Are there any nature reserves/ parks with bears/wolves

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by eeyore

- they had their entire wolfpack put down a couple of years back.

I hadn't heard that eeyore, and that's really shocking. According to their website though they've recently acquired a further pair of European Grey Wolves ... and according to our postman (about the only person we see here on a daily basis) they maybe getting polar bear(s)!!

I've never been to the place myself as I can't quite reconcile myself with zoos or wildlife parks in general ... I like seeing animals that I might never be otherwise able to see in their natural state, but then again I'm greatly saddened by the very fact that it's not their natural state.

[Hobjob]

There are wolves at the Africa Wild Park (may have got name
slightly wrong as they changed it a years or so ago) at
Kessingland, just south of Lowestoft.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

I hadn't heard that eeyore, and that's really shocking. According to their website though they've recently acquired a further pair of European Grey Wolves ... and according to our postman (about the only person we see here on a daily basis) they maybe getting polar bear(s)!!

I've never been to the place myself as I can't quite reconcile myself with zoos or wildlife parks in general ... I like seeing animals that I might never be otherwise able to see in their natural state, but then again I'm greatly saddened by the very fact that it's not their natural state.

this is the original thread Wolf pack destroyed

I hasten to add that its not the keepers who are a fault as the decision was, i understand, taken at a much higher level in ZSE - some of the keepers were as outraged as i was.

The problem with a lot of zoos is that its about money/profit not welfare and the animals wind up being seen by accountancy driven management as assets ratther than living things.

whereas a well run zoo/collection , like the durrell trust one on jersey, or marwell in hants is about the animals with the charging being a way of supporting the welfare and conservation.

The ZSE /HWP ought to fall into the latter group but in my opinion this disgraceful episode puts them firmly in the former - and the management and trustees ought to be ashamed If they are indeed getting a polar bear this shows more of the same as polar bears are not highland wildlife and thus have no buisness being kept in that environment - it is a pure money making scheme with little consideration given to the bears welfare or conservation - but hey when it goes nuts from forced close contact with people and lack of propper habitat they can always put it down

my apologies to the OP for the hijack - its still a very sensitive subject for me as you can tell.

back on the original subject you can also see wolves at whipsnade - tho the enclosure is so big (as it should be) that they are often quite hard to spot.

[beebeautiful]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

... and according to our postman (about the only person we see here on a daily basis) they maybe getting polar bear(s)!!

Humm, not a pleasing thought Bears rarely do well in captivity, especially polar bears - simply impossible to give them what they need and deserve to be happy, namely immense amounts of space.
Recently seen 2 polar bears in a US zoo, totally stressed out - they were in a new enclosure im sure the zoo are proud of, but in my opinion it offers the bears nothing, simply keeps them on display for the sake of the public (not good enough!!)
They were young the first time I saw them, which was two years ago, on my resent visit they were stressed and depressed after only two years. I dread to imagine how miserable they will be in another two years.
Very difficult subject, I will stop now as don’t want to rant too much.
Keeping animals in an enclosure that is designed to be easily seen by the public should not be the aim for zoos, the animal should have what ever is required for it to have a near normal existence, if the public can get the occasional glance of them moving around the enclose, that’s a bonus.
As a side note, I have always been impressed with the zoos in Holland, they seem to have the right idea and focus on the animals NOT the visitors.
Sorry, that was a rant in the end

[valleyforge]

I thought I had better substantiate, or otherwise, the 'gossip' that my postman passed on ... seems he got it about right though : Centenary Appeal

[earthdragon64]

Yes, the Polar Bear Mercedes, currently at Edinburgh Zoo, is due to be moved to the HWP once a purpose built enclosure is completed. Apparently it is no longer a wildlife park showcasing just Highland wildlife, but includes wildlife from mountain and tundra regions throughout the world.

I've lived in Aviemore since 1993 and have never set foot in the place, I've never been fond of Zoos. After the episode with the wolves, there is even less chance of me visiting. My husband was there earlier this year, he's a bus driver and had to drive a private hire taking people there. Amongst the "attractions" he saw, were Snow Monkeys, Amur Tigers, Red Pandas and Himlayan Blue Sheep. I think I'd have a bit more respect for the society if they were a bit more honest about their aims, which seem to be more about making money than conservation.

Apologies for taking the thread off topic.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

I thought I had better substantiate, or otherwise, the 'gossip' that my postman passed on ... seems he got it about right though : Centenary Appeal

yeah a great use for 300k - to keep a polar bear confined alone in an enclosure less than 5% of the size of its natural range - I also like the bit about how the land at the HWP is typical of the polar bears wild environment - that is apart from there being no perma frost, no prey, no other polar bears, no ice floes, and the temperature being completely different oh yes kinguisse is just like arctic canada....

that said its probably marginally better off there than at endiburgh zoo , but an artic paradise it is not - the bear should never have been taken into captivity in the first place (that was probably about money too) , if there was a problem with her repeatedly entering town she could have been darted and flown miles out into the tundra , for considerably less than 300k

[camo]

I used to be a fan of the Highland Wildlife park but even aside from the destruction of its original Wolf pack they seem to have lost their way. I visited two weeks ago specifically to take more pictures of their Wolves (previousely a good exhibit) but they have split their remaining wolves into a tiny (by comparison) enclosure and with some being moved to its sister company Edinburgh Zoo. The old Wolf enclosure is being converted to recieve Mercedes the single Polar Bear from Edinburgh. This will be a great improvement for Mercedes but reduces the parks focus on native animals.

I saw the Amur Tigers which included some enchanting cubs and read of the impending Amur Leopards, I also saw the Snow Monkeys but was disapointed that the previous attempt to show animals in a Caledonian forest now has fences everywhere.

I believe a well managed Animal park/zoo has educational value however under specific conditions. The Highland Wildlife Park i suspect has given in to the publics need for showstoppers.

Roy

[Gaina]

There's Combe Martin Wildlife Park in Devon (I would love to meet Shawn Ellis), Longleat Safari Park (I've been there, it's a great day out and their enclosure is beautiful so you get to see them behave naturally - if they're not hiding! haha) and also the UK Wolf Conservation Trust in Berkshire, who take their wolves to various shows in the Summer (I've seen them twice at the Secret World Wildlife Sanctuary open day). They also have open days.