African Lion Safari (Warragamba) facts for kids
| Date opened | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Date closed | 1991 |
| Location | Warragamba, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°53′58″S 150°36′10″E / 33.8994868°S 150.6026459°E |
| Annual visitors | 200,000 |
| Website | No Web site available |
The African Lion Safari was a special wildlife park in New South Wales, Australia. It was like a big zoo where you could see wild animals. The park was opened by Stafford Bullen in 1968. It was located near Warragamba, which is close to Sydney. The African Lion Safari was open for many years, from 1968 until 1991. It was a popular place for families to visit and see amazing animals.
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The Story of African Lion Safari
The African Lion Safari was started by a man named Stafford Bullen. He was born in 1925 and passed away in 2001. Stafford Bullen was already famous for running a traveling circus. In 1969, he created a permanent home for his animals at Bullen's Animal World.
How the Park Became Popular
When the safari first opened, a special song was recorded to help promote it. It was a version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The park quickly became very popular. About 200,000 people visited the African Lion Safari every year.
Where Was the Safari Located?
The African Lion Safari first opened in Warragamba. Later, it moved to a nearby area called Wallacia. At the Wallacia location, the park had a special drive-through area. Here, visitors could see wild animals like lions, bears, and tigers from their cars.
Why the Park Closed
The African Lion Safari closed its doors in 1991. One reason was that more and more suburbs were built around the park. Also, new laws meant the park needed a lot of expensive upgrades. Even after closing to the public, the park continued to keep animals on site. These animals were then used in a circus.
Incidents at the Park
Sometimes, unexpected things happened at the African Lion Safari. It's important for animal parks to keep animals safely inside their enclosures.
Lionesses Escape in 1995
On August 7, 1995, some lionesses got out of the park. They wandered into the nearby towns of Warragamba and Silverdale. Sadly, one of the lionesses attacked and killed a dog. A park employee had to shoot the lioness that was involved. Because of this event, the park had to make its fences and enclosures much stronger.
A Bear Also Escaped
Another time, a bear also escaped from the park. Local residents saw the bear and it was shot. These incidents showed how important it is for wildlife parks to have very secure facilities.
