- Drusillas Zoo Park
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Drusillas Zoo Park 
Location near Alfriston, East Sussex Land area 10 acres (4.0 ha) Coordinates 50°49′26″N 0°9′46.8″E / 50.82389°N 0.163°ECoordinates: 50°49′26″N 0°9′46.8″E / 50.82389°N 0.163°E Number of animals 1638 Number of species 196 Website www.drusillas.co.uk Drusillas Park is a small 10 acres (4.0 ha) zoo near to Alfriston, in East Sussex, UK.
The zoo is home to many exotic wild and domestic animals, perhaps most famously ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats, and penguins. There are lots of hands-on activities, a large adventure play area separated for different age groups, a huge indoor soft play centre and a Thomas & Friends train that runs daily. There is also a fully licensed restaurant offering a wide choice of freshly prepared hot and cold food, cafés and shops. Everything is targeted towards children aged between about 2 to 10.
Contents
Animals and Attractions
Meerkats at Drusillas
In the last few years, the zoo has increased its number of animal exhibits but still maintains a policy of only having smaller animals - so for example there are no lions or tigers. The zoo has a good range of primates including crested black macaques , Brown Capuchin monkeys, Colobus Monkeys[1] and Lar gibbons. Other residents include small cats called servals, African crested porcupines, endangered Rodrigues fruit bats, Asian short claw otters, llamas, Humbolt penguins, parrots, and flamingos. There is also Pet World, Lemurland, a small farmyard and a walk-through lorikeet aviary is due to open by May 2011.
There's a 'Zoolympics challenge' where children can compare their abilities (to drag, hang on, jump, shout, run, and hold their breath) against a variety of animals, and record them in a booklet given free at the entrance. There are also 'stamp books' that you can stamp using tick shaped stamps found around the enclosures.
The huge adventure play area is crammed full of swings, slides and climbing walls and has been separated into Go Bananas! for under 6s and Go Wild! for older children. There's also a large indoor soft play centre with a cafe selling drinks and snacks, perfect for parents to sit and watch the kids play and ideal for rainy days. The new interactive maze, Eden's Eye, is also great fun for children who love discovering the different worlds helped along by a series of clues and mythical creatures.
Thomas & Friends
Thomas & Friends at DrusillasIn 2007 Drusillas Park became the first UK attraction to introduce a permanent Thomas & Friends train ride after securing a long-term deal with rights owners, HIT Entertainment.
In accordance with the well-loved stories, the railway track has been themed and a Thomas passenger train offers daily rides from Tidmouth Hault and travels through the llama paddock,[2]. As well as Thomas, Annie and Clarabel visitors can also see James in the engine shed, Cranky at the Sodor dockyard, along with Diesel, Bulgy and the Fat Controller around the track.
Awards & Accolades
Drusillas won the Tourism South East Visitor Attraction of the Year Award 2010 -2011
Drusillas was rated the number one attraction in the UK by The Times in February 2010
Drusillas was recommended by The Guardian in their article 'Things to do with the Kids' in March 2010
Drusillas won the Sussex Business Awards 'Business of the Year' and 'Best Customer Service' in 2009 - 2010
Drusillas was voted 'Best Day Out in East Sussex' by Sovereign Radio and Arrow FM listeners in 2008
Notes
- ^ "Alfriston zoo expecting new arrivals". theargus.co.uk. The Argus. http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8802267.Alfriston_zoo_expecting_new_arrivals. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ "Thomas & Friends". drusillas.co.uk. Drusillas Park. http://www.drusillas.co.uk/pages/adayat/thomasthetank.aspx. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
External links
Media related to Drusillas Zoo Park at Wikimedia CommonsZoological Gardens in the United Kingdom Those listed in italics contain more than 5000 animalsZoos - Africa Alive!
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- Dudley Zoo
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Categories:- Zoos in England
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