FARMING MATTERS: Taking a trip to the zoo

In the leisure pages of this week's paper I have written about my recent visit to Whipsnade Zoo to see the fabulous Zoorassic Park experience which is on over the school summer holidays.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Jul 2016, 07:00 BST
Reporter Heather Jan Brunt at the Zoorassic Park exhibition at Whipsnade Zoo, summer 2016. Picture copyright Heather Jan BruntReporter Heather Jan Brunt at the Zoorassic Park exhibition at Whipsnade Zoo, summer 2016. Picture copyright Heather Jan Brunt
Reporter Heather Jan Brunt at the Zoorassic Park exhibition at Whipsnade Zoo, summer 2016. Picture copyright Heather Jan Brunt

It’s a long time since I have been to the zoo, but I thoroughly enjoyed the day and after seeing a preview of the dinosaur exhibition I spent the rest of the day visiting the real animals at the zoo. There is a small farmyard with pigs, goats and ponies, but on this occasion I preferred to leave my farmer’s wife hat at home and take the opportunity to see the more exotic animals, the elephants, giraffes, zebras, wild boars, lions and tigers.

The most striking observation was the very trusting relationship between the animals and keepers. This is not something that can be faked. An animal either has trust and confidence in its keeper or stockman, or it doesn’t.

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Another lovely observation was the number of young animals being born at the zoo, newborns and young adults were all around. Again, this is a good indication of happy animals.

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A surprising and rather lovely development was the number of free roaming small species that wander at will around the site, including wallabies, muntjac and mara.

Check out my leisure pages for more information about the roar-some dinosaur exhibition.