HALF TERM ANIMAL ANTICS AT BLACKPOOL ZOO

Blackpool FC favourite Gary Taylor-Fletcher kick started the half term holiday by officially opening Blackpool Zoo’s fabulous new Children’s Farm.

The enormous barn and extensive outdoor paddocks are now home to the zoo’s resident farm favourites - and lots of new faces too.

Parents can keep the kids entertained with a whole host of farm related half term fun including chick and gosling holding, ferret walking, feeds, donkey brushing, rabbit and guinea pig cuddles, goat brushing and petting.

Other animals that have taken up residence in the farm include llamas, zebu cattle, miniature donkeys, Shetland ponies, bantams, indian runner ducks, sultan chickens, Rudolph the Kune Kune pig and an adorable baby reindeer.

The miniature train line has been re-routed to start and finish at the barn and there’s also a specially designed play area with bark flooring, picnic bench seating and a climbing frame.

Speaking at the launch, Gary-Taylor Fletcher said: “I really enjoy coming to Blackpool Zoo with my family and the continued development is magnificent.

“When I was asked to cut the ribbon for the Children’s Farm I didn’t hesitate as it really is a great addition to the zoo and I know that kids will love it – my son certainly does.”

Feed the animals

There is fun to be had elsewhere in the zoo too, with a brand new line up of special animal encounters on offer. For a small additional charge children can feed lemurs, giraffes, aardvarks and tapirs.

Go ape

A special conservation table will be set up in the Ape House, where visitors can enter a prize draw to meet the gorillas and lemurs, take part in the colouring competition, try their hand at badge making, explore the artefact area or opt for a spot of gorilla poop throwing.

All proceeds from the conservation table will be donated to the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) Ape Campaign, for which Blackpool Zoo is raising money throughout 2011.

Jude Rothwell, Marketing and PR Coordinator at Blackpool Zoo, said: “The Children’s Farm has been developed to give our visitors a whole new experience at the zoo.

“There will always be something to see and do inside and outside so, come rain or shine, it will certainly be a crowd pleaser.

“The farm, coupled with the new animal encounters and other half term activities mean the Blackpool Zoo is a must visit this half term.”

The Children’s Farm is the latest in a long line of recent investment projects at Blackpool Zoo.

Earlier this year a complete restaurant overhaul, which cost £350,000, took place after the zoo identified the need for additional space and more food choice as a result of the huge increase in visitor numbers in recent years.

Half term visitors can save 10 per cent by booking online at www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk

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Pictures show: Please see below links to pictures from the launch event. Copies can also be obtained by emailing paula@icgonline.co.uk

More information about Blackpool Zoo

A bumper year of momentous first time births, huge investment and a hat-trick of awards saw Blackpool Zoo’s visitor numbers hit new record heights in 2010.

An investment of over £1million during the year led to the grand opening of the UK’s biggest sea lion pool, which completes the zoo’s Active Oceans attraction, a brand new Wallaby Walkabout and a redeveloped home for the zoo’s resident Aardvarks Laurel and Arnie.

Blackpool Zoo won three prestigious awards during 2010. Visit Blackpool crowned Blackpool Zoo its Visitor Attraction of the Year, The Be Inspired Business Awards hailed it Tourism Business of the Year and it was also voted Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards.

Blackpool Zoo is owned by Parques Reunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world-wide player. The zoo is home to over 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates set amidst thirty-two acres of mature woodland and lakes. 

The zoo’s signature animals include elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, orang-utans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos. It is open every day of the year, apart from Christmas Day, from 10am.

More information about the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Ape Campaign

The campaign, which will run throughout 2011, aims to make a significant and lasting contribution to the survival of apes and their habitats. Almost all of the apes - gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gibbons - are either Endagered or Critically Endangered, facing threats from hunting and trade, habitat destruction, and the spread of disease.

The EAZA Ape Campaign will raise awareness of the plight of the apes and will use funds raised to create an EAZA Ape Conservation Fund, providing grants to in situ ape conservation projects. Find out more at www.apecampaign.org

For further information please contact:

Paula Holden, Julie Hackett or Denise Dawson at ICG on 01772 679383. Out of hours contact is Paula Holden on 07772267378 

paula@icgonline.co.uk;  julie@icgonline.co.uk or denise@icgonline.co.uk

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