Half a century since it opened, the West Midland Safari Park is more intent than ever to remain relevant, which means doubling down on its conservation efforts. As with all zoos, it began as a showcase of exotic animals, and in 1973, it predominantly housed those subjected to the rigours of touring circuses. Now a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, a core part of the land’s service is the Ongava Research Centre, which partners with the namesake game reserve in Namibia to research rhinoceroses and lions.
Of course, many visitors to the grounds will be there to witness and learn about some of the most incredible animals on the planet. Indian rhinos, Grévy’s zebra, cheetah, Sumatran tigers, and African elephants all call West Midland Safari Park home. It’s the commitment to conservation that makes the park such a major attraction in the UK.
Popular safari’s impressive conservation efforts
Simply giving good housing and caring for the likes of lions, rhinos, giraffes, and elephants would be enough to attract millions to the West Midland Safari Park each year. In April this year, the park had to announce that it had reached capacity and couldn’t permit anyone who hadn’t purchased a ticket online.
However, zoos can be a point of contention due to the public’s desire for the animals to survive in the wild. So, for both moral and business reasons, conservation efforts have to be made at all zoos.
Part of the modern legacy of the safari park is its persistent conservation program that continues to assist in the most pressing areas. Earlier this year, a second Grévy’s zebra foal was born. As there are only a few thousand left in the wild, it was a huge moment for the potential comeback of the species.
Along with this, the park seeks to pair its two Sumatran tigers to make a breeding pair for the critically endangered species that numbers a mere few hundred. The park has also been supporting conservation efforts in the wild and habitat restoration programs.
The 50-year anniversary celebrations will be taking place all year at the safari park, making it a perfect place to visit in the summer. You could do much more than just visit, though. This time last year, the new luxury lodges opened on the grounds, featuring rhino and giraffe lodges that offer views of the animals – without coming too close, that is.
Spurring conservation and animal interest in entertainment
The importance of conservation and animals in the world has never been so prominent in the public eye, which has led to a rapid explosion of related entertainment products. Netflix, for one, has identified global wildlife as the issue of the age and pumped out a huge string of nature documentaries, as have its competitors. The trend is more distinctly shown through traditional TV channels, with both the BBC and Sky investing heavily in more nature documentaries – particularly those with Sir David Attenborough at the helm like The Green Planet, The Perfect Planet, Planet Earth II, and Frozen Planet II.
It’s not a surprise, then, that the animal theme is so prevalent among the most popular of products even in the most competitive industries. There are thousands of online slots of the best online casinos out there, and most platforms that boast good review ratings have a count of games that at least number 1,000. In the top 100, along with the fishing slots, there’s Buffalo King Megaways – which should be ‘Bison’ King Megaways – Big Bamboo, Great Rhino Megaways, and Wolf Gold, all representing iconic animals and clearly being huge hits as a result.
In another crowded area of more hands-on entertainment, video gaming, zoo builders have made a strong return to the fore, with Frontier Developments spearheading the ultimate experience. Planet Zoo launched in 2019, eclipsing one million sales in less than half a year. The company’s 2022 annual report even relayed that Planet Zoo upheld an annual revenue sustain rate of 94 per cent thanks to free updates and paid DLC releases. The developers of the complex sim release new packs to keep people wanting to raise, breed, and conserve more digital animals.
Conservation must remain the focus for zoos around the UK, and the West Midland Safari Park is doing a stand-up job in this regard. As such, it deserves to continue to be a big draw in this part of the country.
Article written by Josh M.
