EXCLUSIVE: With some zoos and safari parks warning of economic pressures, Chris Riches spent the day as an animal keeper at Knowsley Safari.
Categorical reporter Chris Riches labored at Knowsley Safari for the day (Picture: Chris Neill )
A rhino mud-bath, a tapir tummy rub and hiding a bear’s coconuts – all in a day’s work as an animal keeper at a high UK safari park. Analysis claims 40% of UK zoos have just lately raised finance fears, whereas the British and Irish Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) admits that though “zoos are wildly in style” they “face monetary challenges”.
So I used to be invited to spend the day serving to at in style Knowsley Safari, in Merseyside, to see the extent of element and dedication that retains a zoo or safari park working 24 hours a day. And I used to be bowled over by the love and dedication my ‘fellow keepers’ have in the direction of ensuring the animals are handled like stars.
“You can begin transferring that hay”, stated senior ungulates (hooved mammals) keeper Louise McKinnon. “The rhinos freshly weed over it final evening.” Cheers.
The icy rain was driving throughout the location’s 550 acres on Monday morning as I stood in my wellies and inexperienced workers fleece dealing with a mound of worrying brown and moist hay.
The culprits – southern white rhino mom Bayami, aged 9, and her three-month-old daughter, Kamari – have been frolicking inside, clearly not fancying the climate in any respect.
Which means moonlight in Swahili, Kamari marks an necessary position within the conservation of this near-threatened species. Each beginning is a crucial contribution to the worldwide effort to guard these unbelievable animals.
Hay sorted, it was time to shovel some rhino do-do. And these two rhinos do-do a variety of quantity twos. “Maintain going”, chirped laughing Louise at her hapless new intern. “The extra you shovel the much less I’ve to!”
Some workplace employees complain that their mundane jobs really feel like they’re simply shovelling manure however it actually would not really feel like that right here … although generally you’re.
Louise has a crash of 10 southern white rhino to take care of – the worldwide inhabitants is round 17,000 – and guests on Knowsley’s Safari Drive might see them march proper as much as their automobiles.
Chris feeding the tapirs (Picture: Chris Neill )
Zoos together with Dartmoor, Paignton and Newquay, London and Whipsnade, Bristol and Jersey have all reported monetary struggles citing rising vitality prices and better Nationwide Insurance coverage contributions.
Andy Corridor, from BIAZA, says they’ve “distinctive challenges” as a result of “you’ll be able to’t reduce prices with animal welfare”.
Nevertheless, Jamie Christon, chief govt of Chester Zoo, has stated it isn’t all doom and gloom and a few sights are “thriving financially” after their record-breaking 2,136,224 guests in 2025.
Jon Turley, common supervisor of Knowsley Safari, advised the Sunday Categorical: “Like many companies we’ve got actually seen a rise in prices within the final couple of years.
“However we’re working exhausting to attempt to hold any value will increase to a minimal in order that Knowsley Safari continues to be a incredible day trip for households, with out breaking the financial institution.”
*Though guests can’t be a keeper for a day, there are many unbelievable experiences you’ll be able to get pleasure from at Knowsley Safari. Simply go to https://www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk/tickets/animal-experiences
Knowsley Safari (Picture: Chris Neill )
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