No it was more than that, some kind of construction type equipment. No they haven't opened any other enclosures. The equipment went along the path behind the top of the occupied polar bear enclosure and Pixel ran along the fence-line and sat by the gate.
According to one of the rangers they had 5,000 people on sunday,and were expecting between 6 and 7,000 the way it was going by Monday lunchtime. We got there at 9-50am (10 minutes before opening) and it was nose to tail getting IN already. We were 2/3rds of the way down the first car-park by then. When we left at 1pm it looked about half full in the last car-park. I assume they started filling up the spaces as people started to depart or they were going to run out of room. It took me about 2 minutes to leave. I was hoping to see the Armadillos out in the sun today,but they remained inside. They were well geared up for the masses at the pay booths at opening time,so much so that the "normal public" were getting in faster than the fast-track and Yearly ticket holders. Didn't look so good by 1pm though as the queue went all the way round the outside of the gift-shop. Photo's of new the young camel and more flying Pixel photos will be posted later. Photo's now added to the gallery.
Confirmation that YWP had 25,000 visitors over the Easter weekend - with 10,500 alone on Monday. A new record! from Facebook: An incredible 25,000 visitors enjoyed the thrills and charms of the award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park over a record-breaking Easter weekend. The innovative walk-through park had plenty to offer with a new polar bear and a baby camel making their first public holiday appearances along with Easter egg hunts for children. The 70-acre park, one of the fastest growing attraction in the UK, had a record 10,500 visitors on Easter Monday and director John Minion said: “It was our busiest day ever. “We have never had over 10,000 on a normal day before. We can't thank everyone enough for all their support." YWP, near Doncaster, is a home for the world’s most beautiful and endangered animals and has a global reputation for its conservation and welfare work through the charity, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park Foundation. The baby Bactrian camel, named Hadara (meaning adorned with beauty), made her public debut on Saturday following her birth to first time mum Elizabeth on March 22nd. She had a difficult first week and had to have a helping hand from the rangers as she was struggling to stand. Staff helped out with extra bottle feeds and this weekend she was able to walk outside next to her proud mother. The exciting appearance came just days after the arrival of Pixel, YWP’s second polar bear who quickly broke the ice with veteran Victor, 16, who arrived at the park last year. The pair are getting to know each other. Pixel, from a zoo near Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, is enjoying his new Project Polar home - one of the world's largest polar bear reserves spanning ten acres (about 8.5 football pitches) and divided into four sections, featuring landscaped hills, valleys as well as lakes and pools up to 8metres deep. YWP, at Branton, was full of the sounds of fun and laughter over the weekend as children enjoyed the celebrated Easter Egg trail with prizes for those who completed a route taking in the unique animal collection including Amur Tigers and Leopards, and Painted Hunting Dogs along with Lions, Giraffes, Baboons, Lemurs and Meerkats. They also enjoyed the weatherproof 600 sq m Monkey Play barn with three levels of play equipment, including climbing frames, dens, slides and rope bridges in full view of the baboon reserve through a glass wall.
What fantastic news for all the hard working staff at Y.W.P. I feel sorry for them for the next few weeks though until the cubs are let outside for the first time,as all the visitors will be expecting to see them straight away. Cant wait to see them in their full enclosure in a few months time. It had been one of the things that have been lacking at YWP, one of their "headline" animals hadn't had young up until now. Just hope that Freya gets the right idea soon and there will be Amur leopards cubs to go gooey over.
What seems like only yesterday is the tigers arriving (as well as the Raccoon Dogs moving into their second enclosure (where the Baboons are now))!
I was looking at last years map while procrastinating, it got me thinking (oh dear!), is there anything in the old Hunting Dog enclosure? If not does anybody know of any plans?
The Tiger cubs have had there first check up - now sexed as two girls and a boy See the special moment when tiger cubs come roaring into the world - Mirror Online
