Anna Ryder-Richardson - TV Program Sun 30th Nov

Anna Ryder-Richardson - TV Program Sun 30th Nov
26-11-2008

Chaos at the Zoo
Sunday 30 November
9:00pm - 10:00pm
Channel 4


Documentary following TV presenter Anna Ryder-Richardson and her husband Colin over eight months as they and their young daughters attempt to run their own zoo in Wales.

26-11-2008

The title seems to suggest they know what they are doing....

28-11-2008

An attempt to top Ben's Zoo.

01-12-2008

The Title makes sense now watching the program, with her mid-life crisis. However it also shows they dont have a clue at what there doing and I think the camel dying finally it dawned on them! But it was after serval animals dying.

01-12-2008

I don't know, I think they maybe they have more of an idea than Ben did. At least they realise animal social groupings etc lol.

01-12-2008

Yes, but the gibbon enclosure was shocking, were as I have seen lemurs kept in worst but they got a nice new home!

To be fair the lemur enclosure is nice, and they have done the best they can for steve the gibbon.

01-12-2008

And I think he is going to get a new enclosure.

01-12-2008

He is, but to me the gibbon would of been a top priority on a project like this.

01-12-2008

I had an interview at manor house at easter and having watched this program i'm not sure if I missed out on a chance of a life time or should breath a sigh of relief.

The place was a dump, without a doubt the worst zoo I had been to but it had potential, there were big improvements in some areas, but they cannot be held responsible for the deaths of these animals, there are keepers and vets there that have been involved in the husbadry of these animals long term, and i get its all down to resources but basic observations would be a start

I really do wish them the best of luck with the project

01-12-2008

I know TV can be shown in a different light to what actually was going on but with a project like this, surely ensuring your animals are healthy and happy is the first thing you need to address????

And not be dependent on the people there are already there but get a second opinion, as they didn't have a clue!

01-12-2008

PS Easytigger, I think you may have missed out on a little gem. If there going to look at building enclosures that suit there needs like the lemurs, I have no doubt it will turn into a fantastic little attraction.

01-12-2008

The main thing the couple brought to the project was obviously enthusiasm, but when Anna was talking about the scimitar horned oryx and said "wherever they come from", that sent a little shudder down my spine.
Then came the opening of the lemur walk through, an excellent exhibit by the looks of it, hopefully "Steve" the siamang will get a similar sort of enclosure with a female.
I wish them well in their new venture, it was filmed before the credit melt down kicked in so times are bound to get tougher.
If they want to bring the crowds in i think one of their priorities should be to bring in a big cat species.
And the final line of the programme was quite insightful, Anna wanting to bring in "a rhino or three". We shall see!

p.s is this a one off documentary or is it a series?

01-12-2008

It's a big project what they are doing and i wish them well. already the Lemurs seem much more at home and im sure they will do all they can for the Gibbon. i will hopefully try and go next year and check it out myself

01-12-2008

I did not watch this programme. However I saw most of the 'Ben's Zoo' series. It only goes to show you don't need any experience or knowledge to get into the Zoo industry if you have the cash to buy.

I'm sure they mean well and have already learned a lot. But being so (evidently) zoologically naive, can they have any real plan or direction for the park in mind? Maybe just succeeding in running a 'hotch potch' collection as it is, will be reward enough.

I do wonder how long this and the Dartmoor saga will last though.

02-12-2008

[quote=Pertinax;114472]I did not watch this programme.

Pertinax you can veiw last nights 'chaos a the zoo' at channel 4 on demmand.

I had no idea Manor House was so run down

Does anyone know if the siamang cage was where the chimps used to be kept? I have a memory of the chimps at manor house kept on an awfull moated peice of concrete similar to the simang cage.