New plan for sea lion enclosure
Sea lions at Blair Drummond Safari Park could be making a bigger splash soon after a revamp of their home was approved.
Stirling Council planners have granted an application to extend the sea lions’ performance building to form pen rooms and also to extend the sea lion pool.
A separate application for a new plant and pump house as part of the project has also been approved.
In their decision, the planners described the national tourist attraction as “a vital asset to Stirling’s visitor economy”.
The sea lion enclosure is in the northeast hub of the safari park where the main visitor centre, restaurants and gift shops etc are located.
“The proposed extension to the existing sea lions performance building will accommodate both pen rooms and an extended pool.
“The enlargement and intensification of the sea lions building will support the overall function and viability of the safari park, promoting a greater spread of visitors and economic benefits, which is most welcome.
“The new plant house and installation on a new filtration system building will improve water quality and water movement and thus, is required to enhance the existing sea lion habitat.”
Last August Blair Drummond Safari Park announced it was planning a £1 million upgrade programme to include the modernisation of the sea lion enclosure – one of the park’s most popular visitor attractions.
The family-owned safari park opened its doors in 1970 and was one of the first of its kind in the UK. It has an ongoing investment programme in place to ensure the park meets the exacting requirements of BIAZA and EAZA, the membership organisations which represent the best zoos and aquariums.
Over the last 10 years, the safari park has invested more than £7 million on the upgrade of animal habitats and the park’s infrastructure which extends to more than 120 acres. This includes a new drivethrough macaque exhibit, new pets’ farm walk-through area, new elephant house, new antelope housing and the installation of a biomass heating for the large mammal houses.
In terms of conservation, it provides learning experiences for visitors covering topics such as animal care and the environment, including the impact of marine litter on the natural world. The park also supports conservation programmes such as the European Endangered Species (EEP) breeding programme.
Park manager Gary Gilmour said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be in a position to invest so heavily in the upgrading of our facilities, particularly in our sea lion habitat. This work has been in the pipeline for three years and is part of an ongoing schedule of improvement plans taken in consultation with staff and animal health specialists.
“Our love of animals is what drives our day-to-day activities so this is exciting news for our keepers, the wider Blair Drummond team and the 400,000 visitors who flock to Blair Drummond each year.”