Paradise Wildlife Park Snippets of news from Paradise Wildlife Park

Me too, he was one charismatic lesser ape.

 

Sad News:

We're sad to announce the passing of our African leopard Sheena, who unfortunately passed away on the 10th March 2016 after a short illness.
Sheena was born at Santago Rare Leopard Breeding Centre and came to Paradise Wildlife Park when Santago’s private collection closed late 2009. Santago Rare Leopard Breeding Centre was owned by Pete James and family and was renowned for breeding endangered leopards and was a crucial part of the international breeding programmes, as well as being the stud book keeper for the rare and beautiful clouded leopard. Peter Sampson, the owner of Paradise Wildlife Park was a good friend of Pete James and sadly when tragedy struck in 2008 when Pete James sadly passed away, Paradise Wildlife Park stepped in and rehomed the cats that where housed at Santago. One of which was Sheena who came to join us here at Paradise.
Sheena was much loved by all the keepers here at Paradise and will be greatly missed. One of our long serving volunteers Lynn Bonner who spent much of her time with Sheena whilst she was here said “Sheena was a beautiful, majestic lady who enchanted everyone who met her. Peace and light.”

 

There can`t be many African Leopards left in the UK now, does anyone know?? There is male "Rajah" at Borth Animalarium, he`s about 18 years old now. Any others ??

 

The Borth animal was born at Basildon Zoo and was sold to a private individual before being "rescued" by the RSPCA and deposited at Borth.
The Basildon Leopard pair produced both melanistic and spotted cubs. I believe one of the adults was melanistic as well. So you are probably right there. I saw a melanistic pair at Heythrop last year but I didn`t know their provenance. Is the animal you mention a different animal there, I can`t remember how many he`s got.

 

Was told Heythrop had 2.0 Spotted Leopards and 1.1 melanistic 2014/2015.

 

Just thought this might be of any interest during school term you can get in after 3pm for a £5 per person as long as you have a child with you. open till 6pm

 

The latest brochure for Paradise Wildlife Park has a couple of shonky claims:

1. "We are the leading zoo in Europe, offering over 30 different pre-booked exotic animal experiences";

2. "The only zoo in the UK to have all 5 of the big cats -White Lions, Tigers, Snow Leopards, Jaguars and White Tiger"'

The first claim might be bad grammar and they're just saying they offer more "pre-booked exotic animal experiences" than any other zoo in Europe (not that I know if this is the case or not) but, to me, the second is a bit of a howler:

1. Who says they get to be one to proclaim what the five big cats (wrongly) are;

2. Is it a "free for all" and anywhere can name their own five "big cats" as all of the five big cats? If so Dartmoor were claiming similar a while back with Cheetah (and possibly Lynx) making up their five -one of them's lying if they'd have made the claim simultaneously.

 

If they held normal lion they'd be claiming they had all six species of big cat!!

 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1285644798178663

 

I think they do hold African Lions as well

 

I think the brochure by the sound of it needed to be proof read a little more . But I like this zoo its a good little set up and i can remember it as the old Broxbourne Zoo and that was a dump . Its come a hell of a long way its not perfect but its what i would call a great introduction level to going to the zoo especially for kids

 

Not when I was there 2 weeks ago

 

so what is in that enclosure now

 

Sorry, i don't know which enclosure you refer to. They currently hold White Tiger, Amur Tiger, White Lion, Jaguar, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Ocelot. No other cats that I can recall

 

Just had a look on line white tigers are in where african Lions used to be