Latest news with #DarrenBeasley
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Safari park's new hippos 'are a dream come true'
A safari park has welcomed two hippos into their new home as part of its "commitment to conservation". Mother and son duo, Lola and Hodor, settled into their new enclosure at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, alongside Matylda and Manon from the Czech Republic. The four hippos are housed in a state-of-the-art complex designed to have capacity for any resulting offspring, creating a self-sustaining family group known as a bloat. Staff say their arrival is "vital" for the conservation breeding programme for this vulnerable species, although it is too early to say when breeding may occur. Their arrival follows the deaths of Sonia and Spot, who had lived in Half Mile Pond for more than 40 years. Lola, 21, and her son Hodor, eight, were born at Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable. Their keepers revealed their favourite food was cabbage, which Longleat staff say will "be a staple of their Wiltshire diet". Darren Beasley, head of animal operations, said it was "amazing" to see the semi-aquatic animals back at Longleat. "We will be spending the coming days letting them settle in, giving them time to get to know the keepers and slowly introducing them to each other," he said. "We hope in time to have offspring which will be a huge boost to the international breeding programme, and vital for the protection of the species which aims to stop the move towards endangerment." Guests will be able to spot the hippos in their enclosure from the Jungle Cruise, which offers trips across Half Mile Pond. Simon Askew, chief operating officer, said: "We have said from the outset that our plans for introducing hippos has been part of our commitment to conservation, sustainability and education. "Today has seen a dream become reality. "It is an exciting time for Longleat and for our guests, who may start to spot the hippos in their paddock over the coming days." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Hippos arrive at safari park after trip across Europe Safari park's announces death of 'beloved' hippo Longleat Safari Park
BBC News
29-06-2025
- BBC News
New hippos 'vital' to Longleat Safari Park's conservation plan
A safari park has welcomed two hippos into their new home as part of its "commitment to conservation". Mother and son duo, Lola and Hodor, settled into their new enclosure at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, alongside Matylda and Manon from the Czech four hippos are housed in a state-of-the-art complex designed to have capacity for any resulting offspring, creating a self-sustaining family group known as a say their arrival is "vital" for the conservation breeding programme for this vulnerable species, although it is too early to say when breeding may occur. Their arrival follows the deaths of Sonia and Spot, who had lived in Half Mile Pond for more than 40 21, and her son Hodor, eight, were born at Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable. Their keepers revealed their favourite food was cabbage, which Longleat staff say will "be a staple of their Wiltshire diet". Darren Beasley, head of animal operations, said it was "amazing" to see the semi-aquatic animals back at Longleat."We will be spending the coming days letting them settle in, giving them time to get to know the keepers and slowly introducing them to each other," he said."We hope in time to have offspring which will be a huge boost to the international breeding programme, and vital for the protection of the species which aims to stop the move towards endangerment." 'Dream come true' Guests will be able to spot the hippos in their enclosure from the Jungle Cruise, which offers trips across Half Mile Askew, chief operating officer, said: "We have said from the outset that our plans for introducing hippos has been part of our commitment to conservation, sustainability and education. "Today has seen a dream become reality."It is an exciting time for Longleat and for our guests, who may start to spot the hippos in their paddock over the coming days."
BBC News
19-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Longleat Safari Park welcomes hippo sisters
Two young hippo sisters have arrived at a safari park after a 780-mile (1255 km) journey from the Czech Matylda and three-year-old Manon were delivered to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire on are the first hippos the park has acquired in more than 40 park's two previous hippos - Spot and Sonia - both died at the age of 49 in 2024 and 2023 respectively. Matylda, who weighs 990kg, and Manon, who weighs 750kg, were transported across Europe in specially-designed it will not just be the two sisters at Longleat, as they are to be joined in the next couple of weeks by mother and son Lola and Hodor. The park hopes to set up a breeding "pod" to boost conservation Beasley, Longleat's head of animal operations, said: "We are all over the moon to have hippos back at Longleat."We have all missed having this species on the estate after the deaths of Sonia and Spot, who had lived here for decades."Mr Beasley said Matylda and Manon would spend the next few weeks getting used to their "state-of-the-art" enclosure and new keepers. He said visitors to the park may spot them in their paddock during this time."The sisters have lived together all their lives, and we will slowly be introducing them to Lola and Hodor when they arrive with us shortly," Mr Beasley added.
