Page 24 - Ratel 2023 Summer

Ratel volume 50, issue number 2

West Midland Safari Park - 50 years Oceanarium,
Bournemouth - 25 years
West Midland Safari Park turns 50 this year and is pulling out all the stops with
its celebrations – from ‘Golden Ticket’ giveaways, exclusive items in the gift
The Oceanarium, the Bournemouth
shop and even a conservation dinner. They are even celebrating their staff.
aquarium, celebrated its 25 th anniversary
Angela Potter is the Head of Wildlife, having started here in 1979. She arrived
for a six-week summer job in Pets Corner, and never returned to her course at on the 22 nd July and had some FINtastic
agricultural college. This is not to say she bypassed her education, as she later activities lined up to celebrate this
completed a course in zoo animal management and two degrees in science and special milestone. Since opening its
zoo resource management, as well as a plethora of other certificates in animal- doors in 1998, the seafront attraction
based science. She has worked at every level on the wildlife team, eventually has connected families, friends and
becoming Head of Wildlife in 2015, loved ones from around the world to
and has lived onsite for over 30 years; the beauty and wonder of the aquatic
no one could be more dedicated. world. The milestone day was celebrated
Whilst she loves all animals, her with popular meet and greet characters,
passion for the giraffes is well known, children’s activities, educational talks to
although the arrival of red panda Mei reflect on the history of the
Lin in 2021 provided some serious Oceanarium, prizes and more! Visitors
competition! could also admire a timeline of
photography which begins from 1998
throughout their journey, complimented
with a 25 th anniversary quiz trail. To
celebrate this incredible milestone even
further, the Oceanarium is home to new
exciting sea creatures including two
cownose stingrays and a guitar fish
which are residents in our popular Key
National Marine Aquarium West exhibit. The Oceanarium is also
very excited to reveal a newly hatched
- 25 years penguin chick that will be on display on
Penguin Beach -
The aquarium was opened in May 1998 by the just in time
Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, and this year for the
they celebrate their 25 th anniversary. To celebrate celebrations!
they are introducing new species, a new exhibition, extra species shows and
one-off events and a 25 th anniversary trail. In their 25 years they have
welcomed over seven million visitors and been home to tens of thousands of
animals. Notable achievements for the collection include their involvement in
seagrass restoration the ‘Community Seagrass Initiative’ and creating the
Ocean Conservation Trust. More information on their anniversary can be
found on their website.

Paradise Park - 50 years

Paradise was created in 1973 by Mike and Audrey Reynolds. Originally called Bird Paradise - the Rare and Endangered Birds
Breeding Centre. From the outset the park’s aim was to be instrumental in the conservation of birds. The white-eared pheasant
was the first species bred at the park, followed closely thereafter by wattled cranes and St.Vincent parrots. The park launched
Operation Chough in 1987, since then the park has created and managed the largest breeding group of chough in the world and
provides birds for reintroduction programmes nationally and soon, internationally. In 1989 the park founded the World Parrot
Trust (WPT) with an ambitious vision: To help save wild parrots from extinction and to ensure that companion parrots live long,
healthy and happy lives. Over the years WPT has grown to become a global force that moves quickly to aid urgent initiatives and
support long-term projects. Fifty years on the park still follows that original philosophy, helping those species that need help the
most. Parrots are a large focus of the collection with many endangered species breeding regularly and supporting both in situ and
ex situ projects around the world. The staff are a key component to the success of the park with many staff having
been at the park for twenty years plus. It’s this continuity of knowledge that
makes such a difference to the care we can afford the birds in our care.

Other notable milestones this year include Edinburgh Zoo (110 years),
Drusillas (100 years), Belfast Zoo (90 years), Paultons Park (40 years),
Weymouth SeaLife (40 years), Tilgate Nature Centre (30 years),
Amazona Zoo (15 years) and Lake District Coast Aquarium (15 years)…

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