Colwyn Bay, Wales, United Kingdom
The Welsh Mountain Zoo is a 37 acre park on a hillside overlooking Colwyn Bay in North Wales. Started in 1963 by wildlife lover and naturalist Robert Jackson, the park is now under management by the Zoological Society of Wales formed in 1983 for such purposes. The zoo is highly conservation focused, and some of the land occupied by the zoo has been left in its natural state for native wildlife. Guests can explore wooded acres filled with local animals like the grey heron, grass snakes and badgers. The zoo itself has pathways lined with trees, and despite its position in the hills of Wales, it is an easy stroll for adults and children alike.
One of the most impressive habitats at the zoo is the Eurasian Otter exhibit, built originally in1987. Complete with a river, a waterfall and many trees, the exhibit offers several ways to view these adorable little clowns. To view them from above there is a “hide” up in a tree above the enclosure, and if they are not active, there is an indoor viewing area where guests can view them in semi-darkness while they sleep.
Two other semi-aquatic animals that are big favorites at the zoo are the California Sea Lions and the Humboldt Penguins. At Sea Lion Rock, guests can visit five sea lions, and watch as they interact with trainers. The training is geared towards enrichment of the animals, and necessary to keep their minds actively engaged. It is also great fun to watch, and the keepers share a lot of educational information with the audience. If a visitor wants to get even closer to the sea lions and spend more time learning about them, the zoo offers an animal encounter with them. The same is true for the Humboldt Penguins, although guests have a unique opportunity to view the penguins outside their enclosure on their daily “walk” around the zoo during the “Penguin Parade.
Chimpanzee World was built in 1990, and offers good viewing of the primates through glass windows. The zoo features Chimp Encounters shows daily, and the proceeds raised by the show go to a conservation project for wild chimpanzees in their native habitat in West Africa. Other exhibits not to miss include the Jungle Adventureland and Children’s Farm, Bear Falls, and Condor Haven, which is home to two Andean Condors.
The condors, Sonya and Gus are also creatures that have their own opportunity to engage with guests in the Andean Condor encounter. Other encounter offerings include meeting various primates, including the white-mustached Emperor Tamarins, a Birds of Prey encounter, and maybe most thrilling of all, the Sumatran Tiger encounter. In the interest of both the animals and humans, the encounters are limited to two people at a time, and must be booked in advance. All proceeds of the encounters go back into the conservation efforts at the zoo.
The Media Center at the Welsh Mountain Zoo is a place to experience the zoo on a different level. In this educational facility, guests can take virtual tours of the zoo and play educational games related to the animals, conversation and the environment. The zoo is much focused on conservation and improving the lives of the animals in residence as well as their wild counterparts. To that end, breeding programs that feature Przewalski Horses, Amur Tigers, Snow Leopards, and local species of Red Squirrel are ongoing.
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