Blackpool Zoo

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Pelican outside the lemur walkthrough

Just two miles from the famous Blackpool sea-front in Lancashire, England, Blackpool Zoo provides a home to over 1,500 animals from all over the world. The Zoo aims to provide its visitors with a stimulating, informative and enjoyable experience that demonstrates its role in the conservation of endangered species. Since the purchase of the Zoo in 2003 by a private company, £10m has been invested in updating facilities on the site including the animal enclosures and plans are in place for 2007 for further investment in the Zoo.

Blackpool Zoo logo

In recent years the Zoo has been the subject of demonstrations by local animal rights campaigners, who allege that the conditions in which some of the animals are kept do not reflect their natural habitat and therefore are not conducive to the animals' welfare. These groups stage peaceful pickets and distribute leaflets, usually on bank-holiday weekends. The Zoo prepares for these events by producing targeted, anti-protestor literature that is distributed upon their arrival.

2005 saw the opening of the 'Dinosaur Safari', a walkthrough exhibition featuring plastic models of 32 life-size dinosaurs around a trail. The exhibition has had a lukewarm reception as the models of the dinosaurs are deemed by many to be unrealistic and the extra cost of the trail catches many guests unaware.

[edit] Animals

Mammals: Asian Elephant, Tapir, Capybara, African Lion, Amur Tiger, Bongo, Muntjac Deer, Red Panda, Zebra, Reindeer, Californian Sea Lion, Otter, Sitatunga, Bactrian Camel, Kangaroo, Wallaby, Wallaroo, Meercat, Arabian Gazelle, Markhor Goat, Vicuna, Llama, Potoroo, Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Miniature Donkey, Zebu, Pygmy Goat and Pouched Rat.
Primates: Western Lowland Gorilla, De Brazza, King Colobus, Black Faced Spider Monkey, Ring-tailed Lemur, Red-ruffed Lemur, Black Lemur, Red-fronted Lemur, White-faced Saki, Red Titi Monkey, Bornean Orang-utan, Pileated Gibbon, Goeldi's Marmoset, Squirrel Monkey, Marmoset, Cottontop Tamarin and Emperor Tamarin.
Birds: Peacock & Peahen, Hornbill, Guinea Fowl, Emu, Rhea, Eastern White Pelican, Spoonbill, White Stork, Bantam, Sebastopal Goose, Black Swan, Cranes, Slender Bill Cockatoo, Roseate Cockatoo, Macaws, African Grey Parrot, Blue Throated Conure, Toco Toucan, Great Grey Owl, Ostrich and Lovebird
Reptiles, Insects and Fish: Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula, Jungle Nymph, Rhinoceros Iguana, Giant Tortoise, Leopard Tortoise, Nile Monitor Lizard, Gecko, Skink, Green Anaconda, Burmese Rock Python, Common Boa, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Leopard Gecko, Yacare Caiman, Assassin Bug, Red-bellied Piranha, Yellow Bellied Toad, Blue Poison Dart Frog, White Tree Frog, Giant Cockroach, African Land Snail, Indian Stick Insect.

New for 2006 is "Amazonia", a walk-through enclosure of South American animals and birds including 5 species of monkeys. Visitors can come face-to-face with the inhabitants, offering them an extraordinary opportunity to experience life in the wild.