chimps permanently, it might weaken their case as it could be said that they do not need to import the chimps from Yerkes to justify their investment in the new buildings.

And if Dudley did improve their facilities, they might be able to hold a few males and join the breeding programme. I don't suppose it's likely to happen :(
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That is a good point too- having some already could weaken their case- or it could(possibly) strengthen it if they were seen to be experienced holders. Might depend on the judge...

It does seem rather ironic that this place has now built modern state of the art facilities for Chimps- probably superior to many others in the UK, and definately more so than some I can think of, but they are having problems filling it.

Dudley- that scenario has been talked about so long I'm now of the opinion, sad to say, it will never happen, not in a month of Sundays anyway.:(
 
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