Aardvarks to Zebras at Blackpool Zoo

In Brief.

In the suburbs of Blackpool, Blackpool Zoo hosts a wide variety of animals, large and small, from air, land and sea, from across the globe. Not as vast as Chester Zoo, there is still a lot to see. Although the map says there are Aardvarks and Zebras, as suggested by the title, in fact my alphabetical range was from Alpacas to Wolves, so even though I was trying to be thorough, I certainly didn't see everything.

You can get close to some marsupials in the Wallaby Walkabout

What's Here?

I guess that Blackpool Zoo provides the sort of experience that one expects from a modern Zoo. Clutching a map, there is the chance to seek out a variety of habitats round winding paths, such as Gorilla Island, Big Cat Habitat, Lemur Wood and Wallaby Walkabout.  You can enter the same space as the animals in the last two of these, though unsurprisingly not in the first two.  

As you wander around, there are a few key facts provided on each of the species encountered, along the lines of life expectancy, how threatened they are (typically by us), and breeding patterns. Perhaps these snippets are easy to forget, so a visit is not an especially educational experience, but there is at least a chance to engage with the natural world while taking in some talks, feeding sessions and demonstrations.

Normally I am too slow to catch an action shot, like this sea lion.

The animals looked healthy, and the enclosures tend to provide a variety of landscapes, though I would rather not have seen the rather cramped living quarters of the owls and the cayman.

Practicalities.

Distance from Manchester Town Hall: 50 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 5 minutes.
Price: $$$ 
Parking: Pay and display onsite parking.
Food and Drink: There are several cafes on the site. In my sunny weekday visit, the main cafe was busy at lunchtime, but not for coffee.
Retail therapy: There is a souvenir shop at the entrance, that mostly sells cuddly animals and associated topical merchandise.
Child Friendly: This is certainly a child-friendly day out, and there is even a Children's Farm and a play area if the other animals are not enough.
Toilets: Yes - throughout the site.
Do it justice in: 4+ hours.
Inside-Outside: 30:70

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