Longleat Safari & Adventure Park Longleat Safari Park News 2014

Blackpool do have plans fo the future - ' a complete redevelopment and expansion of the elephant facility , with the eventual aim of housing a breeding herd of elephants here at Blackpool ' . Quoted from the latest Biaza News .

 

Of course it is but they can smell each other. Anne is going into the big game back where her new haven is and the other elephants will be in the paddock where she is right now

 

Short of knocking down the dinosaur safari I cannot imagine that Blackpool has the space to create a new elephant exhibit, certainly not on the existing exhibit footprint. And where are all these imaginary elephants going to appear from to fill these existing/future exhibits - Noah's, Longleat, Blackpool? Anywhere else interested in the UK? Anyway Blackpool would have to change their logo if they went out of eles.

Realistically none of the zoos that have/had solitary elephants (usually as a result of losing it's partner) wish to give them up. The zoo's argument is that the individual is aged and happy in it's familiar environment. While true, I cannot help but feel that elephants are social creatures and need to have access to a herd. If we inserted 'human' instead of 'elephant' everybody would be apalled that we might keep an old person by themselves with only the company of another species...

 

Noahs- currently have two Elephants(1.1) Are due to also receive the adult bull Kruger from Port Lympne and possibly another younger male from Sweden. Its likely they will get others too now their Elephant keeping has become an established fact.

Longleat- situation remains unclear. Are they still planning to add other 'rescue' Elephants if any become obtainable? Will they have the facilities to house them even?

Blackpool. It doesn't appear they will be going out of Elephants. On the contrary, if they put out in BIAZA what their intention is with them (i.e. a breeding group in the future) I'd be inclined to believe it- however far away it might be at present. Do they have extra land available or that they could acquire for this?. It is not impossible to form new breeding herds from animals in Europe- Dublin did it quite recently.

 

a new male Fennec Fox called Anthony has arrived from another zoo to join female Ayana

 

The Donkeys called Tony and Lucky has just arrived

 

the Update on Anne and her brand new haven will be on Facebook very soon but don't know when but very soon

 

Here are good news. Anne's New Haven is done

We are absolutely delighted to say that Anne’s new home is now completed, providing a light, spacious, warm and comfortable new place for Anne to live in. The House itself and all internal areas have now been finished with sophisticated heating, lighting and husbandry areas. Anne will have plenty of room to move around and to get comfy, no matter what the weather. The wonderfully soft floor has plenty of additional sand for Anne to indulge herself in – whether for messing around or sleeping – it’s hers to do what she wants with!





Her team of keepers are planning on moving Anne and her furnishings on foot from the existing house up to Anne’s Haven as soon as possible. The journey will take place when the park is quiet and the weather is dry, as this will provide the best possible conditions to move Anne without noise and distraction and without slippery conditions underfoot. This means that Anne won’t be in for Christmas day itself but very soon thereafter. The decision to walk her up will cause Anne the least amount of potential stress – she will be given plenty of time, space and encouragement in the form of bananas and additional treats to help her make the journey. Her team of expert keepers will be with her all of the way and we will be sure to update you with pictures of her journey in due course.




The external areas including the paddock and pool are well underway to being completed. The team are keen to move her, despite them not being quite finished, as the extensive internal space means that all of her accommodation requirements can be met whilst the last bits of work continues.





Anne is doing really well. The team have been walking her across her sand yard and up to the top of her existing paddock regularly to help prepare her for the journey on foot to her new Haven. Whilst she is not quite yet in her new home, her temporary wooden floors have plenty of give and are much easier on her joints than concrete flooring. They are also much warmer and whilst the weather is still pretty warm, the heating is on in her existing house and she is moving around both in and outside the house quite comfortably on most days.

 

Sounds good Jedd, will she share the house with other animals, such as a few vivariums/aquariums or other warmth loving creatures? seams a pity for what sounds like a lovely large set up not to utilise any spare space for other exhibits.

 

Agreed with all the comments @dean.

On top, I keep wondering why build a new exhibit for just a solitary animal?
What is the long term plan with the new Elephant House / Exhibit?

 

Yeah and fingers crossed when the park is quiet everything and move for Anne to her new haven should go well

 

As far as I'm concern Anne will have Next Door Neighbours which will be ostriches, antelope, Ankole and Camels