A SPOOKY SURPRISE FOR SAFARI PARK’S NEWEST ARRIVAL…

West Midland Safari Park has been celebrating the spookiest of seasons, with some pumpkin treats for their latest arrival, Indian rhino calf, Inesh.

Following his birth seven weeks ago, Inesh is the first Indian rhino to be born on site and is one of four Indian rhinos residing at the Park. Keepers got into the Halloween spirit over half term, adding two surprise pumpkins into the Indian rhino’s large grassy paddock, which Inesh has been venturing out to for the first time this week, as he starts to explore more of the Safari alongside his mother.

Although carrots and apples are usually the first choice for treats, the Park is currently abundant with pumpkins – part of the theming for the annual Spooky Spectacular event, which is running until Sunday 1^st November. With over 1,100 pumpkins used as part of this year’s Spook-tastic event, and to save them going to waste, keepers often swap to pumpkins for a range of animals at the Park, encouraging some interactive enrichment and good old-fashioned fun for everyone.

Senior Ungulate Keeper, Sarah Cartwright said, “The rhinos love investigating new things so as we only have pumpkins over Halloween, it means they really enjoy them. Inesh had never seen one before so he was very interested in what it was. Once mum Seto had given the ‘all clear’ and squashed it slightly by standing on it, the pumpkin was suddenly an even better treat. The rhinos like to stand on them as it squishes them into bite-sized pieces.

“Inesh and Seto are doing really well together. She is a fantastic first-time mum, and he sticks very close by her. In the evenings, he will lay under a hay rack whilst she eats so he can have a snooze with her watching over him.

“Guests seem to be really enjoying having a rhino calf bouncing around the place and he creates quite a crowd when he’s zooming around the paddocks! Although Inesh will never fully understand how important he is to the future of their species, we really hope that our guests get to understand just know just how special he is, and we can continue to build even more awareness of rhino conservation.”

Since his birth, Inesh has made quite the impact on the Park and visitors have been keen to come and see him out on Safari where he can be spotted close to his mum as they venture around the reserve. Now weighing approx. 95 kilograms, Inesh has been growing well and is alternating between his two paddocks, where he enjoys a run around under the watchful eye of mum, Seto.

To celebrate the spookiest of seasons, the Park will be themed with plenty of pumpkins and 55 illuminated scarecrows, which guests will be able to see in all their glory when they are illuminated after dark during the Park’s extended opening hours during half term. Brave guests will also be able to experience the Adventure Theme Park and Land of the Living Dinosaurs in the dark!

The Park is also running a competition throughout the event, where visitors have the chance to win an Annual Family Pass. Participants must simply take their picture at one of the Park’s spooky locations and upload to Instagram or the Park’s Facebook page, tagging #WMSP. Guests are also encouraged to attend in Halloween fancy dress to join in with the frightful fun.

03 - Indian rhino calf, Inesh, enjoys a spooky treat at West Midland Safari Park

02 - Indian rhino calf, Inesh and mother Seto, enjoy a spooky treat at West Midland Safari Park.

01 - Indian rhino calf, Inesh, enjoys a spooky treat at West Midland Safari Park.

INDIAN RHINO MUM 'TAKES CHARGE' IN NAMING HER FIRST CALF...

After a very exciting fortnight, following the birth of their FIRST Indian rhino calf, West Midland Safari Park is thrilled to reveal that new-mum Seto has, herself, officially chosen the calf’s name – Inesh!

At the time of his birth, the Park confirmed that the calf’s name would begin with the letter ‘I’, mirroring the naming of all other animals born on-site in 2020. After much deliberation, Keepers narrowed it down to two suggestions that would then be shared with Seto for her final decision.

For Seto to choose, two identical, brightly patterned boxes, each marked with a name, were placed into her paddock. Some tasty treats were positioned in equal amounts inside each box to coax Seto over whilst Keepers waited to see which name she would choose. After a quick investigation of both boxes, Seto made it clear with a hearty nudge of her nose that the box marked ‘Inesh’ was her winner.

Deputy Head Keeper of Ungulates, Shelley Tudor, said “We are so happy that Seto was able to choose the name for her calf. The keepers created a shortlist of their favourite names and we felt it was a brilliant opportunity to mix giving some enrichment to Seto to assist us in making the final decision.”

Born on Tuesday 8 September to eleven-year-old female Seto, and twelve-year-old male Rap, Inesh has been venturing out with his mother into the Park’s Rhino House paddock, where guests have been able to spot him trotting around and even doing a spot of sunbathing in the last of the summer sunshine.

He will eventually join his mum, roaming the plains together in the Wild Asia section of the reserve here at the Park where guests will be able to watch him grow and settle into his new home.

The Park is home to two types of rhinos – six southern white rhinos and three Indian rhinos. Both species face threats in the wild such as poaching and habitat loss and are classed as ‘near threatened’ (white rhino) and ‘vulnerable’ (Indian rhino), by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

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SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF THE PUMPKIN THIEF THIS HALLOWEEN...

West Midland Safari Park is getting ready for a pumpkin-packed celebration this Halloween season with its annual Spooky Spectacular event, and there is a mystery a-foot!

Beginning on 10 October, the three-week long event includes ‘Mystery of the Pumpkin Thief’, a brand-new interactive trail where children must help Grenith the Witch and her family members find out which critters are stealing their prized pumpkins from the Park’s new Pumpkin Patch.

Children will be given a scratchcard upon entering the park as part of the ‘COVID-friendly’ activity; and with Grenith’s magical enchantment, it will lead them all around the Discovery Trail in their quest to track down all the pumpkin thieves. Once completed the card, they will receive a magical sweet treat for their efforts.

As well as encountering some mysterious creatures along the way, witches and wizards from Grenith’s family are also joining the search and can be spotted around the trail interacting with guests tracking down the thieves.

Head of Marketing Vikki Green said, “We are super excited for this year’s Spooky Spectacular! Not only can guests see our incredible animals out on Safari enjoying the Halloween season including our new Indian rhino calf, they can also meet our favourite family of witches and wizards, The Grimleys, who have taken over the Discovery Trail.

“2020 also sees the addition of the Park’s very first pumpkin patch installation, which will likely become an iconic photo point this Halloween for guests. The Discovery Stage has also been transformed so visitors can take a socially distanced selfie with the Park’s witches and wizards.”

To celebrate the spookiest of seasons, the Park will be themed with over 1100 pumpkins and 55 illuminated scarecrows, which guests will be able to see in all their glory when they are illuminated after dark during the Park’s extended opening hours on weekends and half term. Brave guests will also be able to experience the Adventure Theme Park and Land of the Living Dinosaurs in the dark!

The Park is also running a competition throughout the event, where visitors have the chance to win a family Annual Pass. Participants must simply take their picture at one of the Park’s spooky locations and upload the post to Instagram or Facebook, tagging #WMSP. Guests are also encouraged to attend in Halloween fancy dress to join in with the frightful fun.

WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK ANNOUNCES HISTORIC BIRTH OF THEIR FIRST EVER INDIAN RHINO CALF

West Midland Safari Park are thrilled to announce the birth of their first Indian rhinoceros calf. Arriving on Tuesday 8th September at 2:29pm, the male calf. is the first Indian rhino to be born on site in the Park’s forty-seven-year history.

Deputy Head Keeper of Ungulates, Shelley Tudor, said “We are absolutely delighted and have been waiting a long time for this moment. After holding this species of rhino for over ten years, this is our first calf to be born at the Park.”

“We acquired Seto and Rap as youngsters and have been able to watch them grow and mature over time; which makes it even more momentous to see them produce their own calf. He is a very special addition to the Asian rhino House, and we look forward to watching him develop, and maybe go on to produce his own little rhinos in the future!”

The rhino calf’s parents, eleven-year-old Seto and twelve-year-old Rap, can often be spotted by guests at the Asiatic section of the drive-through Safari, near to the state-of-the-art Indian rhino House built at the Park in 2009. Both Seto and her calf are bonding well together in a private area where keepers can observe them at a safe distance as they settle in.

Also known as the Greater One Horned rhinoceros, Indian rhinos are placid animals who are often recognised for their armoured and prehistoric appearance. The new arrival is not currently available for viewing, but he will eventually join his family at the Wild Asia section of the reserve where guests will be able to spot him roaming the plains and having lots of fun, likely covered in mud!

The Park is home to two types of rhinos – six Southern White rhinos and three Asian rhinos. Both species face threats in the wild such as poaching and habitat loss and are classed as ‘near threatened’ (white rhino) and ‘vulnerable’ (Asian rhino), by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The calf is currently un-named, but the Park can reveal it will begin with the letter ‘I’ mirroring the naming of all other animals born on-site in 2020. It’s clear to see already that he will have a lasting impact on West Midland Safari Park, in supporting their efforts in raising awareness of the vital preservation of this fantastic species.

PAWSOME FIRST BIRTHDAY FOR PARK'S LIONS…

Staff at West Midland Safari Park have thrown a big, ‘king-of-the-jungle-sized’ birthday party for their seven lion cubs, who are all celebrating their first birthday this year.

The youngsters, born on 27 August and 17 September 2019, have been a popular sight at the Worcestershire attraction over the last year and although are still referred to as ‘cubs’ by their team of keepers, they are more like adventurous teens.

To celebrate the occasion, keepers created a range of giant eye-catching, animal themed gift boxes, which were filled with tasty treats and placed inside the lion reserve. As soon as the cubs left their sleeping quarters, they were instantly drawn to the mysterious parcels and spent the morning feasting, playing and having a ‘roar-some’ time together. Even the adult lions couldn’t resist joining in the fun, rolling around with the cubs and showing age is just a number!

Kate Atkinson, Senior Carnivore Keeper, said, “All of the cubs have grown in confidence over the past year and it’s been great to observe them as they mature and develop. The cubs love to have fun destroying things, and all types enrichment – boxes, paper bags or even trees in the reserve – are regularly chewed and ripped apart as part of their play.

“The cubs all interact really well together, and we have been able to see their range of different personalities come out, which has been brilliant. For example, Hercules and Hunter are both very placid boys who really enjoy exploring and seeing what the keepers are up to, but then on the other hand we have Havoc, a playful soul that likes nothing more than fooling around with his older relatives and even trying to push the buttons of his Grandmother, Kayli. Our females are also flourishing, with Hira bringing the ‘sass’ to the pack and Natty showing her maternal side with her mother Scar.”

The two litters of cubs were born to ten-year-old female Scar (mother to Hunter, Hercules, and Hernatty) and seven-year-old female Amber (mother to Harabi, Hodge, Havoc and Hira), within three weeks of each other and are all half brothers and sisters.

The seven cubs, made up of five boys and two girls, were first introduced to visitors back in February and have had endless fun settling into their new home throughout the year. The male cubs can expect their distinctive manes to start to grow in when they reach the age of two, making them very easy for guests to recognise.

Over the coming year, guests will be able to see the cubs on Safari as they continue to grow and thrive as part of the park’s ‘fearsome’ African lion pride.

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WMSP Lion Cubs Birthday 27-8-20 pic8 copy

Rides available for 1.2m - 1.4m

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African Big Apple Coaster

Desert Convoy

Flying Lion Kings

Jumbo Parade

Jungle Swings

Pirate Ship

Rhino Rollercoaster

Shark Island

Wild River Rafting

Congo Carousel

Dr. Umboto’s Catacombs

Hurtling Hippos

Jungle Cat Dodgems

Kong

Rescue Fire Rangers

Serengeti Gallopers

Slippery Snake Slide

Zambezi Water Splash

Monkey Mayhem (if accompanied)

Rides available for 1.0m - 1.2m

photo-bigapple-coaster-accompanied-2tickets-600px-500x350

African Big Apple Coaster (if accompanied)

Desert Convoy

Flying Lion Kings

Jumbo Parade (if accompanied)

Pirate Ship (if accompanied)

Rhino Rollercoaster (if accompanied)

Shark Island (if accompanied)

Wild River Rafting (if accompanied by an adult)

Congo Carousel (if accompanied)

Dr. Umboto’s Catacombs

Hurtling Hippos (if accompanied)

Jungle Cat Dodgems (if accompanied)

Rescue Fire Rangers

Serengeti Gallopers

Slippery Snake Slide (if accompanied)

Zambezi Water Splash (if accompanied by an adult)

Rides available for 1.4m+

African Big Apple Coaster

Desert Convoy

Flying Lion Kings

Jumbo Parade

Jungle Swings

Pirate Ship

Rhino Rollercoaster

Shark Island

Wild River Rafting

Venom Tower Drop

Black Fly

Congo Carousel

Dr. Umboto’s Catacombs

Hurtling Hippos

Jungle Cat Dodgems

Kong

Rescue Fire Rangers

Serengeti Gallopers

Slippery Snake Slide

Zambezi Water Splash

Monkey Mayhem