ALiverpool ★★★★ supplement Knowsley 40th Anniversary Special

The park: its history and its future

Animals do the oddest things – fab facts and funny photos

EXCLUSIVE ECHO READER OFFER INSIDE 2 NEWS Thursday, July 21, 2011 ★★★★ KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● 40th ANNIVERSARYCELEBRATION

‘So proud of our achievements’

HELLO and a very warm welcome Four decades ago, when the idea from across the north of England to to this special supplement marking of a safari park here in Knowsley boost the local economy yet always 40 years since the opening of was first mooted, there was little with animal welfare at its heart. Knowsley Safari Park. else like it in the UK. Nowhere else I am enormously proud of what Over the next 12 pages I hope could you find a park so close to has been achieved at Knowsley and you will gain some insight into how such a large urban population, a excited at what we may yet achieve the park came about, its history, place where human beings were in the coming years. the challenges we have faced over able to get as close as possible to If you have visited us in the past, the years and the work we do some of the most magnificent do come again. There is always today, both in terms of species creatures on the planet and all something new to see, something HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Knowsley Safari conservation, breeding and from their very own ‘cage’ – their different to experience and in providing one of the biggest tourist own car. terms of value for money we’re Park general manager David Ross, attractions in the country. It seems a long time ago since hard to beat. who has been there since it opened, There are some wonderful the park welcomed those first If you have never enjoyed what celebrates the anniversary with photos – both of animals and day-trippers, 200,000 in the first we offer here across 500 acres then Rigsby the humans – some fascinating facts month alone. try to come soon – the school about the park, an illuminating Over the intervening years we summer holidays are almost here history and some intriguing stories have seen many changes and faced and now is the perfect time to see of our time spent here with the many challenges, not least the foot our animals at their best. Contents animals. We’ve also included some and mouth crisis and more than Either way I look forward to very special offers as a way of saying one recession. Ye t we have welcoming you to our park. PAGES 2-3: thank you to you, the people of emerged as the successful business Yo u r s , Welcome from the current Earl of Merseyside, for your continued you see today – a must-go-to WARM WELCOME: The Derby and the history of past earls. support. attraction which brings visitors in The Earl of Derby Earl of Derby

PAGES 4-5: How Knowsley Safari Park was created. Timeline of key events over the past 40 years of the park.

PAGE 6: Knowsley Safari Park today – all the facts you’ll ever need to know.

PAGE 7: Knowsley snippets.

PAGE 8: Animals do the funniest things – the weird and wacky world of creatures.

PAGE 9: Up close and personal – VIP Knowsley experiences you’ll never forget.

PAGE 10: Conservation and breeding – what we do and why we do it.

PAGE 11: A life lived among animals – meet general manager David Ross.

PAGE 12: Exclusive reader offers.

Words: SUSAN LEE Designer: RACHEL HERRITY USEFUL INFORMATION Knowsley Safari Park is open daily (March 1 to October 31) from 10am until 4pm Entry prices: History of Adults (16 years and over) £15 Children (3-15 years) £11 OAPs (60 and over) £11 Season ticket: Adult, £40 Child/OAP: £30 ISITORS arriving today at audience that included Queen Elizabeth I. ● SEE OUR GREAT VALUE SEASON the safari park inevitably The 12th Earl gave his name to the TICKET OFFER ON PAGE 12 will be looking forward to a famous Derby horse race which he Season tickets are valid for 12 months from date day out among the animals. started in 1780, while the 14th Earl was VBut did you know the park, prime minister three times during of purchase and also gives you 10% off all purchases in the shop and restaurant. its owners and their ancestors, have Queen Victoria’s reign. Amusement rides: played a crucial part in the country’s The 16th Earl was President of the £2 per ticket, £10 per wristband. history? Board of Trade and Governor General of Rides are open weekends and school holidays The Stanley family have owned the Canada, and the 17th was Minister of from February half term to October. Rides open Knowsley Estate since the 14th century. War during the First World War, as well from noon and height restrictions apply. Lord Thomas Stanley was created the as Ambassador to France after the Winter Opening Times: November 1 to 1st Earl of Derby after the Battle of conflict. February 28: WEEKENDS ONLY Bosworth in 1485 when he recovered the Yet it was the 18th Earl we must thank 10.30am open, 3pm last entry. Closed December crown of the slain Richard III and placed it for the founding of the park itself and 24th/25th, New Ye ar’s Eve and New Ye ar’s Day on the head of his stepson, Henry Tudor. his nephew, the 19th and current earl, How to find us: The 5th Earl maintained a company of who inherited the title in 1994 and who From M62 exit at junction 6 then take the M57 REMARKABLE: A portrait of Edward Smith Stanley, actors, one of whom was William still runs it today. exit at junction 2. At the roundabout follow the the 13th Earl of Derby who created his own Shakespeare. Later, the bard’s A Of course the Knowsley Estate was brown safari signs. menagerie in the 19th century Midsummer Night’s Dream was home to exotic species from around the SatNav reference: L34 4AN performed for the first time at the world long before the actual safari park License granted courtesy of the Rt Hon The Earl of Derby wedding of the 6th Earl, in front of an opened in 1971. ★★★★ Thursday, July 21, 2011 NEWS 3 KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● HISTORY

REMEMBER WHEN: How the Liverpool ECHO BEST PALS: A charming 1974 snapshot of an elephant and a rhino who became friends at the Safari Park reported the opening of Knowsley Safari Park

SAFARI FACT The park occupies an area of more than 500 acres NEVER MIND: Visitors remain cheerful despite finding themselves CHEEKY MONKEY: Stanley the tries to steal some cake meant earlsin the breakdown lane past andfor present all the monkeys

The 13th Earl of Derby had a lifelong the Zoological Society of London in 1826, These include the 58-foot-long state passion for natural history and created and he was president of the organisation dining room, originally created in 1820 his own menagerie in the mid 19th from 1831 until he died in 1851. by the 12th Earl of Derby to celebrate a century which contained, at its peak, 318 Following his death the Illustrated visit by George IV. species of birds and 94 species of London News described his Other highlights include an mammals. menagerie as the most exceptional library and an unusual They occupied paddocks complete and important walnut drawing room inspired by and buildings covering more private zoological collection eighteenth century French design. than 100 acres of land, created in the world and added that The hall – which is set in a 2,500-acre by an army of 400 labourers ‘it is hard to think of a more private park created by Capability hired specifically for the task. perfect epitaph for a truly Brown – can be used for events including Lord Derby’s scientific remarkable man’. weddings, conferences, seminars, interest in animals led him to If you get a chance, take a product launches, dinners and balls. become a founding member of look at itself. It is also open to the public for one It’s a fascinating structure, week each summer and is much in with the earliest part of the demand as a film and TV location, MAKING HISTORY: building dating from 1495 featuring in programmes as diverse as Thomas Stanley, the first and boasting a classic the The Forsyte Saga and Hollyoaks. Earl of Derby in 1485 Georgian facade and some Above all it remains a family house fine Jacobean, baroque and for the current earl, his wife and three MAGNIFICENT: Knowsley Hall, ancestral home of the Earls Victorian interiors. children. of Derby 4 NEWS Thursday, July 21, 2011 ★★★★ KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● HOW THE PARK WAS CREATED

KEY OF THE DOOR: An elephant and his keeper celebrate the park’s 21st birthday Crowds came

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?: One of the park’s HESE days we take safari parks for planners were understandably nervous about famous has a rest on a visitor’s car granted, but the idea of visitors the project, particularly in terms of its potential “caged” in their cars, while the to cause traffic problems. As a result, it animals roam free, was introduced to attracted a significant amount of publicity. Tthe UK in the mid 1960s. In fact, one newspaper called the application The idea, based on the drive-through game for the park “one of the strangest ever to be reserves of East Africa, is widely credited to considered by Lancashire County Council Jimmy Chipperfield of Chipperfield’s Circus Planning Authority”. fame. Despite these misgivings, all the regulatory He worked with the Marquess of Bath on the hurdles had been satisfactorily overcome by creation of the first park at Longleat which October, 1970, but even then there was still an opened in 1966, and then with the Duke of element of doubt about the project. Bedford on which opened According to press reports at the time, Lord in 1970. Derby had still not decided whether to proceed While Woburn was in development, Jimmy because of the huge practical difficulties to be Chipperfield was also in discussions with overcome, not least of which was the the 18th Earl of Derby on plans for Knowsley construction of five miles of new roads. Safari Park. In the end, the 18th Earl finally gave the park However, Knowsley was the green light in early November, and work fundamentally different to the began on the huge task of transforming 346 previous projects because it was acres of the Knowsley Estate into the new the first safari park that visitor attraction which was set to open the would be created near to a following summer. big city – just eight By January, 1971, the PR campaign for the miles from Liverpool park was also in full swing, with Lord Derby city centre – and appearing in the press riding a baby elephant in the first that would front of Knowsley Hall, as Lady Derby walked a be surrounded by very boisterous cub on a lead. suburban housing The first animals began to arrive in early estates. June, ahead of the planned opening in early Against this July, but even at this late stage there were still background, problems for Lord Derby and Park general manager Lawrence Tennant, formerly the Chief NEW ARRIVAL: Game Warden of Uganda. A newborn Firstly, the arrival of the park’s elephants was giraffe delayed for several weeks due to a dock strike in CUTE CUB: Derby the lion cub gets to know a safari Mombasa, Kenya. officer And then just before the park opened, a TV ★★★★ Thursday, July 21, 2011 NEWS 5 KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● TIMELINE

CHECK UP: Safari park general manager David Ross inspects a TIMELINE rhino during his rounds There have been many milestones across the 40 year history of Knowsley Safari Park. Here are just some of the most important:

● October 1970 – The 18th Earl of Derby obtains planning permission for a new wildlife and game reserve on 346 acres of his Knowsley estate. It will be the first safari park in the north of England and the first near a big city. ● June 1971 – A TV company screens a Knowsley Safari Park advert early by mistake and creates chaos, as thousands of people are turned away at the gates. ● July 1971 – Knowsley Safari Park opens its gates for the first time. One of the key attractions – the herd of elephants – arrives just in time after being delayed by a dock strike in Kenya. ● August 1971 – 200,000 people visit the park in the first month, creating five-mile tailbacks. On one day 6,500 cars carrying over 30,000 people pass through the park. Over 150 vehicles break down. TRUNK CALL: One of the safari park ● 1972 – A dolphinarium is the latest addition to the elephants who liked to play practical park. Four dolphins – Duchess, Flipper, Dozy and jokes Scouse – give daily performances. ● 1973 – The safari drive at Knowsley is extended from 3.5 to 5 miles to create a new white rhino reserve, making the drive at the attraction the longest in the UK. ● Mid 1970s – The UK is hit by a major recession and Knowsley Safari Park suffers a decline in visitors. ● Early 1980s – For several years, stages of the RAC Rally are held at Knowsley Safari Park to generate interest and income. ● 1982 – The park opens a new theatre to stage its daily sealion shows. I’M NOT USED TO ● 1993 – Knowsley takes delivery of new LONG WAIT: Queues of traffic THIS COLD: A lion animals following the closure of Windsor Safari wait to get into the newly opened climbs up a safari Park including seven elephants, creating the Knowsley Safari Park in 1971. Inset: park tree in a bid to largest jumbo herd in Europe at the time. Last chance to fill up with petrol get away from the ● 1994 – The 19th Earl of Derby takes over the before the safari drive running of the Knowsley Estate and park and snowy conditions immediately announces a major redevelopment programme. This regeneration project heralds the start of a new era of ever-rising visitor numbers at the park. ● 1994 – Knowsley Safari Park is voted as the area’s top attraction in the Merseyside To urism Awards. ● 1997 – One of the most famous events in the in their thousands park’s history occurs when a is killed by lightning during a summer thunderstorm. ● 1998 – The profile of the park soars when it is the subject of a Granada reality TV series. ● 2000 – The park receives its first royal visit – the Duke of Edinburgh. station screened an advert for the park early ● 2001 – The UK is hit by a major outbreak of by mistake, which meant that thousands of foot-and-mouth disease, the first since 1967. As people had to be turned away at the gates. a result the park is forced to close its gates for Despite these mishaps, the park opened in many weeks. a blaze of glory on Saturday July 3 and ● 2002 – Knowsley Safari Park introduces a car and immediately became a huge success. coach-friendly route around the monkey jungle for By the end of the month, 200,000 people visitors wishing to avoid its infamous baboons. had visited the attraction. By the end of the ● 2004 – The Safari School welcomes its first year, this figure had risen to well over half a children. This purpose-built education centre million. offers a range of sessions on animal-related One man who remembers the hectic themes linked to the National Curriculum. early days well is current general ● 2005 – Knowsley celebrates the arrival of the manager David Ross, then the first-ever critically endangered Pere David’s Deer attraction’s chief warden. twin fawns to be born in captivity. “Safari parks are very well ● 2005 – Visitor numbers at Knowsley established now but back in 1971 Safari Park are at a 30-year high. The they were a totally new concept, and attraction welcomes 500,000 people the opening generated a huge amount during the year. of interest and excitement”, he said. ● 2006 – Knowsley unveils its new baboon “A s a result, people converged on the house, built by contractors who have to be park in huge numbers to see this new fenced in to protect them from the phenomenon for themselves and, inhabitants of the monkey jungle. looking back, I’m not sure how we coped ● 2007 – The Aerial Extreme with the flood of visitors. adventure ropes course opens. “We had the police trying to cope with ● 2008 – Knowsley launches its new long traffic jams outside the park, and the £600,000 sealion facility. motoring organisations trying to deal with ● 2009 – The park is forced to issue a hundreds of breakdowns in the park. warning to visitors with rooftop luggage boxes “On one day 6,500 vehicles came through on their cars after the Knowsley baboons the gates, containing 30,000 visitors. We master the art of breaking into them. had to close early in order to try and get ● 2010 – Knowsley Safari Park is voted Britain’s top them all out again before nightfall. The HAVE YOU HEARD THIS wildlife attraction by viewers of the documentary TV last one left about 10pm. ONE?: Comic Ken Goodwin channel Eden. “They were amazing days, but enjoys a joke with Nellie the ● 2011 – Three white rhino calves are born at what’s even more remarkable is that elephant during a visit to the Knowsley in the space of two months, 40 years on the park is still here, and safari park in 1974 reinforcing the park’s conservation credentials. still a big success.” 6 NEWS Thursday, July 21, 2011 ★★★★ KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● THE PARK TODAY

STAR ATTRACTIONS: The three baby white rhino calves; Troy, Rosie and Bugo enjoy an outing while, below right, the park also has a new route for drivers who want to see the baboons without risking their cars

Something to suit all tastes

ORTY years after drive. Other opening its gates for the attractions include first time, Knowsley the safari village Safari Park remains with its woodland F one of the North West’s walk, miniature most popular attractions giving railway and SAFARI visitors the chance to get ‘up walkaround animal LEARN THE ROPES: close and personal’ with around area where elephants, giraffes, Visitors enjoy the safari 700 exotic animals from all over meerkats and otters can be FACT the globe. viewed at close quarters. park’s Aerial Extreme These include rhinos, , A major feature in this area is attraction In total there are buffalo, bison, , , the park’s revamped sealion ropes course and rides). more than 15 , monkeys, deer, , facility, with a larger outdoor Safari Park general manager, wallabies and – of course – pool and underwater viewing David Ross, explained: “Because miles of fences in Knowsley’s infamous baboons! facilities, which enable visitors to of all our new animals and and around the The good news for drivers watch the sealions’ antics developments over the years concerned about their vehicles is throughout the day, not just at there’s a huge amount to see and attraction that these days they can choose to show times. do at the park, which is why view these mischievous Meanwhile, Knowsley’s Bug we’re one of the North West’s few inhabitants of the monkey jungle House offers everything from genuine all-day attractions. from the safety of the car and snakes and lizards to spiders and “A s a result, we offer excellent coach-friendly route. cockroaches, while there are value for money which is why I Highlights at Knowsley this goats, lambs, cattle and horses for am confident that we will year alone have included three the children to pet and enjoy at continue to attract large numbers white rhino calves – Lake Farm. of visitors, old and new, during Troy, Rosie and Bugo Knowsley is also the course of our fortieth – and the park’s home to Aerial anniversary year.” biggest-ever pride of Extreme – the North The park is open daily lions, including five West’s largest throughout the summer and young cubs. adventure ropes course weekends during the winter. Visitors can go – and an amusement Tickets cost £15 for adults and around the safari park with a wide £11 for children and OAPs and drive as many times selection of rides for include a free full-colour as they like during the family. (Additional guidebook and audio guide for the day, and each costs apply for the each vehicle. time the experience For more details about will be different. CONFIDENT: Knowsley Safari Park ring the But there’s lots of Knowsley Safari Park 24-hour information line on other things to do general manager, 0151-430 9009 or log on to IN THE SWIM: The revamped sealion enclosure with its bigger outdoor while at the park David Ross www.knowsleysafariexperience. pool and above, the safari park has its biggest ever pride of lions this year other than the safari co.uk ★★★★ Thursday, July 21, 2011 NEWS 7 KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● SAFARI SNIPPETS Freddie finds his flippers

SAFARI FACT The park is home to around 700 mammals from 30 species FISHY BUSINESS: Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff learns how to be a sealion trainer at Knowsley Safari Park Knowsley Safari Park prides itself on there always being something new to see or providing a new experience. Here are a few snippets from the parks’ history – and some surprising facts from today ● In 2007 cricketing legend Freddie Flintoff spent time at Knowsley learning to be a sealion show presenter. The Lancashire and England star was filming for a Sky TV series which saw him trying his hand at a range of careers which also included working as CLOSE UP: Flannery, the white a bingo caller and an Elvis impersonator! rhino, named after Saints star Chris Flannery, shows a bit too ● In 2005 hundreds of birdwatchers much interest in the visitors’ cars converged on Knowsley after a rare for Knowsley to work on an elephant’s red-necked grebe took up residence on one broken tusk. African bull elephant Nissim of the park lakes. According to the RSPB, needed the treatment – the equivalent of a fewer than 20 of the birds from Finland and human root canal filling on a mammoth Russia stay in this country in the summer, scale – from Peter Kertesz because the risk INTREPID: Lord Derby tackles the high wire course at Knowsley and then almost always around the south and of serious infection from an untreated Safari Park. Right: the meerkats are hugely popular east coasts. injury of this type is high and can be fatal. garden of a Kirkby couple. programmes like Meerkat Manor. ● The animals at ● One of the Knowsley include African stars of ● Lord Derby was one of the first people ● Knowsley bosses launched a special hunting dogs which are Knowsley’s exotic to brave Knowsley’s Aerial Extreme taxi advertising campaign during last becoming increasingly bird show went adventure ropes course when it opened in year’s football World Cup. 30 cabs were rare in the wild. The Latin ‘flyabout’ in 2006. spring 2007. 60-foot-high poles were covered with photos of the park’s name for the dogs means Sally, a imported from Norway to create the infamous baboons taken during the ‘painted wolf’ which 16-year-old Blue course which features 60 different obstacles 2006 tournament when the inhabitants reflects their colourful and Gold Macaw, including rope bridges, steel rope traverses, of the monkey jungle amassed a huge coats of brown, black, was missing for scramble nets, zip wires, vines, swinging collection of England flags stolen from yellow and white patches. more than a logs and a climbing wall. visitors’ cars. Rather like fingerprints in week and humans, no two dogs have keepers were ● Meerkat mania arrived at ● In 2007 park bosses named their exactly the same pattern extremely Knowsley Safari Park in 2009 thanks latest baby rhino Flannery to mark a on their fur. concerned about to high-profile TV coverage of the sponsorship deal with St Helens Rugby her welfare. species. The small mammals shot up Club lock forward, Chris Flannery. ● A top London dentist Fortunately, she to number two in the attraction’s The young rhino was soon making the swapped his West End clinic was found safe popularity charts – just behind the headlines himself, after his interest in and well five baboons – thanks to the antics of visitors’ cars resulted in him blocking RARE: African hunting miles away in a Aleksandr, star of the ‘compare the the safari drive and causing long dogs at the safari park tree in the meerkat’ TV commercials, and queues. 8 NEWS Thursday, July 21, 2011 ★★★★ KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● ANIMALS DO THE FUNNIEST THINGS

WE’RE IN: The pack of baboons easily open the luggage rack on top of the car

WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?: The cheeky monkeys waste no time HELP YOURSELVES: By now it’s a complete free for all with baboons coming from all over to get a piece of Yoin pulling out the contentsu cheekythe action while the hapless monkeys!owners can onlylook on helplessly Pictures: MARTIN BIRCHALL

NIMALS can do the funniest flexing it until the lock bursts open, when the warning of a different kind, this time to the them in the oven to try and revive them with things – and that’s certainly been rest of the baboons pile in to see what they drivers of Smart cars. heat. true at Knowsley Safari Park can find. While larger, more substantial vehicles After the eggs had been in the oven on a over the years. “Obviously, we’re well used to them barely raised an eyebrow amongst the park’s low light for several days, hopes of success A Often, it’s been the park’s helping themselves to the odd wing mirror or pride of lions, those arriving in Smart cars were fading fast when – remarkably, and baboons that have been the main culprits, wiper blade, but this has taken things to a were being routinely chased by aggressive against all odds – two of the three hatched out most notably in 2009 when the inhabitants of whole new level. Let’s face it, nobody wants lions. successfully a week later. the monkey jungle learnt how to break into to see a baboon running up a tree with their Experts believe this was because the Bearing in mind their remarkable entry car rooftop luggage boxes. underwear. ” vehicle is a similar size to the lions’ principal into the world, the ostrich babies were named A number of families had to watch The Knowsley baboons have made the prey such as antelope and gazelle. Harry and Houdini after the famous helplessly as hairy hands grabbed the headlines for other reasons, too. In the In the same year, the press were also American escapologist. contents of the boxes and the baboons run-up to the football World Cup in Germany reporting how a kitchen stove saved the lives Another story that attracted the attention disappeared into the distance – and up the in 2006, they amassed a huge collection of of two baby ostriches at Knowsley. of the press at home and abroad occurred trees – with clothes, hats, shoes and other England flags stolen from The drama began when an ostrich nest at when one of the Knowsley keepers welcomed holiday items. visitors’ cars. the park was flooded out in torrential a ‘deer’ friend into her home as a lodger. As a result, Knowsley bosses had to warn Over the last two very overnight rain and three eggs were Section Head Emma Gatcliffe effectively let visitors with cargo boxes on their vehicles to cold winters, photos of abandoned by the mother. her spare bedroom to Sultana, a baby use the alternative car-friendly route around. keepers giving the By the time the antelope she was hand rearing They staged a demonstration, too, of what baboons baked waterlogged eggs were after the fawn was abandoned by her mother. could happen, and photos of the baboons’ potatoes to help them discovered next Because Sultana needed bottle feeding antics appeared in many national keep warm have also morning, they were every four hours, Emma took her home from newspapers as well as on TV stations as far appeared widely in very cold and the park each evening in a dog carrier in her afield as America, China and Australia. both the press and keepers thought c a r. Safari Park General Manager, David Ross, broadcast media. that the chicks Emma said at the time: “This arrangement reflects: “When the first luggage box was Meanwhile, had been lost. has been working very well for the last few broken into we didn’t really take an awful lot back in 2005 the However, a weeks, although it hasn’t done wonders for of notice – we just thought it was a one-off park was forced member of my bedroom carpet! incident with a faulty box or lock. to issue a visitor staff “Sultana is very affectionate and has “However, when the problem kept decided quickly got used to our routine – she’s happening, it quickly became clear that the FLYING THE FLAG: to make a waiting by my car ready to come home every baboons had acquired an unfortunate new skill. A baboon with an last-ditch evening.” “Their technique involves the largest England flag swiped attempt to save Proof, if it were needed, that animals really baboons jumping up and down on the box, from a visitor’s car the eggs by popping do have minds of their own . . . . . ★★★★ Thursday, July 21, 2011 NEWS 9 KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● KNOWSLEY TODAY Get even closer to the safari animals!

Knowsley Safari Park’s success has been built on offering a great-value day out for all the family. But if you want to get up close and personal to the animals to an even greater extent there are several exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunities on offer to visitors as well. Perfect as a birthday or Christmas gift or as a treat for yourself the range of ‘experiences’ are an ideal way to get closer than ever to the park’s inhabitants VIP TOURS ANIMAL

THIS is the ultimate safari experience. A deluxe day out featuring a fully-guided tour in one of the park’s EXPERIENCES vehicles, taking you off the beaten track to many areas not normally open to the public. Get up close and personal with iconic species like FIND out more about your favourite species of animal the elephants and the giraffes. Yo u can meet the stars by meeting and working with one of the keepers who of the sealion show. look after them. It all adds up to a day you’ll never forget. This is a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn more from the experts about the exotic animal that most interests you. From ants to elephants, and baboons to big cats, KEEPER FOR the choice is yours. A DAY CLASSROOM

JOIN the team of expert keepers for a day and find out what Knowsley’s 700 ANIMAL animals are really like, and how they’re SAFARI looked after to ensure they’re in tip-top condition. From checking on the inhabitants of the bug EXPERIENCES FACT house, to mucking out the elephants, you’re guaranteed a day of memorable Each year the animals behind-the-scenes experiences and hands-on consume 15,000 bales encounters. DID you know Knowsley Safari Park offers an OUTREACH service, delivering educational sessions of hay and 8,000 bales for nursery groups through to secondary schools and of straw beyond? They provide a range of national curriculum based sessions involving an array of live animals and bio artefacts. They are also happy to chat about tailor-made sessions, depending on your needs or interests. For more information and cost details, contact the park on 0151 430 9009 (ext 211) or email OUTREACH officer Nikki, [email protected]

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME: Knowsley keeper Emma Gatcliffe let Sultana the baby Sitatunga antelope lodge in her home when the fawn was SLIPPERY CUSTOMERS: School pupils get to hold a snake and stick insect during a visit from a abandoned by its mother Picture: MARTIN BIRCHALL Knowsley Safari Park keeper to their school 10 NEWS Thursday, July 21, 2011 ★★★★ KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● CONSERVATION AND BREEDING Proud of breeding record

HIGHLIGHT: One of the three baby white rhinos born at Knowsley during the winter

TINY: The safari park sponsor the Primate Society of Great Britain which helps protect species like this marmoset Protecting endangered

species DEBUT: Ashanti, the first elephant born at Knowsley CONSERVATION BREEDING

ANIMAL collections across the world are increasingly putting conservation in the KNOWSLEY Safari Park is proud of its David’s Deer twin fawns ever reared in wild at the top of their agenda. record of breeding success. captivity were born at Knowsley. Knowsley’s Research and The attraction’s wide open spaces and A current breeding highlight is the Conservation Team was formed to take near-natural conditions enable many park’s trio of white rhino calves, born the lead in this key area. Team members species to live in large groups similar to within weeks of each other during the are involved in a wide range of activities, those found in the wild. w i n t e r. for example sponsoring organisations Each year, late spring and early Knowsley is the only place in the UK – such as the Primate Society of Great summer sees the park’s annual and probably Europe – where three baby Britain which has helped to fund population explosion, when anything up rhinos of this age can be seen together. research into endangered species like the to 100 baby animals can be born. BEST OF FRIENDS: Mi-Lu the rare tarsier and slow loris in Asia. In recent years, the only critically Much closer to home, a record of endangered Pere Pere David’s Deer says hello to Kipper native species biodiversity is being the golden retriever accumulated to assess the Knowsley Estate’s role as a wildlife safe haven. Findings over the coming years will allow the park to improve habitats, create new ones and provide additional NATIVE: Brown hares are nest boxes and roost sites. among the homegrown To celebrate the park’s 40th anniversary, the team has also organised wildlife you might spot at a series of special events including the safari park animal talks, evening bat walks and early morning bird walks. Further afield, it is committed to supporting conservation initiatives like the REGUA project in Brazil which involves saving large areas of rainforest. SAFARI Knowsley continues to support the Endangered Wildlife Trust which helps to protect African hunting dogs by FACT funding anti-poaching teams, radio-tracking collars and vehicles. Each year the New links have been forged with Save animals eat 500 tons The Rhino, and the park has pledged £6,000 to the charity this year. of fruit and veg and Team members are in frequent contact 120 tons of specialist with other collections about moving male and female animals around to allow feed successful breeding and maintain high genetic diversity. Diverse native wildlife is actively encouraged

Estate bosses strongly Mizzy Lake and buzzards, believe that conservation kestrels and other birds of BRITISH begins at home, so they prey are also regularly actively manage the spotted. In total, around WILDLIFE woodlands, lakes and 150 types of bird have been ponds to encourage the recorded at Knowsley since SPRING IN diversity of native species. 2000. THE AIR: For example, enthusiasts Elsewhere at the park Spring sees an AS WELL as the exotic on a recent early morning brown hares, stoats and animals the park is also a birdwalk saw or heard 35 weasels also live in the explosion in haven for a wide range of different species. woodland where grey COLOURFUL: The safari park has in the animal the past run a fundraising initiative to British wildlife, flora and Ten species of waterfowl squirrels and even red population at fauna. normally nest around the squirrels can be seen. help save the world’s frogs Knowsley ★★★★ Thursday, July 21, 2011 NEWS 11

KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK ● GENERAL MANAGER DAVID ROSS ‘I refused Idi Amin – and lived to tell the tale’

Knowsley Safari Park general manager David Ross looks back over his 40 years at the park and his time in the African bush

AV ID Ross has always been fascinated with wildlife so when he joined the team preparing to open Knowsley DSafari Park it was the perfect job for him. But it’s a career which hasn’t been without danger. In his time David has tracked and caught elephant in the African bush, succumbed to serious illness there and even entertained Idi Amin. “It was an extraordinary time and an era that’s now long gone,” says David of his days in the early 1970s in Africa. “I suppose I was there during the death throes of colonialism, I saw the Ugandan equivalent of the Happy Valley scene and also saw what Amin did to his own people. “But I also achieved my boyhood ambition of going to Africa and seeing these wild animals in the bush “A fter that I had a whole new adventure with Knowsley.” A life among animals seemed an unlikely prospect for the young David, who, after going to school, was destined PRIVILEGE: David Ross celebrates his 40th year at Knowsley Safari Park with for a role within the family building giraffe Rigsby business. Things took a different turn when David was introduced to the Chipperfield family, famous as a circus dynasty but also involved in setting up safari parks in both Longleat and at Woburn. “I was asked to help with some pre-planning at Woburn, went up there and liked what I saw. ” The next step was to accompany Richard Chipperfield on safari to source elephants, among other animals, for Knowsley. “I remember looking out of the aircraft window at Africa below and thinking ‘wow, so this is it. This is Africa’.” The journey to central Uganda, however, was not to be straightforward thanks to a military coup led by Amin. “I was a greenhorn. Here I was faced with bodies everywhere along the roadside yet our government said the capturing an elephant was man responsible, Idi Amin, was someone the most exciting thing you we could do business with.” could attempt and he wasn’t Later he came face to face with the wrong.” man himself when Amin drove into David returned to Africa David’s camp and asked him to trap, twice more on safari, the among other animals, a pair of cheetah. last time falling seriously “I gave him tea but had to say no. ill with chronic hepatitis SAFARI There were none of those species in the and by 1974 he knew his area. career in the bush was over. “Thinking back I’m probably one of “I did miss it but the buzz FACT the few men who has ever refused Idi here at Knowsley was and is Amin and lived.” fantastic. I got to see the end product. I The carnivores eat Over the following weeks and months had to devote all my time and attention David honed his skills in capturing all to helping make Knowsley the best. 50 tonnes of meat manner of livestock for shipment back to “People say ‘forty years in the same a year – equivalent the UK but it was the challenge provided job’. But it’s not the same job because to 250 or 600 by elephant that was to prove the most every day is different and you never MISSION: David on a Ugandan safari mission to capture arduous. know what to expect. It’s a way of life – impala in the wild elephants, with local man Murefu, and top left, with one “Richard Chipperfield said to me that just like being in the bush.” of the elephants at the safari park 12 NEWS Thursday, July 21, 2011 ★★★★ KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK 40th ANNIVERSARYOFFERS Superb safari offers for readers KNOWSLEY Safari Park is The second 40th anniversary celebrating its 40th anniversary with special offer – a huge discount on two great offers for visitors. season ticket prices – is available to The first – half-price entry during all the park’s visitors during the the school summer holiday – is summer. exclusively available to Liverpool People paying the normal full-price ECHO readers presenting the admission of £15 for adults and £11 voucher below. for children and OAPs can convert This means that the entry price their day ticket to a season ticket by for adults is only £7.50 while children paying just £5 extra. and OAPs pay just £5.50. That’s just £20 (adults) and £16 The voucher covers all the (children/OAPs) for unlimited visits passengers in a car and can be used to the safari park over the next 12 at weekends and during the week at months. any time between now and August David Ross added: “This is another 31, with the exception of Bank fantastic offer which I think will prove Holiday Monday, August 29. incredibly popular over the next few Safari Park general manager, months. David Ross, explained: “This is the “Because our animals are always first time we’ve ever run a half-price doing something different, you can offer during our peak period, so come back here any number of we’re hoping to welcome large times, and every visit will be unique.” numbers of Liverpool ECHO readers Families can take advantage of this during this summer. offer – which is also available until “For people living in the August 31 – by taking their tickets newspaper’s circulation area, the and receipt to the park’s information safari park is a great option for a day desk during their visit. out, especially with fuel prices at Visitors who have used the their current levels. voucher below to enter the park will “Because we’re right on their need to pay the difference between doorstep Merseysiders can come here half-price and full-price admission in without having the added expense of order to qualify for the season ticket paying for a tank of petrol.” offer. KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK 40TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL OFFER FOR READERS

This voucher provides half-price entry to all the passengers in a car. Valid from Friday July 22nd 2011 up to and including Wednesday August 31st 2011, with the exception of Bank Holiday Monday, August 29th. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Car entry only. Normal entry price £15 adult/£11 child/OAP. OFFER PRICE £7.50: ADULT £5.50: CHILD/OAP

Amusement rides not included in the admission price. Park opens 10am daily. Last entry 4pm.