General Chat

Photo's on blog now:o)

jude

Hello Huia

pmsl.....must admit l've read that back a couple of times and was going to alter it!! They are definately funny little things, but doubt their parents would appreciate me suggesting they lay eggs and pair up!!! lol
l'll leave it now, its funny:o))

Wonderful amazing day:o))

jude :o) xx

Jude, I also enjoyed reading about your experience.

BUT I had to laugh when I read (on p2, at 12.43, paragraph 3): 'watched by hoards of school children. Funny little things they are, some were getting ready to lay eggs, others were pairing up, others were just being mischievous'. Well, I didnt know that school children could lay eggs. The rest of it yes, but eggs?

Huia.

What a wonderful present and what a wonderful time you had, Jude, well done for your bravery in being so close to some creatures that I would steer clear of, not keen on bats flying about either so can sympathise with their keeper.
A lovely memory for you, and for you to tell your friends and family about, thanks for sharing it with us. How will they top that for a gift lol?

Lizxxx

Glad to hear that you had such a wonderful time!

You are braver then I am as there is no way I will go anywhere near a croc or snakes. I hate them as much as I fear them, especially snakes...they make my flesh crawl.

Nite Nite

Lindy xx

Me again:o)

Thank you Jean and Lady Cutie:o)


l have been trying to get photo's sorted all evening, l have a prob with email and l keep getting in a muddle with photo's so will try again tomorrow.

Nite nite:o)
jude :o) x

Hi Jude ,
it sounds as though youv'e had a brilliant time ..
dont think i could have gone in the reptile house though ...
in fact i know i wouldnt lol .. but everything else , i would have loved .
It 's an experiance that you will never forget ...
i bet you are so chuffed ... and thanks for putting it on the boards
i have enjoyed reading it ....
Hazelx

Nudge for those who missed this. Lucky Jude!

Thank you everyone:o))

l will print out what l have written add abit here and there and save it:o)) l'm sure both grandchildren will love to hear all about it one day. l was still talking to my son at 10pm last night about it:o))

l know alot of people don't agree with zoo's etc but this one does do alot of conservation work,(as do others) some of their animals could be used to save a species one day!! The grounds are amazing and the staff live on site so are very close by!
Apparently (not from this zoo) someone has found another type of Peccary, can't remember which country now, but it is a larger version and the reference books have always said there are only 3 types, well now there are 4!! we did'nt take a photo of them:o(
l will get the photo's onto the blog asap, l have downloaded them onto to pc:o)

jude:o) xx

Well Jude...........What can I say.......what an incredible day you had.
I should imagine you will remember that day for the rest of your life, and how your little Grandson will enjoy hearing all about it.

My Grandmother certainly never tickled a rhino, or ever saw one.

Thank you so much for giving us such an enjoyable account of your fantastic day among the animals - a pleasure to read.

Tec.

I have enjoyed reading this .What a great experience.

Ahhh Jude thank you for that...what an incredible experience for you! BC XX

jude, sounds amazing, what an experiance, am quite jealous! xxx

Jude,

Wondeful - you obviously had a great time.

Elisabeth
x

Page 2….

FROM THERE....we went to the last section THE BIG CATS:o))) blinky blinky heck.....l fed them from a stick with raw meat. The male was very grumpy and l had so much respect for his amazing power and strength...phewww, he lept at the cage at the keeper, which is what you would expect him to do. The female was much more friendly and the keeper can stroke her, l did’nt l might add!! l would love to have done they so cuddly:o))) When l fed them l was about 2 ft or so away and my hand was 12 – 15” from the paddock fence….that really was an amazing experience.

The last to see were 2 Leopards….Jessie who is quite old now and partially blind, he has cateract type problems and the youngster who kept away apart from when his food was left at the door entrance…he was so quick l missed it…..lol We did see him when Jessies food was put in, he was hoping he could have his aswell.

So that is it apart from a bag of gifts which included a framed certificate.

A wonderful amazing experience, l recommend anyone interested to look into it. The thing too with this zoo is that you are always on a one to one with the keepers where as some other zoo’s take groups of 12 or so.

Amazing….l hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as l have telling you:o))

Jude :o)) xx

Hi everyone:o))

WEll l am rested after my amazing day at Cotswold Wild Life Park:o))Left home 7am arrived 9am as planned:o) Keeper waiting in the carpark for us, he went through all the health & saftey issues and off we went to the Farm area. Could'nt go in with ponies and goats etc as they are abit pushy and one pony bites:o(( We then trundled off to their stable area and mucked out. The keeper gave me the wheelbarrow to push, bad move!!! l pushed it straight into the fence....lol.

Then onto the Rhino's....oh my gawd how fantastic was that, l tickled and stroked Monty, he just loved it and behind his ears and legs was so soft. We walked into his paddock and saw the Zebra and the other Rhino called Bull, but stayed well back by the barrier, the Zebra are not friendly!!
The Rino are seperated because Bull is quite old where as Monty is'nt and he loves to play and run around....Bull wants to join in but his arthritus won't let him and he gets knackered....they meet up everynow and then cause they are friends:o))

From there we went to the Penguins, l was just in time for the feeding session (had to dash to the loo) and was watched by hoards of school children. Funny little things they are, some were getting ready to lay eggs others were pairing up, others were just being mischievious. They nip with those beaks l can tell you, but l put on a brave face:o))) stunk of fish after too.......Madoc was very interested in my trousers when l got home!! lol

Next was the Meercats, l went in with them and fed them live crickets and meal worms!!! lol oh my g-d they are so cute, a couple sat on my knee and took food from me. Was'nt allowed to stroke them though, they don't encourage it. One mum had 2 babies, they were about 3 - 4 "long plus tail, so cute. Then l fed Squirrel Monkeys some scrambled egg.....again how cute were they, taking the egg from my hand.

Each section l am given a new keeper. the one who met me at the carpark was also incharge of the meercat section. He gave me some trout next to feed the Otters...they did'nt come very close, l think there were 7 of them including 3 or 4 babes. Like the Meercats so appealing:o))

All the time the keepers are telling us about the animals and themselves, so interesting, everyone was just great:o)

Next section Reptiles and Giant Tortoise........l actually held a Crockerdile:o)) it was about 12" long and 2yrs old, so small. We met their mum who was protecting more eggs, so she was abit grumpy,(naturally) She was about 5ft and the dad about 8ft.....phewww...we did'nt stay long there and moved onto the snakes, lizards and frogs. Some of the most poisenous frogs, so tiny and brightly coloured. l held a baby Spiky tailed lizard, again so cute. Watched a Python being fed, don't know how long that was but they can get to 18ft!!!!!! we stood back from him!! Then onto the Giant Tortoises....blimey how big!!! they were fed a box of mushrooms, had a photo taken but was abit unsure cause a mushroom was right by my foot, l kept trying to push it towards the biggest one....they bite!!!!

Next was the Bats, l fed them by hanging skewers of fruit onto hooks under wooden trays which are then pullied up higher for them. They were flying around the encloseure but l was'nt bothered by them fascinating:o)) The keeper though loves working with them but hates it when they fly around, she's getting used to it now!!

From there we went for a break and had lunch somewhere along the way:o))

l may have the rest in the wrong order now.......

l did'nt realise how many types of Lemurs there were, we saw about 4, l think the keeper said there are about 40 or so....there was so much to take in everywhere me brain was getting faddled by now. Again l was watched by hoards of kids, bless em:o))) The Black lemurs had to be watched as they will pinch things from peoples handbags, they smell fruit etc and will just grab the bag!!...lol one or two tried hanging on my trousers, ohhh yeh that remins me l had a cricket crawl up my trousers, fortunately a member of the public told me...lol

Next was the Tapir, oh they were gorgeous, and loved a tickle. The male would get so carried away he sometimes falls over and you have to tickle his tummy:o))) he did'nt do that yesterday, but his head was almost turned right round...he just loved it:o)) l fed them fruit:o)

The Peccarry (sp) were'nt friendly at all infact could be quite dangerous, they reminded me of a wild Boar. Quite noisy too!! Then the Wolves...beautiful, there are four of them. We did'nt go anywhere near them, stayed on the public walkway. The keeper went in their paddock to feed them but they would'nt feed because we were there.

ooops l've run out of space, will have to start another post:o))


jude:o)

Jude, same size feet as mine lol

Hope you have a great time, and get lots of pics

Lizxx

Thanks everyone:o)))

Lindy....will pm you:o))

jude xx

Hi Jude,
I do envy you, It will be fantastic....I love animals and would love to do something like that.
Have a brilliant day xxx

Morning Jude,

Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful day.

I love all animals and used to spend many a holiday in the wild just admiring them while they feed.

Dawn is the best hour, I would quietly slip out of the bungalo and wait for my eyes to adjust to the early morning light and stand very still.

It's amazing what animals you can see that blend in with the early morning mist which in an hour's time will have been long gone.

Wonderful memories of days gone by.

It you like pm me your email addy and I will send you a mini video clip of Lions and a hyena playings.

Lindy xx