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21-11-2007, 05:17 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bewdley
Posts: 3,682
| |  Bens Zoo
Tonight @ 8 on BBC2.
A person with no experience attempts to create a wildlife park, so i just heard passing through the living room!
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21-11-2007, 08:34 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SE Northumberland
Posts: 2,164
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Just turned it off after the first 30mins.Theyve got to be the most miserable looking animals i`ve ever seen in a zoo.Couldnt watch any more 
mark H |
21-11-2007, 08:38 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: My head's in a lush, isolated valley, but I can't seem to escape Reading!
Posts: 1,845
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Quote:
Originally Posted by mh68  Just turned it off after the first 30mins.Theyve got to be the most miserable looking animals i`ve ever seen in a zoo.Couldnt watch any more
mark H | Couldn't agree more, a terrible programme, the keepers said they cared and they obviously do but seem to have such little knowledge it's scary and very sad.
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Claire x
All I can do is be me, whoever that is - Bob Dylan |
21-11-2007, 10:06 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: march, cambridgeshire
Posts: 2,176
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
things like that should not be aloud,not without experience anyway,should be against the law. |
22-11-2007, 08:45 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Scotland
Posts: 3,375
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Have not watched it yet but will have a look to see what the fuss is. |
22-11-2007, 09:03 AM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West London
Posts: 75
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
I was in Brisbane early this year and had the privilege of visiting Steve Irwin's 'Zoo'. So miss-named for a place I would call a 'Nature Reserve', the animals roamed free and those in their pens looked extremely happy.
Unlike at Sydney Harbour where they created a small wildlife museum with wild animals cooped up in little cages. It wasn't nice to see, the animals looked extremely sad apart from the butterflies which were in what I suppose you would call a natural habitat. When I saw this I thought Steve Irwin would turn in his grave!!
I saw the trailer for Bens Zoo and thought no, not for me!! |
22-11-2007, 10:42 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Little village called Chedworth
Posts: 5,023
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
I saw this on BBC 1 news at least I think it was this, (though it could have been someting else, I was dashing through the room too!)and it was about an existing small private zoo that the original owner was selling he was lucky to find this chap as the only other buyers he had wanted to remove the animals (destroying or potentially splitting them up and rehoming them) in order to develop the whole plot for housing- so in a way I suppose you could say he saved the animals - not that I really like zoos the enclosures are too small, but I think his heart's in the right place...... |
22-11-2007, 11:02 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SE Northumberland
Posts: 2,164
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Yeah sounds like the same programme Gill.Agree theres no doubt he means well, but a wildlife park with some rare species to look after isnt the place for someone so clueless really.The only one who seemed clued up was the girl in charge of the Tigers etc.The park was in a pretty sorry state and not only did the animals appear to be leading pretty miserable lives but it seemed as though there were major safety risks too - rotten fences etc.
Mark H |
22-11-2007, 11:58 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 0
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
that dump should have stayed closed., i went there and it was a miserable place. i heard other places had been found for the animals to go but then these people bought it. i would not buy a cafe unless i knew how to cook so why buy a zoo if you dont know about aimals????? |
22-11-2007, 03:27 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: My head's in a lush, isolated valley, but I can't seem to escape Reading!
Posts: 1,845
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Quote:
Originally Posted by mh68 Yeah sounds like the same programme Gill.Agree theres no doubt he means well, but a wildlife park with some rare species to look after isnt the place for someone so clueless really.The only one who seemed clued up was the girl in charge of the Tigers etc.
Mark H | I'd be inclined to disagree on that. She definitely cared about the animals welfare and was very emotionally attached to them but I did wonder how much serious knowledge she actually had.
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Claire x
All I can do is be me, whoever that is - Bob Dylan |
22-11-2007, 04:57 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SE Northumberland
Posts: 2,164
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Yes you're probably right, thinking about it. In total contrast I watched a programme this afternoon about a big cat sanctuary in Africa.The Lions had a 180 acre enclosure all for themselves and looked very content, and a Leopard cub had a 4 acre enclosure all to itself. Big difference to the pretty poor conditions the animals had to endure in last nights Bens Zoo programme.
Mark H |
28-11-2007, 08:31 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 272
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
It's good to see the tigers happy now. I think (and hope) it's going to come out ok.
Such a shame about Ben's wife. It's going to be hard for him.  It's good that he's carrying on despite what happened.
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28-11-2007, 08:35 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Little village called Chedworth
Posts: 5,023
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Quote:
Originally Posted by SparklySarah It's good to see the tigers happy now. I think (and hope) it's going to come out ok.
Such a shame about Ben's wife. It's going to be hard for him. It's good that he's carrying on despite what happened. | Yes poor chap and she was so young! To leave to small kiddies behind.... horrible thing......
I hadn't realised it was Dartmoor zoo - I went here when I was a kid and hated it, I'm so glad someone is taking it in hand. Its quite clear all the staff are doing their very best on behalf of the animals...... |
28-11-2007, 08:55 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: My head's in a lush, isolated valley, but I can't seem to escape Reading!
Posts: 1,845
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Quote:
Originally Posted by SparklySarah It's good to see the tigers happy now. I think (and hope) it's going to come out ok.
Such a shame about Ben's wife. It's going to be hard for him. It's good that he's carrying on despite what happened. | I missed this week's programme - what happened to his wife?
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Claire x
All I can do is be me, whoever that is - Bob Dylan |
28-11-2007, 09:08 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 272
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Her cancer came back and she died of a brain tumor. They thought that would be the end of Ben's ownership of the zoo, but despite everythinf he carried it on with possibly more deturmination. I think it was probably for her and his children.
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28-11-2007, 09:15 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: My head's in a lush, isolated valley, but I can't seem to escape Reading!
Posts: 1,845
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Quote:
Originally Posted by SparklySarah Her cancer came back and she died of a brain tumor. They thought that would be the end of Ben's ownership of the zoo, but despite everythinf he carried it on with possibly more deturmination. I think it was probably for her and his children. | That's really sad. I must admit I wasn't overly impressed with the programme last week but for him to carry on after that, best of luck to him.
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Claire x
All I can do is be me, whoever that is - Bob Dylan |
28-11-2007, 10:49 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 16
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
The tigers only looked happy when thinking about leaping out of the compound for a Ben Breakfast. Dartmoor has enough wild cats roaming the moor - why has this zoo been licensed? |
28-11-2007, 11:43 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,313
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
I think we all need to give the guy/project a chance.
Surely the whole emphasis is on the fact the zoo was in a terrible state and all the animals were suffering (nothing to do with Ben) and with his input and money hopefully all these things are going to be put right?...it was the first episode i have seen tonight and by the end it seems that positive actions are taking place and improvements....scary moment with the escaped tiger though and sad news about his wife...next week looks a bit sketchy too with an escaped dangerous animal but ....lets see how things are at the end of the series before slagging the whole project off?...
Im not exactly pro zoo either but if he improves what was a miserable situation then im all for that...and he also appears to be employing more knowledgable experts.
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29-11-2007, 09:02 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 2,387
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Salter I think we all need to give the guy/project a chance.
Surely the whole emphasis is on the fact the zoo was in a terrible state and all the animals were suffering (nothing to do with Ben) and with his input and money hopefully all these things are going to be put right?...it was the first episode i have seen tonight and by the end it seems that positive actions are taking place and improvements....scary moment with the escaped tiger though and sad news about his wife...next week looks a bit sketchy too with an escaped dangerous animal but ....lets see how things are at the end of the series before slagging the whole project off?...
Im not exactly pro zoo either but if he improves what was a miserable situation then im all for that...and he also appears to be employing more knowledgable experts. | My thoughts exactly Dan. I, too, missed the first program but caught last night's. My biggest concern is how it was allowed to get so bad before Ben stepped in to try and turn it around. I bet it's the usual reason that the agencies responsible for monitoring and enforcing standards are undermanned, underfunded and overstretched.
Responsibly managed and well run zoos can be of real benefit to wildlife through their role in educating the public, firing the interest and enthusiasm of children and, not least, through captive breeding of endangered species. There have been several species saved from extinction (so far) because of zoos.
Dave P.
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29-11-2007, 10:15 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 16
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
I too saw this programme for the first time last night, as I was drifting in & out of the room I missed what happened to Ben's wife. So I started searching, first stop the Good Zoo site, old postings. Next CAPS site more interesting, links to better projects........ and so to my first visit to this site. I am sorry but to say the tigers looked 'happy' ??? even The Tiger Who Came To Tea never smiled in the book. I am with Stevey on this one, leave it to someone who has knowledge and knows what species of cat is a 'spotty one'. |
29-11-2007, 01:34 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: west wales
Posts: 770
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
I saw this programme for the first time too last night (in Wales) In Oct I visited a zoo in Italy which had a "mad" elephant, she was obviously cared for, and may have come from a different zoo once upon a time, but she was upsetting to see, swaying her head continually from side to side. The same zoo, although it had a good safari section, had very small bear enclosures, where the bears did repetitive movements and twists, and a sad chimpanzee house where the chimps just sat with nothing to do. At least this Dartmoor zoo has a chance to turn it around and I am hope the following programmes will show they are successful.  |
30-11-2007, 05:49 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 380
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
An interesting little series, with some good, dedicated staff, (the bird keeper was especially good, having had some success with breeding endangered species). I can't believe another animal escapes again in next weeks episode, they've already had the jaguar and the wolf, (parker) go awol. They've already had quite a few hair-raising incidents, as well as some rather distressing ones! |
05-12-2007, 09:04 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 272
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Don't know if anyone is watching, but they've done soooooooooooo well!!!! Really glad to see it open and the animals looking so happy. It seems to be going good!!!!  Happy now.  Sarah
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05-12-2007, 11:26 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cumbria
Posts: 500
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Hi Sarah
Yes I'm still watching!!
You're right it does seem to have turned a corner at last, thanks to all their hard work. It's really good to see it all coming together now!
What a lovely man Ben seems to be as well, enthusiastic, caring and just a genuinely nice person. His employee all seem a nice bunch too!
Hope all continues to go well for them and all the animals!
Suzanne |
05-12-2007, 11:27 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cumbria
Posts: 500
| | | Re: Bens Zoo
Oooops ....double posting!
Time to log off I think!
Last edited by Monkster; 05-12-2007 at 11:29 PM.
Reason: Too tired!
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