Safari Park photos (lots!)

**ChrisH** · 10-11-2005, 05:11 PM

Hippo

Seals

Peacock in the car park (not our car)

There was a small reptile house but the lighting was awful, I've attached the only decent shots we could get. Crocs, a snake and a spider.

**PJ's Mom** · 10-11-2005, 05:13 PM

This has been great. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you had fun.

**ChrisH** · 10-11-2005, 05:23 PM

Thanks Dawn and Kari!!

I know what you mean about zoos and stuff and I sort of agree with you. But I do think the good zoos, who treat their animals well, give them plenty of space and do conservation work, are fine. As for the safari parks, well, that was the first one I have ever been to and it was really good. The animals had plenty of space and were very well cared for, it was really awesome to get so close too!

It was a long drive to get there though, (for me anyway, I hate traveling) I hope to go to the closer one next time.

**finn's mom** · 10-11-2005, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisH

Thanks Dawn and Kari!!

I know what you mean about zoos and stuff and I sort of agree with you. But I do think the good zoos, who treat their animals well, give them plenty of space and do conservation work, are fine. As for the safari parks, well, that was the first one I have ever been to and it was really good. The animals had plenty of space and were very well cared for, it was really awesome to get so close too!

It was a long drive to get there though, (for me anyway, I hate traveling) I hope to go to the closer one next time.

I basically feel the same way...Riverbanks Zoo here in Columbia seems to take good care of their animals. One of my neighbors here is a vet there!

**anna_66** · 10-12-2005, 12:44 PM

Chris your pictures were fabulous! I really enjoyed seeing them.
It must have been wonderful to be able to stoke a Zebra's nose!
And seeing the momma and her cubs...just awesome!

Thanks for sharing

**Edwina's Secretary** · 10-12-2005, 03:11 PM

Chris...I can't believe how close you were able to get! WOW!! Fabulous photos.

I think one of the best "discussions" about zoos I have ever read was in the book "The Life of Pi." A challenging but great book. In a zoo the animals are clean, well-feed, and don't have to constantly hunt for ....or be hunted for...food.

And, of course...there is the opportunity to preserve species which are disappearing.

**ChrisH** · 10-12-2005, 04:20 PM

Thanks everyone!

Glad you liked them.

Originally Posted by Edwina's Secretary

Chris...I can't believe how close you were able to get! WOW!!

Oh, Sara, it was so wonderful.
If you look at picture of the antelope type creatures you can see the entrance in the background. Of course some species were kept separated, we had to go through these big electrical operated gates to get in and out of some enclosures but once through here were hardly any barriers at all between us and the creatures. Non with the zebras, giraffes and the like, nor the rhino, (which did surprise me) and the normal coloured lions. The barriers between us, the white lions and the white tigers were two low, thin lines of wire, electrical I presume, which were hardly noticable. However, the normal coloured tigers were behind the kind of high wire fence you find in some zoos. And for some reason the white wallabys (didn't post a picture of them) were behind high wire too, to stop them mixing with the others perhaps.
There was also a large enclosure of wolves that we drove through but we didn't actually see any in there. We did see one later at the back end of the fenced enclosure, he (or she) was very interested in a bird pottering about on our side of the fence.

There were lots more deer type creatures, also some wild dogs too.

All in all a wonderful experience.