Noah's Ark Zoo Farm

Coordinates: 51°27′07″N 2°44′19″W / 51.4520°N 2.7385°W / 51.4520; -2.7385
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm Logo
Map
51°27′07″N 2°44′19″W / 51.4520°N 2.7385°W / 51.4520; -2.7385
Date opened1998–1999
LocationWraxall, North Somerset, United Kingdom
Land area100 acres (40 ha)
Annual visitors170,000[1]
OwnerAnthony Bush
Websitewww.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is a 100-acre (40 ha) zoo developed on a working farm in Wraxall, North Somerset, 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Bristol, England.

History

Anthony Bush

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm was conceived by Anthony Bush (b. 1938), the son of a

National Farmers Union, and in 1980, he began a Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group to encourage farmers to conserve wildlife.[3]

Bush and wife became active at

Ashton Gate Stadium.[5] In 1987, Bush helped found the African relief agency, Send a Cow.[6]

Development

In 1995 the Bushes purchased Moat House Farm from Wraxall, sold the

white rhinos, siamang gibbons,[11] and ring-tailed lemurs.[1][12] In April 2009, a zoo webcam showed the live birth of a male Brazilian tapir.[13]

The zoo's hedge maze, planted in 2003, is 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) long.[14]

Creationism and criticism

During Anthony Bush's tenure as managing director of the zoo, he promoted his belief in

British Humanist Association urged tourist boards to stop promoting the zoo on grounds that it would "undermine education and the teaching of science",[20] a campaign continued until February 2014.[21]

2009 charges of professional misconduct

In October 2009 the

Captive Animals Protection Society charged that the zoo's tigers and camels belonged to the now defunct Great British Circus owned by Martin Lacey;[22] and the zoo said a number of animals were on loan from Linctrek Ltd, a company associated with Lacey, though none had taken part in any circus performances.[23] In December 2009, BIAZA temporarily stripped the zoo of its membership[24] for what it claimed was a refusal of Noah's Ark to provide BIAZA requested information and for bringing "the association into disrepute."[25][26] Tighter licence conditions were imposed on the zoo, including inspection by independent veterinarians every six months.[27]

In 2018, due to adherence to the aforementioned conditions, the zoo regained BIAZA membership.[28]

After the 2009 penalties, the zoo began the lengthy procedure to achieve charity status. This change was instigated by Anthony Bush's son, Larry, who took up the position as managing director in 2019. Describing the acquisition of charitable status, Larry said "visitors can also enjoy the knowledge that their admission directly funds the vital conservation work of the charity in the UK and around the world.” The zoo became a charity on 5 April 2023.[29]

An elephant at the zoo

In September 2012, the zoo began building an elephant sanctuary of 20 acres (8.1 ha), and the first elephant arrived in February 2014.[30][31] Before construction of the sanctuary the Born Free Foundation, which opposes holding elephants in captivity, said the acreage was too small for the purpose.[32] The enclosure consists of a 1,080 m2 (11,600 sq ft) area where the elephants can sleep or shelter from the rain, and a 19.5 acres (7.9 ha) outdoor area with a 9 ft (2.7 m) heated swimming pool.[33] The £1.8m development was partly funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and uses solar PV, biomass heating, and rainwater harvesting to provide nearly all power needed to operate the enclosure. An adjacent farm provides most of the food for the elephants.[34]

In 2015, Noah’s Ark joined the

spectacled bears (also called Andean bears), who arrived in 2016.[35]

Conservation and Breeding Programs

The zoo currently participates in four

European Endangered Species Programs. These comprise African Elephants, Spectacled Bears, Siamang Gibbons, and White-Headed Vultures. The EEP for African Elephants at Noah's Ark is a bachelor programme, wherein only males of the species inhabit the enclosure, to provide them a home while waiting for a breeding opportunity. Noah's Ark is also involved in European Studbooks, for the Cotton-Top Tamarin and the Asian Box Turtle.[36]

Set up in 2014, the elephant enclosure known as Elephant Eden is the UK's only bachelor provision.[37] In such a habitat, younger inhabitants stay there temporarily while learning social skills from older elephants, which replicates natural developmental stages in the wild.[38] After spending time at the bachelor provision, elephants can then move back into mixed groups and will be able to begin breeding.[37]

The zoo calls itself a "sustainable zoo", as, using wind turbines, biomass boilers, and solar panels, over half its consumed energy is renewably produced in-house. A Christmas tree recycling service provides residents across North Somerset the opportunity to give their used trees to the animals for enrichment.[39][40]

Animal exhibits

Tiger enclosure, 201
Africa
The first animals arrived in the African section in 2005: two South African
meerkats.[42] In 2020, Hope, an 8-month old zebra, died when she was startled by fireworks and collided with the gates of her enclosure.[43] in June 2021, an African elephant was fatally attacked by another elephant.[44]
Asia
In 2009, Noah's Ark introduced two
yaks, water buffalo, and two Bactrian camels.[41]
Primate
Noah's Ark is home to five primate species: Siamang Gibbons, black & white ruffed lemurs, ring tailed lemurs, marmosets and cotton-top tamarins. Three of the five primates (ruffed lemurs, tamarins and gibbons) are listed on the IUCN red list as either endangered or critically endangered. The primate section has successfully bred animals since its opening, most recently a baby Siamang gibbon. (The gibbons were moved to Noah's Ark as part of the European Endangered Species Programme in 2007.)[45]
Reptiles
In July 2017 the zoo introduced seven Aldabra giant tortoises to the zoo on loan from Nigel Marven.[46] The tortoise enclosure won an award from BIAZA for enclosure design.[47]

References

  1. ^ a b c "About us: Our History". Noah's Ark Zoo Farm. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  2. ^ Anthony Bush, From Cows to Tigers: Building Noah's Ark (privately published, 2012), 11–62.
  3. ^ Bush, 119, 123; "Farmer turned zookeeper is a man with a mission", Bristol Post, 21 May 2012.
  4. ^ Bush, 83, 89–94, 107; Viewer & Listener. Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine In the early 1990s, Bush prepared for ordination as an Anglican priest, but his bishop, Jim Thompson, refused to ordain him, telling Bush he did not like his "theological certainly" (158).
  5. ^ Bush, 126–134. In 1996 Bush also chaired a four-day evangelistic campaign in the same stadium for the Argentinian-American evangelist Luis Palau (166–167).
  6. ^ Bush, 145–152; Send a Cow website Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ Bush sold the herd shortly before the BSE crisis hit and prices plummeted. Banner of Truth Trust website Archived 11 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ISBN 978-0957202108
  9. ^ Post, Bristol (2015). "Farmer turned zookeeper is a man with a mission | Exeter Express and Echo". exeterexpressandecho.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  10. ^ Bush, 201–207.
  11. ^ "A New Arrival Boosts Endangered Gibbons At Noahs Ark Zoo". Getty Images. 6 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Zoo lemurs lap up treat as farm welcomes new arrivals". Bristol Post. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Webcam captures baby tapir birth". BBC News Bristol. BBC. 26 April 2009. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  14. ISBN 978-0600622512
    .
  15. ^ a b "BCSE : Noah's Ark Zoo Farm". British Centre for Science Education. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  16. ^ Roberts, Alice (8 December 2013). "Why I won't be going back to Noah's Ark creationist zoo". The Observer. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  17. ^ Alice Roberts (8 December 2013). "Why I won't be going back to Noah's Ark creationist zoo | World news". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  18. ^ Goldacre, Ben (8 April 2004). "Where to find the alchemists of Fleet Street". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  19. ^ Goldacre noted the zoo's statement: "To follow Darwinism is to recognise only the fleshly side of our natures, and, as we know, the flesh perishes; Darwinism, in other words, is a philosophy of death". To which Goldacre retorted, "Harsh words. Bring on the darkness". Goldacre also said that the attraction had "the distinction of being the only pseudoscience zoo in the UK".Goldacre, Ben (12 June 2003). "Work out your mind". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  20. ^ "'Creationist' zoo causes dismay". BBC News. BBC. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  21. ^ "Alice Roberts and BHA complain to Michael Gove over Noah's Ark Zoo Farm's Quality Badge breaching 'no creationism' policy". 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  22. ^ "Noah's Ark Zoo Farm does business with (another) notorious circus trainer". captiveanimals.org – Captive Animals Protection Society. 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  23. BBC
    . Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  24. ^ "Noah's Ark membership suspended". Weston Mercury. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Zoo expelled from industry body". BBC News. BBC. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  26. ^ This is Bristol (2015). "Noah's Ark Zoo Farm stripped of its BIAZA membership | Bristol News | Bristol Post". bristolpost.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ "Zoo cruelty claims are rejected". BBC News. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  28. ^ "BIAZA – British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums".
  29. ^ "We are a Charity!". www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Noah's Ark Zoo Farm to launch five-star spa hotel – for elephants". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  31. ^ "North Somerset elephant habitat welcomes first guest". BBC News. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  32. ^ "Work starts on Wraxall elephant sanctuary". BBC News. 1 September 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015.
  33. ^ Bristol, The (29 October 2011). "Noah's Ark Zoo Farm to launch five-star spa hotel – for elephants". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  34. ^ "Noah's Ark sets sail for green-energy powered Elephant Eden 17 Jul 2013 – The Sceptic Tank: a blog from BusinessGreen". BusinessGreen. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.; "Sustainable biomass boiler for a state of the art elephant enclosure – EnergyMyWay". Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  35. ^ "Noah's Ark Zoo Farm gives endangered bears new home". North Somerset Times. 3 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  36. ^ "Breeding Programmes | Conservation | Noah's Ark Zoo Farm". www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  37. ^ a b "The UK's only bachelor elephant habitat welcomes Uli, the African Elephant | Biaza". biaza.org.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  38. ^ "First male elephant born by artificial insemination integrates into herd at local zoo". North Somerset Times. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  39. ^ "Green Zoo | Conservation | Noah's Ark Zoo Farm". www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  40. ^ "North Somerset zoo launches annual 'tree-cycling' scheme for its animals". ITV News. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  41. ^ a b "The Story of Noah's Ark Zoo Farm". Noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  42. ^ "Daily Events – Noah's Ark Zoo Farm". Noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  43. ^ "Heartbreak at zoo as Zebra named Hope is scared to death by fireworks". 7NEWS.com.au. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  44. ^ Dex, Robert (22 June 2021). "Zoo keepers 'distraught' after elephant killed by another elephant". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  45. ^ "UK | England | Bristol/Somerset | Gibbons under protection in city". BBC News. 10 April 2007. Archived from the original on 14 March 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  46. ^ Robins, Sheridan. "Famous face heads to Noah's Ark Zoo Farm ahead of Reptile Awareness Week". North Somerset Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  47. ^ Woodsford, Henry. "Wraxall zoo wins three BIAZA awards". North Somerset Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.

External links

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