Yorkshire Wildlife Park Yorkshire Wildlife Park News 2014

[Brum]

Well in that case it just goes to show what the government know and your good self knows then as there are BIG CATS in a UK circus,I know as I have seen them 3 times this year!

I was thinking that, there's even a thread about the lion show on this forum from earlier this year!

Also your figure of only 20 licensed wild animals doesn't add up either as I know that in just 1 circus currently touring in the UK now they have more than that!

If this does go through you can rest assured that the wonderfull people that are so anti- animals in circus will move onto closing all Zoo's in this country as well!!

I can't back you up on the first fact as I don't know but I totally agree with the second statement. Anti's will always find something to complain about and obviously if circus acts go then zoos should (logically) follow.

 

[veeboy31]

Well in that case it just goes to show what the government know and your good self knows then as there are BIG CATS in a UK circus,I know as I have seen them 3 times this year!

Also your figure of only 20 licensed wild animals doesn't add up either as I know that in just 1 circus currently touring in the UK now they have more than that!

If this does go through you can rest assured that the wonderfull people that are so anti- animals in circus will move onto closing all Zoo's in this country as well!!

I am not saying I am against animals in circuses. I have never been to a circus with animal acts so it would be silly to comment on this.

All I said was that the government are planning on banning animal acts in circuses. Therefore I thought that the Yorkshire wildlife park may accept some circus animals that are currently in uk circus acts as part of their park. If animals need re-homing, all I am suggesting is that YWP would be open to accepting them

 

[ajdavisuk]

If the owner is an elephant expert is it likely they could get some elephants regardless of whether the law is changed?

 

[bongorob]

I am not saying I am against animals in circuses. I have never been to a circus with animal acts so it would be silly to comment on this.

All I said was that the government are planning on banning animal acts in circuses. Therefore I thought that the Yorkshire wildlife park may accept some circus animals that are currently in uk circus acts as part of their park. If animals need re-homing, all I am suggesting is that YWP would be open to accepting them

My first point is that your life would be richer if you went to see a circus with animals.

My second point is on what grounds are the governemnt proposing to ban animals in circuses? Because a minority of people are against it is not a valid reason.

Any collection has the potential to re-home circus animals.

 

[Shorts]

My second point is on what grounds are the government proposing to ban animals in circuses? Because a minority of people are against it is not a valid reason.

If only that were true. Governments frequently make laws based on vocal minorities' opinions and beliefs, otherwise why are they all terrified of upsetting the Daily Mail?

Similarly governments often make laws which would are not supported by a majority of the population (sometimes rightly, sometimes wrongly).

Unfortunately, common sense and views other than the short-term often seem missing from political decisions made.

 

[Big Rob]

Can't wait to get back to YWP in the next few weeks. No 2 visits are ever the same with the expansion that seems to be never ending. Now Victor is here and apparently two more male Polar Bears lined up what do we think will be the next species introduced to the park?

Well there is good news and bad news there. The 2 remaining very aged Painted Hunting dogs have finally passed away,but a new enclosure is planned for a new pack and will be built at the side of the Guinea Baboons where the "World farm" enclosure is at the moment. I think it will also take in a small part of the woodland too. I assume they will be trying to secure a new pack as soon as they can get the enclosure finished.

One of the keepers told me a couple of weeks ago that the Wallabies may be getting moved into the enclosure previously occupied by the Hunting dogs. I don't know if this is still the case. Personally I hope not as its a good size enclosure and could easily house a nice new animal species. Hyena would be nice,or Dholes or maybe Honey Badger?
( It wont be easy to move the wallabies as this is a walk through enclosure and has hand washing facilities at both entrances that would need to be re-located)

 

[ajdavisuk]

Well there is good news and bad news there. The 2 remaining very aged Painted Hunting dogs have finally passed away,but a new enclosure is planned for a new pack and will be built at the side of the Guinea Baboons where the "World farm" enclosure is at the moment. I think it will also take in a small part of the woodland too. I assume they will be trying to secure a new pack as soon as they can get the enclosure finished.

One of the keepers told me a couple of weeks ago that the Wallabies may be getting moved into the enclosure previously occupied by the Hunting dogs. I don't know if this is still the case. Personally I hope not as its a good size enclosure and could easily house a nice new animal species. Hyena would be nice,or Dholes or maybe Honey Badger?
( It wont be easy to move the wallabies as this is a walk through enclosure and has hand washing facilities at both entrances that would need to be re-located)

Thanks, I knew they were building a new enclosure for the hunting dogs but was unaware the old pack had died. I'm sure the new enclosure will be top notch. I'd love honey badgers to be added to the collection.

Do you think it likely they'll manage to get a species of Rhino or maybe some elephants in the next few years?

 

[OrangePerson]

Do you think it likely they'll manage to get a species of Rhino or maybe some elephants in the next few years?

Black, white and Indian rhino were in the collection plan submitted with one of the planning applications, I don't think elephants were but I may have missed them in my eagerness to look for apes.

Didn't someone on here say there was a current need for homes to place one species of rhino, in which case it'd be money or current desire that would be the only thing stopping them going for some.

 

[dean]

If this does go through you can rest assured that the wonderfull people that are so anti- animals in circus will move onto closing all Zoo's in this country as well!!

Then private exotics keepers and eventually dog and rabbit keepers as they aren't always kept properly, loved yes but not usually kept as a pack or with the freedom to express natural behavior.

The nations pet keepers are already being intimidated by the RS**A with a threat of prosecution if there pet isn't put down on their say so. (see recent cat story in the news) personally I think they are trying to stop all animal keeping in the UK in circus, zoo, farm or home.

 

[Pertinax]

.

Didn't someone on here say there was a current need for homes to place one species of rhino,

New holders are being sought for Asian Rhinos apparently.

 

[Animal Friendly]

Perhaps now the UK government is going to ban circus animals in the Uk, we might get to see Elephants or other animals used in circuses.

I know Yorkshire wildlife park saved a Camel from a closed down circus so you never know. Also the owner of the park - John Minion is an elephant expert (he once rescue a circus elephant and helped it go to a zoo in London)

I understand that Mr. Minion did assist with the rehoming of Ann the elephant from Bobby Roberts, as we know she went to Longleat, not to a zoo in London, if this is the elephant to which you are referring. Yorkshire Wildlife Park did take in Monty, a Bactrian camel from Bobby Roberts Super Circus in 2012, I think "saved" is not the correct verb to use, the circus had not closed down at this point, it was still on tour, at Newcastle to be precise when he travelled to his new home in Doncaster. It was stated that Monty was in good physical condition on his arrival , although I understand when he arrived he kept himself to himself and did not mix much with the other camels, this could have been due to him living alone at the circus, he may mix with other camels now as time has progressed.

 

[Animal Friendly]

Circuses in England will be prohibited from using wild animals in their shows from the beginning of December 2015, the government has announced.

Ministers were initially reluctant to bring in a blanket ban - demanded by many MPs and campaigners - in case of legal action by operators.

Agriculture minister David Heath said the two-year "grace period" would allow circus owners to arrange suitable care.

There are currently 20 licensed wild animals working in circuses.

These include camels, zebras and snakes, but not elephants, monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees or big cats.

This indeed was the plan, it was to have been included in the last Queen's speech in parliament, but like some other bills that were also to have been included, for some reason it was omitted. The list of wild animals that you quote is a little bit out of date, Circus Mondao has camels and zebra, Jolly's Circus has camel, zebra, ankole, snake, racoon and a fox, a cage act of lions and tigers joined this show last year mid season and is still on tour with this show this year.

 

[Big Rob]

Black, white and Indian rhino were in the collection plan submitted with one of the planning applications, I don't think elephants were but I may have missed them in my eagerness to look for apes.

Didn't someone on here say there was a current need for homes to place one species of rhino, in which case it'd be money or current desire that would be the only thing stopping them going for some.

I really cant see them getting into another huge project such as Elelphants for a good few years yet. They are in the process of spending £1.5 million on the Polar bear enclosure and would envisage it costing at least as much for an Elepahant enclosure,and probably a lot more as these owners don't scrimp when it comes to room for their animals.
There is also a question of space!. I know they aren't bordered by any housing etc ( except to a small degree at the rear of the last 2 Polar bear enclosures when they are finished)but they do have a river and associated wetlands and lakes at one side, a water treatment works on another side and there is also the added complication of a public footpath that runs through the land also. ( It goes along the access road and all the way past the old payment point shed and down the back of the Guinea baboon enclosure). I know they work closely with a local landowner (as I work in farming ) but it would still take some incorporating to add on another large area for a huge project like Elephants.
The only way I could see Rhinos being added is to either convert the African plains enclosure to take them,heavy duty fencing etc,or to use the land that houses the Camels at the moment. But that would leave nowhere to create an outside summer paddock for the Giraffes!

 

[Big Rob]

Yorkshire Wildlife Park did take in Monty, a Bactrian camel from Bobby Roberts Super Circus in 2012, I think "saved" is not the correct verb to use, the circus had not closed down at this point, it was still on tour, at Newcastle to be precise when he travelled to his new home in Doncaster. It was stated that Monty was in good physical condition on his arrival , although I understand when he arrived he kept himself to himself and did not mix much with the other camels, this could have been due to him living alone at the circus, he may mix with other camels now as time has progressed.

He did used to be separate from the rest of the camel herd (on the land that the Animal activity zone now occupies) but I think he "mixes" pretty well with the herd now as they have just had 3 calves in the last couple of months.

 

[max]

One of the keepers told me a couple of weeks ago that the Wallabies may be getting moved into the enclosure previously occupied by the Hunting dogs. I don't know if this is still the case. Personally I hope not as its a good size enclosure and could easily house a nice new animal species. Hyena would be nice,or Dholes or maybe Honey Badger?
( It wont be easy to move the wallabies as this is a walk through enclosure and has hand washing facilities at both entrances that would need to be re-located)[/QUOTE]

If they utilise the old hunting dog enclosure they could position the entrance/ exit gates either side of the lemur walk through - basically adjacent to the lemur gates. I noticed that they have recently upgraded the hand wash facilities at the lemur gates so these could be utilised for both walk throughs?

 

[OrangePerson]

He did used to be separate from the rest of the camel herd (on the land that the Animal activity zone now occupies) but I think he "mixes" pretty well with the herd now as they have just had 3 calves in the last couple of months.

Not sure any of the young ones are down to Monty, don't they still have the breeding male, Khan I think he might be called.

 

[Pertinax]

The only way I could see Rhinos being added is to either convert the African plains enclosure to take them,heavy duty fencing etc,or to use the land that houses the Camels at the moment. But that would leave nowhere to create an outside summer paddock for the Giraffes!

What's the total acreage of YWP at present?

 

[veeboy31]

What's the total acreage of YWP at present?

[/url][/IMG]

In the original plan for the park it identifies how much land they own

 

[Pertinax]

Thanks. I know this is an old plan, so where do the Polar Bear enclosures fit on it?

And I'm still interested to know the size of the total acreage/area, used and/or unused.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Thanks. I know this is an old plan, so where do the Polar Bear enclosures fit on it?

And I'm still interested to know the size of the total acreage/area, used and/or unused.

If I am reading the map correctly, the Polar Bear enclosure covers much of the portion of unoccupied land immediately to the right of the South America label, up to the Hogs label.