A lot of people dont like zoos.They have their pros and cons.Obviously its not the ideal situation for an bird or animal to be held captive.However ,zoos never the less provide an entertaining,educating day out.The conservation aspect is often used argue in defence of zoos and indeed ,many have breeding programmes that do help endangered species,as well as providing the oportunity for the public to see rare animals birds,close up without having to travel far and wide.
Some of my favourites include,Blackbrook zoologic park,Winkhill,staffordshire,(not far from Leek)Here you will find the largest collection of waterfowl in the British Isles .The variety is mind boggling.From a personal point of view if I hear a report of say an escapee Bufflehead ,then I have an instant mental picture of one ,from being familiar with them from Blackrook.See the photo gallery ,for some pictures of waterfowl from Blackbrook.As well as birds there are many other delights to be found at Blackbrook ,including Capybara (the largest rodent in the world ,the size of a large dog )giant African pouched rats,degus (degus are great ,I used to keep them as pets,along with other rodents like chipmunks).The pelicans are always entertaining,dont get too near that huge beak at feeding time!
Slimbridge ,needs no introduction to bird watchers.On a visit at the end of last year I was particularly taken by a Barrows Goldeneye drake ,that would display to passers by!There were captive pintails on display ,(we also saw about 200 wild pintails the same day,at Slimbridge)If you are planning avisit ,go early ,you wont see everything in a day,we spent the most part of the day looking at the wild birds,and had to rush looking at the captive ones,which are definately worth seeing.Slimbridge is big on conservation and has to be force for good.
The picture of the pelicans in the gallery ,was taken at arather dodgy zoo on the characterless Gran Canaria,some of the animal and bird enclosures were far too small,there were canaries on display,surely a waste of time in the Canary Isles?
The parrot pictures in the gallery are from Desford,(not far from Leicester)which is well worth a visit.Nearer home in the dark peak there is the Chestnut Centre ,for otters and owls.At Anston ,near Sheffield there is a tropical butterfly house,along with birds of prey (out doors)Try www.butterflyhouse.co.uk
Twycross zoo has of course always been worth visiting.
