Southport Zoo Mandrills.

Southport Zoo Mandrills.
24-05-2007

Southport Zoo in Lancashire was famous for its success in breeding Mandrills, many having been sent to other zoos both in UK and elsewhere. But when it closed down there were still two groups numbering about 10-15 animals.

Where did they all go?

The owner,Doug Petrie, planned to start a new zoo in Yorkshire and he kept some of his Southport animals,when he moved. Did that include the Mandrills.

One pair or trio from Southport were acquired by Trotters World of Animals, but does anyone have any information about the whereabouts of the rest?.

24-05-2007

I have no idea actually, but if I were to guess I'd say maybe South Lakes.

25-05-2007

Nope, they do have a small group(about four) but they came from Israel.

11-07-2007

they have more than that !

11-07-2007

South Lakes have 2.4 at the moment.

11-07-2007

okay, they've been breeding. I wonder if any were added to the original group from the ex Southport stock though. I believe their originals(2.1 or 2.2 ?) came from Jerusalem but are descended from Vienna stock.

14-07-2007

As we have a number of new members, I'm redrawing attention to my quest to find out where all the Mandrills from the closed -down Southport Zoo went to.

Anyone know? One small group went to Trotters Animal Park but the rest are still 'unnaccounted for'

15-07-2007

Trotters Animal Park - have they got a website, any info on them ????

15-07-2007

The website for trotters world of animals
Trotters World of Animals : animal park in the lake district, animals, keswick, attractions, attraction, uk

29-07-2007

does anyone here know the names of the mandrills at chester zoo or any where one of my favourite animals !

31-07-2007

I am pretty sure no primates went to the Yorkshire Dales Falconry Centre, which is the collection the Petries went on to own. I understand they were unable to get a license to expand the raptor collection to allow other animals to be housed there.
This blog is by an ex keeper at Southport, it doesn't say where most of the mandrill went but is pretty interesting all the same.
Internet webmaster, Zookeeper of 20 Years

31-07-2007

Its strange that such a famous and large group of Mandrills(actually toward the end it was two groups I believe) should disappear like that. Maybe a lot of them were sent abroad- certainly no UK collection has shown a sudden increase in their Mandrill groups. Most of these do contain Southport blood to some degree already, from animals bred at Southport in the past. Trotters World of Animals did acquire a pair or small group directly from the closure of Southport, so far they are the only ones I can trace.

09-08-2007

Howdy, found this forum via a traffic referral link in my stats.

We did have 2 groups of Mandrills at Southport, Our original ones which we had been breeding since the late 60's and in the early 90's we brought in another breeding group from the US.

When the zoo closed down indeed we sent some to Trotters, the ones that were left went to a private collection in the UK.

The private collector is in the film/tv business, he trains animals to be in films and commercials, he already had a small group of mandrills, ( A commercial featuring his mandrills was on Brit TV a year or so back, I think it was for colgate, anyway it was a toothpaste advert), he required our breeding group to expand his own.

All other primates at Southport were sent to either, Trotters, Cefn-yr-erw, and this private individual.

hope that helps

09-08-2007

Yes, that's really interesting information. You've solved a mystery for me...

I know of the private collector you mention. Do you know approximately how many Mandrills went from Southport to his set-up? It must have been quite a large number?

Thanks agai for the info...

09-08-2007

Sorry I can't remember exactly how many we sent him its been over 4 years, but it would have been in the region of 8 to 10 animals I believe