Filey Bird Garden & Animal Park

01/09/2024

The last Sunday before the kids go back to school! 😮‍💨

Who is feeling like one of our meerkats? 😂

Don’t worry, we are still open every day until the 3rd November!

31/08/2024

This morning, our chameleon is reminding you - Don’t look back in anger!

30/08/2024

It’s another hot day! Don’t forget to stay hydrated!😃☀️

Our yellow headed day geckos love the mist in their rainforest home! 🦎 💦

26/08/2024

💙☀️ Bank holiday Monday and blue sky all round!

Ronaldo, one of our alpacas, happily bouncing about in the morning sun. 😍🦙

24/08/2024

24/08/2024

☀️ It’s bank holiday weekend - the meerkats have got their towels out early to claim the best spots on the sand! 😂

If you’re heading to the beach this weekend, then come and see what our mob of meerkats and all the other animals are up to!

23/08/2024

Aja, our Reticulated Python, has been a star this summer. At 14 feet long she is hard to miss!!

Like most snakes she is often curled up, however she does use all of her spacious enclosure. It’s hard to get a scale from pictures but she is HUGE! The hand/head picture gives you some idea.

We often hear comments like ‘I wouldn’t want to go in there’ and general amazement at her. Fortunately she is a gentle giant and her previous owner had her ‘well trained’. We have continued this and she is getting used to her new home and the keepers.

21/08/2024

Patrick, Alfie and Ruby enjoying some fresh browse on World Goat Day! 🌍 🐐

19/08/2024

Monday Morning Meerkats ☀️

15/08/2024

***New Job Vacancies***
Café and Retail Team Members required to join this small friendly team.
Please follow the link for more information (applications should be via Indeed only, other contact methods will not be responded to)
https://uk.indeed.com/job/caf%C3%A9-and-retail-team-member-4d2d4c1664a83bb5

14/08/2024

We nearly missed it …. but it’s world lizard day!

Did you know there are over 7000 species of lizard in the world!? We have 3 native species of lizard in the uk, The Common Lizard, the Sand Lizard and the Slow-Worm.

They are often hard to find in the wild so pay us a visit and see if you can spot all 5 species we have on display!

14/08/2024

Students/volunteer placements now available! These places are very popular so please read all of this post before applying!

Are you starting an animal management course or similar in September? Many of these courses require a minimum of 150 hours of work experience but we only have limited places available.

What we need from you...
Placements are only available for ages 16+ (due to staffing and insurance)
You will need to commit to 1 day per week usually (9am-3pm)
You will be shovelling, lifting etc so a degree of physical fitness is required
Ability to work in all weathers (animals still need caring for in snow and rain!)
Reliability - we have limited placements, if you let us down regularly your place will be offered to someone else.
A positive 'can do' attitude...
and most importantly, a passion for animals!

What you will gain from us...
Experience working with a wide range of exotic and domestic animals (mammals, birds and reptiles)
Friendly environment with support and advice
Supervisors with a range of experience from other zoos and teaching experience
References for the future

We are a small team, so the right applicants are very important to us! The more you put in, the more you will get out of your placement. Volunteering may be available for 'non-students' however we still need commitment for set hours!

Applicants will have a short informal interview and a trial day before placements are guaranteed. That way you know what's expected and we can see how you work.

ALL applications should be emailed with a cover letter to [email protected]

12/08/2024

Halfway through the summer holidays already!?

Here's a ‘cheeky’ picture of Oona! 😂👅 ☀️

08/08/2024

Today is International Cat Day. 🐆

Jango, our Asian Leopard Cat, is absolutely stunning and one of the most popular animals here at the park. The glass around his enclosure is there to stop visitors trying to ‘pet’ him - those teeth mean business and he will use them given any opportunity! 😆

06/08/2024

Have you visited Filey’s Zoo? Did you know we have meerkats, lemurs, alpacas, tortoises, macaws and much more. With new animals arriving every year, this summer is the perfect time to come and explore our newly opened Reptile Realm including Aja, our 14ft Reticulated Python!

Whether you’re looking for a fun-filled visit with children or a peaceful place to spend an afternoon, it’s fun, relaxing and educational for all.

With 5 acres to explore, you can feed friendly animals, talk to the parrots, have fun on the playpark, or simply relax in our beautiful gardens. Why not treat yourself in our gift shop and café or enjoy a picnic around the park. Don’t forget your camera, and remember we’re dog friendly.

Whatever your age come and discover this award-winning park - we think you’ll be surprised!

05/08/2024

Working in the lemurs is always interesting - they love to ‘help’! 🙄

Unfortunately Finola refuses to wear PPE, 🥽Peebles still hasn’t got her CSCS card 🪪 and Angus keeps falling asleep in H&S briefings! 💤
😂 🪚 🔨 🪛 🪜🔩🔧🧰

⭐️ Disclaimer, obviously this post is just for a bit of fun, we take exceptional care of our Critically Endangered Lemurs! It was a 2 minute quick fix in the enclosure, we can (and do) lock them in a holding area when larger jobs are required. We like to provide lots of enrichment and these intelligent and inquisitive animals love to investigate anything new. They were well supervised and not allowed to operate the tools! 👍

03/08/2024

New ‘Reptile Realm’ gifts now available in the gift shop🦎🐢🐍🕷️🪲🐊

02/08/2024

⭐️ New animal alert - Panther Chameleon ⭐️

He was soon named ‘Karma’ 😂 and has been here for a week, settling in brilliantly. He is well camouflaged and has lots of opportunity to hide in his spacious enclosure, however he is usually on the branches watching the visitors with those amazing, independently movable eyes, giving near 360° vision!

Give this a like and drop a comment if you want to see a video of him eating - his tongue is just as amazing as his eyes!

Another great addition to the Reptile Realm.

31/07/2024

Updated daily keeper talks/feeding times for the summer.

The talks provide great photo opportunities while our keepers are feeding the animals and providing enrichment. It’s also a chance to ask any questions you may have.

*Please note - times may be subject to change due to animal welfare, extreme weather and staffing constraints*

30/07/2024

Relaxed Rheas ☀️

29/07/2024

The new Coati enclosure is proving to be a huge success with visitors. With views like this you can see why!

There is a near-uninterrupted viewing area off the main path that allows the Coatis to walk inches above your head. The floor/ceiling is made of clear polycarbonate and they use it as a route round while navigating their spacious enclosure.

Just one of our new larger purpose built enclosures, which provides great standards for the animals and great views for you!

It’s a nightmare to keep clean 😂, but totally worth it to see everyone’s reactions! 😍

Video in the comments.

27/07/2024

Being nocturnal, our skunk is one of the parks most elusive animals. Here is ‘Panda’ having a big yawn before taking herself back off to bed! 💤 🦨

26/07/2024

It’s National Zookeeper Week!

With the Reptile Realm opening, new Coati enclosure finished and the start of the summer holidays we nearly missed it.

This is a post to say THANK YOU to our amazing team. We are a small collection so we all work closely together and having a hardworking, friendly and knowledgeable team is hugely important to the park, visitors and of course all of our lovely animals!

Here are some pictures of the staff doing the more fun/photogenic parts of the job. There would be many more of mucking out, mountains of cleaning and disinfecting and the never ending chopping and food preparation!

From the ‘bosses’, animals and visitors we thank you for all your hard work!

25/07/2024

***Gardener Wanted***
Our gardener of 16 years is sadly hanging up his trowel at the end of October. We are now looking for someone to replace him, starting this season, so they have time to learn the ropes ready for next year!
£11.50 per hour, 10-12 flexible ours per week, possibly split across 3-4 days. The usual season is from early February until mid November.
The role includes most aspects of maintaining a large floral/shrub garden plus various smaller areas around the zoo. The ideal candidate must have a good basic knowledge of plant species, pruning, dead heading, weeding and general garden care.
Please apply via email or phone - NOT Facebook ([email protected] or 01723 514439 between 10am and 5pm).

23/07/2024

⭐️ Miniature Zebu ⭐️

After lots of reptile posts we promised you something a bit cuter! Meet ‘Zelda’ our newest arrival to the park. At just 9 months old it fair to say she is absolutely adorable 🥰 🐂

We have been trying to find Ziggy, our Zebu, a companion since we tragically lost Millie, his mother, to a very sudden illness earlier this year. Even after treatment from our experienced zoo vets she sadly passed away. Cattle have a strong herd instinct so are much happier with company. Miniature Zebu are few and far between so finding a suitable companion for him has been tricky.

We love Ziggy and know many of you do too, however we considered rehoming him elsewhere to be with his own kind. His welfare is paramount to us, and we didn’t like to see him alone. Fortunately, we found a young female and have been waiting for her to be big enough to introduce them!

Ziggy is very strong and new animal introductions can be risky. It seemed like love at first sight, so after a short introduction through the fence we let them into the paddock together.

Ziggy was very gentle, and it couldn’t have gone better! They are often seen lying down together and ‘play head butting’ each other. All the zookeepers are so pleased to see them together and the two of them have been inseparable ever since she arrived on Saturday 🥰🐂😍

22/07/2024

⭐️ New animal alert - Madagascan Giant Day Gecko🦎⭐️

These 3 bright green geckos are settling into their rainforest habitat. As their name suggests they are active in the day (Diurnal) and are the largest species of day gecko. They are surrounded by plants so well camouflaged but if you look up high you should see them!

They are able to stick to almost any surface and hang upside down. This is due to their specialised toes which are covered in hundreds of microscopic hairs called setae. The actual method in which they are able to stick involves atoms and molecules, so a bit too complex to explain in this post! (but worth a quick online search for those interested).

Instead we will end this post with some nice pictures, and the fun fact that they have no eyelids, so lick their eyeballs to keep them clean! 👅 👁️😮

Tomorrow’s post will be of something bigger, fluffier and generally ‘cuter’ 😁

21/07/2024

⭐️ New animal alert - Plumed Basilisk 🦎⭐️

These lizards are also known as ‘Jesus Christ Lizards’ due to their ability to ‘walk on water’! 😮

This behaviour is used as a defence mechanism to avoid predators. They push an air cavity under their large (slightly webbed) feet and tails, allowing them to run along water for short distances! They are from Central America and are found in dense rainforest near rivers and bodies of water. Basilisks can also swim very well and hold their breath for up to an hour.

Our young male will hopefully develop the large crests associated with the species. (Second picture) and be joined by a female soon. He has been climbing through the branches and along the rocks, swimming in the pool and sitting under the waterfall! He is well camouflaged in his large ‘rainforest’ habitat but is usually sat in ‘plain sight’ so worth looking for!

The feedback about the newly opened Reptile Realm has been amazing! There are still more new animals planned for the area and the plants will continue to grow and establish.

20/07/2024

The summer holidays are here. For a change it actually feels like summer!

We thought we would give you a break from reptile posts (though there’s plenty more coming) and update you on the new Ring Tailed Coati enclosure instead.

The 3 sisters have moved over to their amazing new custom built enclosure this morning. They have been out exploring every corner of the larger space. Navigating the assorted ropes, ladders and platforms with ease!

Rose, Lilly and Violet are very inquisitive and putting those long noses to use foraging through the woodchip. We couldn’t be happier with how the move went and they must think the same as they have been very active only stopping for the odd siesta in the heat.

We are open daily 10-5 with no need to book, just pay on arrival.

19/07/2024

⭐️ New animal alert - Sulcata tortoise ⭐️

☀️ It’s been bright sunshine all day here - perfect if you are a giant tortoise! 🐢

‘Horatia’ is our newest addition to the park and has been exploring her large grassy enclosure. She is a 16 year old Sulcata Tortoise also known as an African Spurred Tortoise. Sulcata tortoises are the 3rd largest species of tortoise in the world. Horatia is a good size already but she will continue to get quite a bit bigger (Coke can for scale 😁). She is settling in great and already ‘chomping’ her way through the grass!

17/07/2024

⭐New Animal Alert - Yellow-headed Day Gecko ⭐

Yesterday we posted the arrival of our biggest reptile, today its our smallest!
These tiny Geckos are also ready to be on display in the 'Reptile Realm' from SATURDAY.

They are currently only babies and just 3-4cm long! They wont get huge and will max out at 8-10cm. They may be hard to spot at first due to their size but they are very active. They have kept the staff amused watching them 'zooming' around and jumping between branches.

Their other common name is the Neon Day Gecko and they add a lovely splash of colour to the enclosure. In the wild they are found in a small area of Madagascar and are classified as Endangered.