Calling all parents!  Need a couple of hours of peace and quiet?  If your children are aged between 4 and 11, you can book them in to join us in Santa’s Christmas Workshop on the 17th or 18th December from 10 am – 12 noon.

They’ll learn about Santa’s reindeer, make gifts for the gorillas and orangutans, eat a hearty cooked breakfast and (if they’re really good) get a present from the man himself!

Sounds good?  Then ring Jude on 01253 830812 from Monday, 14th November to book tickets.  £10 per child for Zoo members or £12 for non-members including admission to the Zoo.  (Non-members will receive 20% discount on Zoo admission if you want to make a day of it)

Santa

Bukavu and his present

We are delighted to announce that wildlife photographer, Ron Pickering, has agreed to present his amazing pictures at a “Photo Safari” for our members on Sunday, December 4th from 1 – 2 pm in the Lecture Theatre.   All Zoo members are very welcome to attend.

There will also be an Enrichment Workshop at 11 am on that day.  However, places are limited, so please telephone 01253 830805 to book in.

Snow Leopard

Date for your diary :  Monday, 31st October, 2011 from 5 – 7 pm.

It’s nearly Halloween and our party’s going to be great! It includes a fancy dress competition, fun and games, prizes, snack, drink and a spooky gift. Oh, and parking’s free, Mums and Dads. Tickets are on sale now at the Play Barn, priced £7.00 per child (or £5.00 for Play Barn members). Book soon!

If you’re a Zoo member, you’re invited to series of presentations taking place over the winter months.  Times may vary and workshops may be available for children, but full details will be posted here on the website and on Facebook as well as around the Zoo.  Talks take place in the Lecture Theatre in the main entrance,  last approximately one hour and light refreshments will be available.

Sunday, 6th November  :     New Developments  – what’s next?

Sunday, 4th December  :   21st Century Tiger – the work of the charity supporting tigers worldwide.

Sunday, 15th January  :  The Perils of the Wildlife Trade – how we can help.

Sunday, 26th February  :  Asian Elephants and the Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust.

Sunday, 25th March  :  Animal Training  -  how do they do it and what are the benefits?

Make sure you note the dates in your diary.

Blackpool Zoo is really getting into the ‘spirit’ of Halloween with a half-term week packed with spooky activities.

From Saturday 22nd to 30th October little ghouls and goblins can try their hand at pumpkin carving at 11.30am in the Children’s Farm. They’ll then get the chance to fill their creations with treats, which will be fed to the animals across the zoo.

Pumpkins will also be hidden in animal enclosures and a fun trail to find them all will take place every day.

There will also be spooky badge making, giraffe and lorikeet feeding and the usual popular line up of animal talks, feeds and contact sessions across the zoo and in the Children’s Farm. All times and information can be found on the website.

Jude Rothwell, PR and Marketing Co-ordinator at Blackpool Zoo, said: “Half term is set to be a spooky spectacular with fun for the whole family.

“Pumpkin carving and animal feeding are always very popular with the children and, of course, our residents!”

The latest investment at Blackpool Zoo is sure to have bird lovers flocking!

Species from across the globe are settling into a 10,000sq ft purpose built aviary, which cost £12,500 and is situated on the site of the former Children’s Zoo.

The critically endangered Waldrapp Ibis has taken residence along with African Spoonbills, Sacred Ibis, Black-crowned Night Herons, White Storks, Little Egrets and Eider Ducks.

With such a huge array of birds there is so much to see and hear. Watch out for the African Spoonbill, which uses its open bill to catch food by swinging it from side to side in the water.

Or listen for the hard croak of the Sacred Ibis, which, in ancient Egypt, was used to make pools safe for bathing by feeding on the water snails that carried deadly parasites.

The Waldrapp Ibis, with its distinctive long, curved red bill, disappeared from Europe over 30 years ago and there is thought to be only around 500 left in Southern Morocco and Syria.

Jude Rothwell, Marketing and PR Co-ordinator at Blackpool Zoo, said: “It is wonderful to see a new home for so many beautiful and interesting birds.

“The sights and sounds are amazing and, as the birds hail from around the world, there is always something new for people to learn.

“This is the latest attraction in our investment programme, which is aimed at continually adding to the experience of visiting Blackpool Zoo and we are very much looking forward to seeing the public’s reaction.”

The aviary has been under construction throughout the spring and the birds moved in at the beginning of July.

Have you recently visited Blackpool Zoo and if so are you interested in joining an informal discussion group regarding your zoo experience?

We are looking for a small group of people to take part in this session where you will be asked questions and invited to chat about your experiences in and around the zoo  We will record the sessions and use the information to improve the zoo for the future.

We would love to hear from you providing you fall into the categories:

a) You do NOT hold an annual pass/membership

b) You have visited the zoo as a parent of a child under the age of 14 years.

Details of the session are:

When: Tuesday 16^th August 2011

Time: 4pm to 6pm

Where: Blackpool Zoo, East Park Drive, Blackpool

Payment: Expenses will be paid in the form of £40 cash which will be issued to you at the end of the session.

If you are interested in participating in this discussion group and would like to know more, please contact one of the people listed below:

Cathy Burrows: Telephone 015395 30153 x 208 e-mail  cathy.burrows@lakesaquarium.co.uk or text to 07855 249773.

Rudy Rengers: Telephone 01539 739 777 e-mail rudy@ahamarketing.co.uk

Please provide a contact telephone number.  We will be in contact by return to discuss in further detail and answer any questions you may have.

Blackpool Zoo is delighted to announce the recent successful hatching of two Magellanic penguin chicks.  The first of this species to hatch at the park, the new arrivals have yet to be sexed.  This process is carried out later by DNA testing of feathers.

The penguins paired up for breeding and several nests were built in the recesses within the enclosure. Keepers provided nesting material of twigs and branches and it soon became clear that a pair were sitting on eggs.  They hatched just over a month ago, and keepers are eagerly their emergence from the den.

Although the chicks are covered in soft, downy feathers when they first hatch, these are soon replaced by the waterproof “proper” feathers needed to keep them warm in the water.  They are fed by their parents on regurgitated fish and “babysitting” is shared between the parents.

Newly hatched penguin chick

They youngsters will be introduced gradually to the water by their parents, but will adapt very quickly to their new routine.

If you’re looking for great childcare in a superb location, then look no further.  Blackpool Zoo’s unique A – Zoo Children’s Day Nursery is offering you the opportunity to call in and see for yourself what’s available for your most precious possession’s early education.

A range of activities will take place from face painting to donkey brushing, cake decorating to baby massage and much more besides whilst parents can meet the staff and look around the aptly named Lion Cubs and Wise Owls’ rooms.

A - Zoo children meet the sealions

A very special visit at 11.00 am by Mooky the Clown and Mr Boo from the Tower Circus will delight children and adults alike.

The Nursery does have vacancies for 3 and 4 year olds following the seasonal exodus to “big school”.

Make it a date – from 10.00 am on Saturday, 23rd July.