Safari Zoo

16/01/2025

Departure and Destination update, as promised ❤️

The little cotton top tamarins have left for their new home ❤️

They will be in good hands in their new home in Hertfordshire, which happens to also be the same place that Stanley and the Meerkats have gone to!

As always the new home has the right to announce the arrival first so we won’t spoil that for them, but we wanted you to know they have a happy future ahead❤️

Happy New Home little ones ❤️

There are more moves planned in the coming days and we will continue to bring you updates as soon as we can ❤️

15/01/2025

Departure and Destination update, as promised ❤️

Our perfect peacocks have flown the nest! ❤️

The whole “muster” of peacocks has landed on their feet, finding a home at a 200 acre farm in Cheshire. Their new home incorporates grasslands, ponds, trees and lots of high level roosting points to help keep them safe! And not only that, their new humans are super-experienced in looking after peacocks, ducks, chickens, geese and guinea fowl.❤️

Happy new loving home lovelies, we know you will be as spoiled as you deserve. ❤️

There are more moves planned in the coming days and we will continue to bring you updates as soon as we can ❤️

13/01/2025

Catering 🍳, Retail 🛒 and Display Equipment For sale: 🏷️

As we close down the site, the following equipment has been identified as being in good working order: it has served us well and we would be very happy for it to be of benefit to other businesses:

1 x Blackburn LPG powered chippy range including 3 fryer pans, 1 - chip box, 1 - scrap box, counter range with illuminated front (a full setup ideal for kitting out a mobile chippy van)

1 x 4-pan bains marie (sit perfectly with the chippy range)

2 x 3-pan bains maries

3 x whippy-style ice cream machines

1 x rijo coffee machine

1 x glass-fronted display “cake” fridge

1 x large open fronted display fridge

1 x burger chute

1 x walk in freezer

10+ touch screen eposnow compatible till systems including cash drawer, receipt printers, scanners

Number of televisions

Number of Gas barbecues

Smaller electric kitchen items including pannini presses

All the above have been purchased since 2017 with the majority purchased more recently and is in good working order.

We also have a very good telehandler available if this is more your thing!

If you are interested in any of the above please contact Sam on at [email protected] for more information. Viewings can be arranged. Buyer will need to collect.

13/01/2025

Hi followers,

We can’t quite believe we have to be saying this, but this is where we find ourselves.

The 4 Canada Lynx boys that left us on the 27th December returned to their first home, they were categorically NOT released into the wilds of Scotland.

We are confirming this off the back of being asked the question today by supposedly serious “investigative journalist” from the BBC, despite the lynx videod clearly being a different species and looking nothing alike our boys.

We are not replying directly to the BBC, as it is an absolutely ridiculous accusation with no basis or merit, but we are posting here for any traction this “investigative reporting” (and we use that term very loosely), or associated speculation, may get.

Absolute insanity, but here we are.

Here are the boys, safe at home, in Cambridgeshire, not running amok in the Cairngorms.

07/01/2025

Departure and Destination update, as promised ❤️

Our little meerkat mob have flown the nest!

They have joined Stanley at his new home at a Non-proft conservation and education centre in Hertfordshire; as always the new home has the right to announce the arrival first so we won’t spoil that for them ❤️

Happy New Home little ones ❤️

There are more moves planned in the coming days and we will continue to bring you updates as soon as we can ❤️

07/01/2025

Departure and Destination update, as promised 🦥 ❤️

We know a lot of you have been waiting for this one, our favourite slow-coach, Two Toed Stanley has left for his new home ❤️

Stanley’s highlights over the years include the unforgettable moment he outwitted, outsmarted and generally just outran Kim on one of our lockdown lives (we like to frequently remind her of this).

Stanley will be in good hands in his new home at a Non-proft conservation and education centre in Hertfordshire; as always the new home has the right to announce the arrival first so we won’t spoil that for them ❤️

Happy New Home Stanley, a favourite of many, you will be so missed ❤️

There are more moves planned in the coming days and we will continue to bring you updates as soon as we can ❤️

04/01/2025

Departure and Destination update, as promised ❤️

Our marvellous Macaws have moved on to play a huge role in education, joining an Education Centre focussing on spreading conservation messages.

These will play an essential role in teaching children how we can all make a difference and secure a positive future for our feathered friends in the years to come ❤️

There are more moves planned in the coming days and we will continue to bring you updates as soon as we can ❤️

02/01/2025

Departure and Destination update, as promised ❤️

A special one this ❤️, which we are so proud to have been able to play a part in.

Our white storks have moved on to play a huge role in securing a positive future for White Storks everywhere, joining the White Stork Rewilding Project. Most of the storks have already moved, the final 3 will be moving very shortly.

Here is the first Stork being introduced to some existing members of the programme at Lowther Estate.

These will play an essential role in the natural breeding of chicks for future release and also for establishing areas to attract released storks back - “bird magnets” if you will.

How absolutely wonderful that they will contribute to a positive future for their fellow white storks.

There are more moves planned in the coming days and we will continue to bring you updates as soon as we can ❤️

02/01/2025

Departure and Destination update continues, as promised ❤️

This is a lovely one ❤️

Our lovely tortoises moved on to pastures new, finding their home at the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, alongside Boa Constrictor, Crusher ❤️. The centre is dedicated to the rescue, care, and rehoming of reptiles and have supported the rescue and rehoming of over 12,000 reptiles since 2018.

These guys are in wonderful hands 😍

There are more moves planned in the coming days and we will continue to bring you updates as soon as we can ❤️

02/01/2025

Departure and Destination update, as promised ❤️

We are happy to report that the majority of our feathered friends have already moved into their pawesome new homes, and even happier to confirm that the majority moved in 2 large groups to 2 centres into similar situations to here at the zoo.

The Inca terns, white faced whistling ducks, black capped nightherons, roseate spoonbills, little and cattle egrets, glossy ibis all went to an established and experienced wildlife and falconry centre in Oxfordshire where they will call roomy aviaries home.

Our Coscoroba swans, black swans, bar headed geese, common shelduck, ruddy shelducks, wood ducks and mandarin ducks are all living the life of Riley in open grassy and laked areas at an animal park in Central Scotland.

As you will likely be aware, the vultures and condors had previously moved on from the zoo a few months prior to our planned closure.

Over in the primate house, you will know Red Ruffed Lemurs Pointy and Ben who had to live apart from the main group of lemurs as Pointy was a little prone to being picked on! We are so happy these pals have been rehomed together at a zoo in somerset ❤️

There are more moves planned in the coming days and we will continue to bring you updates as soon as we can ❤️

31/12/2024

As we close the doors for the final time I have never been so prouder of the team than I am today. Their focus and dedication to the animals in our care has been unwavering since 2016.

In 2016 we met in the red lion in dalton the decision on the table was to bid farewell go our separate ways or to try and stand and fight for the animals and zoo.

If in 2016 Anna, Ian , Kim, Paula and Sam knew what was going to be thrown at them for the part but the last 3 years have surpassed normality but such is their carachter I know they would have done nothing different. (Although vicky today you may have been given the nod !! )

From those who have been in from the start like Matthew, and those like Tracy, Becca,
Andrew, Natalie, Brian, Rachel, Claire, Josh and everyone who joined us along the journey or those for whom the journey was a little shorter - it’s been an absolute pleasure to work alongside you all.

To be able to rise above the accusations and utter “bs” and turn up and deliver the effort and commitment you all have is testament to you. I challenge anyone to find better staff, walk their shoes just imagine what they have had to read but still turn up to do the fantastic job they have.

In 2016 the office were forbidden to order hay for the rhinos, in 2021 rhino mums and calves were left without water - we still have work to do as the animals when we took over then were our focus they are now.

This zoo is a fantastic zoo with fantastic animals and staff, and on behalf of everyone I’d like to thank those who have continue to support us every step of the way, the local community our suppliers our behind the scenes teams especially our amazing vet Karen archer of izvg .

May 2025 bring everyone happiness and peace.

Karen

31/12/2024

Who’s visiting us today?

Makes sure to visit the gift shop for our everything must go sale!

Everything has been reduced down to £1 so make sure to pop down to get this pawesome deal

31/12/2024

Well here we are, 31.12.24, the day Safari Zoo opens its doors to the public for the very last time.

There have been lots of tears, and there will be lots more today - this hasnt been just a job for many of us, it has been a way of life, and a huge chapter of that life is ending.

There have been many questions on what will happen to the animals - we promise to keep you all updated as they move on to their new, and wonderful, homes 🏠.

Some HUGE thank yous are due: -
🐾 To every person who has visited since 23rd January 2017 we say a massive thank you…..

🐾 To all our members who joined us since 23rd January 2017, especially those who have renewed year on year we say a massive thank you…..

🐾 To everyone who has adopted a resident since 23rd January 2017, we say a massive thank you…..

………we didn’t save this zoo from closure in 2017 and change the fate of the animals in it, you did ❤️🐾

🐾 To everyone who provided feedback on their visit and experience of their day at safari zoo since 23rd January 2017 a massive thank you - you helped shape this zoo

🐾 To all the associations, businesses, suppliers and authorities who we have worked with over the years - a massive thank you, without you we wouldn’t have operated day to day

🐾 A huge thank you to the licensing authority and zoo inspectors for having made this incredible opportunity a reality for the past (almost) 8 years

🐾 To every single person who donated to our fundraisers over the years, a massive thank you - your support always will be invaluable in protecting the wild sisters and brothers of the animals you see before you at any zoo

Lots more thankyous are due 🙏

We will see those joining us for our last day very soon ❤️.

28/12/2024

We wish a heartfelt goodbye and safe journey to the Lynx boys today. The Lynx was our first “new build” being able to design an enclosure from the animal perspective - does the animal like to climb, hunt, hide, swim,…. It’s immensely rewarding as we watched the boys (who we could never get to eat hares despite sourcing them specially ) gain their confidence and use it as intended and extremely enlightening when as their characters grow you learn and implement the adaptations needed. Lynx boys❤️

LYNX UPDATE; AND THEY ARE OUT (well 2 out of the 4)
So we’ve all been waiting for them to pluck up their courage and venture outside all it takes is one to take the lead 🥰😘

23/12/2024

I spy … what do you see a beautiful bouncing wild new white rhino calf with mum on the Bonamanzi reserve - safe under the watchful eyes of K9 anti poaching rangers you all have funded for the last 2 years.

If there was ever a moment to shed a tear this week here it is ❤️❤️❤️

Bonamanzi Game Reserve

20/12/2024

Safari Zoo Follower Reminder!

Don't miss your chance to see your favourite Safari Zoo resident animals this Christmas and wish them all your festive cheer in person with FREE admission as a thank you for all your support over the years! - We can't wait to catch up with you all again.

£5pp Add on Giraffe Hand Feeds
£5pp Add on Lemur Hand Feeds

Fancy going extra wild! Full experience options are also available on the day, Ask on arrival at the experience desk for that days availability and winter sale prices.

16/12/2024

Good morning followers, we have some news which we know will be disappointing for many of you. The zoo will close to the public on 31.12.24

We hope you will come and celebrate or share your memories with us before we close and join us this December to visit your favourite animals be it Kofi , or Remi or even eyebrow.

When we took over in 2017 we did so because of our love and passion for the animals in our care and the wider world, when we look back - hand rearing Cupcake the parma wallaby, training Tibor the giraffe for his jugular blood sample, Remi the jaguar and his cancer removal, Wolfgang the snow leopard and his eye operation, hand rearing capybara, Eloise the giraffe’s pedicures, transforming the lives of Snoopy and the bears with their new enclosure. From day 1 when we opened the doors for free, to today when we will do the same for December, we cannot thank the 3million plus of you who have, over the last 7 years, visited us, supported our ventures and ultimately celebrated with us our amazing animal world.

One of our proudest achievements is the development of a K9 Anti poaching ranger unit in the heart of Africa. From small beginnings with Andy bringing his cute small brown and white spaniel using the zoo to train and heighten those sniffing abilities before being deployed out in the fight against poachers. Fast forward to 2024 where we fund 3 antipoaching k9 rangers, who together with their units are at the forefront of rhino protection in Zululand.

This is our legacy, as 2025 will see that protection extend even further, our way of ensuring White Rhinos remain in the wild, where they belong, for generations to come.

In 2023 we purchased a 120 acre site at Tebay. Stone Holiday Cottages situated right along the Lune Gorge, at the base of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Howgill fells on one side and facing the Lake District Valley of Borrowdale on the opposite side of the River Lune. Alongside the holiday cottages and farm animals the site is home to native wild flora and fauna full of biodiversity from grasslands, trees, Ancient Woodland, Pond, rivers, waterfalls, bluebells, and an array of plant life.

We all agree is that biodiversity matters and everything has an important role to play in the “circle of life” from the smallest bee pollinating the alfalfa plant to the tallest giraffe feeding on it, and in order to protect the biggest we have to look after the smallest.

In the short time we have been on the site we know it is home to bats, badger, breeding birds, woodpeckers, grouse, amphibians, Otter, Brown Hares, Lapwings, nodding birds, We know there are squirrels feeding on the hazelnuts in the forest, greys or red cameras will discover, but we also know with a little work it has the potential to support more.

We know putting families in touch with nature through animals - being able to meet and feed our flock of Valais Blacknose, Highland Coos, Pygmy Goats, help brush our donkeys or help with an enrichment session and giving them wonderful first hand experiences will help with our goals after all "In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." Baba Dioum Seneglese engineer

Part of the site will welcome visitors in 2025.

For December Members are invited to join Kim and Beccaa on a zoo tour for a final time, details of which will follow later this week.

There will be lots of activities for everyone to get involved with or simply just pop along and say good bye to your old favourites - I know we certainly will be pleased to see you all.

❤️🦏🐻🦒