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South Lakes Wild Animal Park South Lakes discussion thread

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Nisha, 10 Jan 2015.

  1. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    The "Free entry" with a donation promotion has now been changed to a minimum donation of £5 per person from today.. :rolleyes:

    Due to the comments made in response to the previous post and to end the confusion we feel we have to apply a policy of a minimum donation to enable us to carry on offering a lower priced entry to the families that cannot afford to visit at full costs. This idea was devised to give opportunity to those in our communities that are less fortunate and to assist larger families . The other reason was to enable us to employ ALL our full time staff all year round instead of laying off over 20 people for 5 months. Sadly we got it wrong this year because the fact that so many people felt it "fair" to only give £1 or attempt to get in for free has left the Zoo not able to cover its costs and continue to employ all of its staff.
    It costs over £8,220 per DAY in overhead costs to run the Safari Zoo.
    From 10am today, Sat 10th January 2015 .
    There will now be a minimum donation of £5.00 per person until February 13th 2015.
     
  2. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    I can't believe the nerve of some people! Expecting to get in for free when there was a free entry promotion!
     
  3. SHAVINGTONZOO

    SHAVINGTONZOO Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Why do I get the impression that this place makes it up as it goes along?
     
  4. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    And a rant by Gill expanding on the same topic:

     
  5. bigcat speciali

    bigcat speciali Well-Known Member

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    "This Zoo has had the best year in its history in 2014 following on from last years record attendances" - I find this comment to be very dismissive of all the issues and matters that have taken, from the death of a keeper, keeper injuries to the criminal behaviour and the rest. Dave Gill as we all know is one person who we all dislike and that dislike gathers pace, especially when he posts such nonsense on his own Facebook page; " but this modern world and now social media giving a voice to armchair critics simply saps the will." If Dave Gill hates the "armchair critic" then his beloved ranch is where he should be. I, like the rest have been banned from posting on both his and the parks FB pages, but as we know this refusing to publish any negative comment only serves to drive down his reputation and continue to give his own ego and his followers ego a burst of false life. Anyway, I a sure 2015 will have some very interesting incidents as we all know, Dave and his park has history and this new year makes no difference.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: 10 Jan 2015
  6. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    I've merged your posts to make them easier to read, bigcat speciali - try to remember to put any comments you are copying from other sources into quote boxes so that it is clear where you are quoting something, and where you are personally saying something :)
     
  7. stubeanz

    stubeanz Well-Known Member

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    Every time i see a rant about 'armchair critics I always wonder if he is actually talking about zoochat? Haha
     
  8. Nanook

    Nanook Well-Known Member

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    Erm......................................... yes it does.

    (And yet another tedious rant from Gill..........yawn!)
     
  9. banham.tiger

    banham.tiger Well-Known Member

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    He would make a very good story teller :)
     
  10. alfiethetortois

    alfiethetortois Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Was hoping to head over on my next free and clear day. Unfortunately the weather has not allowed since the return of kids going back to school. Looks like I'll be paying my £5 now then! Did find it amusing that Gill's band of followers were 'disgusted' that people were only putting a pound in the donation bucket... I have to say that whenever I've been over this winter (several times) the cafe has always been full and the gift shop is equally busy:eek:
     
  11. dublinlion

    dublinlion Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    and some equally tedious rants from the "critics" to keep us neutrals amused.


    zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
     
  12. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    This would be the "neutrals" who only post on zoochat these days in order to defend SLWAP and propose the criticism is all a conspiracy then? ;) :p
     
  13. Nanook

    Nanook Well-Known Member

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    Indeed they do!
     
  14. dublinlion

    dublinlion Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Dos'nt come accross as balanced criticism, just a smear campaign and ganging up. It is the duty of all fair minded people to stand up against this type of one sided blustering. (bristling with indignation :rolleyes:)
    ps
    On the other hand it is all mildly amusing and very predictable.
     
  15. SHAVINGTONZOO

    SHAVINGTONZOO Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    To be fair dublinlion, to launch a "free winter admission" scheme and then to complain that some people are coming in for free takes a certain type of outlook on life.
     
  16. alfiethetortois

    alfiethetortois Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    South Lakes is our nearest zoo and it's quite a collection, but I'm becoming tired of Gill and his outbursts which are often nasty and unneeded. How can you say that that your welcoming large families, and unemployed people giving them 'free' entry which makes it affordable for many people and then start complaining that these same people are selfish, don't care about how much it's costing him to run his zoo or care about his animals and that they should be putting more money in as donations?! It's wrong on many levels in my opinion...
     
  17. dublinlion

    dublinlion Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Thanks for that dave.
     
  18. bigcat speciali

    bigcat speciali Well-Known Member

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    Thank you Dave, but I feel there may be an air of zzzzzz from dublinlion regarding fair criticism in response to Dave Gill and his safari park. This criticism is both fair and correct. However, "neutrals" as dublinlion puts it is something that is more symbolic than held to to believe. You cannot sit on the fence and hold a neutral stance as that is meaningless in its whole context. That's like saying you agree with the anti-zoo lobby and yet work in a zoo; you agree against animals being kept in cages and captivity and yet work in a zoo and have a pet; you agree with the conservative party but pour money into labour and so on. Dave gill has brought all of his troubles and that of the parks problems upon himself and if you disagree with that then fine.
     
  19. bigcat speciali

    bigcat speciali Well-Known Member

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    Posted on SLWAP facebook page

    "South Lakes Wild Animal Park Ltd started on 28th May 1994 today almost 21 years later it has ended trading. From the amazing success of this unique zoo environment a new Zoo has arisen and developed. Tomorrow we are a new company and a new future. South Lakes SAFARI ZOO Ltd will bring you the very first SAFARI ZOO in the UK and continue with the unique , special and exciting adventure...... every day !"

    Unique? Honestly!

    UK's first Safari Zoo? err really!

    Amazing success? Oh do come on Dave Gill, you can't count South Lakes as a success, from animal escapes by the score and greater, breaching zoo and health & safety reg's, death and injuries to keepers, criminal record and unlawful firearm holdings, and so on...mmmm not much of a success really is it?
     
  20. garyjp

    garyjp Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I have never been to this zoo but this one certainly gets a lot of attention from the chatters - why ?