Noah's Ark Zoo Farm facts for kids
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm Logo
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| Date opened | 1998–1999 |
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| Location | Wraxall, North Somerset, United Kingdom |
| Land area | 100 acres (40 ha) |
| Coordinates | 51°27′07″N 2°44′19″W / 51.4520°N 2.7385°W |
| Annual visitors | 170,000 |
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is a large, 100-acre (40 ha) zoo built on a working farm. It is located in Wraxall, North Somerset, England, about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Bristol.
Contents
The Zoo's Story
How Noah's Ark Zoo Farm Started
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm was created by Anthony Bush, who was born in 1938. He grew up on a farm in Wiltshire. After some schooling and military service, he decided to return to farming. In 1960, he began farming at Moat House Farm near Bristol.
Anthony Bush and his wife, Christina, were very active in their community. They helped with youth programs at their church. Anthony also started a group to help farmers protect wildlife. In 1987, he helped create Send a Cow, an agency that helps people in Africa.
Growing into a Zoo
In 1995, the Bush family bought Moat House Farm. They decided to change it from a dairy farm to a place for growing crops and raising sheep. Anthony Bush then had the idea to create a Noah's Ark-themed park in 1997.
The park first opened for a trial in August 1998 and then permanently in 1999. At first, it had farm animals and small pets. Soon, more exciting animals like alpacas and llamas joined. Over time, the zoo grew to include tigers, African lions, white rhinos, siamang gibbons, and ring-tailed lemurs. In 2009, a baby Brazilian tapir was born live on the zoo's webcam.
The zoo also has a huge hedge maze, which was planted in 2003. It is 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) long!
Improving the Zoo's Standards
In 2009, there were some concerns about the zoo's animals. The zoo temporarily lost its membership with BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums). This happened because the zoo did not provide all the information BIAZA asked for. To fix this, the zoo agreed to stricter rules, including regular checks by independent veterinarians.
By 2018, the zoo had met all the new conditions and proudly got its BIAZA membership back.
After these changes, the zoo started working to become a charity. Anthony Bush's son, Larry, became the managing director in 2019. He explained that becoming a charity means visitors' tickets help fund important animal conservation work around the world. The zoo officially became a charity on April 5, 2023.
Building Elephant Eden
In September 2012, the zoo began building a large elephant home called Elephant Eden. It covers 20 acres (8.1 ha). The first elephant arrived in February 2014. This special area has a 1,080 m2 (11,600 sq ft) indoor space for elephants to sleep or shelter. Outside, there's a 19.5 acres (7.9 ha) area with a heated swimming pool.
This big project cost £1.8 million. It uses solar panels, biomass heating, and collects rainwater. This helps the enclosure get almost all its power from renewable sources. A nearby farm also grows most of the food for the elephants.
In 2015, Noah’s Ark joined the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). This program helps manage and protect endangered animals. The zoo welcomed two spectacled bears (also known as Andean bears) in 2016.
Protecting Animals and Habitats
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is part of important programs that help save endangered animals. These are called European Endangered Species Programs (EEPs).
European Endangered Species Programs
The zoo takes part in EEPs for:
The elephant EEP at Noah's Ark is special. It's a "bachelor program," meaning only male elephants live there. This gives them a safe home while they wait for a chance to join breeding groups. This helps young elephants learn social skills from older ones, just like in the wild.
The zoo also helps with European Studbooks for the Cotton-Top Tamarin and the Asian Box Turtle. These studbooks keep track of animals to make sure they are healthy and genetically diverse.
A Sustainable Zoo
Noah's Ark calls itself a "sustainable zoo." This means it tries to be kind to the environment. Over half of the energy the zoo uses comes from renewable sources. They use wind turbines, biomass boilers, and solar panels.
The zoo also has a Christmas tree recycling service. People in North Somerset can donate their used Christmas trees. The animals then get to play with the trees, which is a fun way for them to explore and stay active.
Animal Zones
The zoo is divided into different areas, each home to animals from specific parts of the world.
- Africa: The first African animals arrived in 2005, including two white rhinos. A Giraffe House opened in 2006. In 2010, two African lions joined the Big Cat Sanctuary. Elephant Eden welcomed its first African elephant in 2014. In 2015, the African section had four giraffes, four lions, two African elephants, two white rhinos, two zebras, and a family of meerkats. Sadly, in 2020, an 8-month-old zebra named Hope died after being startled by fireworks. In June 2021, an African elephant was attacked by another elephant and died.
- Asia: In 2009, Noah's Ark welcomed two Bengal tigers to the new 'Tiger Territory'. This area later became the 'Big Cat Sanctuary'. The Asian section also has yaks, water buffalo, and two Bactrian camels.
- Primate: Noah's Ark is home to five types of primates. These include Siamang Gibbons, black & white ruffed lemurs, ring tailed lemurs, marmosets, and cotton-top tamarins. Three of these species (ruffed lemurs, tamarins, and gibbons) are listed as endangered or critically endangered. The primate section has successfully bred many babies, including a baby Siamang gibbon recently.
- Reptiles: In July 2017, the zoo introduced seven Aldabra giant tortoises. These huge tortoises are on loan from Nigel Marven. Their enclosure won an award for its design.
