Wildlife Encounters worth sharing!

Over the past few days our visitors have enjoyed the warm, sunny weather with us here on the Isle of Wight!  Those guests who booked One-on-One Wildlife Encounters with us all said how much they’d enjoyed their special experiences – made all the more magical by the extra dose of blue skies and sunshine!
Below is Win Isaacson whose husband, Neville, treated her to a surprise Penguin Encounter for her birthday.

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Below are Jessica Boulay and Eleanor Worley from Surrey who had a great time with Dippy and his pals on Saturday.

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Junior Wildlife Experience, James Cobb (aged nearly 10, pictured below) could hardly contain his enthusiasm – he loved all the animals so much that my colleague, Grace, could hardly get him to sit still long enough to capture photos!  James said he was extremely lucky to see a duckling that had just hatched and added that his favourite animals are the Wallabies.

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Rachel Cundall (below) said of her Penguin Encounter “It was amazing; I would definitely do it again!”.  Fern, who was Rachel’s guide and photographer during her Encounter said that Dippy gave Rachel one of his proper Penguin cuddles (normally reserved for the Keepers!)

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Debra Percy’s birthday present from her friend Michelle Liddelow was a Penguin Encounter this morning.  These two ladies (pictured below) had a wonderful time; they thoroughly enjoyed their Encounter and the glorious weather!

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Thank you to all our V.I.P. Guests for choosing a one-on-one Wildlife Experience with us here at Seaview Wildlife Encounter!

Fabulous image of Meerkats sent in by David Nordell a regular park visitor

David Nordell is a regular visitor to Seaview Wildlife and always takes amazing images of our collection of birds and animals.


Thank you David for taking the time to send in this fantastic image of our Meerkats - very much appreciated.

NAME THE MEERKAT COMPETITION AT SEAVIEW WILDLIFE!

Ali has a great Penguin Encounter!

Alison Nolan was treated to a Penguin Encounter yesterday by her friend Linda Heath, as a belated birthday present.  What fantastic weather it was to be out in the Park and up close with the animals!  Ali is a real animal lover who was relaxed and confident with the Penguins so she was able to really enjoy her V.I.P. Wildlife Experience.


Above left: Ali enjoying a cuddle with Dippy and above right with Danielle.

Giggling with the gorgeous Goslings!

We are currently raising and caring for some really gorgeous Goslings.  They’re growing so quickly that we decided to seize the moment and snap a few shots before their fuzzy wuzziness becomes all grown up sleek plumage! 
 
The three Keepers on duty yesterday giggling with the Goslings – above, from left – Charlotte Goswell, Grace Turner and Jake Cousins (the Goslings are named after members of the Animal Care Team but I’m not sure which one is which!!)

Sadness in the passing of Humphrey the Penguin

In balance with all the abundance of new life we’ve been celebrating this spring comes the unfortunate inevitability of some lives coming to an end. 
Friends and regular followers of our Humboldt Penguins here at Seaview Wildlife Encounter will probably know a key character called Humphrey.  Humphrey hatched three years ago with a hunched back – a curvature of the spine.  Although not as agile as the other Penguins on land, Humphrey was a tremendous swimmer who really came into his own in the water.  Right from the start Humphrey asserted himself as more than able to cope, despite his disability. 



We had been told that Penguins with this condition are not likely to have a long lifespan – due to a variety of health issues and physical complications that they are prone to.  During his life, Humphrey received regular check ups from our vet who has treated Humphrey each year for a recurring respiratory disorder.  Although his laboured breathing never cleared entirely, we were able to keep at bay, and our vet was confident that Humphrey was not in any pain.  That was until a few weeks ago when Humphrey’s health started to deteriorate further.  Over the last few days, although still as brilliant in the pool as ever, Humphrey’s breathing became uncomfortably laboured.  The difficult decision was taken yesterday and Humphrey was put to sleep.

 

 Being part of a wildlife park is not about keeping animals alive for our sake, or for the pleasure of our visitors; it’s about giving our animals the very best life they can possibly have whilst under our care. Today is sad for all of us and Humphrey will be greatly missed. However his spirit and memory will live on forever in our pool.

Check out these fabulous quotes from our Visitors Book

“ We love it here!  No place like it anywhere else on earth!”
“  Had a lovely afternoon, been before and it gets better and better”
“  This place improves with every visit.  Well done to all concerned”
“  Amazing.  Wildlife in action & you get to feed the penguins!”
“  I’m back!  Every time I come to the Island I have to visit – Love it! Thank you”
“  A simply superb day!  Would highly recommend.  Penguin Encounter was    amazing – Thank you”
“Superb place, Staff & attraction fantastic!  Can’t wait to come back”