If you’d like to feed a giraffe, tickle a rhino or get close to a gibbon then make sure you join us on July 27th for an animal encounters fundraising event for Marwell Wildlife.
Experience the park after hours and enjoy time not only with some of our most endangered species and the people who care for them, but also with our conservation team.
Find out about the positive impacts that Marwell is making from the reintroduction of desert antelopes in the Sahara through to community based projects in Northern Kenya and habitat restoration in the south of England.
Details of the evening are as follows:
6.30pm Enjoy a drinks reception & canapés at Savannah Tracks followed by a cheetah feed
7pm – 8.30pm Let our road trains and bus take the strain as we escort you around the park to the following close up encounters:
Encounter 1: Meerkats & Antelope
Caramantha Wellstead, our Head of Education, and John Pullen, our Curator of Mammals, will present the new meerkat exhibit, and explain how it has been designed with both the meerkats and animal behaviour studies in mind. Dr Guy Parker, our Head of Biodiversity Management, will provide updates on the challenges and successes of our desert antelope conservation projects, including reintroductions of scimitar horned oryx & addax.
Encounter 2: Rhinos & Gibbons
Dr Tim Woodfine, our Director of Conservation, will share latest insights into the conservation of African rhino, while you have the opportunity to get up close and hands-on with these gentle giants. The group will then take a short walk with our primate expert for a more personal introduction to our Siamang gibbons!
Encounter 3: Giraffes & Monkeys
Conservation Biologist, Dr. Heidi Mitchell,will explain how our new studies on the social behaviour of giraffes at Marwell and in Kenya will be helping management of this species throughout Africa, while Section Manager Ian Goodwin introduces our new Rothschild's giraffes and treats you to a very close encounter! Thereafter, Marwell's Head of Veterinary Science, Will Justice, will explain how getting personal with colobus monkeys helps with their health & welfare.
8.45pm Dinner at our new marquee in the Secret Garden
Over dinner there will be the opportunity to spend time with and quiz our conservation and animal teams.
The focus of the evening is to raise funds for Marwell Wildlife’s conservation work and to this end we will be inviting you to make donations and participate in our silent auction, which will include an original oil painting from Pip McGarry as one of the lots. No matter how large or small your contribution your support is vital to us conserving endangered wildlife for generations to come.
10-10.30pm Road train back to the car park
Tickets for this adults' only evening cost £45 for annual members and £50 for guests, including the drinks reception and dinner at our new marquee in the Secret Garden.
Spaces are limited so please call Gill on 01962 777960 during office hours to book your tickets.
All timings are approximate.
Visit the What's on page page for our complete programme of 2011 events.