Blackpool Zoo

Blackpool Zoo

Blackpool Zoo logo
Date opened	1972
Location	Blackpool , Lancashire , England
Land area	32 acres (13 ha)
Coordinates	53°48′56″N 3°0′46″W
Number of animals	1500
Website	http://www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk

Pelican outside the lemur walkthrough

Blackpool Zoo is a 32-acre (13 ha) zoo, owned by Parques Reunidos and located in the sea-side resort of Blackpool, Lancashire. It provides a home to over 1,500 animals from all over the world. The zoo has recently changed ownership twice - once in 2003, and again in 2007, resulting in continued investment each year.

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.^{[citation needed]}

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 included in the normal entrance fee starting in mid 2007.^{[citation needed]} "Amazonia" opened in 2006. This is 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, and over £0.5m was invested in the new giraffe house and pens.

In summer 2009, penguins were to be added to the list of animals at the zoo, with the arrival of 20 African penguins from two Spanish conservation centres. A £1m sealion pool was opened in May 2010 along with the addition of a male sealion from Spain. 2011 saw the opening of a new Children's Farm and the expansion and refurbishment of the main restaurant.

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 in (381 mm) 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