Safari Park photos (lots!)

[Edwina's Secretary]

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.

[Suki Wingy]

wow, looks like it was really fun, great photos! I love the oryx things!

[ChrisH]

Thanks everyone! Glad you liked them.

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.

[Edwina's Secretary]

At the end of the day....wild animals are just that wild....



I adore giraffes and hope to see them up close and personal some time at the WIldlife Preserve in San Diego.

[Killearn Kitties]

Fantastic photos, Chris! I love the zebra. I've never been quite that close to one, certainly never patted a zebras nose!

[Lightning SuperCat]

WOW I loved the pictures! You are SOOO lucky to have gotten so close!!!! I LOVE tigers and lions, so those were my favorites!!! I also love your picture, Edwina's Secratary!!! That is awesome!!! I live near the Philidelphia Zoo, and they are building a new Big Cat house, so I am excited because it's my favorite part!!!

[ChrisH]

Thanks Karen & LSuper Cat

At the end of the day....wild animals are just that wild....
Oh, yes indeed!


Love that picture! That is what I call up close!

I adore giraffes and hope to see them up close and personal some time at the WIldlife Preserve in San Diego.

That's where Danni (my grandaughter) and I plan to go when I win the lottery. The zoo and Sea World too.

We were all taking pictures at the park and I had tried to pick the best but I just found these two of the lion cubs which weren't bad .. I'll attach I think.

[QueenScoopalot]

Please tell me that all these cubs don't belong to just one lioness! What a litter/pride if so! Great pics and looks like you had fun...I'd love to pet a zebra nose they look like silk.

[kittylover4ever]

Wow, those pics are awesome!!

[ChrisH]

Thanks kittylover4ever.

Please tell me that all these cubs don't belong to just one lioness! What a litter/pride if so! Great pics and looks like you had fun...I'd love to pet a zebra nose they look like silk.

No, there are three momas.

BABIES ARE BOOMING IN BEWDLEY! (01 Aug 2005)
There is more than just a patter of tiny paws at West Midland Safari Park, in Bewdley, Worcestershire. Over the past 9 weeks, 12 lion cubs have been born at the Park, to three different mothers.

The delightful pride of cubs, which consist of 6 males; 3 females (and three yet to be determined), have all been born to mothers that were also born at the Park. One male cub, nicknamed Larry, is currently being hand-reared, due to rejection at birth.

The oldest cubs, which are now 9 weeks old, are becoming much more mobile and extremely playful, as can be seen of the six pictured.

When cubs are born their coats are spotted and as they reach adulthood the spots will fade away. They are born blind, which is quite usual, and as large as a domestic cat. For about a week after birth, or until they can see, cubs are completely helpless. Cubs are dependant on their mother's milk for about 8 weeks.

The breeding success at West Midland Safari Park is a far cry from the plight of Africa's lion population, which is in serious decline and is estimated to have fallen 90% in the last 10 years.

West Midland Safari Park has 14 adult lions in their collection, which includes 4 rare White Lions, which were introduced to the Park in 2004.
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I've attached the picture they have on the site.

By the way, a zebra's nose feels just like a horse's.

Chris

[Edwina's Secretary]

This photo makes me think of the movie..."Bull Durham"...when the players all went out to the pitcher's mound and were discussing what to get for a wedding gift?