Blackbrook Zoological Park

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=Blackbrook Zoological Park
logo=Blackbrook_logo.jpg
logo_width=200
logo_caption=Blackbrook Zoological Park logo
date_opened=1991
location=Winkhill, Staffordshire, England
area=convert|75|acre|km2
coordinates=coord|53|03|40|N|1|55|25|W|type:landmark_region:GB
num_species=
num_animals=
exhibits =
website=http://www.blackbrookzoo.co.uk/

Blackbrook Zoological Park is a wildlife attraction in central England which exhibits the largest collection of birds in the country. It is known for its excellent breeding record with many rare bird species, with over 300 successfully breeding species to date. [cite web | title = Park p-p-picks up eight new penguins | work = www.yourleekpaper.co.uk | url = http://www.yourleekpaper.co.uk/yourleekpaper-news/DisplayArticle.asp?id=247182 | accessdate=2008-08-30] . The zoo also has a growing collection of mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians. It is a rural zoo, set in convert|75|acre|km2 of farmland and moorland at Winkhill in Staffordshire. The nearest towns are Leek, Ashbourne and Stoke-on-Trent.

History

Blackbrook Zoological Park was established in 1991 by Diana Holloway and her son, Mark Rubery. [cite web | title = Park History | work = Blackbrook Zoological Park Website | url = http://blackbrookzoo.co.uk/Page-ParkHistory-Info.aspx | accessdate=2008-08-30] . Holloway was already experienced in running a wildlife visitor attraction, having owned and run Hillside Bird Oasis in Mobberley, Cheshire since 1974. Blackbrook quickly developed into a large bird collection in its own right. Following Diana Holloway's death in 2006, running of the zoo passed to her son Mark. Development and expansion has continued in recent years: in 2006, a new entrance, gift shop and café were constructed, and in 2008, a penguin exhibit was added. Hillside Bird Oasis was forced to close to the public in 2002 following complaints from local residents over increasing traffic levels, but it is still maintained by the owners as a private breeding facility. [cite web | title = Award-winning tourist attraction forced to close | work = This is Cheshire archive | url = http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2002/6/20/193708.html | accessdate=2008-08-30]

Animals

Blackbrook currently holds over 200 species of bird and around 40 mammals and reptiles. It has a particularly good collection of cranes, pelicans and waterfowl. Some of the animals exhibited are listed below:

Birds

* Humboldt penguin
* Secretary bird
* Openbill stork
* Red crowned crane
* Pink-backed pelican
* Grey peacock pheasant
* Great argus
* Siamese fireback
* Boat billed heron
* White naped crane
* Magellanic steamer duck
* Sarus crane
* African spoonbill
* Demoiselle crane
* Hammerkop
* Wattled crane
* Ostrich
* Cassowary
* Black-necked crane
* Sandhill crane
* Chilean brown pelican
* Australian pelican
* American white pelican
* Milky eagle owl
* Maguari stork

Mammals

* Meerkat
* Bennett's wallaby
* Black and white ruffed lemur
* Mayotte lemur
* Mongoose lemur
* Meerkat
* Pygmy marmoset
* Red-handed tamarin
* White-fronted lemur
* Oriental short-clawed otter

Future developments

Future projects at the zoo will include the development of the country's largest river aviary.

External links

* [http://www.blackbrookzoo.co.uk/ Blackbrook Zoological Park website]

References