Park Breeding Programmes

For the last 20 years we’ve been part of a breeding programme for southern white rhinos. Set up in response to the rapid decline of wild white rhino populations in Africa, the project has been a huge success for us with six baby rhinos born at the safari park so far.

Many people are unaware that some species of giraffe are currently critically endangered. Our female giraffes are hybrids, which means they are a mixture of different sub-species. Modern zoos only breed giraffes of the same sub-species so, by providing a home for hybrid females, we’re allowing other zoos to continue their vital breeding programmes.

All our lions were born in captivity and roam across a specially designed habitat here at the park. Working with other zoos, we provide samples to help genetically profile African lions. This data helps to develop further breeding programmes and safeguard the future of declining populations in the wild.

Due to severe deforestation in Madagascar, red-ruffed lemurs are now critically endangered. Our breeding group of red-ruffed lemurs was a huge success story, with six infants born to the breeding pair.

Crowned lemurs are listed as endangered and we are home to an adorable breeding pair. The happy couple are inseparable and we are hopeful that we will see some babies in the future.

Like the red-ruffed lemur, black and white lemurs are critically endangered. We have one breeding pair at the park, with quadruplets born at the Park in 2021 and twins born in 2022 and 2024.

Relocated from Gibraltar in 2014, our large Barbary macaque troop have adapted well to their new home and are breeding successfully. Regular new arrivals all help to bolster numbers of this now endangered species.

Amur tigers are critically endangered and a very important species for us to have here at the park. We have one male (Vitali) and one female (Hope). The pair are not currently part of a breeding programme, but we may look to breed them in the future.