The beloved zoo boasted over 1,000 animals and 154 species on the peak of its glory days – till all of it modified immediately.
The zoo was house to 1,000 animals and at the very least 154 species (Picture: southport visiter)
A cherished zoo which previously served as the colourful hub of its local people was pressured to cease all actions after 51 years – and locals nonetheless remeber it fondly.
In Southport, the place Journey Coast Southport (beforehand often known as Southport Pleasureland and Pleasureland Theme Park) is at present based mostly, the famend zoo previously housed greater than 1,000 animals – earlier than it was compelled to shut down.
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The Merseyside zoo was run by husband and spouse Douglas and Carol Petrie and accommodated 154 species of birds and wild animals – although not with out attracting condemnation and demonstrations from animal rights campaigners and organisations.
The origins of Southport Zoo
The beginnings of the unique Southport Zoo stretch proper again to 1953, when its unique proprietors, Frank and Helena Farrar, based a one-acre ‘Pet Nook’ which was supposed to be a sanctuary and refuge for the modest variety of animals residing inside its perimeter partitions, experiences the Liverpool Echo.
The well-known zoo completely shut down in 2004 (Picture: southport visiter)
As a tribute to their devotion and affection for giant cats, the Farrars launched the Southport Mannequin Zoological Backyard for Youngsters close to Pleasureland’s seafront. Inside round a decade, the pair had prolonged their humble ‘Pet’s Nook’ to 6 acres and amassed a powerful and diverse assortment of birds and animals, additionally establishing breeding programmes and related initiatives.
Southport Zoo expanded quickly from its modest origins on the promenade, swiftly rising into an unlimited animal sanctuary. The zoo finally housed a powerful array of species, together with African lions, snow leopards, gibbons, chimpanzees, reptiles and parrots.
But it was two explicit residents who actually stole the present — Chiefy and Rajah.
Chiefy was a celebrated leopard who achieved nationwide recognition after showing in quite a few movies all through the Fifties. Nonetheless, it was Rajah the lion who actually catapulted the zoo into the highlight, changing into a silver display screen sensation and touchdown a string of roles in fashionable movies of the period.
The Farrar’s animals have been broadly considered impeccably educated and exceptionally well-behaved, offering the couple with a dependable supply of revenue and establishing their enduring reference to the world of present enterprise.
It was named one in all Britain’s worst zoos by animal rights teams (Picture: southport visiter)
All of the animals on the zoo
In 1967, Douglas and Carol Petrie assumed administration of the zoo.
The couple remained on the helm till the zoo lastly stopped operations and closed its doorways for good in 2004. At its peak, the zoo was attracting roughly 67,000 guests every year.
By that time, Southport Zoo had expanded its assortment to incorporate mandrills, big tortoises, flamingos, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, reptiles, owls and pheasants.
The zoo additionally famously welcomed 4 new child penguins — Eeny, Meeny, Miny and Mo — in July 2001. The quartet of Jackass penguin chicks have been born as a part of a specialist breeding programme at Barnham Farm in Norfolk, aimed toward preserving the endangered species.
It was one of many group’s most well-known points of interest (Picture: Julian Andrews)
Controversy
The Captive Animals Safety Society (CAPS) claimed Southport Zoo was amongst Britain’s worst zoos in 2002, and there was a interval when the zoo confronted weekend pickets from members of two animal welfare teams fervently calling for its closure.
Based on The Guardian, protesters claimed they’d documented remarks from quite a few zoo guests who have been purportedly distressed by what they’d seen and the dwelling situations of the animals throughout the zoo. Former keepers on the zoo, alongside welfare organisations and animal behaviour specialists, reportedly voiced their issues over the zoo’s situations to the publication.
House owners Carol and Douglas Petrie, nonetheless, vigorously rejected any accusations of mistreatment in direction of the animals beneath their supervision.
RSPCA senior scientific officer, Tim Thomas, had mentioned on the time in a press release: “We had a complete of 70 calls to our zoo helpline within the final 12 months. Solely two zoos obtained extra complaints than Southport.
The favored zoo was initially established as a modest ‘Pet’s Nook’ (Picture: Southport Visiter)
“If we consider that an offence beneath the related welfare laws is being dedicated, we’ll contemplate a prosecution.” Thomas had emphasised on the time that no prosecution had been initiated towards the zoo.
Presenting the choice perspective and analyzing issues extra carefully, Telegraph and Argus printed a sequence of letters by individuals in assist of the Petries.
Closure and what got here subsequent
In 2004, Sefton Council refused to resume the zoo’s lease, forcing it to shut completely. The zoo’s complete animal assortment was redistributed nationwide, with most creatures rehomed at smaller amenities, whereas the bigger animals have been transferred to Cumbria.
The positioning was later purchased by Pleasureland to increase the theme park. After closing, the previous zoo grounds have been reworked right into a paintball facility earlier than being reimagined and reopened in 2010 as Battlefield Dwell Southport, which has additionally since closed down completely based on its Google enterprise itemizing.
Individuals who have visited Southport Zoo prior to now have recalled their recollections (Picture: southport visiter)
All through the years, the previous zoo grounds have been utilised for Halloween occasions by Southport Pleasureland.
Now engulfed by timber and thick undergrowth, the abandoned zoo nonetheless retains the unique deteriorating animal enclosures and dilapidated buildings that beforehand housed a customer centre, feed and power shops – all hidden inside a darkish and closely wooded path.
The individuals keep in mind
Feedback on Sefton Dwell’s Fb web page noticed individuals remembering the zoo, with one individual writing: “Bear in mind going as a toddler beloved going if solely I used to be conscious would by no means have gone by no means educated or made conscious of state of affairs however trying again now was not acceptable place for animals I scarcely keep in mind it being small glad instances have modified and acceptable measures put in place round zoos.”
One other former zoo customer mentioned: “I beloved the zoo – gutted they removed it.”
Whereas one consumer wrote: “Sure, I cheered the day it was closed – dreadful place.”
Others recalled distressing recollections of witnessing the animals on the zoo, with one individual sharing: “The lion mendacity on concrete was fairly unhappy.”
Whereas one other Fb consumer remarked they have been “a number of the saddest animals I’ve ever seen”.
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