ZooChat Challenge UK 2012

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Won't be able to get this without the Heythrop open days as Highlands can't be done in a day and I've not got any holidays planned for so far north, so won't be able to get polar bear within the rules. Will still feel some satisfaction if I get the full set within the UK though, as should be able to get them all if I do Heythrop on the open day, even if I can't say I've 'officially' done it :p

-Javan Rhino-
 
I've seen a few species of bear:

  • Sloth Bear (Whipsnade, 2010)
  • European Brown Bear (Whipsnade, 2010)
  • Polar Bear (Flamingoland, 1997-2000)
  • Malayan sun Bear (Edinburgh, 2011)
  • Giant Panda (Edinburgh 2011)
  • Spectacled Bear (South Lakes WAP, 2011)

I don't tend to count the Polar bear in my list although I have seen it but I like to have a photograph of it.
 
I find myself wondering if either species of black bear will be kept in the UK for too many more years. Unless I'm much mistaken the American Black Bears at Woburn aren't in the first flush of youth either, and it's hard to see them being a species that will get replaced.
 
Perhaps there should be a special Green Award for the best total achieved by public transport!

I'm hoping to 'do' Edinburgh and Dudley this year - the former, and probably the latter, would be by train and bus.

But Woburn and HWP !
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
Perhaps there should be a special Green Award for the best total achieved by public transport!

I'm hoping to 'do' Edinburgh and Dudley this year - the former, and probably the latter, would be by train and bus.

But Woburn and HWP !
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car-pooling could be legitimately included in a Green Award, if a few Zoochatters wanted to get together to spot the Safari Park bears.
 
I'm loving this challenge, wonder if we'll gt updates; or will the competitors play their bears close to their chests, tactics kept secret, progress unknown until the grand revelation...
 
Given the enthusiasm and interest I may make this an annual challenge (different challenge each year) and get a trophy (nothing too flash) made with the winner engraved each year. The winner would then get to keep the trophy until the following year's challenge was met.

Oh dear, I think I might be getting carried away.:o:eek::)
 
OrangePerson said:
I'm loving this challenge, wonder if we'll gt updates; or will the competitors play their bears close to their chests, tactics kept secret, progress unknown until the grand revelation...
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It'd be far more fun with updates, so.........

New rule, once above three species updates are mandatory.
 
A fab challenge.

I've got no chance of getting it unless someone brings polar bears to the yorkshire wildlife park (you never know ;) ). But I'm going to try and get as many as I can.
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
Perhaps there should be a special Green Award for the best total achieved by public transport!

I'm hoping to 'do' Edinburgh and Dudley this year - the former, and probably the latter, would be by train and bus.

But Woburn and HWP !
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Edinburgh and Dudley are both pretty easy by public transport, as there are abundant train and bus links.

HWP does have a relatively nearby train station, but is so remote that the journey would cost enough and take long enough to make it prohibitive.

Woburn, ironically, appears to be quite easy to reach by public transport but as already mentioned, if you do use public transport you have no chance of seeing the bears ;)
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Woburn, ironically, appears to be quite easy to reach by public transport but as already mentioned, if you do use public transport you have no chance of seeing the bears ;)
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And when you do see one don't drive off the track, alongside it and open the car window, the rangers don't like it. :)
 
At the risk of annoying teacher by bending the rules:

Giant Panda (Edinburgh - 16/12/2011 and 17/12/2011)
Sun Bear (Edinburgh - 17/12/2011)
Brown Bear (WMZ - 28/12/2011)
Spectacled Bear (Chester - 02/01/2012)

I'm going to get disqualified for three of those, but should win a consolation prize for honesty. :(
 
I know the rules for this challenge are that the animals must be seen in 2012. I was just wondering if anyone has completed the challenge prior to 2012? Did anyone manage to do it within a year?
 
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A slight problem for some people might be the American Black Bears at Woburn. On several occasions I've driven round that reserve (which the bears share with wolves) and not seen a bear (or a wolf, come to that), and, of course, once you exit the reserve you will have to make a complete second circuit, driving through all the animal reserves again.
 
zooman64 said:
A slight problem for some people might be the American Black Bears at Woburn. On several occasions I've driven round that reserve (which the bears share with wolves) and not seen a bear (or a wolf, come to that), and, of course, once you exit the reserve you will have to make a complete second circuit, driving through all the animal reserves again.
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I don't know if this is unique or pretty standard across safari parks, but in my opinion the roads at Highland Wildlife Park and Blair Drummond were wide enough for 3-4 lanes of traffic, so that visitors could take their time and even stop without blocking cars behind you, is this the case at Woburn?
 
SMR said:
At the risk of annoying teacher by bending the rules:

Giant Panda (Edinburgh - 16/12/2011 and 17/12/2011)
Sun Bear (Edinburgh - 17/12/2011)
Brown Bear (WMZ - 28/12/2011)
Spectacled Bear (Chester - 02/01/2012)

I'm going to get disqualified for three of those, but should win a consolation prize for honesty. :(
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This is what being keen gets you, you were far to quick out of the blocks! Slow and steady! :D
 
mazfc said:
This is what being keen gets you, you were far to quick out of the blocks!
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I know, how annoying of Shorts not to post this last month, especially as I'll be able to add another at the end of next week, and a species only held at one collection to boot!
 
Tim May said:
During the 1980s all eight species would have been on display:-

• giant panda (London)
• spectacled bear (Whipsnade)
• sloth bear (originally at Chessington - sent to London in 1981)
• sun bear (Bristol)
• Asiatic black bear (London and elsewhere)
• North American black bear (London and elsewhere)
• brown bear (London and elsewhere)
• polar bear (London and elsewhere)

Incidentally, I believe there was a time in the late 1950s / early 1960s that all species would have been on display at London Zoo.
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Polar Bear and Asiatic's at Glasgow
 
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