Knowsley Safari Park Knowsley Safari Park News 2015

The lion sand area has been greatly improved with a mahoosive pile of trees for the lions to climb on and a much larger sanded area too, looks great.

The baboon fence has had a vertical extension too, it's basically made the fence much higher and unfortunately as it's dark/black material it's actually rather ugly

The new stock house currently underway at the start of the rhino paddock section now has it's steelwork in place and should be finished much quicker hopefully.

The park has a half term half price offer on currently which is making the park seriously busy - as in stationary queues of traffic around the park for 30 minutes minimum. You have been warned

 

Are there any new species arriving this year?

 

Not that I know of yet. Some establishing new breeding programmes maybe?

 

1.0 European moose has arrived from Whipsnade and 0.2 hunting dogs have been put to sleep.

 

Bruce the Moose & New Developments

the two moose are now both on show in the woodland walk area. The male is Bruce & the female is Froja if anyone was wondering.

The park will shortly be unveiling rowing boats for hire on the lake at the back of the bird of prey show arena next to the Tapir/Sitatunga/Capybara area.

Mini baby boom going on at the moment with lots of Pere Davids Deer calves as well as other ungulates being born.

Further updates as I hear them

 

May 2015 news

some news items:

New Guidebook is now in circulation.

Cape Buffalo calf born - species currently on show but bloody good at hiding

Blesbok calf born - on show but only in the small paddock by the hoofstock house currently, not on the main drive yet. Very sweet

Male White Rhino Calves "Thabo" & "Nonu" have now left the collection

 

The new location of the Capey's if not ideal for public viewing, but stops the bull getting aggressive with cars!. Do you know if it is the same cow that has given birth as last time? There are only three cows left now from the original five too I think? (could you confirm KarooCheetah?). Also is the sex of the calf known, the two previous births have been male.

 

Thabo and Nonu have gone to Santo Inacio in Portugal
Notícias / Zoo Santo Inácio, V.N. Gaia | Porto

 

During the April easter holidays, I did Knowsley's "Safari School", and got told that they will be moving the two tigers closer to the main park near the elephants. I also heard they are looking for a male to go with the two sisters. (Not sure if this is true though, it all could of been for the practical we had to do, which was to design the proposed new tiger enclosure.

 

As far as I am aware this is indeed the case, certainly with the former.

It may be worth noting that certain collections do not like people who attend 'behind-the-scenes' events to post information or images on ZooChat and also on social media sites such as Facebook.

 

The Knowsley Academy 5 day course is aimed at 15 to 18 year olds and open to anyone who books on it so I think any info that they divulge on it unless they specifically say "this is confidential" would have to be classed as public.

A personal conversation with staff or a private behind the scenes tour is a totally different kettle of fish and that is a bond of trust between individuals - one that I personally will never break.

 

African Elephant, Shaba has been PTS following a long period of ill health

 

More information on this here:
Shaba

 

How many Elephants have they got now?

 

They have 4, Tala, Jala, Ashanti & Nala

 

Not quite correct names wise. 4 remaining now

For clarity:

Remaining now are:

Tana (or Tots) - Female b)1987 Zimbabwe (arrived KSP 1993 ex-Windsor)
Ashanti - Female b) 2003 at KSP (Kruger x Shaba)
Nala - Female b) 2003 at KSP (Kruger x Tana)
Juba - Female b)1987 Zimbabwe - (arrived 1993 from Windsor)

 

Didn't Jala join up again with Butu at Noah's Ark?...could be wrong I'm more a rhino man than elephant one.

So on two years seven has become three with Nissims death now Shaba and two moving on to Noah's. ?

 

Yeah i'm sure I remembered one called Juba when I visited in April. Unless she has been moved away aswell.

 

Noah's ark had three elephants, Janu from Port Lympne, M'Changa from Sweden and Buta from Knowsley. Buta died.

 

When I was there not too long ago they had 5 elephants, one of which more or less was separated …., although with access to the big enclosure.

I really hope the elephant paddock and house renos will come off soon and KSP will once again have a proper breeding bull who can deliver the goods!