I've been here a number of times on family outings and must admit I didn't know about all the animal deaths there, although of course knew about the killing of a keeper by a tiger. We always found it a very rewarding day out and thoroughly enjoyed getting close to the animals. In fact anybody we now who's been has enjoyed it too
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Yes,I agree ,but it must be true it's on the news..

Nah, its sadly all true.

It is great (had my youngest birthday up there last month) but it has got loads of issues. About one third of the walkways are closed because they are regarded as "unsafe" and though its great to get so close to the animals, you are relying on a spot of common sense from parents and kids.

Most are fine, but some let their darlings chase the animals, or ignore the bits about feeding, or crowd the animals, or whatever.

Real shame, and it appears the change in ownership may be too late.

Went a couple of years ago and whilst on the miniature railway, the bloody thing derailed and tried to tip over. The driver, who was about 12, said that it happened all the time at a particular spot in the track but no one ever got round to fixing it. Seriously bad H&S issues based on this alone.

I got attacked by a vulture there. It took a chunk out of my ear. Fortunately I was able to fight it off. People were laughing until they saw blood pouring down the side of my head. And there wasn't any first aid provision. It sounds funny now but it could so easily have been a youngster being attacked.

Also on a previous visit we saw a giraffe tossing a dead rat around the enclosure in its mouth!

Was that in the walk through bird enclosure Stuffy? You couldn't pay me to go in there!

I went there once it only had one exhibit a small dog it was a shitzu

burnmark wrote:Was that in the walk through bird enclosure Stuffy? You couldn't pay me to go in there!

It was burnmark

Anyone who visits Zoos, Seaworld , rides on elephants in India/Thailand,supports animal cruelty and should be ashamed .

I'm gutted about this. I've been to this park and had a really good day out, hand-fed penguins, lemurs and giraffes and got loads of pictures close to the animals. Those memories will now be tarnished by what's come out.

Just hope the animals are found new places to live and are cared for properly. Would be awful if they had to be put down now.

I've never been to this South Lakes Zoo, but reading some of the comments on here, I wonder if it's run by these two?

joey13 wrote:Anyone who visits Zoos, Seaworld , rides on elephants in India/Thailand,supports animal cruelty and should be ashamed .

No more ashamed than anyone who eats meat.

StuffyClaret wrote:I got attacked by a vulture there. It took a chunk out of my ear.

Sorry but that made me laugh, you don't look like a corpse do you?

dsr wrote:No more ashamed than anyone who eats meat.

Or drives a car

I just don't see the necessity for zoos anymore.

Yes a safari in Africa is expensive and out of the reach of most people but, in this day and age of such fantastic photography and top rate wildlife programmes, there is no longer the need to capture wild animals and put them in pens or cages where they are outside of their natural habitat. I recall a polar bear at Chessington many years ago that would pace up and down in a small enclosure for hours on end.

There will be exceptions for breeding in captivity to preserve some species, but this has to be with the intent of being able to release them back into the wild.

I saw it on the news yesterday and it looked very very run down, poorly maintained and filthy. Absolutely no excuse for that and it should be closed until its sorted. I'd be appalled if I paid to visit and the owner should be jailed.

Don't see the need for these type of small, old-fashioned zoos anymore. Kids would be better watching David Attenborough DVD's.

The current owners have had a renewal application rejected.

New owners are to make improvements and apply again. Over the past few weeks its been free to get in, but i hear it wasnt worth bothering with

HatfieldClaret wrote: There will be exceptions for breeding in captivity to preserve some species, but this has to be with the intent of being able to release them back into the wild.

I'm not sure that I see the need for that really, if a particular species can't survive in it's natural habitat then let nature take its course.

Yet some species don't survive because of idiotic human beings thinking they can do what the hell they like.

PaintYorkClaretnBlue wrote:I'm not sure that I see the need for that really, if a particular species can't survive in it's natural habitat then let nature take its course.

Most of the endangered species aren't endangered because of nature. They're endangered because of humans tearing down their habitats

Or in the case of equestrian species down to Rovers fans violating them. It's a good job that rovers are not aswell supported as Man United also helps horses are quite common!

I've been a number of times and it was actually really, really good! (Well on the surface anyway!)

I went here with my uncle Alan and his friend Jack.

A nice place but one of the animals that was a monkey or baboon threw poo at my uncle and he went really mad. He got thrown out for shouting and throwing it back, he did miss when throwing it back.

Shame as it took ages to get there and he left Jack there but he managed to get on a coach back to barnoldswick and then a lift from there.

HatfieldClaret wrote:I just don't see the necessity for zoos anymore.

Yes a safari in Africa is expensive and out of the reach of most people but, in this day and age of such fantastic photography and top rate wildlife programmes, there is no longer the need to capture wild animals and put them in pens or cages where they are outside of their natural habitat. I recall a polar bear at Chessington many years ago that would pace up and down in a small enclosure for hours on end.

There will be exceptions for breeding in captivity to preserve some species, but this has to be with the intent of being able to release them back into the wild.

Whilst I broadly understand what you are saying, do you not remember the thrill of visiting a zoo as a kid and seeing certain wild animals in the flesh, as opposed to on TV?

What was good about South Lakes was that it was small and the animals were really close. It felt much better than going to Chester for example.

There is a place for zoos and safari parks in terms of research, education and preservation. Some animals would not survive in the wild for example.

This particular place seems like a throwback though. To get close to animals we can go to Longleat where you can feed giraffes with branches or drive through a pride of lions accicentally forgetting you are in an open top sports car. At least there the animals are looked after. In the Lakes it is obvious they are neglected, just from the TV pictures.

A crying shame, I'm not OTT in saying ban breeding for food or anything like that, we have a right as carnivores to eat animals, but surely we have evolved enough to respect them and treat them humanely? Many species kill for food and otherwise cause no harm, why can't we do the same?

Not sure why I felt like sharing that, must be the matrimonial influence of my better half!

Braindead wrote:Whilst I broadly understand what you are saying, do you not remember the thrill of visiting a zoo as a kid and seeing certain wild animals in the flesh, as opposed to on TV?

I do indeed, but the option was a black and white TV with lots of interference.

TV HD is so good now with excellent production of wildlife shows that I don't think that the zoos are justified....... animal welfare ?

I like zoo's.

And anyone who attributes human emotions to an animal is just plain daft.

They eat, ****, sleep and **** without being mauled by a lion. I'm guessing they're contented enough.

starting_11 wrote:I like zoo's.

And anyone who attributes human emotions to an animal is just plain daft.

They eat, ****, sleep and **** without being mauled by a lion. I'm guessing they're contented enough.

So animals don't get distressed then ?

Though I find zoos a total waste of time this place was very good and you got very close to the animals .Been probs there for years though and the council and the owner are forever at loggerheads .

They used to have a resus monkey that did the times crossword and a gorilla that could answer (basic) questions ,but after that poor girl got ate by the Tiger the writing had been in the wall for some time. Now,with more dead animals than a Chinese dog fair the gaff really needs levelling

All a bit Albert and the Lion.

starting_11 wrote:I like zoo's.

And anyone who attributes human emotions to an animal is just plain daft.

They eat, ****, sleep and **** without being mauled by a lion. I'm guessing they're contented enough.

What a ridiculous statement

StuffyClaret wrote:I got attacked by a vulture there. It took a chunk out of my ear. Fortunately I was able to fight it off. People were laughing until they saw blood pouring down the side of my head. And there wasn't any first aid provision. It sounds funny now but it could so easily have been a youngster being attacked.

Also on a previous visit we saw a giraffe tossing a dead rat around the enclosure in its mouth!

t


One of the best posts. A Horror 'B movie' of the finest.

Bfcis4me wrote:I went here with my uncle Alan and his friend Jack.

A nice place but one of the animals that was a monkey or baboon threw poo at my uncle and he went really mad. He got thrown out for shouting and throwing it back, he did miss when throwing it back.

Shame as it took ages to get there and he left Jack there but he managed to get on a coach back to barnoldswick and then a lift from there.

This one wins it for me albeit the feeding time for vultures sounds ace and I can't wait to see the first giraffe/jack Russell cross tomorrow when I head up there to sling **** at the monkey

Bfcis4me wrote:I went here with my uncle Alan and his friend Jack.

A nice place but one of the animals that was a monkey or baboon threw poo at my uncle and he went really mad. He got thrown out for shouting and throwing it back, he did miss when throwing it back.

Shame as it took ages to get there and he left Jack there but he managed to get on a coach back to barnoldswick and then a lift from there.

Can I nominate this post as Post of the year 2017!!

Garnerssoap wrote:This one wins it for me albeit the feeding time for vultures sounds ace and I can't wait to see the first giraffe/jack Russell cross tomorrow when I head up there to sling **** at the monkey

I'm straight up the M6 early doors.

A giraffe tossing a rat off!!!??

What could possibly go wrong!!!!?

Bfcis4me wrote:I went here with my uncle Alan and his friend Jack.

A nice place but one of the animals that was a monkey or baboon threw poo at my uncle and he went really mad. He got thrown out for shouting and throwing it back, he did miss when throwing it back.

Shame as it took ages to get there and he left Jack there but he managed to get on a coach back to barnoldswick and then a lift from there.

Hello there. I know 2 fellas from barlick. Jack and Alan. There great lads and Jack is a decorator. Could he be the same bloke? Genuine question pal, no taking the mick. It's just the way you tell the tale. Tickled me no end. Fair play!