Noah's Ark Zoo Farm

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is a tourist attraction/visitor centre located in Wraxall, North Somerset near Bristol in the United Kingdom. Noah's Ark is a zoo farm and entertainment centre based around a working farm. The farm is located on the B3128/Clevedon Road which runs from Bristol to Clevedon. It is located near to junction 19 of the M5 at Portishead and is sign posted throughout the area.

Contents

[edit] History

The current proprietors, Anthony and Christina Bush had previously farmed Noah's Ark as a dairy farm for 35 years until 1995. Anthony became the tenant of the farm in 1960 as a 22 year old single man with little money. In 1995 he and his wife purchased the farm, the Friesian cow herd was sold and the farm became an arable farm, with sheep kept on some of the farm's 310 acres (1.3 km²).

Noah's Ark began opening to the public in 1998 on a trial basis. Its first full season in 1999 started out with farm animals, smaller domestic animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, goats and exotics including wallabies, rheas and llamas.

The name is based around the Biblical story of Noah. The owners of the farm are Christian and some areas are dedicated to the Creationism belief, however the farm mainly concentrates on the protection and conservation of animals.

Since the initial opening, the number of animals and visitors has increased, with 100,000 vistors passing through the gates in the 2005 season. The arrival of South African white rhinoceroses in 2005 has further helped to establish the attraction as a conservation centre and increase visitor numbers. 2006 saw the arrival of Gerald the Giraffe with a further two females to join later on. The Farm has also opened a Monkey house, Bird aviaries and meerkat enclosure.

2007 saw the arrival of a pair of simang gibbons, a baby bactrian camel and a new reptile house including alligators and monitors.

[edit] Maze

Planted in 2003, the hedge is actually the longest hedge maze in the world. The maze was designed in two parts; the ark as described in the Bible, and a variety of animals including a giraffe, rhino and tortoise. The hedges are young and still growing and are not as well developed as other mazes such as the one at Longleat.

[edit] Criticism

The zoo's religious overtones and position on creationism have been controversial issues with local biological and educational institutions, especially the alleged "playing down" of the widely accepted and scientifically verified evolution theory.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Zoos, aquaria and aviaries