The Bedford Estates, LondonMuch like 2020, 2021 was another tough year, but as always with our wonderful wild animals, there have been many, many highlights too.
So, to round 2021 off we wanted to take a look back and celebrate some of the wonderful things that this last year brought with it.
Woburn Safari Park’s 2021 Highlights
A snowy start to the year
Despite the Park being closed to the public in January, keepers and animals were able to enjoy the first snowfall of the year. The African lion cubs born in 2020 experienced snow for the first time and the ostrich continued their comedic antics. Animals across the Park enjoyed investigating and playing in their new winter wonderland.
Excitement in the Kingdom of Carnivores
The year was off to an exciting start in the Kingdom of the Carnivores, where another North American black bear cub was born in February! Denver was born to Indiana and it became clear quite quickly that the youngster was a confident and playful cub.
Out in the main drive-through bear enclosure, and right in time for the public returning to the Park, youngsters Georgia and Koda joined the rest of the bears in the 13 acre enclosure for the first time. The pair settled in quickly and entertained both visitors and keepers with their playful behaviour.
The first litter of mongoose pups arrived
Shortly after the Park re-opened in March, there was more exciting news as mongoose pair Manuel and Miss Tibbs became the proud parents to two pups. These ended up being the first of four pups they would welcome to the Park during 2021.
Monkey Mayhem re-opens
Following an extensive refurbishment in 2020, the squirrel monkey’s home, Monkey Mayhem, re-opened to the public along with the rest of the Park. And not only were visitors able to enjoy watching the squirrel monkeys show off their acrobatic skills, they were also able to spot the three newest members to the troop! The three infants had been born during late 2020 but had been off-view to visitors while their home was being finished.
An exciting move for Mishka and a warm welcome in May
May brought about mixed emotions for the animal keepers as they said goodbye to Amur tiger, Mishka. The six-year-old female had been born at the Park, but after being identified as a strong genetic match to a male tiger at Banham Zoo, she was moved to her new home as part of the European breeding programme. It was a sad farewell for the keepers that had known her since she was born, but it was an exciting move for the future of her species.
But May also saw the arrival of Southern white rhino youngster, Bonnie. The 'wee lass' made the long journey down from Scotland to join rhinos Mirijam, Mkuzi and Kei at the Park, where she settled in with the rest of the rhino crash very quickly.
The new pack at the Park
June saw even more exciting arrivals when a new pack of bush dogs joined the Foot Safari. Pongo, Padfoot, Dante, Scrappy Dappy Doo, Perdy and Shiloh quickly settled into their new home in the Foot Safari. The tight-knit group can often be heard communicating with one another in their high-pitched calling noises by visitors as they pass by the enclosure.
An endangered foal is born
In July keepers were ecstatic when a critically endangered Somali wild ass foal was born to Tawa and Quentin. Named Vusumuzi, his birth was an incredibly special event as his species is sadly facing extinction in the wild.
A whole Llama love
A trio of llamas arrived and will eventually be joining the alpacas in their home at Alpaca Outpost. The small herd consists of females Chesca and Missy, plus male Cuzco. Visitors can currently see them as they pass the large stone lions at the entrance to the park. Once they have settled in, they'll be moving to a paddock where you can spot them during your trip on the Great Woburn Railway.
A trio of tiny baby monkeys
The final arrivals for 2021, to round the year off nicely, were a trio of squirrel monkey babies were born in Monkey Mayhem. Born to mothers Ringo, Tye, and Bamboo, all three mothers and babies are doing well and keepers have turned to the public for help in naming Bamboo's baby.
Christmas chaos
And of course all of the animals were treated by their dedicated keepers to an array of presents, festive feasts and fun throughout the course of December. We saw lemurs investigate their own igloo, lions tear open their Christmas presents, monkeys chomping on Christmas cookies and much more as the animals across the Park enjoyed their creative enrichment activities.