South Lakes Wild Animal Park
The South Lakes Wild Animal Park is a unique open zoo and a fascinating and highly popular Lake District visitor attraction.
The park, which makes a great day out for all the family, was opened in 1994 by David Gill and has gradually developed into one of Europe's leading conservation zoos. It has now extended to cover seventeen acres of ex farmland and was awarded the Top Attraction for Excellence in the Lake District 1999 and 2000 by Cumbria Tourist Board.
The South Lakes Wild Animal Park is the only zoo in Britain to contain both Amur and Sumatran Tigers, respectively the biggest and smallest tigers in the world. Interesting talks are given each day on conservation projects concerning the world's tigers.
The zoo also holds the only six South American Margays to be kept in this country, as well as having the largest collection of kangaroos to be kept outside of Australlia. Other animals include cheetahs, rhinos, lions, giraffes, vultures, baboons, bats, pygmy hippos, terappins, sulawesi macaques, penguins, porcupines, lemurs and much more.
There are over a hundred different species to see in all on a unique safari on foot,
many of the animals are allowed to wander free. South Lakes Wild Animal Park carries out extensive work around the world protecting endangered species and habitats.
New features for 2007 include an Andean Bear Breeding facility, new Tamarin environments, mongoose habitat, new water features and more elevated walkways including a new view of the African Lions, and many more innovative interactive experiences. A proportion of every admission fee is donated directly to wildlife conservation and protection in the wild.
Facilities include well situated picnic areas, the 'Maki' restaraunt serving a wide range of meals and refreshments and the 'Wild Things' themed forest shop, which sells a variety of books, cameras, framed pictures; glove puppets; jewelry, postcards and posters, soft toys, children's clothing along with much more.
Purchases of goods can be made online via the Wild Animal Park website (see our links page) To help with important conservation work at the zoo, animals can also be adopted online.