Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre gets ready to open for the new year, offering a home for animals in need and a budget day out for the family.

Express & Star

Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre homes animals from former zoos etc and all kinds of places where they are no longer wanted. It offers a fabulous day out at a budget price and is about to open for the new season.

Transcript

00:00We're here at Gentle Show Wildlife Centre and Jen how are you?

00:04Yeah I'm good thank you very much, a bit chilly but good.

00:07Who's our little friend we've got here?

00:09This is Hamish, the sulcata tortoise.

00:11Sulcata?

00:12Sulcata, this is an African species.

00:15He's enjoying that isn't he?

00:16He likes his veggies.

00:17Yeah yeah, so how's it been then 2024 for you here at the Gentle Show?

00:23Not bad, not bad, it's been okay.

00:25The visitor numbers were good, the weather wasn't too cruel to us,

00:28so nice and busy which was excellent.

00:30Got a few more projects done so yeah not bad.

00:32And you know just to remind people you're here and it's a great day out

00:37and it's you know it's not expensive is it?

00:39Yeah.

00:40We were having a little chat just off camera,

00:42you know what's it cost to get in here and bring your little ones?

00:45We are very cheap and cheerful so it's five pounds for adults

00:48and four pounds for children and concessions

00:50and we are hoping to hang on to that admission fee for 2025.

00:54We're only tiny but obviously we're here at the garden centre

00:57so there's in the summer there's the miniature railway,

00:59there's crazy golf, there's the garden centre and the lovely tea room

01:02so you can make a day out of it and not have to spend too much.

01:05Definitely yeah, I mean there's quite a few animals here to see isn't there Gem?

01:08Yeah we've got just over 150 and a lot of them who've been with us for many many years now

01:13so yeah we've got quite a niche Gem.

01:15Yeah because I mean that that's kind of the basis of it isn't it?

01:17It's all about kind of rescue isn't it?

01:19And looking after animals that haven't been able to be home to other places

01:23and that kind of, is that the ethos generally?

01:25It is indeed, so the majority of our residents are either zoos that have closed down

01:31and a lot of ex-pets where they've grown too big

01:33or their owners just simply don't want them any longer.

01:36Yeah.

01:36So quite a mixture we've got.

01:38And coming forward this 2025 you've got a few projects on,

01:42you've got a big pen that's being built for one of the birds you were telling me.

01:46Yeah so we are redoing our Crested Caracara enclosure

01:49and she's about ready for her new house and the sanctuary is 32 years old now

01:54and some of the buildings are 32 years old.

01:56Yeah.

01:57So we've got lots of replacing, there's always projects to get done.

02:00Yeah.

02:01How long have you been here then Gem?

02:03Well my parents were very cool and made me go to school first of all.

02:06Yeah.

02:07So I've been here about 26 years full time now.

02:11Wow that's that's full on isn't it?

02:12It's a long time, I've been growing up now.

02:14Any particular favourite animals here that you've come to love yourself?

02:17Oh I've got lots of favourites depending on who's being good.

02:21Hamish here can be a bit naughty, he's a little bargy.

02:24Can he?

02:26But I'm very fond of the birds so we've got a Milky Eagle Elk or Rafiki.

02:29Yeah.

02:32Yeah so what can he be a bit bolshy can he when he wants hold Hamish can he?

02:36He's just not very polite, if you're in the way he will just walk through you,

02:39there's no pausing or anything like that.

02:41Hamish is this true?

02:44He's gorgeous though isn't he?

02:45How old do you reckon he is then?

02:47Hamish is just 14, he's not very old.

02:49Yeah.

02:50So he'll be fully grown size wise will he?

02:52No he's got a bit more to grow, he'll be about half as big again.

02:55Oh wow.

02:56They're quite large, they're the third biggest species these guys, so they're quite large.

02:59And how long can he live for?

03:0070, 80 years plus.

03:02Yeah, yeah.

03:03Hi, up he's come, he's come in.

03:04Hetty.

03:06Hello Hetty, hello darling.

03:10Oh she's come for a little nibble.

03:12They normally get past.

03:14Ah gorgeous.

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