Red pandas and hyenas welcomed to wildlife park
BBC COUNTRYFILE presenter Helen Skelton was the guest of honour at Doncaster Wildlife Park yesterday as she previewed the attraction’s latest expansion and met its newest resident animals.
Ms Skelton has previously hosted Big Week at the Zoo from the Doncaster attraction, and she was given a tour of the new animal reserves before they opened to visitors yesterday.
The wildlife park has begun a major expansion project and the first phase is now open to the public following a difficult lockdown period in which the park suffered major losses in income and revenue during what would have been one of its busiest periods of the year.
Spotted hyenas live in the Experience Ethiopia section, along with a troop of gelada monkeys, and there is a new outdoor children’s play area. The Himalayan Pass section is home to red pandas and smooth- coated otters.
The park’s CEO John Minion said Ms Skelton loved being there, meeting the animals and celebrating the work of zoos around the country, adding: “She is a true champion of animals and wildlife.
“It has been a very hard year for us at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, with huge revenue losses from the lockdown and we have been very grateful for everyone’s support especially all those who have come back to visit the park since reopening.
“It is great to have some positive news and to welcome new animals to the park – we have lots more exciting things lined up.”