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Orana Wildlife Park old footage of the drive-through lion reserve

Discussion in 'New Zealand' started by Chlidonias, 25 May 2014.

  1. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    a 5 minute video from Campbell Live about the drive-through lion reserve at Orana Park in the 1970s-80s. The lion reserve was the core of the park when it opened, and what people went there to see. It was eventually closed in 1995, mainly due to modern cars being made of plastic and tinfoil rather than the solid vehicles of the 70s.

    Orana Park?s drive-through lion enclosure - Story - Campbell Live - TV Shows - 3 News
     
  2. FBBird

    FBBird Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Orana...

    Couldn't get this to play, BUT how come we still have drive through Lion reserves in UK if it's not safe in Oz? I've never been eaten at Longleat.
     
  3. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    well, New Zealand isn't in Australia for a start :p

    It is to do with Health & Safety issues but don't know the answer to your question otherwise. When the drive-through lion reserve stopped existing they also put a halt to the park being drive-through as a whole (formerly you could drive around past the exhibits on the gravel roads, although none of the other enclosures were drive-through). I actually think opening the drive-through lion reserve again at Orana would be a good business move, but have the passengers inside park buses rather than in their own cars. Especially now with the problems in Christchurch it would almost certainly increase visitor numbers dramatically.

    I've heard all sorts of stories about the stupid things people did in the lion reserve, but I can't imagine it would be any different to stupid things people would do in the same set-up in England or elsewhere.
     
  4. FBBird

    FBBird Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Orana...

    Sorry about the geographical thing. Should have said NZ.