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News Archive
Below are the news reports for Longleat Safari Park, covering significant events concerning the animal collection, such as births, arrivals, departures, and deaths.
Birth: May 2012
A baby female Bactrian Camel called Myrtle has been born, to mum Bhali. After a difficult birth she was unable to stand to reach her mother's milk, and possibly for this reason was rejected by her mother. She is therefore being hand-reared by keepers. Two other Camels have been born this year, the most recent of which, a male called Malcolm who was born a month earlier, has taken on the role of protective older brother and the pair are pretty much inseparable.
Arrival: 12 April 2012
A group of Cheetahs, 4 males and 3 females, have arrived, and, after settling in for a few months, are now on show in their new drive-through enclosure, Cheetah Kingdom.
Arrival: March 2012
A pair of baby Burrowing Owls called Linford and Christie have arrived from the Hawk Conservancy. At 6 weeks old they are still being hand-reared, and will join the new birds of prey displays when old enough.
Birth: March 2012
A baby Giant Anteater has been born, to first-time parents Maroni and Bonito, who arrived from France and Germany two years ago.
Birth: 21 February 2012
A female baby Scimitar Horned Oryx called Mesta has been born, to mum Raira (her 4th).
Birth: 10 September 2011
Four Lion cubs have been born to first-time mum Malaika. They have been named Simba and Nala, after the Disney film characters, and Enzi and Nyota.
Birth: August 2011
A baby Red-necked Wallaby has been born, and is being hand-reared by keepers after being abandoned by its mother at about 6 months old.
Arrival: August 2011
New arrivals this year include 2 White Rhinoceros, a herd of Wildebeest and a group of male Lions.
Birth: July 2011
A Grant's Zebra foal has been born, the 3rd for mum Jinga.
Birth: June 2011
A Sea-lion pup called Rene has been born, the 6th for mum Jo-Jo.
Arrival: 3 April 2011
Anne, an elderly Elephant, has arrived, to become the founding member of the Longleat Elephant Sanctuary. She is also suffering from severe arthritis, and will require considerable treatment in the coming months.
Arrival: April 2011
A 15-year-old male Tiger called Turlough has arrived from Dublin Zoo. Having completed his quarantine period in isolation, he has been introduced to the three resident females, Soundari, Shouri and Svetti
Birth: April 2011
Six baby Meerkats have been born.
Birth: March 2011
A baby male Bactrian Camel called Lemmy has been born, to parents Bahli and Khan.
Birth: March 2011
Four Lion cubs, 3 females and a male, have been born to experienced mum Yendi and dad Nibalo. They are Nibalo's first cubs since he arrived from Germany in October of last year.
Birth: August 2010
The latest births include:
12 Chilean Flamingo chicks;
4 Ostrich chicks for parents Gavin and Stacey;
3 Sacred Ibis chicks.
Birth: August 2010
A baby male Rothschild's Giraffe called Kaiser has been born, the first for dad Doto and the second for mum Imogen since her emergency caesarean operation that was featured on the BBC Animal Park series five years ago.
Birth: August 2010
Two Asian Short Clawed Otter pups called Sumalee and Kasem have been born, and are being hand reared since mum Rosie failed to produce sufficient milk.
Birth: July 2010
A male baby California Sea Lion called Riley has been born, the third for mum Zook.
Birth: July 2010
Five African Pygmy Goat kids have been born; two sets of twins and a singleton.
Birth: June 2010
A female baby Grant's Zebra called Kichaa has been born, to mum Jinga, who was also the last female Zebra to be born at the park 9 years ago.
Birth: March 2010
Two baby Eland have been born, to mums Holly (her first) and Kim (her third).
Birth: March 2010
A baby Scimitar Horned Oryx has been born
Birth: February 2010
A baby Pancake Tortoise has hatched, just in time for Shrove Tuesday!
Birth: August 2009
Three Chilean Flamingo chicks have hatched, the first at the park since the Flamingos arrived in 2003.
Birth: July 2009
Three Californian Sea Lion pups have been born.
Birth: July 2009
Six baby Royal Pythons have hatched.
Arrival: April 2009
An Argentine Black and White Tegu (a type of reptile) called Diego has arrived and taken up residence in Pets Corner.
Birth: April 2009
A baby male Scimitar Horned Oryx has been born. Great news for this endangered species.
Birth: April 2009
A baby male Bactrian Camel has been born. Good news for this Critically Endangered species, with possibly less than 1,000 left in the wild.
Birth: March 2009
The first births of the year include a Red-Necked Wallaby joey, an Eland calf and several baby Meerkats.
Birth: August 2008
Ninety-five baby Chilean Rose Tarantulas have been born, the first at Longleat.
Birth: July 2008
Two female Californian Sea Lion pups have been born to mums Zook (her first) and Sealia (her eighth).
Birth: May 2008
Rhesus Monkey twins have been born.
Birth: April 2008
Five Wolf pups have been born to mum Freda and dad Two Tips.
Birth: April 2008
A baby rare Pere David's Deer has been born. Other early spring births include an Eland calf, and baby Wallabies, Rhesus Monkeys and Asian Short-Clawed Otters.
Arrival: February 2008
A pet rat, now named Jules after its finder, was dumped in very poor condition at one of the Park's gates. It has now been carefully nursed back to health and, proving to be very good-natured and intelligent, is set to join the cast in the daily Meet the Creatures talks at Pets Corner.
Birth: August 2007
Four lion cubs, 3 males and 1 female, have been born to experienced mum Luna
Birth: June 2007
A baby male Rothschild Giraffe has been born to mother Imogen. Two years ago Imogen nearly died during an emergency caesarean section operation that was featured on the BBC Animal Park TV series. This time around she gave birth naturally during the night with no problems, bringing a surprise end to her keepers' anxious wait during her 15-month pregnancy.
Birth: June 2007
Two Californian Sea Lion pups have been born, to mums Jo-Jo and Sealia.
Arrival: May 2007
Three young female Amur (Siberian) Tigers, called Shouri, Soundari and Svelti, have arrived. They actually arrived from Mulhouse Zoo in France six months ago, but have now been released into their enclosure following completion of their quarantine period. The Amur Tiger is critically endangered in the wild, with only 200-300 left, and it is hoped that these youngsters will form a new breeding group as part of the European Breeding Programme.
Birth: July 2006
Another baby Giraffe has been born, the third this year.
Birth: July 2006
Two baby Bactrian Camels born.
Birth: July 2006
Three Wolf cubs born
Birth: July 2006
Two baby Sealions born
Birth: July 2006
Five Eland calves born
Birth: July 2006
Three Ostrich chicks hatched.
Birth: July 2006
Four baby Asian Short-clawed Otters born, 3 males and 1 female, only the second set to be born at Longleat in nearly 30 years.
Birth: June 2006
Four Lion cubs born, 2 males and 2 females, but will not be on shown for a few weeks.
Birth: May 2006
Baby female Giraffe called Gertrude has been born, the sixth for mum Becky, the 101st for the Park, and the second this year!
Birth: May 2006
Baby Brazilian Tapir born, the fifth for mum Jessie and the Park.
Birth: April 2006
Two lion cubs, Malaika and Jasira were born at the end of 2005, and are now on show to visitors.
Birth: February 2006
Baby male Giraffe born, mother Jolly's tenth, and the hundredth for the Park.
Arrival: February 2006
A male Pancake Tortoise has arrived at Pet's Corner. He will hopefully be joined by a female soon to become part of the European Breeding Programme.
Notes:
Where possible, the dates given are for the event itself, but some zoos do not make this information available, when the date of announcement is used instead.
Seasons: Winter = Jan - Mar, Spring = Apr - Jun, Summer = Jul - Sept, Autumn = Oct - Dec.
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