SAFARI PARK’S SANTA AND SKATING SPECTACLE UNVEILED…

West Midland Safari Park is pleased to announce that its popular Christmas event starts tomorrow and this year there is an exciting new feature – Safari Skating.

From 24 November and running daily until Christmas Eve, guests will have the chance to see Santa in his magical grotto during the day, or on selected dates, visit Santa during the evening.

Alongside seeing the big man himself, the Park is inviting guests to try out their skating skills on its brand-new Glice® rink, which is open until 7 January 2024.

This eco-friendly ice rink alternative is suitable for all the family and doesn’t require any water or energy, meaning it’s more sustainable (and not a soggy bottom in sight!).

Ahead of opening, who better to test the new feature than Santa, who grabbed his Head Elf (and a stability aid), then was seen zooming around the rink and enjoying the frequent ‘snow’ flurries.

Head of Marketing, Rochelle Zare, said, “Christmas is one of the best times of the year to visit West Midland Safari Park, and this year is no exception. After the tremendous amount of work that’s been put into this year’s event, the team here cannot wait to see the faces of families entering the Park, seeing the beautiful winter wonderland we’ve created, and experiencing our magical grotto and new Glice® rink.”

Guests looking for some extra festive fun, can choose to purchase a skating only ticket or add Safari Skating on to their Santa Safari or winter visit to the Park.

There will also be the opportunity to purchase some winter gifts or some festive food and drinks, at the new outlets next to the rink.

For the Christmas season, the Park has been magically transformed into a winter wonderland, with over 300 Christmas trees, new illuminated characters, lights, baubles, photo points and even thick layers of ‘snow’.

Guests to the grotto will be greeted by Santa’s team of friendly elves who will magically transport families to the North Pole on Santa’s newly refurbished sleigh featuring a talking owl and enchanting northern lights.

Disembarking the sleigh, they will follow a path through a magical winter wonderland, busy elf workshop and reindeer stables, finally reaching the grotto to pay a visit to the big man himself.

Children will receive a memento of their day by having a picture taken of themselves with Santa which they can then take home, alongside being able to choose their very own present from the elves’ workshop.

Also included in the package is a visit to Mrs Claus’ Kitchen, where children can enjoy a drink and cookie, whilst adults are treated to a hot drink and festive treat.

There will be a chance for children to write their letters to Santa and post them in his friendly talking postbox, with a chance of winning a family annual pass.

Additionally, guests visiting this winter can add on a virtual reality sleigh ride – a magical 4D adventure to the North Pole, helping Santa to test out his sleigh before his big journey on Christmas Eve.

PAW-SOME PUMPKIN PLAY FOR PARK’S BABIES…

Something spooky is in the air at West Midland Safari Park, as the animal keepers have been treating the Park’s newest cubs and pups to their own pumpkins.

For Sumatran tiger cub, Lestari, red panda cub, Lushan and meerkat pup, Lily, this is the first time they have experienced pumpkins and there were mixed reactions to the large, seasonal fruits!

Lushan and Lestari seemed to be very wary to start with, approaching the pumpkins with extreme caution and then retreating hastily, leaving their mothers to enjoy them instead.

Lily the meerkat pup however, had her paws straight on the prize, led by the rest of the mob, who were very excited to see this novel form of enrichment and frantically started to scratch and nibble at the tasty, orange flesh.

Katie McDonald, Research and Conservation Officer, explained, “We use enrichment to allow our animals to exhibit natural behaviours. This might be to give the animals different foraging opportunities, or sometimes it exercises muscles they might not always use. It may also increase exploration of the environment by using interesting scent trails.

“Novel objects such as pumpkins allow our animals to investigate something that looks, smells and feels different. Some species, like our meerkats can use their cognitive skills to find food inside them, whilst other animals such as our tigers, like to stalk and capture them! Enrichment is very important for our young, developing animals. They need varied environments to develop their movement and thinking skills, just like human babies, so it was great to see how each one reacted.”

For the red pandas, keepers hollowed out their pumpkin and filled it with bamboo, which was enjoyed by Lushan’s mum, Mei Lin, whereas the meerkats’ was filled with wriggly meal worms.

As the Park is currently themed with hundreds of pumpkins for their Spooky Spectacular Halloween event, any surplus are donated to the animals, so the tiger keepers also offered Lestari a complete, uncarved pumpkin.

Presented in this way was an instant hit and the four-month-old cub ‘stalked’ the pumpkin before pouncing on it and attacking it with her tiny claws, teeth and feet!

She was also seen fiercely protecting her precious plaything from her mum, Dourga, who was warned off with a few playful pats to the face.

Guests to the Park may spot pumpkins in some of the other animal habitats, on the safari and in the pedestrianised areas, some of which make up spooky photo points for guests to snap a picture.

During Spooky Spectacular (running until 5 November), guests can take part in a trail to win a tasty treat, enter a competition to win a Rhino Lodge stay, meet Patch the pumpkin-headed scarecrow, or take part in a brand-new ‘silly science show’ with new mascot, Mitzy Monster (from 28 October).

Lestari, Lushan and Lily can be seen in the walk-through areas of the Park and along with Spooky Spectacular activities, are included in the admission charge.

SAFARI PARK'S NEW ARRIVAL GRRREAT NEWS FOR CONSERVATION…

West Midland Safari Park has recently welcomed a new arrival, in the form of a critically endangered Sumatran tiger.

Dourga, a ten-year-old female, arrived at the tourist attraction on 6 August, from Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland and is already becoming a firm favourite with keepers.

Following a settling-in period, she will be introduced to the Park’s male Sumatran tiger, eight-year-old Nakal, in the hope that they may become a breeding pair.

Originally born in France, at Le Parc des Félins, Dourga has already mothered two cubs and has been identified as a compatible match for Nakal, hoping that the couple will play an important role in protecting their species from extinction.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “We are delighted that Dourga has arrived with us after several months of planning. She travelled well and has settled in very quickly, meeting all her new keepers who were very excited that she has joined the WMSP family. They have reported that she is a very calm and friendly cat, so I can see her quickly becoming a favourite with guests.

“Once she has finished her quarantine period, she will be slowly introduced to our male, Nakal, as part of a European breeding programme recommendation. It is our hope that they will have cubs together in the future. Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, so it is very important to bring the right individuals together to ensure the survival of the species in the longer term.”

It is estimated that there are fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild and only 400 of those are Sumatran tigers, gaining them their ‘critically endangered’ status from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Tigers face a very uncertain future, due to threats such habitat loss, conflict with humans and poaching for the illegal trade in tiger body parts.

Subspecies of tigers have already become extinct in Java and Bali, so it is hoped that by involving tigers in collaborative international breeding programmes between zoos and wildlife parks, Sumatran tigers can be saved from the same fate.

The Park’s Conservation and Education teams are championing tigers this summer, by talking to guests about the threats these exceptional big cats face and also telling them some fun facts. If children can recite a tiger fact back, they can earn a special tiger sticker.

The Park is also partnered with the charity WildCats Conservation Alliance, supporting the ‘Kerinci Seblat Tiger Protection Project’, which is committed to maintaining a sustainable and effective conservation programme for Sumatran tigers in one of Asia’s largest national parks.

Dourga is currently in an area not viewable to the public while she settles in, but Sumatran tigers Nakal and Hujan, can be seen on the four-mile safari drive-through.

SAFARI PARK STUDENTS EXCEL IN EXAM SUCCESS…

Staff and students at West Midland Safari Park are celebrating, following achieving fantastic exam results for courses in Animal Care and Animal Management.

This is their most successful year in terms of how many students achieved the top grades of ‘distinction’ and ‘distinction star’, with 63% of Level 3 Technical Extended Diploma students achieving one or more distinction grades or higher, all achieving their university places.

Half of learners studying Level 2 Technical Certificate in Animal Care, also achieved a distinction or distinction star.

Pass rates were also excellent, exceeding the national average, with 100% of Level 1 and Level 3 students passing their qualifications and 96% of Level 2 students achieving theirs.

Education Manager, Nicola Anslow, said, “The Education Team are overjoyed with the results our learners have achieved in their courses this summer. We are extremely proud of them, and these results are testament to their hard work and determination, supported by our Education Team and the staff from Kidderminster College.

“It has been wonderful to have a full year back in the classroom teaching face-to-face and improving students’ practical skills ready for their eventual transition into the animal care workplace. We are excited for the new academic year and welcomed learners last week, both new and progressing, at our Safari Academy. We have many fantastic plans in place for enriching the learning experience of our students and look forward to another successful academic year.”

All students at the Safari Park have the opportunity of progressing into higher animal care qualifications either on one of the Park’s higher-level courses or at Kidderminster College, each year.

For the first time this year, the Park has welcomed four Level 3 Animal Management students into their Wildlife Internship programme. This is an amazing opportunity for students to experience working with the Park’s animals and putting what they have learned into practice.

Students at West Midland Safari Park follow the Animal Care and Animal Management courses through City & Guild’s exam board. They consist of completing theoretical and practical exams throughout the year, which are then marked and moderated both externally and internally.

Students undertake their learning in the Park’s state-of-the-art Safari Academy, which celebrates its fifth birthday this year. It has now seen numerous students pass through its doors and offers three accredited courses, run in conjunction with Kidderminster College.

For more information, students can visit Kidderminster College’s website: www.kidderminster.ac.uk or the Park’s website www.safariacademy.co.uk. Alternatively, they can contact the Safari Park’s Education Team by email: animal.care@wmsp.co.uk.

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EXCITING 'PUP'DATE FROM WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK…

West Midland Safari Park is pleased to announce the arrival of three, tiny meerkat pups – the first litter in over nine years.

Signs that the incredibly cute youngsters had been born, were spotted on 22 July, when none of the adult meerkats were out in their habitat. Keepers found the adults’ heads poking out of the nest box, with some tiny squeaks being emitted from inside.

A quick look inside, confirmed that three minuscule baby meerkats had been born, no bigger than a matchbox car, their eyes and ears shut and completely reliant on their mum, Heather and dad, Monty.

The keepers have kept their distance from the pups, but have noticed that Heather’s friend, Peony, is also sharing the parental duties, babysitting the pups, while Heather sleeps or is out feeding.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “We are all really pleased with the birth of these three meerkat pups, the first we have had here since 2013. It is a really good news story for dad, Monty, who is quite an old boy at 13 years of age. He has been part of a bachelor group for all of his life, but with the introduction of the two new females who joined the collection earlier this year from Woburn Safari Park, we were able to give him the chance to become a first-time dad.

“He has taken to the new role very successfully and it is great to see him interacting and looking after his new family. Heather is doing a fantastic job, but her close friend Peony is also very attentive and helping to care for the pups. This cooperative approach to rearing the young is a hugely successful strategy for meerkats in the wild, to ensure the survival of the little ones in a harsh desert environment.”

At birth, baby meerkats only weigh around 25 grams and are completely helpless. Now at 20 days old, the meerkats have opened their eyes, can now hear and are more mobile.

The pups have received a quick health check from the Park vets, who confirmed the three youngsters are happy and healthy, meaning they can be given the option to venture out into their habitat, this weekend.

They will receive another health check in the next few weeks, where vets will also determine their sexes. Following this, keepers will choose names for the pups, beginning with ‘K’, as all babies born at the Park during 2022, will have names starting with this letter.

Guests may be able to glimpse the baby meerkats in their habitat located in the African Village, alongside Heather, Monty, Peony and juvenile, Kalmia.

HOPE FOR LION LODGES TO BE NEXT ‘MANE’ ATTRACTION AT SAFARI PARK…

West Midland Safari Park has submitted plans for the next stage of its long-term development strategy, involving Lion Lodges alongside a new lion habitat.

The tourist attraction has submitted plans to Wyre Forest District Council for the third phase, of their wildlife development plan, which aims to upgrade animal facilities, alongside adding further overnight accommodation.

The plans are for four, single-storey Lion Lodges, sleeping up to six people and will be fully immersed in the lions’ new habitat, offering incredible views of the Park’s bachelor group of African lions. One of the lodges will be fully accessible for guests with disabilities.

All four lodges will have open-plan living spaces, an outdoor private garden space and floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedrooms and living area, meaning guests can sleep a whisker away from these magnificent beasts.

Managing Director, Chris Kelly said, “We’re pleased to announce that we have submitted planning for the next phase of our development. This will see new habitats, housing and facilities being built for our bachelor group of lions, giving them 24-hour access to indoor and outdoor facilities, in their new, enriched habitat.

“Alongside the new lion facilities, we will be installing four new lodges, which will be very similar in layout to our current cheetah lodges. They will have two bedrooms, a lounge, kitchenette, comfortable indoor and outdoor seating and stunning interiors, inspired by African design.

“We hope to release more information about booking and an opening date, subjective to planning being granted, later in the year.”

The new lodges will be located near the Park’s African Village, a pedestrianised area that houses meerkats, lemurs and goats. This means that day guests will be able to see the lions on foot, for the first time in the Park’s history, from a viewpoint in the African Village.

If planning is granted for the new Lion Lodges, the Park hopes that works shall begin in October 2022.

Like the existing Safari Lodges, the Lion Lodges short breaks include breakfast and dinner, spectacular views of the animals, admission to the Park for two days and Theme Park wristbands, during the summer season.

Guests can find out more information and book overnights stays for the current lodges, on the Safari Lodges website: www.safari-lodges.co.uk.

ENDANGERED GIRAFFE CALF BORN AT SAFARI PARK…

Keepers at West Midland Safari Park are celebrating the birth of an incredibly cute, endangered giraffe calf.

The six-foot-tall baby boy was born in the Park’s new giraffe house, at 12:30am on 13 September 2022, to third-time mum, Arusha and dad Rufus.

After a gestation period of around 15 months, keepers have been eagerly awaiting the birth, but as the calf was born at night, the event was captured on CCTV.

After reviewing the CCTV and watching the live cameras from the giraffe house, keepers were concerned that the calf was having trouble standing to feed, so had to take the decision to step in and give the calf a helping hand.

Lisa Watkins, Head Keeper of Ungulates, said, “The wildlife team are extremely pleased at the safe arrival of a beautiful male giraffe calf born on Tuesday 13 September. It is even more exciting that he is the first calf born in our brand-new giraffe house, that was only completed in April this year.

“After a rocky start where there were concerns over him being able to stand, the team worked tirelessly throughout the day and overnight to support both the new calf and his mother. Thankfully the hard work and effort paid off and both are now thriving, so we hope to be able to show him off to guests very soon.”

She continued, “Giraffe are classified as ‘endangered’ in the wild, so any successful births are more important than ever. We know he will become an ambassador for his wild counterparts, inspiring action and raising awareness of the issues they face in the wild.”

Rothschild’s giraffe numbers remain low, mainly due to loss of habitat from deforestation and land being converted for agriculture. They are also at risk of poaching, for their meat and skin.

The giraffes at the Safari Park are part of a European breeding programme, which aims to conserve endangered species, so any birth is fantastic news for the longevity of this majestic species.

The Park also supports and donates to the conservation work carried out by Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), who they championed earlier this year over Whit Week, at their Giraffe Conservation Station.

Although the new-born is yet to be named, keepers will choose a name beginning with ‘K’, as all babies born at the Park in 2022 will have names that begin with this letter.

It’s hoped that once keepers are happy the baby boy has built up enough strength, he will take his first steps out into the giraffe yard this week, where guests may be able to see a glimpse of him from the safari drive-through.

He will then be slowly introduced to the rest of the herd, including his dad and half-sister Emali, who will keep a close eye on him as he’s then let out onto the safari.

The ‘tower’ of giraffes at the Park now stands at nine.

SAFARI PARK AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE IN THEIR INDUSTRY…

Staff at West Midland Safari Park are celebrating, following winning two national, prestigious awards recognising excellence within their industry for both ‘education’ and ‘behaviour and welfare’.

Both awards were presented to representatives from the Park at the annual BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Awards on 17 June 2022, which celebrates the hard work and dedication of staff in zoos, safari parks and wildlife attractions, across Britain and Ireland.

The first win was a ‘Gold Award,’ for the Park’s Research and Conservation Officer, Katie McDonald, who entered her submission in the ‘behaviour and welfare’ category, for research into monitoring the behaviour of the Park’s Humboldt penguin colony.

The Park’s Education Team won a ‘Bronze Award’, following a 2000-word submission from Education Manager, Nicola Anslow, which detailed the building of their Safari Academy and the impact it has had on delivering both conservation education to schools, and accredited animal care courses to further education students, over the past five years.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “‘We are delighted to have received two awards at this year’s BIAZA awards. We are really proud of the entries submitted by Katie and Nicola, as the awards highlight the vital work carried out by all BIAZA’s member zoos and aquariums, so it is fantastic to receive this well-deserved recognition for the work we carry out at West Midland Safari Park.”

She continued, “Katie and our team have spent several years researching and refining their methods of data collection, which concentrates on monitoring the behaviour and substrate use of our colony of penguins. They developed an interactive data collection tool, which reports results in real time to animal managers, which in turn, aids evidence-based husbandry decisions. Ultimately, this aids our keepers in being able to provide the very best care for their animals.

“The Gold Award from BIAZA is the highest accolade for each category, so for Katie and our team to achieve this, is a true testament to their dedication and hard work.”

The award for the Education Team is the second national award they have won recently, following success at the School Travel Awards in May, winning Best Wildlife Attraction.

The BIAZA award submission focussed on how the Safari Academy, built in 2017, enabled the Park to provide an engaging, immersive education facility, offering opportunities for schools, further education, and wider audiences to learn about conservation and nature.

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SAFARI PARK ANIMALS KEEP COOL WITH ICY TREATS…

Keepers at West Midland Safari Park have been keeping their animals cool during the recent heatwave, by treating them to a variety of ice lollies.

All animals, big and small, have had their favourite foods prepared in ice blocks, such as fruit for the lemurs, insects for the meerkats and blood for the lions.

Keepers use a variety of vessels, such as buckets, tubing and silicone trays, to make sure the size of the lollies suit the animals they’re for.

Large animals such as the Indian rhinos get huge ice blocks, whereas the tiny meerkats receive small ice spheres. By presenting food in different ways, the lollies also form a part of the animals’ enrichment.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “Some of our exotic species really enjoy the sunshine, but when the temperatures soar, we do provide them with some extra enrichment to ensure that they feel more comfortable. Frozen, animal appropriate, ice lollies are very popular and many of our species, big and small, enjoy these treats.

“The giraffe and rhinos enjoy frozen vegetables and browse twigs, whilst the lemur and lorikeet lollies are made with pieces of fruit. For the animals that eat meat and insects, we may add things like fish for the penguins, mealworms for the meerkats and even blood for the lions. We also ensure the mud wallows are kept topped up so that species such as the Pére David’s deer and barasingha can cool off when needed.”

She continued, “We do have species that come from colder climates, such as the red pandas, so it is very important to ensure that they do not overheat. We do this by providing an air-conditioned unit within their house and cool mats under the straw in their nest boxes.”

As well as creating ice lollies, keepers have other crafty ways of keeping the animals in their care cool such as creating wet spots of sand for the meerkats, hosing down the ostriches and offering sprinkler sessions for the penguins.

Visitors to the Park are being urged to stay hydrated by bringing water bottles with them, which they can refill onsite, wear hats and wear plenty of high-factor sun cream.

NEW TIGER TROPICS BRINGS GUESTS A WHISKER AWAY…

West Midland Safari Park is excited to announce that its brand-new tiger habitat, Tiger Tropics, opens this weekend.

For the first time in its 49-year history, guests will be able to see the Park’s Sumatran tigers on foot and be a whisker away, watching them explore their new habitat.

The new habitat has been created for eight-year-old male, Nakal and ten-year-old female, Dourga, who only arrived at the Park on 6 August, but has quickly settled in.

The pair took their first steps into their new habitat, being watched eagerly by their keepers from one of the new public viewing areas.

Head Keeper of Carnivores, Chris Hodgkins, said, “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to ensure a safe and happy move for our tigers to their new home. Following Dourga’s arrival our first steps were to introduce her to her new companion, Nakal. This involved allowing them to meet through mesh and take turns going into each other’s areas, to sniff each other’s scents. This went better than we could have hoped for, and they have been seen ‘chuffing’ at each other and lying close together.

He continued, “When we opened the doors to their new outdoor habitat, both went straight out, in opposite directions, eager to explore and scent-marking as they went. Dourga especially showed signs of loving her new home and started to become very playful, hiding behind the foliage and stalking an unaware Nakal!

“The new environment is not only fantastic for our tigers but will give all our guests an amazing and unforgettable experience in an immersive environment. We can’t wait to open it on Saturday and see their reactions as they come nose-to-nose with our beautiful cats.”

Tiger Tropics is accessible from the Park’s Adventure Theme Park area and guests can view the tigers from two points, through glass.

The new habitat has been designed to be enriching and encourage as many natural behaviours as possible. It includes scratching posts, exploration areas, vantage points, feeding points, two pools, heat pads and the planting in the habitat is a mix of tropical and native species, including bamboo.

Alongside the opening of Tiger Tropics, four luxury Tiger Lodges, immersed in the new environment, will open the night before, on Friday 7 October.

Two of the Tiger Lodges are single-storey and detached. Unique to these are private terraces with sunken hot tubs, so guests can truly relax in luxury, with magnificent views into the tiger habitat.

The remaining two lodges are semi-detached and span two storeys, offering further incredible views from the first floor, spanning the whole environment.

Dourga arrived at the Park following being identified as a compatible match for Nakal, hoping that the couple will play an important role in protecting their species from extinction.

Tigers in the wild face a very uncertain future, due to threats such habitat loss, conflict with humans and poaching for the illegal trade in tiger body parts.

It is estimated that there are fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild and only 400 of those are Sumatran tigers, gaining them their ‘critically endangered’ status from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The Park hopes that the new tiger development shows the commitment it has to building a lasting legacy for these animals.

Tigers can still be seen on the Park’s four-mile safari, including female Sumatran tiger, Hujan and white tigers Ben and Buster.

SAFARI PARK HAS PRIDE FOR PENGUIN PAIR AND LORIKEET LOVE…

West Midland Safari Park is celebrating Pride Month by educating its guests about the diversity of animal relationships, found within the Park.

At the daily penguin talks in the Park’s Discovery Trail, keepers have been pointing out ‘Frodo’ and ‘Arnie’, a pair of male Humboldt penguins who have been a couple since 2020 and are currently testing out parenthood, by incubating a rock.

The couple are often seen either in their nesting box, sharing their parental duties, or out on the ‘beach’, preening each other or displaying natural courtship behaviours.

Head of the Discovery Trail, Amy Sewell, said, “Arnie and Frodo are one of our strongest penguin pairs. It’s great that they’re both interested in nesting and are spending so much time incubating a rock, as it means that we can give them the opportunity to incubate a fertile egg if we need to.

“Humboldt penguins usually lay two eggs, but often tend to pay more attention to the larger egg, meaning the smaller egg might not hatch. By allowing Frodo and Arnie to care for the smaller egg and raise the chick, it means that we could have more successful hatchings, with a greater number of healthy chicks being raised by loving parents, even if biologically the chick isn’t theirs. This has been very successful at other wildlife parks, so we hope Arnie and Frodo will get the chance to raise their own chick, as I expect they will be perfect parents.”

Humboldt penguins are listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with numbers decreasing and only 12,000 breeding pairs thought to be left in the wild. The Park’s penguins are part of an EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Programme), a collaborative breeding initiative between European zoos, to safeguard endangered species, so the coupling could be good news for the future.

Elsewhere in the Park, the penguin’s noisy neighbours, the rainbow lorikeets have also shown how different relationships can help the success of their species. Not only can same-sex pairs be found in the nesting boxes, but some of the Park’s most successful breeders are a ‘throuple’, consisting of two males and a female.

Like the penguins, lorikeets also tend to lay two eggs, but with three birds looking after the eggs and subsequently raising the chicks, they have more opportunities to thrive, with more attention, more food and more eyes on them to keep them out of trouble.

Lorikeet Keeper, Laura Hodgkins, said, “As a keeper here at West Midland Safari Park and someone who is a part of the LGBT+ community, I am proud to work for a company that wants to celebrate Pride. Some of the animals here at the Park are also a proud part of the community, including our rainbow lorikeets.

“We have several monogamous, same-sex pairs and two sets of ‘throuples’ within the flock, who have very naturally partnered up and have even gone on to rearing chicks, some of which have raised ten or more chicks. The ‘throuples’ tend to start as two males, who then accept a female into their group as a surrogate. They have been very successful breeders, showing that diversifying relationships can have an evolutionary advantage. It’s just wonderful to see that even in the animal kingdom, love is accepted in all shapes and forms.”

During Pride Month, keepers created a rainbow of lorikeets by placing nectar on the floor in an arch. They have also been educating guests about all the different relationships in the lorikeet environment, as they pass through.

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SUPER SUMMER IN STORE AS ATTRACTIONS JOIN FORCES…

Two of the Midlands’ top family attractions have teamed up to offer a new Combi Ticket, enabling guests to visit both attractions at a discounted price.

West Midland Safari Park and Drayton Manor Resort, both owned by the Looping Group, have launched a two-day ‘Combi Ticket’, meaning guests can enjoy days out at both attractions anytime during summer 2022, for a fraction of the price.

To take advantage of this brand-new offer, guests will need to visit either of the attractions’ websites and book online to download an e-ticket, providing access to both sites.

Victoria Lynn, Managing Director at Drayton Manor Resort, said, “We are really excited to launch this new ‘Combi Ticket’ with our sister park. We believe it gives families two fantastic fun-filled days out during the summer, with something for everyone to enjoy!”

Chris Kelly, Managing Director of West Midland Safari Park, added, “At a time when everyone is feeling the pinch, we’re really proud to be able to join forces with another fantastic attraction, to offer great value savings for two amazing days out in the West Midlands.”

By purchasing the Combi Ticket, visitors to both attractions will be able to experience over 100 rides, see more than 200 different animal species and explore all both sites have to offer, including the brand-new Vikings area at Drayton Manor Resort and the new African Walking Trail at the Safari Park.

The ticket is valid for one day admission at Drayton Manor and one day at the Safari Park, from 16 June 2022 until 30 October 2022 and must be purchased before 30 September 2022.

Guests purchasing the Combi Ticket will save up to 33% on standard admission prices across both sites. Prices start at £45 for adults, £41 per child (aged 4-15 years), £25 for children aged 3 and £11 for children aged 2. Children under the age of 2 are free of charge. Adventure Theme Park rides at the Safari Park are charged extra.

Tickets must be booked in advance, online on either Drayton Manor, or the Safari Park’s websites, where more information is also available. See www.wmsp.co.uk for West Midland Safari Park and www.draytonmanor.co.uk for Drayton Manor Resort.

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SPOOKING AROUND WITH PATCH AND PALS AT SAFARI PARK…

West Midland Safari Park is getting ready to host its annual Halloween event and this year, there is a whole host of fiendish friends to meet.

From 22 October, families will be able to meet pumpkin-headed scarecrow Patch, who has returned to the Park for a second year for its Spooky Spectacular.

Patch will also be bringing with him some perilous pals in the form of a wicked witch, wise wizard, friendly dragon and a huge skeleton, who will be out and about, greeting guests and giving away treats (or tricks)!

Meanwhile, Patch and Ranger Rich will be hosting a spectacular spooky magic show at selected times throughout the day. This 20-minute, interactive show includes some ‘fang-tastic’ magic, eerie spells and lots of fun.

PR and Events Officer, Bethan Davis, said, “Halloween is one of our favourite times of year at West Midland Safari Park, so we can’t wait to celebrate the spookiest of seasons with our guests. Patch was such a big hit with families last year, we’re really thrilled he can join us again and that he has brought some friends along with him this time.

“The new characters may look scary, but I can assure you, they’re all very friendly and are looking forward to meeting all our guests. We’ve got a lot going on this year, including a scratchcard trail where kids can win a treat, more photo opportunities and we’re open until 7pm, so there will be plenty of time to fit everything in. Our staff will be in fancy dress, so we very much encourage our guests to wear their best Halloween costumes too.”

As well as the show, spooky explorers will need to help the witch locate all her missing potion ingredients, which have been stolen by some dastardly dragons! As a thank you for helping, she will reward children with a special tasty treat.

From 15 October, the Park’s Discovery Trail will be transformed, with over a thousand pumpkins, hay bales, cobwebs, cauldrons and much more.

There are also new photo points, including a giant pumpkin and the opportunity to take a photo with one of the spooky characters. Guests who post a spooky picture on the Park’s Facebook page, will be in with the chance of winning a stay in one of the Park’s exclusive Safari Lodges.

The Park has extended its opening hours during Spooky Spectacular, opening at the earlier time of 9:30am and closing at 7:00pm, allowing guests to enjoy the rides and see the dinosaurs in the dark.

This will be the last chance guests get to enjoy the rides, before the Adventure Theme Park closes for winter on 30 October – the final day of Spooky Spectacular.

SAFARI PARK CHARGES TO THE TOP TO WIN NATIONAL SCHOOL TRAVEL AWARD…

Staff at West Midland Safari Park are celebrating, after winning ‘Best Wildlife Attraction,’ at the School Travel Awards.

This national award recognises the high-quality level of service the Park’s Education Team deliver for school travel, as well as proving their commitment to providing unforgettable trips alongside inspiring the next generation of conservationists.

The award was presented to the Education Team at a prestigious ceremony on 25 May 2022 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, hosted by Olympian sprinter, Katharine Merry.

Education Manager, Nicola Anslow, said, “We are delighted to have received the title of ‘Best Wildlife Attraction,’ for a second year running. Winning this award acknowledges that we are continuing to prove our commitment in providing unforgettable school trips with educational and memorable wildlife experiences, whilst also providing the opportunity to inspire young people ‘out of the classroom’.

“The School Travel Awards really highlight the impact that school excursions have in developing confidence and resilience in young people. As the Park continues to develop and flourish, we look forward to many more opportunities to continue to deliver this wonderful learning experience.”

The awards recognise the best companies, venues and attractions who provide school trips and are voted for by teachers and educational visit coordinators.

The Education Team at the Park offer a variety of school trip packages, including guided tours, on-coach rangers and Discovery Sessions, all bringing learning to life in an ‘outside of the classroom’ environment.

Discovery Sessions allow children of all ages to get closer to nature by providing curriculum-linked learning across a huge variety of topics, from habitats and adaptations to conservation. The sessions also offer the chance to meet some of the Park’s smaller animals, encouraging children to learn the importance of caring for the natural world and help protect endangered species.

The sessions are held in the Safari Academy, a state-of-the-art building, purpose-built for visiting schools, which celebrates its fifth birthday this year. This is where the team also teach their City and Guilds accredited qualifications, to students studying Animal Care and Animal Management.

Teaching continues over the summer holidays too, as the team will be welcoming children to their Safari Summer Clubs, suitable for children aged 8-13 years and covering a range of exciting themes and topics.

The Education Team has been commended on how easy it is to book a school trip, by helping with planning their visit, not requiring deposits and being able to tailor their day around topics and themes.

For more information on school visits, guests can email education@wmsp.co.uk, call 01299 404888 (choose option 1), or visit www.safariacademy.co.uk

ANIMALS HAVE A GOURD TIME AT SAFARI PARK...

Animals at West Midland Safari Park have been enjoying some treat-filled pumpkins, to celebrate the spookiest of seasons.

As part of the Park’s Spooky Spectacular event, over a thousand pumpkins were ordered to decorate the walk-through areas. Any surplus pumpkins are donated to the Park’s animals, for keepers to use as enrichment.

Keepers hollow out the pumpkins for most of the animals, then hide tasty treats inside, such as insects for the meerkats, leafed branches for the giraffes and meat for the tigers.

Doing this acts as a form of seasonal enrichment, allowing animals to exhibit natural behaviours, such as foraging, burrowing and in the case of the tigers, stalking!

Head Keeper of Carnivores, Chris Hodgkins, said, “It’s great to see so many different species of animal enjoy the pumpkins at West Midland Safari Park. Every year, the Park’s Events team orders in thousands of pumpkins and to ensure any surplus aren’t wasted, keepers give them to the various animals in their care. It’s nice to be able to offer them something that’s a little different and fits in with the time of the year!

“Pumpkins are great because they have a distinctive smell, can be hollowed out to fill with treats and some of our animals love the taste of it. We love to see the animals playing and exhibiting natural behaviours, foraging for the treats inside, but it’s also nice to see them rolling a pumpkin around and ultimately destroying it! Our sixteen-year-old female Sumatran tiger, Hujan, even stalked the pumpkins, before pouncing on them. Let’s hope Patch, our very own pumpkin-headed mascot, doesn’t hear what the tigers are up to!”

For some of the Park’s newest arrivals, such as meerkat pups, Kovu, Kenai and Kyra, the strange orange gourds were completely new, but this didn’t phase them and as soon as they found the treats inside, keepers found it difficult to get them out!

The giraffes, a little more cautious by nature, approached the pumpkins tentatively, but were soon seen munching on the ‘hair’ sprouting out the top.

After Halloween, keepers will continue to use the pumpkins from the displays and eagle-eyed visitors may be able to spot them in the animal habitats.

During Spooky Spectacular, guests can take part in a trail to win a tasty treat, enter a competition to win a Safari Lodges stay, watch Patch the pumpkin-headed scarecrow in his magic show and meet some of his spooky pals too.

The Park has also extended its opening hours, opening at the earlier time of 9:30am and closing at 7:00pm, allowing guests to enjoy the rides and see the dinosaurs in the dark.

This will be the last chance guests get to enjoy the rides, before the Adventure Theme Park closes for winter after 30 October – the final day of Spooky Spectacular.

GO WILD THIS WHITSUN WITH A SAFARI STREET PARTY…

The team at West Midland Safari Park are inviting guests to come and celebrate with them for their very first Safari Street Party, this Whitsun holiday.

The brand-new event will run from 28 May until 5 June and will feature a whole host of amazing family entertainment throughout the day, as well as a craft club for kids and a conservation station.

From 10:30am the Park’s walk-through Discovery Trail will play host to The Caribbean Steel Band, Bubbly Heaven and Towering Heights Stilt Walkers – all set to amaze and get families in the party mood.

Head of Marketing, Rochelle Zare, said, “We are so excited to be holding our very own Safari Street Party in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee! We know that the nation will be in a celebratory mood, so we have enlisted the help of some incredible entertainers, who will be performing at intervals throughout the day.

“Firstly, we have our amazing giraffe stilt walkers, who will be roaming gracefully around the area, interacting with guests and posing for photos. Especially for kids, our bubbleologist will be creating clouds of enormous, magical bubbles and they might be even lucky enough to get inside one! All of this will be set to upbeat music with some family favourites being played by our Steel Band for guests to sway, dance, or even limbo along to!”

As well as the entertainment, children will be able to take part in a free craft club in the Safari Academy, where they can make their own safari-themed crowns, take part in some colouring and look at some amazing animal artefacts.

The wildlife team will also be championing giraffes for the week, with a dedicated Conservation Station including how to spot each of the Park’s giraffes. Guests can find out which giraffe personality matches their own and children can also gain a special sticker by learning a giraffe fact.

The team will be raising money throughout the week with all donations going to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the only organisation that works solely for the conservation and management of wild giraffes in Africa.

In addition to the Whitsun activities, the Park will also be opening its brand-new African Walking Trail – a pathway up to the animal reserves, so that guests can see the African elephants, giraffes and white rhino on foot, for the first time in the Park’s history.

West Midland Safari Park is open daily for its summer season and all the Safari Street Party activities are included as part of the standard admission charge.

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FIRST LOOK AT GIRAFFE AND RHINO LODGES AT SAFARI PARK…

West Midland Safari Park will be opening its new luxury lodges this Friday, offering overnight stays with views of giraffes and rhinos.

Eight two-storey lodges are now ready to welcome guests and are integrated into the white rhino and giraffe habitats, giving guests a truly unforgettable and immersive experience.

The white rhino lodges sleep up to six people and are the only experience of their kind in the UK. The ground floor has an open-plan living space, secluded chill out nest which doubles up as a cosy double bed and has a balcony offering ground-level views of the rhinos.

Two bedrooms and a bathroom are located on the first floor, along with a balcony providing panoramic views of the rhinos and Safari.

In the giraffe lodges, guests are able to come eye-to-eye with the Park’s charismatic tower of eight giraffes from the balcony on the first floor, which is where the living room, kitchenette and dining room are situated. A bathroom and two bedrooms are downstairs, providing accommodation for five people.

The introduction of the new lodges has enabled the Park to update and improve the habitats of the animals, giving them 24-hour access to both their indoor and outdoor environments.

Managing Director, Chris Kelly said, “We’re thrilled that the new giraffe and rhino lodges open on Friday and they look spectacular. Our teams have been working incredibly hard over the past six months to get them ready and add all the finishing touches that will make our guests’ stay truly memorable.

“Alongside the lodges, we have upgraded and built brand-new facilities and habitats for the giraffes and white rhinos. The rhinos have moved into their new home and have settled in well. The giraffes are a bit more tentative in nature and needed coaxing in with some of their favourite treats. They are enjoying exploring their new surroundings and seem to be very captivated by their new human neighbours, often watching them, curiously!”

He continued, “I hope our guests enjoy their experience with us and we look forward to starting our next stage of development with the Tiger Lodges, which we hope to open later in the year.”

White rhino and Rothschild’s giraffe are classified as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), with both species facing threats in the wild such as poaching and habitat loss.

The Park’s white rhino and Rothschild’s giraffe are both part of an EEP (EAZA Ex-Situ Programme), an international, collaborative breeding programme by European zoos, supporting the conservation of their wild counterparts by creating a reserve population. The new facilities enable the Park to continue their important work with the EEP.

The giraffe lodges are almost sold out until 30 September 2022, but there is some availability for the Rhino Lodges, with prices starting at £490 per night for two guests.

Safari Lodges short breaks include breakfast and dinner, spectacular views of the animals, admission to the Park for two days and Theme Park wristbands, during the summer season. The lodges also include free Wi-Fi, smart TV, robes, Noble Isle toiletries, 24-hour concierge and hot drink facilities.

Bookings for the lodges and further information can be found on the Safari Lodges website: www.safari-lodges.co.uk.

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SAFARI PARK SET TO HAVE A CRACKING EASTER…

West Midland Safari Park is ‘eggcited’ to welcome guests for its new Easter event, which will coincide with the school Easter holidays.

Running from 9 to 24 April 2022, the Park has planned a whole host of fun, including an amazing competition, a trail, chocolate prizes and even the chance to meet the Park’s very own Easter Bunny character.

New for 2022, ‘Bramble Bunny’ will be building his burrow in the Park’s Discovery Trail, ready to say hello to guests, hand out chocolatey treats and have his picture taken with them.

In Bramble’s Garden, guests will find a photo point, complete with bright and colourful Easter theming. If guests post their picture with Bramble or at the photo point, on their social pages, tagging in the Park, they will be entered into a competition to win a fantastic prize of an overnight stay in one of the Park’s brand-new Rhino Lodges, for up to six people!

Bethan Davis, PR & Events Officer said, “As we haven’t been able to celebrate Easter with our guests for the last two years, we wanted to do something really special this year and make sure the whole family get involved. We’ve refreshed all our Easter theming and introduced a new character to the Safari Park family – Bramble Bunny, who I know the kids are going to love.

“Children will be able to earn a chocolatey prize if they take part in our ‘Eggsplorer trail’ and adults have the chance to win probably our best prize yet – an overnight stay in our fantastic Rhino Lodges. We hope everyone has an egg-cellent time with us.”

Little ‘eggsplorers’ will be able to win chocolate, by helping Bramble locate his Easter eggs. In his haste to build his burrow, he misplaced some eggs which are now muddled up with some of the animal nests. Kids will need to find the colourful eggs, scratch off the correct colour on their scratch card and then hand it in to collect their prize.

Guests might even have the chance to meet some cuddly bunnies at one of the Friendly Animal Encounters, which run at various times daily.

The Park’s Discovery Trail will be transformed into an Easter haven, with hundreds of colourful eggs, bales of straw, large flowers and will also be home to Bramble’s Burrow – a cosy den which is Bramble’s home for the two weeks of Easter.

WATCH: SEEING DOUBLE AS SECOND BABY GIRAFFE ARRIVES AT SAFARI PARK…

CCTV has caught the moment a baby giraffe was born at West Midland Safari Park, surprising his six-week-old half-brother who was watching, just metres away.

The leggy youngster arrived with a bump in the giraffe house on 25 October at 2:15pm, after his mum, 11-year-old Akacia, went into labour out on the safari, noticed by some eagle-eyed guests.

Akacia made her way into the comfort and warmth of the giraffe house, where the baby’s older half-brother, Kingsley, and his mum, Arusha were waiting.

The two baby Rothschild’s giraffes share the same dad, 11-year-old Rufus, who became a dad for the sixth time, just six weeks on from the birth of his fifth calf, Kingsley.

Angela Potter, Head of Wildlife, said, “We are so delighted to welcome another giraffe calf into our herd, just six weeks since Kingsley was born, and it is going to be lovely to see the two calves growing up together. Akacia’s best friend Arusha, dam (mother) to Kingsley, remained close by during the birth and even helped to clean and stimulate the new calf.

“After several attempts, he was up on his feet within 50 minutes and was suckling soon after. Rothschild’s giraffes are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), with fewer than 2,500 remaining in East Africa, so each birth is vitally important to raise awareness of the plight of their wild counterparts.”

Now, at nine-days-old, keepers have determined that the baby is another boy and have chosen the name Kris, as all babies born in 2022 have names beginning with ‘K’, so chose this to honour the Park’s Managing Director, Chris Kelly.

Kris and Akacia will be allowed access outside to the giraffe yard this week, then will be slowly introduced to the rest of the herd, including Rufus and Kris’s older sister, six-year-old Emali.

PLANNING GRANTED FOR SAFARI PARK'S NEW TIGER HABITAT AND LODGES…

Staff at West Midland Safari Park are excited to announce that planning has been granted for a brand-new tiger habitat with integrated guest accommodation.

The new development will see a state-of-the-art house being installed for the Park’s two Sumatran tigers, surrounded by an enriched habitat, thriving with vegetation and allowing the animals to have 24-hour access to their indoor and outdoor environments.

Authentically integrated into the habitats will be four lodges, providing guests with an up-close and immersive overnight experience with Hujan and Nakal, the Park’s charismatic Sumatran tigers.

The relocation of the Sumatran tigers will be beneficial to day guests as well, as they will become part of the Park’s new and improved pedestrianised areas, allowing guests to see the tigers on foot, for the first time in the Park’s 49-year history.

Project Manager, Neil James, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to have planning permission granted to create a brand-new habitat, with amazing new facilities for our Sumatran tigers. We will incorporate natural vantage points, tiger-sized scratching posts, enrichment areas and pools for the tigers to take the occasional dip in. We are committed to building a lasting legacy for our animals and the new facilities will allow our keepers to continue to provide the highest standard of care for these big cats.

“The new Tiger Lodges are truly breathtaking and will allow guests to sleep a whisker away from these amazing creatures. By relocating our Sumatran tigers to a pedestrianised area of the park, our day guests will also get the opportunity to get even closer to this iconic and endangered species.”

The Park already has accommodation incorporated into the elephant, cheetah and red panda habitats and eight lodges offering spectacular views of white rhinos and giraffes, are due to start welcoming guests from 15 April 2022.

Two of the Tiger Lodges will be single-storey and detached. Unique to these will be private verandas with sunken hot tubs, so guests can truly relax in luxury, with magnificent views into the tiger habitat.

The remaining two lodges are semi-detached and will span two storeys, offering further incredible views from the first floor.

All four lodges will sleep up to five guests and will feature open plan living spaces, floor to ceiling windows into the tiger habitat and authentic interiors.

Sumatran tigers are classed as ‘critically endangered’ and there are thought to be fewer than 400 in the wild today. They are at threat due to accelerating habitat loss, high levels of human-tiger conflict, as well as poaching for the illegal trade in tiger parts.

The Park’s Sumatran tigers are part of an EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Programme), an international breeding programme by European zoos, supporting the conservation of their wild counterparts by creating a reserve population. The new facilities will enable the Park to continue their important work with the EEP.

Safari Lodges short breaks include breakfast and dinner, spectacular views of the animals, admission to the Park for two days and Theme Park wristbands, during the summer season.

Bookings for the Tiger Lodges will be available in the next month, but guests can book for the other lodges and find further information on the Safari Lodges website: www.safari-lodges.co.uk.

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WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK IS BEST ATTRACTION IN THE COUNTY…

Staff at West Midland Safari Park are celebrating after winning ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’, at the Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards.

The award, which recognises the Park as the best in its field within Worcestershire, was presented to representatives at an inaugural awards evening on 11 March, at Stanbrook Abbey Hotel, hosted by comedian, Dominic Holland.

After two rounds of judging, which included a mystery shop, judges concluded that West Midland Safari Park is, “accessible to all visiting guests,” and noted, “the fantastic interactive experience for the whole family to enjoy, including many outstanding feature attractions and an extensive seasonal events programme.”

Head of Marketing, Vikki Green, said, “After a challenging couple of years for the attraction industry, it was great to see Worcestershire’s tourism providers come together to celebrate. We are over the moon to have won Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, which recognises our commitment to providing a fun-packed day out for all the family.”

She continued, “It’s a huge achievement and credit to all of our staff who help make our guests feel welcome, connect them to our amazing animals and create memories that will last a lifetime.”

The ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ award was sponsored by Thatcher’s Cider and shortlisted alongside the Park was Worcester Cathedral, Severn Valley Railway and Morgan Motor Company.

The Park’s social media platforms also achieved top marks from judges and its ongoing contribution to conservation was also commended.

They concluded that, “The new accommodation offers one of the most unique experiences in the UK and we look forward to seeing the ongoing developments of this Worcestershire landmark to make it one of the best family attractions in the country.”

All winners of the Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards are automatically forwarded for entry into the Visit England Awards for Excellence, which means the Park will represent Worcestershire as one of the best tourist destinations in England.

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SEE NATURE IN A NEW LIGHT AT SAFARI PARK’S LANTERN FESTIVAL…

West Midland Safari Park is getting ready to host its spectacular Lantern Festival event and this year, there is a brand-new route and theme.

Returning for its second year, the Park will open its gates to evening guests, for selected dates over the Christmas period, from Friday 11 November 2022, until 8 January 2023.

With 50 different lighting scenes, all the lanterns, projectors and interactive displays have a flora and fauna theme, including a spectacular safari, towering dinosaurs and snow-covered winter wonderland.

The new trail runs from the entrance to the Park, down to Boj’s Giggly Park playground, then back towards Spring Grove House, finishing in the beautiful gardens of the Georgian manor house.

Bethan Davis, PR & Events Officer, said, “We’re thrilled that our Lantern Festival is back again this year, for selected evenings over the next few months. Following the success of last year’s event, we’ve amended the dates so we can host the event over the festive period, so there will be more chances for guests to see our incredible lanterns and even have the chance to meet Santa in his grotto.

“The lanterns team have been hard at work since October to set up the incredible trail of over a thousand individual lights. We’ve also got a new route for this year, which ends with a grand finale of a safari spectacle in the gardens of Spring Grove House. We can’t wait for families to see what we have in store for them!”

As Lantern Festival coincides with the Park’s popular Santa Safari event, guests will be met with a snowy winter wonderland in the Discovery Trail, complete with photo points, snow projectors and Christmas trees.

The Twilight Cave, Creepy Crawlies, Aquarium and Reptile House, will also be open to guests, allowing them to see what some of the smaller animals get up to, at night-time.

In Boj’s Giggly Park and bound to be popular with children, is a new interactive piano and a nature projector, where animals move away from where children are stepping on the ground.

Additionally, the Park’s food and beverage outlets will be open, offering a wide range of eat-in and takeaway options, such as hot dogs, burgers, pizza and nachos and children will be able to purchase their own illuminated, light-up toys, from the gift shops.

A variety of ticketing options are available for Lantern Festival, including an evening ticket which includes seeing Santa and an ‘Ultimate Winter Ticket’, which includes a day visit to Santa Safari, all the animal attractions, talks and shows, then Lantern Festival on the evening.

Tickets can be booked in advance via the Park’s website, where guests can also see the calendar of events: www.wmsp.co.uk/tickets.

Lantern Festival runs on selected dates, from 5:00pm until 8:30pm and the charge is £19.00 for adults and children aged 3-64 and £17.00 for concessions. Children under the age of three are free. Adventure Theme Park rides are not open during the winter season.

RED ROSE FOR A RED PANDA…

Keepers at West Midland Safari Park have been treating their “loved ones” to some Valentine’s Day gifts, but it’s the animals getting treated rather than humans!

One of the most popular newcomers to the Park, is Mei Lin, the beautiful red panda, who certainly turned some heads when she arrived in August 2021.

Since her arrival, her keepers have doted on her, ensuring she has everything she needs, from tasty sweet potato snacks to a lovely, air-conditioned house. But this year, keepers hope they can introduce something a bit more exciting, in the form of a prospective new mate.

Discovery Trail Keeper, Kyle Wingfield, said, “Mei Lin has been recommended to breed by the European Breeding Programme for Endangered Species (EEP) for red pandas. Whilst she is still a young female, she is now approaching breeding age which is around 18 months old. The EEP for any endangered species is very tightly regulated and organised by a studbook keeper, so the process of finding Mei Lin the right “match” is underway.

“Mei Lin has been at the Safari Park with us now for just over six months and has proved very popular with keepers, Red Panda Cottage guests and the public – they love her! She is absolutely fantastic to work with and much more of her character is showing each day.”

He continued, “The team here at West Midland Safari Park is also committed to conservation, supporting the Red Panda Network, which aims to conserve the red panda and its habitat in the wild. We hope that our guests fall in love with Mei Lin and in turn, are inspired to think about how they can help her wild counterparts.”

Red panda are listed as “endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). It’s estimated that by 2015 its population had likely declined by 50%, over the preceding three generations.

This is mainly due to human encroachment on the red panda’s natural habitat, cutting down forests for farming and logging, herding with dogs, as well as poaching.

Although red pandas are usually solitary by nature, as Mei Lin is part of an EEP, keepers at the Park hope that by next year’s Valentine’s day, she will have a mate to share her day with. In the meantime, her keepers will continue to provide her with all the love and care that she needs.

West Midland Safari Park is now open daily and Mei Lin can be seen in the Park’s Discovery Trail, included in the standard admission charge.

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SAFARI PARK’S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS EVENT IS BACK…

Santa has landed at West Midland Safari Park, ready to meet guests for its annual Santa Safari Christmas event and this year, he’s extended his hours.

From 25 November and running daily until Christmas Eve, guests will have the chance to see Santa during the day, or on selected dates, visit Santa in his grotto during the evening’s Lantern Festival event.

Ahead of the month-long celebration, Santa had a good look around the Park’s Discovery Trail, which has been transformed into a winter wonderland, with over 400 Christmas trees, lights, baubles, new photo points and even thick layers of ‘snow’.

Additionally, the Park has installed two amazing winter lantern scenes, which look incredible during the day, but really come to life when the sun sets.

Bethan Davis, PR & Events Officer, said, “We are so excited to welcome guests to this year’s Santa Safari, as the Park has never looked this magical. Our team of ‘elves’ have been working really hard to make sure everything is perfect for Santa’s arrival, with not a garland, tree or bauble out of place!

“This year, we’ve installed a whole host of brand-new features, including a gigantic Christmas tree, two photo points for children, animated characters in the grotto and our outdoor sleigh has been transformed. Children will be able to experience falling ‘snow’ and write a letter to Santa too, which they can post in our cheeky talking post-box. Santa has given everything his seal of approval, so has now retired to his cosy grotto, ready to meet families from Friday. We hope everyone has a magical and festive time with us.”

Guests to the grotto will be greeted by Santa’s team of friendly elves who will magically transport families to the North Pole on Santa’s sleigh, captained by a new welcoming owl.

Disembarking the sleigh, they will follow a path through a magical winter wonderland, busy elf workshop and reindeer stables, finally reaching the grotto to pay a visit to the big man himself.

Children will receive a memento of their day by having a picture taken of themselves with Santa which they can then take home, alongside being able to choose their very own present from the elves’ workshop.

Also included in the package is a visit to Mrs Claus’ Kitchen, where children can enjoy a drink and cookie, whilst adults are treated to a hot drink and mince pie.

There is also the chance for guests to win a Family Annual Pass, by entering the ‘Letters to Santa’ competition, where children can write a letter to Santa and post it in his magical talking post box.

Additionally, guests visiting this winter can experience a virtual reality sleigh ride – a magical 4D adventure to the North Pole, helping Santa to test out his sleigh before his big journey on Christmas Eve.

As Santa Safari coincides with the Park’s Lantern Festival event, a variety of ticketing options are available, including an evening ticket which includes lanterns and an ‘Ultimate Winter Ticket’, which includes a day visit to Santa Safari, all the animal attractions, talks and shows, then Lantern Festival on the evening.

Tickets can be booked in advance via the Park’s website, where guests can also see the calendar of events: www.wmsp.co.uk/tickets.

t open during the winter season.

SEE HEY DUGGEE AT WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK THIS HALF TERM…

West Midland Safari Park has announced that Hey Duggee will be coming to the visitor attraction for three dates over February half term.

The popular children’s character, who can be seen on CBeebies, will be making personal appearances at intervals throughout the day from 22 to 24 February.

Families will be able to take part in either a “Meet & Greet” or a fun-filled “Stick Song Activity”, at selected times, based in the Park’s onsite venue, Treetops Pavilion.

PR & Events Officer, Bethan Davis, said, “We’re really excited to have Hey Duggee here with us for three dates this half term. Duggee is really popular with both kids and parents alike and you’d be hard pushed to find a parent that hasn’t at some point had the “Stick Song” stuck in their head!”

She continued, “Duggee will be making five appearances throughout the day, including three ‘Meet & Greets’ where there will be the opportunity to take photos. Alternatively, there will be two ‘Stick Song Activities’ which guests will need their dancing shoes for, as they bop along with Duggee and his friend, to some Hey Duggee classics. As Hey Duggee is so popular, we do urge families to arrive early and if they’re not lucky enough to meet him, he will be waving to all of his fans.”

Entrance to the Hey Duggee appearances is subject to availability and guests will be admitted to Treetops Pavilion on a first come, first serve basis.

As well as the opportunity to see Hey Duggee, the Park will be open daily from 19 February for its summer season, with the Adventure Theme Park reopening too.

Hey Duggee appearances, the four-mile safari, walk-through exhibits, animal talks and encounters, are all included in the standard admission charge.

SAFARI PARK KEEPERS COUNT CREATURES…

Animal keepers at West Midland Safari Park have had a busy start to the year by completing the annual animal stock take.

Every year, each animal big and small must be counted, from the huge African elephants to the tiny, critically endangered, golden mantella frogs.

The total number of animals changes each year and in 2021, the Park welcomed some new animals, including the birth of two white rhino calves and 26 rainbow lorikeet chicks, as well as the arrival of a red panda.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “This is the time of year that we carry out the annual count of all our animals, big and small. We have 121 species with over 1000 individuals, so it’s a real team effort to ensure every animal is included. Most are counted as individuals such as our white rhino herd, which had the addition of two lovely boys, Jambo and Jumani, born in 2021, but some are counted in colonies such as our tiny leaf cutter ants. It would take a very long time if you were to count every one of those individually!

“Of course, our keepers count our animals on a daily basis and give them a good look over to ensure they are all healthy and well, but this annual audit which takes place in January, is something that each wildlife attraction must undertake as part of our zoo licence requirements.”

She continued, “In 2021, we welcomed some new species to our collection and these included Mei Lin, our beautiful red panda, who joined us in August and three smaller species: white belly reed frogs, crocodile lizards and Lau banded iguanas. We also said goodbye to some notable characters who left us to join collections in Scotland. These included Fennessy and Gerald, our two young male giraffes and Grace, our young Grévy’s zebra who all went to Edinburgh Zoo and three Bactrian camels; Dierdre and Dippy who are now at Highland Wildlife Park and Doris who is at Blair Drummond Safari Park.“

The audit is part of zoo licensing requirements and once every head has been counted, the results are noted in a report which is sent to the local authority. The Park’s Wildlife Administrator then checks the results against the animal record system, to ensure the census matches.

A variety of animals call the Park home, including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Some are easier to count than others, such as the pancake tortoises, compared to the quick, scurrying Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

The Park has some exciting changes in store this year for some of their animals and guests, including new habitats for the white rhinos, giraffes and Sumatran tigers and the installation of new pathways, so that day guests can see these animals, as well as the African elephants, on foot.

The animal habitats will be upgraded alongside the introduction of eight new, luxury lodges offering spectacular views of the Park’s tower of charismatic giraffes and crash of white rhinos, due to open in April.

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PLANNING GRANTED FOR LUXURY LION LODGES - IN THE MIDLANDS!...

West Midland Safari Park has had planning granted for four new luxury lodges, offering incredible and immersive views of African lions.

Following planning being granted on 9 December, the Park can now go ahead with building four single-storey lodges, integrated into a brand-new habitat, for the Park’s bachelor group of lions.

The fantastic new accommodation, due to open early in the summer, will sleep up to six people and one of the lodges will be accessible, for guests with disabilities.

All four lodges will be authentically designed with open-plan living spaces, an outdoor private garden and floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedrooms and living area, meaning guests can eat, sleep and bathe just a whisker away from these magnificent cats.

The introduction of the new lodges also enables the Park to upgrade the habitats of the animals, giving them 24-hour access to both their indoor and outdoor environments.

Managing Director, Chris Kelly said, “We’re delighted that planning has been granted for the next stage of our development. This will see new habitats, housing and facilities being built for our bachelor pride of lions, enabling our brilliant team of wildlife keepers to continue the high standard of care they provide for our animals.

“The lions moving into the new habitat, were born here at the Park back in 2019 and we are excited that this is the first time our guests will be able to see them on foot. Alongside their new facilities, we will be installing four beautiful new lodges, which will offer an unforgettable and immersive experience, with these incredible big cats.”

The new lion house has been designed to exceed the standards for modern zoo practise and has been future-proofed if the dynamics of the pride change, such as if the Park wants to introduce lionesses.

As well as new housing, the lions’ habitat has been designed to be as enriching as possible, to encourage natural behaviours. It will include high vantage points, heat pads, rocks and shaded areas, as well as increasing biodiversity with planting, which will also provide new sights and smells for the lions.

The new lodges will be located near the Park’s African Village, a pedestrianised area that houses meerkats, lemurs and goats. This means that day guests will be able to see the lions on foot, for the first time in the Park’s history, from a viewpoint in the African Village.

Safari Lodges short breaks include breakfast and dinner, spectacular views of the animals, admission to the Park for two days and Theme Park wristbands, during the summer season.

Bookings for the new lodges will open in January, but guests can already book stays with giraffes, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, tigers and red pandas and find further information on the Safari Lodges website: www.safari-lodges.co.uk.

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PAWS OFF MY PUDDINGS…

The pride of African lions at West Midland Safari Park has been treated to some lion-size Christmas puddings, in honour of the festive season.

Keepers at the attraction created three large papier-mâché puddings and filled them with chunks of meat before leaving them in the lion habitat, ready for the pride to find.

First to the purr-fect puddings was Amber, who quickly claimed one for herself, snarling at all the others, including her own cubs, to stay away. (The spirit of sharing at Christmas is obviously not popular with the lion community!).

The puddings lasted all of 20 seconds as the pride of 17 very quickly tore them to shreds, with some running away to their own hiding places, to defend the scraps.

Watching the activity unfold was Senior Keeper of Carnivores, Kate Atkinson. She said, “This Christmas, we decided to spoil the lions with our own version of Christmas puddings – giant ones with meat chunks hidden inside! Not only does it get the keepers in the Christmas spirit, but it also acts as a form of enrichment for the animals in our care.

“Enrichment is an incredibly important part of being an animal keeper and we love having the opportunity to give our animals something novel like a Christmas pudding, or equally something that may be seen more typically in their natural habitat, like a carcass. Our keepers will continue to provide the highest standards of care to the animals on Christmas Day, making sure they have everything they need and that the day is just as special for them! We would like to wish all of our guests a very Merry Christmas.”

Not content with his mum, Amber, having the lion’s share of the puddings, two-year-old Havoc quickly picked up some shreds to play with, licking any remaining juices he could find. Meanwhile, the three laid-back adult males didn’t even attempt to steal a morsel and left the females and youngsters to fight over the puds.

The charismatic pride of African lions is a favourite of guests visiting the Park, as the pride can walk right past the vehicles on the four-mile safari. Keepers hope that having these close encounters, inspires guests to take an interest in their wild counterparts, which are suffering persecution.

Numbers of African lions are sadly in decline, due to conflict with humans for livestock and a depletion in prey. More recently, lions are also at risk due to the trade in their body parts for traditional medicine. This means that African lions are classed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

During December, keepers will be putting other forms of festive enrichment in the animal habitats, such as stockings for the Indian rhinos, disco balls for the penguins and sprout stalks for the giraffes.

The pride of lions at the Park is made up of ten adults and seven youngsters, who were born in 2019. They can be seen on the drive-through safari which is included in the admission cost.

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SEE BLUEY AT WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK THIS HALF TERM…

West Midland Safari Park is excited to announce that popular CBeebies children’s character Bluey, will be entertaining guests during February half term.

Bluey will be making personal appearances with her sister Bingo, at intervals throughout the day from 20 to 24 February.

Fans will be able to take part in either a ‘Meet and Greet’ or ‘Bluey’s Toybox Activity’, at selected times in Treetops Pavilion – the Park’s onsite marquee.

PR & Events Officer, Bethan Davis, said, “We’re really excited to have Bluey and Bingo here with us for five days this half term. Bluey is a favourite for both children and parents, due to its focus on family life, fun and games, plus its witty sense of humour.

“Bluey and Bingo will be making five appearances throughout the day, including three ‘meet and greets’, where families have the opportunity to take photos. There will also be two ‘Bluey’s Toybox Activities’ which will feature games from the show for everyone to join in with and a chance to high-five the sisters at the end.

Entrance to see Bluey and Bingo is subject to availability and guests will be admitted to Treetops Pavilion on a first-come, first-served basis, where they can also purchase refreshments while waiting.

As well as the opportunity to see Bluey this half term, the Park will be opening daily again for its summer season, including the Adventure Theme Park.

SANTA WISHES SAFARI PARK RESIDENTS A "MEERY" CHRISTMAS…

Santa has arrived at West Midland Safari Park, ready for their annual Christmas event and in preparation, has been meeting some of the residents.

From 26 November and running daily until Christmas Eve, Santa Safari will see the Park’s Discovery Trail transformed with over 350 Christmas trees, festive decorations, dazzling fairy lights and even layers upon layers of ‘snow’.

As Santa will be calling the tourist attraction his home for the next month, he paid a visit to some of his neighbours, including the Park’s mob of mischievous meerkats and took along a gift from their Christmas list – a ball pit!

Lisa Watkins, Head of African Village, said, “Our meerkats were really excited to receive an early Christmas present from Santa, when he popped down to the African Village with a ball pit for them. Santa must have done his research before picking the perfect present, as the keepers provide the meerkats with novel items, as part of their daily routine, to keep them stimulated and active.

“The ball pit proved a big hit and Santa had even hidden some tasty mealworms amongst the balls, which encouraged natural foraging behaviours. I’m sure this will occupy the meerkats throughout the year and not just for Christmas.“

Santa has come to the Park accompanied by his team of friendly elves, who will be ready to greet guests, gift presents and spread some festive cheer, as well as magically transport families to the North Pole on Santa’s sleigh.

Once guests reach the North Pole, they will follow a path through the newly refurbished winter wonderland and elf workshop, before reaching the grotto, to pay a visit to the big man himself.

Children will receive a memento of their day by having a picture taken of themselves with Santa which they can then take home, alongside being able to choose their very own present from the elves’ workshop.

Also included in the package is a visit to Mrs Claus’ Kitchen, where children can enjoy a drink and cookie, whilst adults are treated to a hot drink and mince pie.

There is also the chance for guests to win a Family Annual Pass, either by entering the ‘Letters to Santa’ competition, where children can write a letter to Santa and post it in his magical talking post box, or by taking an “elfie” with one of Santa’s elves.

Additionally, guests visiting this winter can experience a Virtual Reality Santa Sleigh Ride – a magical 4D adventure to the North Pole. Families can help Santa test out his sleigh before his big journey on Christmas Eve. Led by Santa’s helper, D.A.S.H, families will be transported across the globe and through a wintery wonderland, but as it’s a test run, it could be a bumpy ride!

Santa Safari runs from 26 November to 24 December and is £28.50 for adults, £24.50 for children aged 3-15, £13.00 for children under the age of three and £26.50 for concessions. The VR Sleigh ride can be added on for £4.00 per person at the time of booking.

Admission includes a Free Return Code to visit again in six months, only when booking online in advance, without a Tesco or ASDA voucher. Guests can also receive discounts for selected dates, when booking online at least two days in advance. The Adventure Theme Park is not open during the winter season.

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PERILS OF THE PUMPKIN PATCH AT WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK…

West Midland Safari Park is getting ready for a pumpkin-packed celebration this Halloween season with its annual Spooky Spectacular event, and this year a new character has set up residence.

From 22 October, families will be able to meet ‘Patch’, a pumpkin-headed scarecrow, who is hosting his very own Pumpkin Party live stage show, at selected times throughout each day. This 20-minute interactive show includes spooky games, eerie magic and lots of dancing, ensuring everyone will have a fang-tastic time.

Following the show, guests will have the chance to meet Patch and snap a spooky selfie with him, which can be used to enter the Park’s photo competition, to be in with the chance of winning a family annual pass.

Bethan Davis, PR and Events Officer, said, “We’re really excited to be able to offer something brand new for our annual Spooky Spectacular event this year and we think adults and children are going to love it! We’ve been lucky enough to meet Patch already and I have no doubt that he will get everyone on their feet, dancing to his songs, laughing at his jokes and joining in with his games.”

She continued, “Our teams have been working really hard to transform our Discovery Trail, with over a thousand pumpkins, hay bales, cobwebs and much more. Our pumpkin patch especially looks fantastic and is ready for guests to take pictures in, to commemorate their day, or to enter our competition. We hope everyone has a brilliant time celebrating the Halloween season with us.”

As well as the live show, Patch will also need help from ‘spooky explorers’ for his ‘Perils of the Pumpkin Patch’ scratch card trail. The mischievous crows have stolen some of Patch’s prize pumpkins, which are brightly coloured and magical!

Children need to explore the Park’s walk-through areas, find the pumpkins and reveal a magic word which will scare off the crows and return the pumpkins to Patch. Successful explorers who find all six pumpkins, will earn a special sticker prize and a thank you message from Patch himself.

As well as Spooky Spectacular starting on 22 October, the Park’s brand-new event, Lantern Festival, also starts on this date. Running solely on selected evenings, the Park will be magically illuminated by the light of over a thousand lanterns, including a Halloween scene especially for the spooky season.

Spooky Spectacular runs from 22 to 31 October and is included in the standard admission charge of £25.00 for adults, £20.00 for children aged 3-15 and £22.00 for concessions. Children under the age of three are free of charge. Admission includes a Free Return Code to visit again in 6 months, only when booking online in advance, without a Tesco or ASDA voucher. Adventure Theme Park rides are charged extra.
 

LANTERNS SET TO MAGICALLY ILLUMINATE SAFARI PARK…

West Midland Safari Park is getting ready to host its brand-new Lantern Festival – an unforgettable after-dark illuminations experience.

From 22 October, guests will be able to access the Park in the evenings, to follow a dazzling trail of over 1,000 breath-taking lanterns and lights, seeing the walk-through areas of the Park like never before.

Workers are adding the final touches to over 40 different , magical scenes, which include towering dinosaurs, glowing animals, lit-up landscapes, rainbow pathways and mysterious, mythical creatures,, ensuring there will be ample opportunities for guests to take photos to commemorate their evening.

Additionally, bound to be popular with children, will be two interactive lighting displays including a magical piano and a tree of light, where they can send pulses of colour up the tree’s trunk and branches, by stepping on an illuminated pad.

PR & Events Officer, Rachael Allcock, said, “It’s fantastic to be launching a brand-new event here at the Park for our upcoming winter season. Lantern Festival will offer guests a magical evening experience, at a location like no other, for all the family to enjoy!

“We’ve been very busy getting everything into position over the past few weeks, and to see it all coming together as we approach the opening is incredibly exciting! After understandably having such a limited event season over the past eighteen months, we’re thrilled to be coming back with something completely new for our visitors.

“Guests will be blown away by our mesmerising illuminations and spectacular lantern displays. It will be a wonderful moment to kick off our event season, reminding us all why events like these are so important in bringing people together.”

As well as the 3km lantern trail, guests will be able to enjoy hot food and refreshments at the Park’s food outlets and children will be able to purchase light-up toys as well as a range of other gifts , from the shops.

The Adventure Theme Park will also be open on selected dates, allowing guests to purchase ride wristbands at the time of booking and experience our thrilling rides in the dark. The safari drive-through and animal exhibits will be closed during the evening event.

Tickets for Lantern Festival can be booked in advance via the Park’s website: www.wmsp.co.uk/lanterns and two time slots are available to choose from.

Lantern Festival runs on 25 selected dates from 22 October to 5 December.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR FOR SAFARI PARK'S NEWEST COUPLES…

West Midland Safari Park is celebrating Valentine’s Day, by showing some love to two of its newest couples.

For Valentine’s Day last year, the Park’s female red panda, two-year-old Mei Lin, spent the day being spoiled by her keepers, unaware that plans were being made to bring in a new mate for her the next month.

On 29 March 2022, male red panda, four-year-old Sanka, arrived from Woburn Safari Park and the two have become closer ever since.

Meanwhile, in the Park’s newest attraction, Tiger Tropics, female Sumatran tiger, Dourga, has quickly settled into her new habitat, following her arrival from Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland.

The 11-year-old beautiful cat, arrived on 6 August 2022 as a mate for Nakal, the Park’s nine-year-old male and within days, the couple were seen ‘chuffing’ at each other and relaxing close together.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “It is vitally important for us to have these two potential breeding pairs here at the Park, as they are both part of a European breeding programme which aims to conserve their species.

“Breeding programmes play an important role in conservation, by increasing the size of threatened species populations and providing a genetic back up for their wild counterparts. Red pandas are ‘endangered’ and Sumatran tigers are classed as ‘critically endangered’, so both species also provide awareness opportunities of their threats in the wild.

She continued, “After initial wariness and a few arguments as they got to know each other, love has been in the air as we approach spring. Both the couples have become inseparable which bodes well for the future and the conservation of their species. As the Park celebrates its 50^th birthday this year, the best birthday present we could have would be to hear the patter of tiny paws.”

For Valentine’s Day, keepers made large cardboard hearts and used their own versions of animal aphrodisiacs, to tempt the couples closer.

For the tigers, it’s not floral notes which get their hearts racing, but the aromas of ginger, cumin and marmite, which keepers spread around the love hearts.

Both tigers were enamoured by the new sights and smells and Dourga swiftly knocked the heart over, with a push from one of her large paws.

The way to the red pandas’ hearts is food, so keepers offered a panda-perfect tasting menu of sweetcorn riblets, sweet potato wedges and bamboo.

Both couples are part of an EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Programme), which is a breeding collaboration between European zoos, organised by a studbook keeper – an animal matchmaker!

EEPs for any endangered species are tightly regulated, to ensure that the right matches are made, so the Park hopes that the two couples will go on to play an important role in protecting their species from extinction.

ARTIST NATHAN WYBURN CREATES ANIMAL ARTWORK TO MARK 50 YEARS OF WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK…

The king of the jungle has never looked so regal as he does in this stunning piece of artwork.

A giant portrait of a lion has been created by well-known artist, Nathan Wyburn, made up of hundreds of photographs of animals – including giraffes, tigers and elephants.

The artwork was commissioned to celebrate 50 years of West Midland Safari Park, which has been home to all of the animals featured in the image of the large cat, created from an original photograph taken by the park’s senior designer and photographer, Matt Lissimore.

It comes as a study of 2,000 adults found 45 per cent are clueless about which animals are on the brink of extinction – with many believing the giant panda and southern white rhino are close to disappearing from the planet forever.

Another 37 per cent admit they know ‘little’ or ‘nothing’ about the world’s most endangered species, with the average adult believing there are 13,128 vulnerable species in the wild – when there are in fact over 40,000 [www.wwf.org.uk/learn/wildlife/endangered-animals].

The Yangtze finless porpoise (14 per cent) and the vaquita (6 per cent) also featured on the list – with few respondents aware of their lack of safety.

Nearly half (48 per cent) admit they couldn’t list which animals are thriving but 69 per cent would like to learn more about wildlife endangerment, with 46 per cent keen to do their bit to support conservation.

Vikki Green, Head of Marketing at West Midland Safari Park, which commissioned the research, said: “This striking image of the regal lion, combined with the report findings, really show how important our wildlife is to the planet.

“With our Park celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, it’s vital to raise awareness of endangered species around the world and encourage people to support the cause. The Park has been home to hundreds of animals, including several critically endangered species.

“The fact there are over 40,000 species currently under threat is shocking and we must do what we can to protect our precious wildlife before it’s too late.”

The study revealed 37 per cent are keen to get involved with groups to help threatened species, with 51 per cent inspired by organisations supporting and working with endangered animals to do the same.

But sadly, 76 per cent believe the likes of climate change and the cost-of-living crisis have more recently taken priority over protecting wildlife.

It emerged 24 per cent would feel ‘helpless’ if their favourite animal became endangered and exactly a fifth would be ‘angry’.

Poaching (31 per cent), deforestation (27 per cent) and climate change (14 per cent) were cited as the top reasons responsible for the endangerment of animals, according to the OnePoll study.

As many as 75 per cent agree more needs to be done to protect the planet’s wildlife, even though 60 per cent claim it is inevitable that certain species will become extinct someday.

When it comes to the national curriculum, 52 per cent of those with children say the conversation to safeguard the world’s endangered species needs to be a bigger focus.

And 24 per cent feel regretful at the thought of their child never having the chance to see their favourite animal if they became extinct.

Vikki Green added: “It’s good to see adults and children aware of the current situation and that more action is needed to protect animals.

“Since opening 50 years ago, our Park has seen over 30 million visitors, we’ve supported numerous successful conservation programmes and we’ve been lucky to be able to contribute to breeding programmes such as the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP). Animals born in our care help conserve healthy populations of wildlife while safeguarding their genetic health.

“If you’re planning a family trip this spring, then visiting a collection such as ours is a great way to learn about wildlife while also getting involved in the wider community to help protect our planet’s precious creatures.

Nathan Wyburn with a plaque that was unveiled along with the artwork

West Midland Safari Park has been home to all the animals featured in the image

SAFARI PARK WELCOMES RARE NEW STRIPES…

A baby Grevy’s zebra has been born at West Midland Safari Park, marking a great step towards a conservation programme for endangered species.

Keepers were excited to find that the cute, stripy youngster had been born during the early hours of 17 March, to 12-year-old mum, Akuna.

Grevy’s zebra are pregnant for 13 months, so keepers have been waiting patiently for the birth, following being seen mating with dad, Kees, in the early months of 2022.

The Park’s Grevy’s zebra are listed as ‘endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and are part of a collaborative European breeding programme, that aims to conserve endangered species.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “We are delighted to announce the birth of a beautiful female foal to our Grevy’s zebra mare, Akuna. This is her second foal and she is once again being a kind and attentive mother. Akuna was recommended to breed with male, Kees, as part of the European ex-situ breeding programme (EEP), so he made the journey to join us from Cologne Zoo in Germany, in October 2020.

“Every birth is important, as these zebras are ‘endangered’ in the wild with numbers estimated at around 3,000, with 90% of the population being found in northern Kenya. Threats in the wild include hunting, habitat loss and in recent years severe drought in a range countries. They are one of Africa’s most endangered large mammals.”

She continued, “The next steps for Akuna and her foal are that they will be mixed with our other female, Nafeesa, then will be let out onto the safari, where she will share her home with the white rhino, Congo buffalo and antelope.”

Following identification that the foal was a female, keepers picked the name Lola, as all babies born at the Park in 2023 will have names beginning with the letter L.

The birth of Lola is a fantastic start for the Park’s celebrations, as they commemorate their 50^th anniversary this year.

Guests may be able to see the foal over the Easter holidays, when the Park will be offering a whole host of fun, to celebrate their golden year.

PERFECT PRESENTS FOR INDIAN RHINO CALF’S FIRST BIRTHDAY…

Staff at West Midland Safari Park are celebrating the birthday of resident Indian rhino calf, Inesh, who turns one today.

The youngster, born on 8 September 2020, has been very popular with visitors at the Worcestershire attraction over the last year and can often be spotted by guests with his mum, 12-year-old Seto.

To celebrate the occasion, keepers created a range of eye-catching ‘presents’, which were filled with some of Inesh and Seto’s favourite treats. As soon as the pair left their sleeping quarters, they spotted a delicious ‘bread trail’ of carrots, which lead them to the colourful gifts containing a fun-filled birthday breakfast!

A large ‘number one’ was placed on to the front of one box, to signify that not only is it Inesh’s first birthday, but he is also the first Indian rhino calf to be born at the Park in its forty-seven-year history.

Deputy Head Keeper of Ungulates, Shelley Tudor, said, “It’s been a wonderful year watching Inesh grow from a shy little calf, who stayed very close to his mum, to now a much more confident young boy with so much personality.

“Inesh loves enrichment activities and is keen to interact with the keepers during his husbandry training sessions. He’s brought so much fun and joy to the Indian rhino house and we look forward to watching him develop and maybe go on to produce his own little rhinos in the future!”

Inesh’s dad, 13-year-old Rap, was one of the first Indian rhinos introduced to the Park in 2009. Seto arrived at the Park in 2015 and along with nine-year-old female Sunny and Inesh, they now make up a crash of four Indian rhinos calling the Park home.

Now weighing 496kg, Inesh’s weight has more than tripled since his birth and he will likely continue to grow to be up to 3000kg when reaching adulthood.

Also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros, Indian rhinos are placid animals who are often recognised for their armoured and prehistoric appearance. They are classed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as face threats such as poaching and habitat loss in the wild.

It’s only been twelve months, but it’s clear to see that Inesh will have a lasting impact on West Midland Safari Park, in supporting their efforts of raising awareness of the vital preservation of this fantastic species. Like his parents, he will go on to be part of an EEP (European Endangered Species Programme), an important breeding programme, which creates a reserve population of these threatened, magnificent animals.

The Park is home to two types of rhinos – eight southern white rhinos and four Indian rhinos. All five species of rhino are sadly decreasing in numbers in the wild.

Inesh’s first birthday comes only ten weeks after the arrival of two white rhino calves, which were both born within six weeks of each other.

Inesh can be spotted by guests in the Wild Asia section of the safari where guests will be able to spot him roaming the plains and having lots of fun, likely covered in mud!

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SAFARI PARK TO ‘LIGHT UP THE DARK’ WITH NEW WINTER LANTERN EVENT…

West Midland Safari Park is thrilled to announce it will be launching a brand-new event this October, inviting guests for an after-dark illuminations experience like no other.

‘Lantern Festival’ will be kicking off the Park’s Autumn season with an epic lantern trail, where guests can enjoy mesmerising lighting displays, discover a ‘wild’ range of breath-taking lanterns and explore the walk-through areas of the Park like never before.

Starting in October half term, the immersive light installations will transform the Park, transporting guests to a wonderland of lanterns and interactive lighting displays. With over forty light groupings, and up to 1000 individual lanterns, the event will have something for all ages, and make a fantastic family evening out.

Rochelle Zare, Head of Marketing at the Park said, “We are incredibly excited to be launching our new event, Lantern Festival, this October.

“Welcoming guests back to the Park for our events season is something we have very much been looking forward to, particularly after the limitations the past eighteen months have placed on events. To be delivering something brand new for our visitors is fantastic and further showcases our commitment to providing unique and unforgettable guest experiences here at WMSP.

“Visitors will be blown away by these amazing installations and lantern creations, and it will be a wonderful moment in reminding us of why events like these are so important in bringing people together.”

With magical lit-up landscapes, dinosaur lanterns, glowing animal installations, a giant interactive piano keyboard, rainbow tunnel and many other creations, the 3km trail has been designed to offer guests a safe and enjoyable evening, with plenty of fun all round.

The outdoor evening event will be open to the public from 5:30pm until 9:30pm on 25 selected dates from Friday 22^nd October to Sunday 5^th December.

Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy the site’s Adventure Theme Park on selected dates; as well as being able to experience a wide range of food, beverage and retail outlets throughout the night.

Tickets can now be booked in advance via the Park’s website: www.wmsp.co.uk/lanterns and there are two time slots available to choose from to minimise traffic and help maintain social distancing.

The standard admission charge to see the trail of lights starts at £18.00 for adults, £15.00 for children aged 3 – 15 and £16.00 for concessions. Children under the age of three are free of charge and carers also have free entry. Free Return tickets are not valid for this event and admission to this event does not include a Free Return Visit.

Adventure Theme Park rides are charged extra and ride wristbands can be purchased at the time of booking via our website, as well as at the Park. The Park’s animals will not be on view during the evening lantern trail, including the Safari drive-through which will close as normal for the evening.

EGG-CITEMENT AS SAFARI PARK CELEBRATES ITS GOLDEN YEAR…

West Midland Safari Park has a very ‘eggciting’ Easter planned with a whole host of fun in store and a new show, commemorating its 50^th anniversary.

Running from 1 to 16 April, guests will be invited to the Park to take part in the celebrations, which include an interactive trail, competitions, giveaways and a chance to meet the Park’s resident Easter bunny, Bramble.

Ahead of the event, Bramble has been out and about, checking out the new displays and meeting the residents, such as the rainbow lorikeets.

New for 2023 will be ‘Bramble Bunny’s Birthday Bash’ show, which will involve party games, dancing and a chance to snap a picture with Bramble at the end.

PR & Events Officer, Bethan Davis, said, “We are so excited for this year’s event, as not only do we have a lot of fun in store for Easter, but we also get to launch the Park’s 50^th birthday celebrations too. Our resident Easter bunny has returned and this year, he has a brand new show where he will be inviting guests to a big birthday party. Guests can expect party tricks, games and even helping Bramble to make a birthday cake!

“We would love to get our guests involved with the celebrations, so we will be offering lots of chances for our guests to win some amazing prizes, such as Safari Lodges stays, annual passes, tickets, cuddly toys and of course, chocolate! We will have a scratchcard trail, competitions and we are launching a golden ticket giveaway, where guests can buy a chocolate bar which may contain a hidden golden ticket. We hope everyone has an egg-straordinary time.”

During the event, the Park will be decorated with bright and colourful Easter theming, including giant eggs, hay bales and floral displays. There is also a new 50^th anniversary living wall photo point.

Guests will have to chance to meet Bramble either at the show, or at intervals during the day, when he will be roaming the Discovery Trail.

Children can take part in an ‘Eggsplorer trail’ to locate the giant animal eggs and will earn a special chocolatey treat from Bramble’s burrow, where they can take part in some more fun, games and giveaways.

Additionally, there will be chances to win a selection of prizes by taking part in a variety of competitions such as by guessing the number of eggs, to win a Rhino Lodge stay, or finding the 50^th birthday egg, hidden somewhere in the Park, to win a family platinum annual pass.

West Midland Safari Park’s Easter activities are included in the admission charge and guests are encouraged to book online in advance for the best prices. Children under the age of three are free.

WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK VOTED BEST ATTRACTION FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING…

West Midland Safari Park is celebrating after winning ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’, for the second year in a row.

The award was presented to team members at the prestigious Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards, held at the Park in Treetops Pavilion, on Friday 24 March.

Hosted by comedian Hal Cruttenden, the evening showcased the best of the region’s businesses, including tourist attractions, accommodation, pubs and restaurants.

After two rounds of judging, which included a mystery shop, judges concluded that West Midland Safari Park, “offers an interactive and educational experience, with a variety of attractions to explore.”

It was also noted that the Park is continually improving guest experience, with new developments and events and that judges were “impressed with future plans for continued growth.”

Managing Director, Chris Kelly, said, “We are thrilled to have won ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ at the recent Visit Worcestershire Awards, for a second consecutive year. 2023 is a really special year for the Park, as we celebrate our 50^th anniversary, so it’s great to be recognised as one of the best attractions in the region, for providing fantastic family days out.

“Winning this award is a huge achievement and a credit to all of our staff who help to provide guests with such wonderful and lasting memories. Everyone here, from keepers to cleaners, all work incredibly hard and I am very proud with what has been achieved ahead of our milestone birthday.”

The award was sponsored by Conteur and the Park was shortlisted alongside Severn Valley Railway and Attwell Farm Park.

All winners of the Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards are forwarded for entry into the Visit England Awards for Excellence, so the Park may have the chance to win on the national stage, representing Worcestershire as one of the best tourism destinations.

SAFARI PARK SUBMITS PLANS FOR GIRAFFE AND RHINO LODGES...

West Midland Safari Park has unveiled plans for the next stage in its ambitious long-term development strategy.

The Bewdley attraction has submitted proposed plans to Wyre Forest District Council, for its second phase of Safari Lodges accommodation, offering luxury overnight stays with giraffe and white rhino. The eight new lodges will sit next to the recently opened elephant and cheetah lodges stays; and offer stunning panoramic views of the site’s spectacular wildlife.

The opulent two-story accommodation will be authentically integrated into newly updated giraffe and white rhino habitats, giving guests an immersive and unforgettable overnight wildlife encounter, like no other. The rhino lodges will be the only experience of its kind in the UK with white rhino, a species for which the Park recently celebrated the successful birth of two new male calves. In giraffe lodges, guests will be able to watch the Park’s tower of seven giraffes from second floor living spaces, which also have open balconies with views out over the plains.

Alongside the introduction of the eight new lodges, the plans also focus on upgrading the Park’s animal facilities. This includes a brand-new giraffe house and a state-of-the-art rhino and antelope house; both of which will offer the animals 24-houraccess to both their indoor and outdoor environments.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said “Safari Lodges have provided us with an amazing opportunity to improve our animal facilities, something which is vital to the welfare of our animals. “We have large groups of giraffe and white rhino here at the Park, and the impact the new indoor houses and updated external habitats are going to provide for them, will be wonderful.

“It’s an exciting next step and we look forward to continuing to look after these beautiful species and work to support their conservation in the wild.”

The Park’s giraffe and white rhino are both part of European breeding programmes, which support the conservation of their species and raising awareness of their endangered numbers.

Managing Director for the Park, Chris Kelly said, “We’re thrilled to be entering our second phase of development for our Safari Lodges accommodation.

“Since opening our elephant and cheetah lodges in April, the reaction from guests has been brilliant, and the demand for bookings has been exponential. This has only further solidified our intentions with moving forward and submitting plans for our breath-taking new giraffe and rhino lodge stays.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far with Safari Lodges, and in continuing with our unwavering commitment to building a lasting legacy for our animals, our guests and the Park.”

Once the planning submission is granted, work is due to commence in September 2021, with ambitions for completion in Spring 2022.

The submission comes ahead of the Park opening its newest luxury accommodation, Red Panda Cottages, which are due to open on Monday 2nd August. Nestled into the site’s new red panda exhibit, ‘Red Panda Retreat’, the Nepalese-inspired cottages offer an unforgettable stay in a unique setting. There are still dates available for 2021 Red Panda Cottage stays, and guests are encouraged to visit the Park’s website for further details.

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SAFARI PARK SUBMITS PLANS FOR NEW ‘WILD’ OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION WITH BIG CATS…

West Midland Safari Park has again unveiled further plans for the next stage in its ambitious long-term development strategy.

The Bewdley attraction has submitted further proposed plans to Wyre Forest District Council for its second phase of Safari Lodges accommodation development, to offer luxury overnight stays with Sumatran tigers. The two new lodges will sit inside the Park’s Safari Lodges accommodation site, which currently includes elephant, cheetah stays that offer stunning panoramic views of the site’s spectacular wildlife.

The single-story accommodation will be authentically integrated into the newly built tiger habitat, giving guests an immersive and unforgettable overnight wildlife encounter, like no other. Sleeping up to four people, the tiger lodges will feature open plan living and luxury interiors, with breathtaking views from every room into the new tiger habitat through floor to ceiling windows.

In a similar layout to the site’s cheetah lodges, which also have single-story access, the interior spaces will provide guests with an up-close unique experience where they can live and sleep just a whisker away from the magnificent creatures.

The stunning new designs also feature sunken hot tubs on private verandas, where guests can sit back and relax, whilst enjoying a ‘cat’s eye’ view through windows of the tiger enclosure. The verandas also have slatted roofs which can be opened or closed depending on the guest’s preference, for a sensational one-of-a-kind experience.

Alongside the introduction of the two new lodge stays, the plans also focus on upgrading the Park’s animal facilities. This includes a new state-of-the art tiger house and stunning outdoor habitat, thriving with vegetation, which will offer the animals 24-hour access to both their indoor and outdoor environments.

Managing Director for the Park, Chris Kelly said, “Our tiger lodges are a hugely exciting project for us to be embarking on and we’re looking forward to seeing guests’ reaction to these stunning new designs.

“The vital revenue that our Safari Lodges generate will be redirected to support and upgrade our animal facilities, and we are thrilled that our Sumatran tigers will be moving to such a state-of-the-art habitat.

“As well as creating a unique overnight experience for our guests, we are dedicated to giving our wildlife the highest standard of care; and our Safari Lodges are a further example of our commitment to building a lasting legacy for our animals, our guests and the Park.”

The Park is currently home to two Sumatran tigers, and it is the hope that this new venture will provide more opportunity to continue further with the vital conservation work needed to protect this critically endangered species. There are thought to be less than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, and it is the Park’s hope that the new Lodges will help drive awareness of the species’ plight.

This new submission comes just three weeks after the Park shared plans for giraffe and white rhino lodges, for which building works are due to commence in September 2021. It is hoped that when planning permission is granted for the new tiger lodges, works shall begin for these in October 2021.

Guests can still book to stay at the Park’s new Red Panda Cottages, with limited dates still available for 2021. For further information on Safari Lodges and details on how to book, visit www.safari-lodges.co.uk.

NEW RED PANDA EXHIBIT AND ACCOMMODATION OPENS AT SAFARI PARK…

West Midland Safari Park is delighted to announce that today their new red panda exhibit and luxury cottage stays have officially opened to the public.

For the first time in the Park’s history, red panda will now be part of the vast range of wildlife that call West Midland Safari Park home. With a brand-new exhibit located in the Park’s walk-through Discovery Trail for Safari Park guests, and newly renovated cottages which look out into the red panda habitat for overnight stay experiences; it’s an immersive and unique trip for all who visit.

The two luxury cottages, have been expertly refurbished into luxury accommodation with Nepalese design influences. Each two-storey cottage has an open plan living area downstairs, with lounge and dining spaces. A spiral staircase leads to two bedrooms, one with a super king bed and another with three singles.

The double room also features a stunning free-standing copper roll-top bath, for guests to relax and take in their tranquil surroundings. Window seats are also featured in every bedroom, from which guests can have an amazing view of a red panda right outside their window and watch the endangered species in her brand-new habitat.

The state-of-the-art exhibit, named ‘Red Panda Retreat’, is the new home of a one-year-old female red panda named, Mei Lin. Born in 2020, Mei Lin has come from The Welsh Mountain Zoo located in Colwyn Bay, North Wales and has been settling in well at the Park for the past week, prior to moving into her new habitat.

Mei Lin’s new home has been designed to showcase her species’ natural behaviours, with stimulating and enriching environments such as nesting boxes, climbing structures, feeding platforms and bamboo. She also has an air-conditioned panda house, in which Keepers can perform medical checks and monitor her wellbeing up close if needed.

The open-air enclosure will give Mei Lin 24-hour access to both her indoor and outdoor spaces. This also provides guests staying at the cottages 24-hour access from their accommodation windows to see Mei Lin in her new habitat.

Chris Kelly, Managing Director for the Park said, “We’re thrilled to be welcoming red panda to our wildlife collection here at the Park, and to be able to offer the UK’s only overnight experience of its kind with this wonderful species!

“Our Red Panda Cottages mark the next step in expanding our accommodation offering here at West Midland Safari Park. We’re committed to upgrading our animal facilities here at the Park, and this accommodation will allow us to continue to do this, as well as providing our guests with an incredibly unique experience.”

In addition to the exhibit and cottages, the Park has also invested in a brand-new retail store where guests can purchase various red panda related gifts and souvenirs during their visit. The new shop is located next to Red Panda Retreat, within the Discovery Trail area of the Park.

Mei Lin will eventually be joined by a male red panda in the future, and it is the hope that the pair will go on to breed. Red Pandas are naturally solitary animals that come together when it is breeding season; and the site’s Wildlife Team are thrilled to be working with the European Breeding Programme for red panda and its conservation efforts through the red panda network.

The Park hopes that the new exhibit and cottage stays can help raise awareness of the importance of helping to conserve this species and help preserve their numbers in the wild. Red pandas are endangered and can be found in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. The wild population continues to decline due to habitat loss and poaching.

The Red Panda Cottage stays will include exclusive usage of the cottage for up to five people, dinner and breakfast, exclusive views of the red panda habitat, and two-day admission to the Safari Park and its attractions. Each cottage will also offer free Wi-Fi, TV, coffee machine and mini bar, filled with local produce.

Guests can now book their red panda cottage stays via the Park’s website, with selected dates still available for the remainder of 2021. Prices are £850 per cottage, per night; and dates for 2022 stays will be released in Autumn 2021. Find out more details on how to book here: www.safari-lodges.co.uk
The red panda exhibit and red panda shop, will be open to Safari Park guests from 09:30am on Monday 2nd August. During August, the Park will be open until the later time of 7:30pm, giving guests more time to discover all the Park has to offer.

EGG-CITING EASTER ENRICHMENT FOR ENDANGERED DOGS…

Keepers at West Midland Safari Park have been getting their animals included in the Easter celebrations by treating them to their very own Easter eggs.

To coincide with the Park’s Easter event, keepers created some large papier-mâché eggs, filled with chunks of meat, which they then hid in the African painted dogs’ habitat.

The pack were very excited to start their very own Easter egg hunt and started calling to each other, as they set to work, finding the eggs, tearing them apart and chasing them as they rolled around in the wind.

Kasha Carter, Deputy Head Keeper of Carnivores, said, “Our pack of African painted dogs loved their egg-stra special enrichment for the Easter period! They like anything which they can destroy as a team and their hunting technique is highly organised and communal.

“Mixing the seasonally themed enrichment with some of their favourite meaty treats proved to be a great success and brought out some brilliant natural behaviours from them, showing how powerful this endangered species can really be!”

Painted dogs, also known as African wild dogs, are one of the world’s most threatened mammals, classified as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This is due mainly to human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss and the introduction of diseases from domestic animals.

Whilst the dogs enjoy their Easter treats, guests to the Park can also take part in the celebrations, which run until 16 April and include an interactive egg trail, live show, competitions, giveaways and a chance to meet the Park’s resident Easter bunny, Bramble.

Over Easter, the Park is also starting its celebrations for its golden anniversary, as it turns 50 on 17 April 2023 and on that date, guests can buy tickets online with 50% discount, using code WMSP50.

The painted dogs can be seen on the four-mile safari drive-through, which is included in the admission price, as well as the Easter activities.

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WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK CELEBRATES ITS GOLDEN YEAR…

West Midland Safari Park turns 50 years old today and to mark the monumental occasion, they are celebrating with the animals that call the Park home.

For half a century, the Park has welcomed over 30 million visitors, bringing them closer to nature and inspiring the next generation of conservationists.

The Park first opened its doors on 17 April 1973 and since then, hundreds of species, many of which are classed as ‘endangered,’ have lived there, including elephants, rhinos, lions, tigers and giraffes.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, has been at the Park for 43 years, making her the longest serving member of staff.

She said, “We are very excited that 2023 is our 50^th anniversary and who better to join in the celebrations than all of our lovely animals. Throughout this special year, we will be providing them with animal-friendly cakes, presents and lots of enrichment to ensure we are celebrating our wildlife too.”

Many of the animals who live at the Park today were born there and are part of breeding groups for endangered species. This includes ring-tailed lemur Bakari, who turns ten on the same day the Park turns 50.

To celebrate, keepers treated Bakari and his troop to some birthday presents, which the lemurs loved unwrapping and investigating.

Meanwhile, over on the safari, the Indian rhinos have been treated to a huge birthday cake, covered in their favourite tasty treats.

The Indian rhinos first came to the Park in 2010 and are another conservation success story, with the first calf, Inesh, born in 2020. Inesh will soon be moving to another wildlife collection, to hopefully start a family of his own.

Angela continued, “It is more than a job – it’s a way of life, with no two days being the same and always wanting to come to work whether the sun is shining, raining, or even snowing! It is great to be able to raise awareness of the plight of the animals in the wild and make a difference by educating our visitors to care about them and our environment, as much as we all do here. To come to work each day and see animals such as rhinos, giraffe, lions and penguins is just amazing! Who wouldn’t want to do it?!”

The Bewdley attraction has an exciting history, from the moment it was officially opened, by famous Hollywood actress Sophia Loren, to a troop of 130 baboons escaping to spend the night in the local town all in the first two years of opening (all 130 were returned, not to the amusement of the neighbours!).

Managing Director, Chris Kelly, joined the Park in 2020, but as a local lad, he has been visiting for over 40 years. He has some fond memories of when he used to visit in the early days. He said, “When the Park first opened, records noted a total of 447 animals, including a turkey, fourteen fish tanks and a guard dog! Thankfully, 50 years on, our current residents are a lot more exciting and we are proud that we house over 120 species, with more than 1,000 individual animals.

“I’ve seen many changes since being a guest, but none more so than the three years I’ve been MD. We’ve upgraded many of the animal habitats and facilities, donated thousands to conservation charities, welcomed new species such as red pandas and we’ve introduced onsite accommodation, so guests can stay with us overnight for the first time in our history.”

He continued, “We have more exciting future developments planned and I truly believe that the work we are doing now is building a legacy for our incredible animals, especially for those at threat in the wild. It wouldn’t be possible without the continuous support from our guests, so I would like to thank everyone who has visited us over the last 50 years. Here’s to the next 50!”

As well as the animals, the Park is including guests in the celebrations with a whole host of events, giveaways and offers.

For example, guests visiting the Park today on the anniversary date (17 April) can buy tickets online with a 50% discount, using code WMSP50.

Later in the year, the Park will be hosting a conservation dinner with award winning TV presenter Michaela Strachan, to raise money for their five conservation partners.

05 - Lemurs react to special 50th celebratory cake.

07 - Indian rhino Seto discovers 50th celebratory cake.

SAFARI PARK SEES DOUBLE WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF SECOND WHITE RHINO BIRTH

West Midland Safari Park is thrilled to announce the safe arrival of a new southern white rhino calf, the second to be born there in the past six weeks!
Second-time-mum, Keyah, gave birth to a male rhino calf at 11:42am on Sunday 27 June, following a pregnancy of 16 months.

Under the watchful eye of mum Keyah, who is 12-years-old, the calf was given a brief health check by his keepers who were able to confirm that he was a healthy weight and doing well.

This birth is a big triumph for the Park, who only six weeks ago celebrated the birth of another southern white rhino, who has been named Jambo. Both sharing the same father, the two brothers will grow up together on the Park’s Safari and likely become the closest of playmates, as they settle into life at the Park.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “We are delighted to welcome another new calf to our crash of southern white rhino. It’s wonderful to see Keyah settling into motherhood so well, and she’s certainly going to be kept busy as her boy finds his feet.

“Celebrating another rhino birth here at the Park is a fantastic achievement, and further showcases the important role we have to play in being a part of the European Endangered Species Programme. Raising awareness of the vital conservation efforts needed to protect all five species of rhino in the wild, will always be the driving force behind our work here.

“It’s also the first time we have had two calves born so closely together, so we can’t wait to watch them grow up as a pair, likely causing all sorts of mischief out on the Safari!”

The fifth white rhino to be born at the Park in the past five years, this latest birth further highlights the Park’s commitment to continuing their breeding programme, which works to create a reserve population of thesemagnificent animals, who are listed as ‘near threatened’ on the IUCN red list. At the last count, just over 20,000 wild southern white rhino remained in South Africa, as a result of threats including poaching and habitat loss.

The new-born is yet to be named, and the Park is asking the public to make the final decision via their Facebook page from a shortlist of names supplied by their keepers, which will take place later this week. The name will begin with ‘J’, as all names of babies born at the Park in 2021 will begin with this letter.

The youngster has already made his first tentative steps into his paddock and staff at the site cannot wait to see him join his ‘step-brother’, five-week-old Jambo, on the Safari Drive-through in the weeks to come!

Including the new arrival’s father, fifteen-year-old Barney, who himself was born at the Park in 2005, the new calf brings the Park’s crash of white rhino up to eight.

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SAFARI PARK CELEBRATES NEW ANIMAL DADS THIS FATHER’S DAY

This Father’s Day, West Midland Safari Park will be celebrating all dads – including their own ‘animal dads’ who have become new fathers over the past year.

In September 2020, the Park announced the arrival of an Indian rhino calf, named Inesh, who is the first of his species to be born on site in the Park’s forty-eight-year history. The calf’s thirteen-year-old father, Rap, became a dad for the first time upon Inesh’s birth and his son has followed in his footsteps, showing off his love for wallowing in the mud for guests visiting.

In other areas of the Park, fourteen year old Humboldt Penguin, Ebony, became a new father in May, following the birth of a male chick. Unfortunately, the chick arrived with splayed legs, but thankfully after some physiotherapy and lots of care from the Park’s vet team, the chick can now stand and even walk! Playfully named, John Wayne, the chick has been thriving and his dad Ebony is a very caring and protective father.

Elsewhere, a Père David’s stag and a barasingha stag also successfully welcomed babies in Spring of 2021, with both visible on the Park’s Safari drive-through that same day.

Most recently, the Park’s resident Southern White rhino male, named Barney, also celebrated becoming a dad for the fourth time in June this year, with the birth of his son Jambo. Barney is the largest of the Park’s White rhino but is always very gentle when it comes to playing with his calves. This was the fourth white rhino to be born at the Park in the last five years.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “It’s been a wonderful year for our resident animal dads, both old and new. From our rhino to our penguins, we are very proud of them, and they will be receiving some special treats in the form of their favourite foods on Father’s Day.

“Breeding is essential to maintain populations in animal collections, which serve as an ark for many species that are endangered in the wild. Properly managed breeding programmes ensure good genetic diversity and healthy animals and can contribute to conservation through research and reintroductions.”

Guests will be able to say hello to all the Park’s ‘animal dads’ and their new offspring this Father’s Day weekend on the four-mile Safari Drive-through, which is included as part of the standard admission charge of £25.00 for adults, £20.00 for children aged 3-15 and £22.00 for concessions. Children under the age of three are free of charge.

SUTTON THE ELEPHANT PACKS HIS TRUNK FOR PASTURES NEW…

West Midland Safari Park has announced that its male African elephant, Sutton, has moved to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol.

Staff waved goodbye to Sutton this morning, as he started the journey to his new home, ‘Elephant Eden’, a state-of-the-art reserve at the Bristol attraction, with 20 acres of habitat and a large plantation for the elephants to roam and browse.

Although keepers are sad to see him go, they say that the move will see him flourish as he learns the skills and characteristics of a bull elephant, from his new, older male companions, Shaka and Janu.

Head Keeper of Elephants at the Safari Park, Andy Plumb, said, “It is a bittersweet time for me and the elephant team to see Sutton leave us. He has been here at the Park since his birth in 2014 and we have built a strong bond with him, but it is time for him to continue his journey.

“Unfortunately, African elephants face an uncertain future, with the wild population declining, meaning they are listed as ‘endangered’. Sutton’s move to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm will enable him to continue his development and hopefully go on to become a successful breeding bull at another collection in the future, further supporting and protecting the survival of elephants into the future.”

Sutton was born on 5 May 2014 and was both the first baby elephant birthed at the Park, and the first male elephant in the world to be born by artificial insemination, using semen from a wild bull.

This means that his genetics are very important, providing a key supporting role in serving wider conservation efforts as part of the EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Programme) for African elephants.

He was named by the Park’s guests, in honour of local teenager, Stephen Sutton, who raised a phenomenal £4.2m for Teenage Cancer Trust. Stephen had visited the Park whilst he was undergoing cancer treatment and sadly passed away a few days before Sutton was born.

To prepare for the move, elephant keepers at both collections have been working closely together, to plan the move and ensure Sutton settles in well.

Chris Wilkinson, Curator at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, said, “The entire team here are buzzing with excitement as we welcome the arrival of Sutton from West Midland Safari Park. Sutton joins our two bull African elephants, Shaka and Janu, at our 20-acre bull elephant facility. It is great to be part of the dedicated team who have been preparing for Sutton’s arrival, building on the fantastic work of the team at West Midland Safari Park, ensuring that he will be welcomed into a safe and enriching environment.”

Sutton’s move will make way for a bull elephant to be rehomed at the Safari Park in the very near future, as a suitable companion for female elephant, Five. The hope is the pair will successfully breed, furthermore supporting the EEP for African elephant conservation.

African Elephants are listed as ‘endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), with the wild population declining due to poaching for their ivory and loss of habitat. This is why it’s ever more important for wildlife collections to work together to ensure the preservation of endangered species, alongside providing the best standards of animal welfare.

West Midland Safari Park is partnered with the charity Tusk, which supports ‘in the field’ conservation through the Mali Elephant Project. This project protects a unique population of 550 sub-desert elephants and the Park annually fundraises, donates and raises awareness for this cause.

RED PANDA COTTAGE STAYS NOW AVAILABLE TO BOOK

West Midland Safari Park is excited to announce that they are now taking bookings for their new Red Panda Cottages for stays from August 2021, , where guests can enjoy an immersive overnight wildlife experience like no other.

Forming the next step of the Park’s recently opened Safari Lodges accommodation, the two newly renovated cottages are authentically integrated into the Park’s brand-new red panda exhibit, ‘Red Panda Retreat’, designed to give occupants an unforgettable stay in a unique setting.

The two cottages, nestled into the Discovery Trail within the Park, have been expertly refurbished into luxury accommodation with Nepalese design influences. Each two-storey cottage has an open plan living area downstairs, with lounge and dining spaces. A spiral staircase leads to two bedrooms, one with a super king another with three singles. The double room also features a stunning free-standing copper roll-top bath, for guests to relax and take in their tranquil surroundings.

Window seats are also featured in every bedroom, from which guests can have an amazing view of a red panda right outside their window and watch the endangered species lounge and play in their brand-new habitat.

Chris Kelly, Managing Director at the Park said, “The reception we’ve received since the opening of our Safari Lodges back in April has been exceptional, so we are delighted to be able to extend this offering with the introduction of our new Red Panda Cottages.

“Not only will occupants enjoy new luxury overnight accommodation, but they will also be able to see this beautiful species in a stunning and unique environment. The integration of our new animal exhibit with the cottages is a further example of our commitment to constantly improving our animal habitats and the overall guest experience here at the Park.”

The new exhibit, Red Panda Retreat, will also be open to guests inside the Safari Park from August, and will be the first time red panda have been housed at the Park. Red Panda Retreat has been specifically designed to showcase the species’ natural behaviours, with stimulating and enriching environments such as climbing structures, nesting boxes and plenty of planted bamboo.

Red pandas are endangered and can be found in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.  The wild population continues to decline due to habitat loss and poaching. The Park hopes that this new exhibit can help raise awareness of the importance of helping to conserve this species and help preserve their numbers in the wild.

The Red Panda Cottage stays will include exclusive usage of the cottage for up to five people, dinner and breakfast, exclusive views of the red panda habitat, and two-day admission to the Safari Park and its attractions. Each cottage will also offer free Wi-Fi, TV, coffee machine and mini bar, filled with local produce.

Guests can now book their Red Panda cottage stays via the Park’s website, with selected dates from Monday 2nd August to 31st December now available to choose select from. Prices are £850 per cottage, per night; and dates for 2022 stays will be released in Autumn 2021.

Bookings for Safari Lodges can only be made via the Park’s website. For further information on the Red Panda Cottages and details on how to book, visit www.safari-lodges.co.uk.

SPECIAL DELIVERY! ENDANGERED WHITE RHINO BORN AT WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK...

West Midland Safari Park is celebrating the birth of its fourth southern white rhino in five years.

Third-time-mum, Ailsa, gave birth to the male rhino calf during the early hours of Monday 24th May, following a pregnancy of 16 months.

Under the watchful eye of eleven-year-old mum, the little one was given a brief health check by his Keepers who were able to confirm he already weighed in at 74 kilograms (11 and a half stone) and was doing very well.

The baby boy is another triumph for the Park in championing their breeding programme for white rhino. Two-and-a-half-year-old male, Granville, who was born in 2018, was the last white rhino born at the Park, and now has a new baby brother to join him out on the reserves.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome a new white rhino calf. He is a very strong boy and has been growing in confidence settling in well since his birth last week. This is Ailsa’s third time as a mother, and as expected she’s been wonderful – we are very proud of her.

“With each rhino birth we have here at the Park, it’s a fantastic achievement for the European Endangered Species programme. All five species of rhino are decreasing in numbers, and we hope that this birth can continue in helping to bring more attention to the plight of rhino species in the wild.”

White rhinos are the larger of the two African rhino species, they are fairly social animals and live in loose groups in the wild of up to six animals. Their skin is grey in colour and not white, in fact it is no different in colour from black rhinos despite the names!

With wild rhinos continually facing a threat of poaching and habitat loss, the Park are committed to continuing their breeding programme, which works to create a reserve population of these magnificent animals who are listed as near threatened on the IUC red list. At the last count, just over 20,000 wild southern white rhinos remained in South Africa.

Although the new-born is yet to be named, the Park is asking the public to make the final decision from a shortlist of names supplied by their keepers, which will take place next week. The name will begin with ‘J’, as all names of babies born at the Park in 2021 will begin with this letter.

The youngster has already made his first tentative steps into his paddock and will eventually join his brother, Granville, on the Safari Drive-through within the next week.

The new birth now brings the ‘crash’ of southern white rhino at the Safari up to seven. This includes the new arrival’s father, fifteen-year-old Barney, who himself was born at the Park in 2005.

SAFARI PARK ‘CHARGES’ AHEAD WITH RHINO WEEK EVENT FOR MAY HALF TERM...

West Midland Safari Park is celebrating ‘all things rhino’ for half term, inviting guests to discover more about the importance of conservation projects for endangered rhinos.

Running from Saturday 29 May to Sunday 6 June, Rhino Week is an opportunity for the Park to highlight the vital conservation efforts needed to protect these magnificent creatures.

Young explorers can take part in an interactive scratchcard trail, where they must track down some of the Park’s resident rhinoceros, with the chance to discover some interesting rhino facts along the way. This ‘COVID-friendly’ activity will take them on quite the adventure around the Park’s Discovery Trail, Theme Park and animal exhibits.

In addition, the Park is running a competition throughout the event, where visitors have the chance to win a Family Annual Pass. Participants simply take their picture next to a life size image of Indian rhino, Seto, and her calf Inesh; and upload the post to Instagram or the Park’s Facebook wall, tagging the Park.

Finally, there will be the chance to visit the Rhino Week ‘Conservation Station’, where guests can learn fascinating insights into the Park’s rhinos, hear interesting facts about the various species of rhino and find out more about how we can help save these amazing creatures in the wild.

The event will also see the Park bring attention to their charity partner for Rhino Week, Save the Rhino International (SRI). Highlighting the organisation’s dedicated conservation projects, the Park hopes the event will continue to help elevate the importance of rhino conservation and why now it is more vital than ever to support them.

Research and Conservation Officer, Katie McDonald, said, “It’s wonderful to be celebrating Rhino Week here at the Park this half term and highlighting why it’s so important that we protect these fantastic creatures! All five species of rhino are under threat at present, with over 9000 rhinos losing their lives in the past decade to illegal poaching. Rhino habitat is shrinking as human population grows which also has a devastating effect.

“Save the Rhino International is one of the organisations working hard to keep rhinos safe and is our conservation charity partner for Rhino Week. They help implement measures, including the creation of protected areas of habitat, captive breeding programmes and anti-poaching patrols. They also educate stopping consumers buying rhino horn which has had a proven positive change.

“We hope we can champion the work that they are doing throughout this event and encourage young explorers to discover more about rhinoceros, and how they can help. Any funds raised on site will be channelled directly to Save the Rhino’s Sumatran Breeding Sanctuary, which is a fantastic programme working to increase the wild population of rhino in their native countries globally.”

Five species of rhino exist at present; however, two of the five species currently have fewer than eighty individuals left in the wild. West Midland Safari Park is home to two species the Indian rhino and the southern white rhino. The Park is part of European breeding programmes for both of these species, and in 2020 was thrilled to announce the birth of their first ever Indian rhino calf.

Inesh, now eight months old, has become a figurehead in the Park’s efforts to raise awareness for the protection of his species, and guests will be able to spot him on during Rhino Week at his home in the Wild Asia section of the Safari Drive-through.

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SAFARI LODGE STAYCATIONS OPEN IN THE HEART OF ENGLAND...

West Midland Safari Park is delighted to announce that their long-awaited Safari Lodges have officially opened to the public, welcoming guests to stay for the very first time at the luxury overnight accommodation.

Nestled into the heart of England, the eight exclusive lodges are integrated into newly-updated animal habitats on the Park’s reserves, overlooking cheetahs and African elephants, designed to give guests an immersive and unforgettable overnight wildlife experience.

Six of the lodges offer the only overnight accommodation experience with elephants in the UK, whilst two more lodges offer incredible views of the Park’s cheetahs, also the only experience of its kind in the country.

The double-story elephant lodges are authentically themed with thatched roofs, accommodating up to five people. They have large, open-plan living spaces with lounge, dining area and kitchenette. The spacious balcony with outdoor seating offers spectacular views to watch elephants, Latabe, Five and Sutton approach the pool in front of the lodges.

The two single-story, detached cheetah lodges sleep up to six guests. The living spaces feature large windows, spanning one side of the building offering panoramic views of the cheetahs in their new habitat. A floor-to-ceiling window offers similarly incredible views in the bedrooms where guests can watch cheetahs Azrael and Bappe run and play.

Safari Lodges short breaks will include breakfast and dinner, exclusive views of the animals in their natural setting and admission to the Safari Park and its attractions. Wristbands for the Adventure Theme Park will also be included for those staying during the Park’s summer season. Each lodge will offer free Wi-Fi, TV, coffee machine and mini bar, filled with local produce.

The brand-new development forms the first phase of the Park’s Safari Lodges proposition, with more phases expected to start this Spring, including a Red Panda Cottage experience, which will be the first of its kind.

Project Manager Neil James said, “It’s been thrilling to watch this amazing project grow into something so spectacular, and to have done it with conservation at the forefront of our minds when it came to the design and build throughout, has been hugely important.

“This development will leave an incredible legacy, not only for the guests who come to stay; but also in the form of the long-lasting support it will provide our amazing animals through revenue to continue to improve their facilities here at the Park.”

The Park’s three African elephants, Latabe, Five and seven-year-old Bull, Sutton, have now moved into their brand new habitat; which will enable them to enjoy their outdoor paddock for twenty four hours a day, including its 450 cubic metre drinking pool.

Chris Kelly, Managing Director at West Midland Safari Park, said: “It’s been a long journey, but we are absolutely delighted to have finally opened our doors and welcome guests to our Safari Lodges experience.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved, in delivering beautiful accommodation to offer guests the opportunity to stay onsite for the first time, but also in upgrading stimulating and enriching environments for the wonderful animals we have in our care.

“Our lodges are going to offer a special and unforgettable Safari-stay right here in the Midlands. Guests will be able to get closer than ever before to our wildlife and make friends with their animal neighbours. Being located on our reserves, guests will also have the chance to spot some of our other species and experience all the great attractions we have to offer, making it the perfect retreat for all the family.”

Bookings for 2021 have almost sold out already, but 2022 breaks are now available to book online or by phone. Prices start from £171 per adult per night and £147 per night for a child. For further information on the Safari Lodges and details on how to book, visit www.safari-lodges.co.uk.

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WORCESTERSHIRE'S RESIDENT ELEPHANTS WELCOME NEW FRIENDS...

Worcestershire’s elephant community have proved themselves to be friendly, gentle giants by welcoming a calf from a new herd to their home.

African elephants from West Midland Safari Park played host to ‘Khushee’, an Asian elephant sculpture, whose herd will ‘parade’ through county streets this summer as part of a mammoth art trail.

Worcester’s Big Parade will see around 65 elephants, large and small, dotted around Worcester’s streets for eight weeks from 12 July, before each large sculpture is auctioned to raise money for St Richard’s Hospice.

Alongside adult elephant sculptures, there will be an array of elephant calves on display which will be carefully designed and painted by Worcestershire schools and community groups.

As Presenting Partner in the interactive event, West Midland Safari Park will support the creation of the parade’s education pack; offering fun and engaging elephant facts. They will also showcase their classroom facilities at the safari park, which are available to schools who wish to experience curriculum-linked, hands on activities and sessions to suit interactive learning opportunities for all ages.

Chris Kelly, Managing Director of West Midland Safari Park, said: “When we heard about Worcester’s Big Parade, we knew we had to get involved as it brings together businesses, local communities and schools, all for a great cause.

“We thought the theme linked perfectly with our herd of three African elephants at the Park and the news of their brand-new habitat. Building work is almost complete for their impressive new facility, which has been designed to include outdoor pools, enrichment areas and multiple feeding areas. Integrated into their new exhibit will be six luxury lodges, where guests can stay overnight and watch these beautiful creatures roaming right outside their window.”

“We can’t wait to help spread the word about the parade to our visitors when we reopen the Park and our Lodges on 12th April.”

Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager at St Richard’s, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have the county’s resident elephant experts join us for Worcester’s Big Parade and help us raise awareness about these beautiful creatures and also the work of the hospice, which will benefit from the auction at the end of the trail.”

“The Park’s input to the parade’s education pack will bring the learning programme to life for so many local students, in what’s been a challenging school year for so many.”

West Midland Safari Park will have its own large elephant sculpture on the trail, while the others are being funded by companies and individuals from across the county.

While all elephant calves have now been adopted by local schools and community groups, a few large elephant sponsorships remain. To get involved call 01905 763963 and ask for Sara Matthews, email smatthews@strichards.org.uk or visit https://worcestersbigparade.co.uk/get-involved/

Worcester’s Big Parade is a Wild in Art event being brought to the city by St Richard’s Hospice. It is supported by partners Crowngate, Worcester City Council, Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), DRPG, West Midland Safari Park the Worcester News and BBC Hereford & Worcester.

To find out more, visit www.worcestersbigparade.co.uk. You can also follow Worcester’s Big Parade at www.facebook.com/WorcestersBigParade, www.twitter.com/WorcsBigParade and www.Instagram.com/WorcsBigParade

A VERY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY FOR FIRST-TIME INDIAN RHINO MOTHER...

This week, West Midland Safari Park is gearing up for Mother’s Day, and one animal in particular is very excited to be celebrating her first Mother’s Day following the birth of her calf in late 2020.

Indian rhino, Seto, became a mother for the first time in September 2020 to male calf, Inesh, and has been taking to motherhood brilliantly over the past six months.

Lisa Watkins, Head Keeper Ungulates, said “Seto has settled into her role as a mother exceptionally well, she is a very relaxed and attentive first-time mum.

“She takes everything in her stride, and we are very proud as Keepers to have been able to watch her bond with Inesh flourish these past few months, as he continues to grow and thrive.”

Inesh’s arrival was a pivotal moment for the Park, as he is the first Indian rhinoceros to be born there in its forty-seven-year history. Inesh has been keeping his mother very busy as he develops in confidence whilst exploring his home on the Park’s Wild Asia reserve.

Seto and Inesh will soon be introduced to the Park’s other female Indian rhino, Sunanda, and in years to come, Inesh will play a very important part contributing to the Park’s breeding and conservation programme, supporting the survival of his endangered species.

Inesh’s mischievous and inquisitive nature certainly stands out in the Park’s new Summer marketing campaign. Guests will be able to see new-mum Seto, and Inesh very soon at their home located in the well-renowned four-mile Safari drive-through when the Park officially re-opens on Monday 12th April.

EXCITEMENT BUILDS AS SAFARI PARK IS SET TO OFFICIALLY RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC...

Preparations are well underway at West Midland Safari Park in readying the attraction for its big reopening next week on Monday 12th April, in line with the official Government roadmap. The Park has been closed since early January following the implementation of a third national lockdown.

Excitement is building in the lead up to welcoming guests back to visit the site’s numerous walk-through attractions, theme park rides, food outlets, shops; and of course, its renowned four-mile safari drive-through, where you can spot the Park’s latest arrival, Inesh the Indian rhino calf as he continues to grow and explore the reserves.

Staff have been working especially hard to ensure all various safety measures are in place, giving guests a safe and enjoyable visit upon their return. These measures include regular disinfecting of public areas, additional hand sanitising stations, limiting the number of guests entering shops, takeaway food offerings only, and new signage to ensure social distancing is adhered throughout.

In 2020, the Park invested in a highly effective product called Zoono, a revolutionary antimicrobial

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