Blackpool Zoo

Blackpool Zoo
File:ZooDinoLogo.jpg Blackpool Zoo logo
53°48′56″N 3°0′46″W
Date opened	1972
Location	Blackpool, England
Land area	32 acres (13 ha)
No. of animals	1500
No. of species	Unknown
Website	http://www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk

Pelican outside the lemur walkthrough

Located two miles from Blackpool's sea-front in Lancashire, England, Blackpool Zoo provides a home to over 1,500 animals from all over the world. The Zoo aims to provide its visitors with a stimulating, informative and enjoyable experience that demonstrates its role in the conservation of endangered species. Since the purchase of the Zoo in 2003 by a private company, £10m has been invested in updating facilities on the site including the animal enclosures and plans are in place for 2007 for further investment in the Zoo.

History

Opened in 1972, in recent years the Zoo has been the subject of demonstrations by local animal rights campaigners, who allege that the conditions in which some of the animals are kept do not reflect their natural habitat and therefore are not conducive to the animals' welfare. These groups stage peaceful pickets and distribute leaflets, usually on bank-holiday weekends. The Zoo prepares for these events by producing targeted, anti-protestor literature that is distributed upon their arrival.

2005 saw the opening of the 'Dinosaur Safari', a walkthrough exhibition featuring plastic models of 32 life-size dinosaurs around a trail. The exhibition has had a lukewarm reception as the models of the dinosaurs are deemed by many to be unrealistic and the extra cost of the trail catches many guests unaware. The Dinosaur Safari was however made free or included within the normal price entrance to the zoo, in mid 2007. In 2006, "Amazonia" opened: a walk-through enclosure of South American animals and birds including 5 species of monkeys. Giraffes were re-introduced to the zoo in 2008, after an absence of 14 years. A new house was built on the south side of the zoo for the Giraffes in summer 2008. In summer 2009, penguins are to be added to the list of animals at the zoo. In 2010 the zoo opened the new sea lion pool and is currently developing a new look cafe and a new children's zoo.

Animals

• Mammals: Asian Elephant, Tapir, Capybara, African Lion, Amur Tiger. Aardvark, Bongo, Blesbok, Muntjac Deer, Agouti, Red Panda, Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, Reindeer, Californian Sea Lion, Oriental Small-clawed Otter, Sitatunga, Bactrian Camel, Red Kangaroo, Western Grey Kangaroo, Red-necked Wallaby, Agile Wallaby, Meerkat, Dwarf Mongoose, North American Porcupine, Mountain Gazelle, Vicuna, Llama, Potoroo, Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Prevost's Squirrel, Miniature Donkey, Zebu, Pygmy goat, Pouched Rat, Giraffe, Western Lowland Gorilla, De Brazza's Monkey, King Colobus, Black-headed Spider Monkey, Ring-tailed Lemur, Red Ruffed Lemur, Black Lemur, Red-fronted Lemur, White-faced Saki, Red-headed titi Monkey, Bornean Orangutan, Pileated Gibbon, Goeldi's Marmoset, Pygmy Marmoset, Squirrel Monkey, Silvery Marmoset, Cottontop Tamarin and Emperor Tamarin.
• Birds: Peafowl, Hornbill, Guinea Fowl, Emu, Rhea, Eastern White Pelican, Spoonbill, White Stork, Bantam, Curassow, Magellan Goose, Emperor Goose, Black-necked Swan, Eider, Ruddy Shelduck, African crowned crane, Demoiselle crane, Long-billed Corella, Roseate Cockatoo, Macaws, African Grey Parrot, Blue-throated Conure, Kea, Java Sparrow, Great Grey Owl, Harris Hawk, Ostrich. Magellanic penguin, Scarlet ibis, Little egret, American Flamingo, Hammerkop and Black-cheeked lovebird.
• Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish: Rhinoceros Iguana, Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Leopard Tortoise, Nile Monitor Lizard, Water dragon, Bearded dragon, Blue-tongued skink, Reticulated Python, Royal python, Common Boa, Green Anaconda, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Cornsnake, Standing's day gecko, Yacare Caiman, Yellow-bellied toad, Green and Black Poison Dart Frog, White's Tree Frog, Tiger salamander, Red-bellied piranha.
• Insects and other Invertebrates: Mexican redknee tarantula, Jungle nymph, Assassin bug, Giant cockroach, African Land Snail, Indian stick-insect and Dung beetle.

Miniature Railway

In 1972, at the time of opening the zoo, the zoo authorities entered into an arrangement with the British railway engineering firm Severn Lamb for the supply of a miniature railway installation. The Blackpool Zoo Miniature Railway has operated continuously since that time. The railway is constructed to the so-called minimum gauge, with tracks of 15 gauge. This represents a size more commonly used for more extensive light railway systems, rather than so-called 'miniature' railways, although in the case of the Blackpool Zoo line the entire extent of the railway is only a little over 700 yards. Severn Lamb originally supplied two locomotives (diesel powered, but with steam-outline bodywork) designed to be of American external appearance, and four 'toastrack' type passenger carriages. However, half of this rolling stock has since been disposed of, leaving just two carriages and one locomotive operating the public service. The railway is open on zoo opening days, and an additional charge (on top of zoo admission) is payable by passengers.

See also

• Oceanarium Bournemouth
• Lakes Aquarium

External links

• Blackpool Zoo Official Site