Autumn Newsletter

 

Autumn leaves are falling, the nights are drawing in … and only a short time to go until we close (4th November) for the winter.

This summer’s intermittent wet weather and tight economic climate have had an obvious influence on visitor numbers to the Island and tourism businesses across the UK. Despite this, Seaview Wildlife has been leading the way with personal, one-on-one Wildlife Experiences!

We had a great first season of Penguin, Meerkat and Combo Encounters!  These unique VIP wildlife experiences were launched in March 2012 in response to popular demand from our visitors –
adding to our “Keeper for a Day”, “Junior Wildlife Experience” and “Wildest Date” Encounters that proved to be so popular in the two previous years.

 

 

 

The Wallaby Joeys that were so tiny earlier in the summer are spending more time hopping about in Wallaby Walkabout and less time tucked up in the safety of their mothers’ pouches. All three youngsters are doing really well.

Our Chilean Flamingos have bred very well again this year. We are pleased to be supplying Belfast Zoo with 16 of our young adult birds later in the  Autumn – the introduction of new bloodlines to encourage genetic diversity is a vitally important part of all captive breeding programmes.

Those readers who regularly follow our Blog may know that our Humboldt Penguins’ annual moult took longer than usual this year.  This is likely to have been due to the  inconsistent summer weather and fewer hours of sunshine.  The end result was worth the wait though – with a proud Penguin colony in natural tuxedos looking as dashing as ever!

 

 

Book now for your own Personal Wildlife Encounter!

Why not book your VIP Wildlife Encounter for this October half term holiday or Spring 2013?

In addition to our nine daily Wildlife Keeper Presentations our extra special one-on-one Wildlife Encounters have been extremely popular this summer. “An experience of a lifetime” for adults and children alike, these Encounters offer really close up, personal time, feeding and getting to know the animals (Personal DVD of images included). Choose from:

· Keeper for a Day (ages 12 – 112!)

· Junior Wildlife Experience (ages 6 – 15)

· Penguin or Meerkat Encounter (or Combo Encounters) (adults and children 6+)

· Wildest Place for a Special Date (adults, 18+)

For more information please see our website: http://www.seaviewwildlife.com/summary/wildlife_encounters/
Pre-booking is essential; to check availability please email info@seaviewwildlife.com or phone 01983 612153.

Card of the Week – proof that our Wildlife Encounters are great for all ages!

Yesterday we received a really lovely Thank You card from Lynn & Pete Thoday who shared a Keeper for a Day experience with us on Saturday 29th September.  This was a surprise 65th birthday present for Lynn!

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“To everyone at Seaview especially Charlotte, Becky and Jake, for making our Keeper for a Day on Saturday 29th September a fantastic and an awesome experience. 
Feeding and handling the animals was better than we ever thought it could be, even with a few scratches and bites.  I will never forget my 65th birthday surprise. 
One of my best moments was overcoming my fear of snakes, that was a real bonus and it was thanks to Charlotte, Becky and Jake with their encouragement that I did it.
If possible on your blog could you sometime update how the little Flamingo and Squirt are doing.
Once again we would both like to say a big thank you for a marvellous day and would recommend it to anyone.  We would both love to do it again sometime.
Lynn & Pete Thoday
P.S. Would it be possible to get a photo of Charlotte, Becky and Jake together so I can put it in my scrapbook, which I hope to put together this winter”.

Thank you Lynn & Pete, from all the Animal Care Team, for taking the time to write and send this message of thanks– and for the beautiful card that you sent it in.

This weekend’s Wildlife Encounters

The weather was perfect for personal Wildlife Experiences this weekend!  What a difference a day makes – today has been grizzly (grey and drizzly) all day long … just look at these weekend images showing blue skies and sunny smiles all round …

Rebecca (Becky) Jones (images below) was a Keeper for a Day with us on Saturday.  This was a gift to Becky from her parents, Mike and Gerrie (Mike does our advertising design work) as a belated special day after the birth of her daughter.

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Also on Saturday (6th October) we welcomed Megan Davis who experienced her own unique Meerkat Encounter (images below):

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On Sunday 7th October thirteen year old Oliver Niemiec (pictured below) was our Keeper for a Day (Oliver said his favourite animals were the Meerkats)

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Yesterday, Sarah and Alan Barnett treated themselves to a Combo Encounter – experiencing personal, close-up time with both the Penguins and Meerkats (a few of their images are below):

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Vet visits the Park

Last week, our vet Dr Ian Green, visited our collection - not only to consult on specific cases but as part of our Pro-active Healthcare Programme.  This is an essential part of our zoo licence requirements.   During this bi-annual visit the overall health of the collection is reviewed, collection strategies and future expansion plans are discussed and a range of preventative treatments are agreed upon.  The morning was combined with a bi-annual Ethical Review Meeting where a number of topics relating to our collection were discussed. Those present included three Park representatives (Director, General Manager and Head Keeper), the Park veterinarian and a neutral third party who has no connections with the Park.  Sometimes topics can be quite emotive or even controversial and such a Review Meeting allows for a tabling of ideas and a chance for those present to share their views and opinions. 
A few images taken during the ‘walk round’ with the vet:

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Above: Trimming the Pigs’ trotters (quite a challenging task as the Pigs don’t take kindly to having their feet fiddled with!)

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Above: Chilean Flamingo chick being examined and hand-fed

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Above: Vet examines ‘Squirt’ the Penguin’s feet.  Squirt has been suffering from a condition known as ‘Bumblefoot’ – sores on the soles of his feet.  This is not contagious but does require the Penguin’s feet to be kept dry whilst undergoing treatment.  Once given the ‘all-clear’ the Penguin patient is then permitted to re-join the rest of the colony back at the Penguin pool.

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Squirt – making his way (with great enthusiasm!) from the treatment room  – back to the Penguin pool to re-join his pals!

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Down at the Lower Lake, walking, talking and reviewing, whilst surrounded by a myriad of magnificent wildfowl.

LETTER OF THE WEEK FROM THE PARKINSONS UK ASSOCATION

1st October, 2012
Dear Sirs,
We would like to thank you and all your staff for our warm welcome last Wednesday in the pouring rain!!
Despite this or in spite of – our Members all enjoyed their visit and were able to appreciate the lovely presentation of the Park.  They commented particularly on how neat and clean everywhere was and the friendliness of the Keepers.
We also appreciated the support of the cafe staff who didn’t mind some of our less able members taking rather longer with their refreshments to avoid the rain.
We did not get one moan but lots of thank you’s for bringing them to your Park.
Thank you and well done to all concerned.
Yours sincerely
Marion & Peter Hickmans – Parkinson UK Fareham & District Branch.

Combo Encounter for Chris and Vanessa

It was really good to spend time with our two guests, Chris Lucas and Vanessa Smith earlier this week when they joined us for a “Combo Encounter” (feeding and spending close-up time with both the Penguins and Meerkats).  Originally from Zimbabwe, Chris and Vanessa are both wildlife enthusiasts who had spotted our “Wildlife Encounters” on the internet.  They seemed to enjoy every moment and were amazed at the wonderful experiences they’d had on the Isle of Wight.  Vanessa asked me why I thought the Island wasn’t marketed into mainland UK more strongly … she reckons it knocks spots off going to Spain or Portugal, an Island with something for everyone – so many choices and great wildlife opportunities!  We hope Vanessa may help to spread the word, and we look forward to welcoming them both back again when they’re next on the Island!

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A Meerkat moment in time

Capturing a Meerkat moment ….
This is Sangu, the Meerkat matriarch in our mob of three Slender-Tailed Meerkats (Suricata suricatta).   In a classic Meerkat pose – an upright stance – she is alert and observant.  We’re hoping that Sangu and our young male, Pongo, might become more than just close friends in the months ahead and start letting nature take its course.  The prospect of a litter of pups - and being able to share miniature Meerkat moments with you - is something that would really delight all of us here at the Park ….

Photography by Jules Brittan, General Manager