COMING SOON …. AND ABOUT TO HOG THE LIMELIGHT AT SEAVIEW WILDLIFE….

NEW-COMERS TO SEAVIEW WILDLIFE FOR 2011!

THE ADULT VERSIONS - ABOVE LEFT: Mini-Pig Boar and ABOVE RIGHT: Mini-pig Sow (at Fakenham Farm) taken this afternoon.

Acquiring some mini-piglets has been a plan that’s been on our minds for some time now …. so although a mini-micro pig seems to be the ‘in thing’ and quite a trendy pet to own these days, we’ve been plotting a piggy pen for a lot longer than any of the fad-driven ‘celebs’!

Mini or micro pigs are intelligent and very easy to become fond of …. they apparently out-smart both dogs and cats and are incredibly responsive. We’ve read that mini pigs can be kept in a house , or even in an apartment, but for us that would really be pushing things too far – these little guys need to display natural behaviour – rooting around outside and enjoying the fresh air, as well as having somewhere warm and dry to sleep at night. With this in mind we’re looking at converting an area in the Park for our new-comers …. so watch this space as things progress!!

Currently our little ones are only 3 weeks old and we hope to bring them to their new home at Seaview Wildlife just after Christmas. What a wonderful Christmas present for all of us at the Park – and for our visitors in 2011!

These Images were taken earlier today and show the Mother Mini-Pig with her seven piglets – aged 3 weeks. In the right hand image the three piglets with their backs to us somehow resemble miniature elephants …. we can only hope that they won’t end up quite that big!!

Heavy rain causes flooding at Seaview Wildlife and other places on Isle of Wight

Many of us in the South of England and the Isle of Wight woke this morning to rain battering against our windows….. and driving became an water sport with gushing roads and overflowing storm drains forming part of the aquatic assault course on our way to work!  Of course the Park hasn’t escaped the wet – but fortunately, although we’ve sprung a few leaks, none of the livestock have been negatively affected. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above: The Park’s lower lake has overflowed – consuming the pathway that normally allows easy pedestrian access.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left: The nature reserve just below the Park usually consists of scrub and some damp marshland but today it turned into a huge mass of water - this image above shows the extension of our lower lake (in the foreground) with the flooded nature reserve behind.   Above right: Stormy seas - looking out over the flooded nature reserve to the rough grey green waves of the Solent beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the wet and bedraggled Alpaca look for November 2010!  Despite having the option of a dry shed  our two lads don’t seem to mind how wet it gets!

Our trip to Paignton Zoo for the ACE BIAZA Conference

Lorraine and I had an exciting few days away in Devon last week!  Some aspects were really positive, some more of an adventure!  As promised here’s a slice of some of the ‘goings on’!

THE CONFERENCE:

We thought it was a great success; particularly the full-day of guest speakers on Thursday 4th November.  The presentations and lectures came from different perspectives – all on the topic of Technology and how it affects business today.  Each speaker was extremely engaging and interesting in their own way.  I took copious notes (although I’m not sure when I’ll have time to go through them!)  The conference was punchy, professional and pertinent to our business.  We were really pleased to have been able to attend!

 

PAIGNTON ZOO:

Paignton Zoo hosted the conference and did us all proud!  It was very well organised and the venue was excellent.  In addition to the very full programme of guest speakers and events we had a couple of hours for a self-guided tour of the zoo.  During this time I managed to capture a few images to share with you!  These two show some of the amazing autumn colours!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was great to see the  Black Rhino (left) so close – having spent many years in Africa I’ve been fortunate enough to see them in the wild in game reserves, but being able to observe the animal and some of its behaviour at such close range was a real privilege.

 

I couldn’t resist the graceful giraffe (above) with its long dark purple tongue – browsing and stripping branches of their leaves.

 

 

 

The warmth of the crocodile house (left) was a good place to spend some time on a cool, windy Autumn afternoon!

The Hartman's Mountain Zebra (right) is an endangered equid. There are still a few to be found in the wild in Namibia living in a harsh yet fragile environment. This subspecies is much larger than it's close relative, the Cape mountain zebra, and is the only species of Zebra that has a ‘dewlap’ - a pendulous fold of skin under the throat.

 

 

 

It wasn’t only exotic fauna that caught our attention!

First was the simple joy of watching a Grey Squirrel harvesting sustenance from the Autumn floor ready for the winter months ahead.

Then we met up with Charlotte  from the Isle of Wight Zoo.  Whilst walking amongst the enclosures we came across a very affectionate domestic tabby cat!  She befriended us and then followed us around – even venturing into the warmth of the Ape House! 

 

 

THE ACCOMMODATION:

Lorraine and I initially had a reservation in a ‘top flight mobile home’ – a two-bedroomed caravan that we were told was the height of luxury and had everything we needed.  Other delegates had booked into this holiday park in order to be close to Paignton (but perhaps stayed in a different style of accommodation?)  To cut a long story short we were quite shocked and disappointed …. in fact the whole experience would have been a disaster – had we not met two young ladies on-site who helped us find alternative accommodation and recommended the Osborne Hotel in Torquay.  So we checked out, and moved on! If by any chance anyone knows Anna or Sarah Jane from the Holiday Park – we are so very grateful to them for their referral – what a special place – as can be seen from the images below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to BIAZA, Paignton Zoo and the Osborne Hotel for a tapestry of positive memories!

 

FOOTNOTE:

The hands-on interaction with the little tabby at Paignton stirred something within in Lorraine and me -  perhaps a longing to be back, nose-to-nose with our own interactive animals at Seaview Wildlife Encounter -  and a deep appreciation of how special and important that closeness is to us.

Letter of the Week

Good evening to all at Seaview Wildlife!

First of all, we should like to thank you for sending the Certificate of Adoption of Dippy, made as part of our Christmas present for our daughter-in-law.

We should also like to say what a lovely day we both had at your Park when we visited in October. We had anticipated spending just a couple of hours with you - but were there at least double that and could have made it much longer!

We were really impressed by how happy all the animals seemed, by the knowledge of the staff and care they showed for their 'charges' and also how helpful and friendly they all were. All in all, we found our day to be true value for money, and a wonderful experience.

Many thanks to all concerned - and may we add our sincere congratulations on the recently announced and richly deserved Gold Award for Excellence for 2010, ' Best Tourism
Experience of the Year'.

Kind regards,

Jackie and Brian Lee

All set to attend the BIAZA Conference – PAIGNTON ZOO

BIAZA is the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria - this is the professional body representing the best zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums in Britain and Ireland. Members pride themselves in their excellent animal welfare, education and conservation work.

Seaview Wildlife Encounter joined BIAZA as a provisional member earlier this year and, under the mentorship of David Field, Director of London and Whipsnade Zoos, we are currently working towards full BIAZA membership – hopefully to be awarded in 2011.

Amongst many other activities, BIAZA arranges National and Regional conferences - these promote and encourage open communication and the sharing of knowledge amongst Key Members within the Wildlife Park/Zoo and Aquaria community. In addition to facilitating a forum for open discussion the BIAZA conferences invite international guest speakers to address delegates on topics that are current and pertinent within the industry.

Lorraine and I are attending the BIAZA ACE Conference later this week being hosted by Paignton Zoo in Devon. The Conference synopsis is described as follows:

“During the conference we will look at the advancement of technology in everything that we do, including the visitor experience, how we educate and engage our visitors and how we attract them in the first place. We will explore both sides of the argument – do we embrace technology or do we shy away from it and keep the experience very much hands on and real life? We have attracted many experts in their field who will give us examples and points of focus.”

We look forward to meeting our fellow colleagues from across the UK and Ireland - and to participating in what will undoubtedly be an interesting, stimulating few days! Watch this space for some feedback early next week!

Our visit to the Hawk Conservancy Trust

At the end of last week, Lorraine and I were invited to visit Ashley Smith, Chief Executive of the Hawk Conservancy near Andover. We were lucky enough to not only have time one-on-one with Ashley but to witness his incredible Bird of Prey display. The photo on the right shows a rare Black Kite in flight above us during the display.

The Hawk Conservancy Trust is a UK registered charity whose mission is the conservation of Birds of Prey. It has won many awards for both its conservation work and as a visitor attraction, including the National Tourism Award in 2002.

Currently involved in vulture restoration projects in both Asia and Southern Africa, Ashley has recently returned from a trip to South Africa where he and his team were involved in fitting miniature satellite tracking devices to rare, endangered vultures. The image left shows a few of the Trust’s own vultures swooping low over an entranced audience during Ashley’s captivating display.

As Ashley explained, the vulture is the most crucial avian scavenger in the world, and plays a very important part in maintaining the health and beauty of our environment. Unfortunately these incredible creatures are much maligned world-over and many species now face extinction as a result of being hunted and poisoned.

In addition to Black Kites and Vultures, the display included a magnificent African Fish Eagle – pictured left and below - involved in a display to show how birds of prey hunted alongside their human handlers in years gone by. The African Fish Eagle has a striking beauty and haunting cry that are symbolic of the waterways and wild wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa.

Right - this year’s magnificent Autumn colours of burnished gold and rust further enhanced our experience of the display!

We look forward to welcoming Ashley and his Team to Seaview Wildlife Encounter – hopefully in the coming year – to share not only in the beauty of our Park –but all being well to be part of our forthcoming 40th Anniversary celebrations in 2011!

Letter of the Week

Isle Of Wight Chamber Business Awards for Excellence 2010

Dear Lorraine,

You recently submitted an application to our Chamber Business Awards for Excellence 2010.

The Awards panel have now met and I am pleased to inform you that Seaview Wildlife Encounter has been shortlisted in the Small Business Category.

I do hope you will be able to attend the Awards evening on the 26th November at the Cowes Yacht Haven to hear the final results.

Many congratulations for being shortlisted for this award.

Kind regards,

Becky Harper - Group Communications Co-ordinator