Ambitious plans for Lincolnshire’s biggest dinosaur park at exotic animal sanctuary

What could be surprising, nevertheless, is his dreams have brought him to a village in Lincolnshire, wherever something a good deal bigger than a tiger will soon be roaring in the countryside.

Ambitious programs have been revealed for the county’s most important dinosaur park at the Ark Wildlife Park and Unique Animal Sanctuary in Stickney.

Reworking the park into a themed region with Animatronic dinosaurs, it is hoped the new ‘beasts’ will be unveiled by late May possibly – when the zoo will also be welcoming some new ‘rescues’.

Previously a sanctuary to 250 creatures of varying sizes, the zoo is exclusive in that all the species have been rescued from people who wrongly imagined it would be a fantastic concept to have an exotic animal as a pet in their household .

So much it has not had to rescue a lion or tiger, but it is household to a crocodile that was staying saved in a flat in London – when the mobile phone rings, the proprietors hardly ever know what creature could possibly want their assistance

Jamie Mintram, who co-owns the park with his spouse Michelle, is fired up about introducing dinosaurs, which will variety a massive part of the park’s makeover for 2022.

“We arrived up with the plan due to the fact we experienced some resources more than from the Govt Bounce Back again Financial loan and we imagined it would be a good concept as another attraction for young small children,” he claimed.

“Since we are a zoo, we do not get any other funding and rely on people to spend for the upkeep of the animals, so we are hoping it can be a good attraction. Children in no way seem to tire of their adore of dinosaurs.”

Other options for 2022 involve an indoor tender participate in space, “Trash Panda Towers”, suitable for 9 yrs and less than, and a toddler area for less than 5’s.

Nevertheless, there is considerably to do before then, which includes raising £3,000 to rescue three beautiful kinkajous.

The sanctuary operates intently with AAP, an animal defense organisation in the Netherlands, who referred to as and requested for assist with the rescue of aspect of a significant team of 12 kinkajous that were confiscated in Spain.

“These were being confiscated from an unscrupulous breeder who was operating in the course of Europe, breeding these gorgeous animals just to make revenue,” claimed Jamie.

“Nonetheless, with two other assignments on the go to rescue a couple of wildcats, who were being previously pets, and a team of banded mongooses, cash are restricted.

“We experienced sufficient money to build enclosures the other animals we are anticipating in May possibly but need £3,000 to create an enclosure for the kinkajous.

“So we imagined we would launch an attraction and see because devoid of the resources we won’t be in a position to just take them.”

Kinkajous are not an endangered species, but their quantities are assumed to be decreasing.

Their forest habitat is becoming disturbed and ruined in a lot of locations and numerous have been hunted for their meat and their pelts.

“We would truly like to assistance at minimum 3 of these magnificent and abnormal animals to live out their life in peace, in this article at the Ark,” added Jamie.

Along with his wife, Jamie operates the park with the help of their little ones Josh and Chloe, a crew of zookeepers and some committed volunteers.

“It is really terrific to see my young children coming on board,” reported Jamie. “Unique animals have constantly been in my blood due to the fact my mum was a pioneer in breeding captive animals.

“I was the weird kid who experienced my to start with pet snake at the age of 10 ahead of it became trendy and you could buy them in pet outlets.

“We begun rescuing animals when we lived in Norfolk but needed more space and seemed for somewhere to relocate.

We observed what was a former farm park in Stickney and the has grown from there.

“We are actually happy to have been awarded two BBC Make a Difference Awards for the operate we do.”

As perfectly as donations to construct the enclose for the kinkajous, Ark would like to hear from any corporations in a position to help and are featuring powering the scenes tours, entrance tickets or encounters as a ‘thank you’.

It functions with a broad selection of animals, including Eurasian Lynx, Jaguarundi, Macaques, Meerkats, Caiman, Lemur monkeys, Raccoons, snakes, Foxes, Coatis, Civets, Tanukis, Porcupines, Iguanas, Pygmy goats, wallabies and quite a few more.

The mission is to rescue and rehabilitate animals in want from the unique pet trade, and to raise general public consciousness of the lots of problems surrounding the trade together with wildlife trafficking and the international trade in animal derivatives.

The Ark also presents a tranquil property to ex laboratory monkeys.

As it is a zoo, it depends completely on readers and donations to fund the treatment of not only the present-day people but also upcoming rescue projects.

A exclusive Easter at the Ark function is using area where by children get to meet the Easter bunny and get a totally free bag of treats. Below 2’s go totally free but have to pay back 50p for the treats.

The sanctuary can be found just off the A16 on West Fen Lane in Stickney, close to the stunning Lincolnshire Wolds, 8 miles north of Boston and 10 miles south-east of Horncastle and 19 miles from the common vacation vacation resort of Skegness. It conveniently obtainable from Peterbourgh, Lincoln and Kings Lynn.