Rhino’s hitting cars in West midlands safari park today

[RunningRhino]

So this isn’t anywhere I can read.
Today we were caught up in Rhinos fighting at WMSP- West Midlands safari park.

Rhinos were fighting then cars were in the way of their fight so they started trying to move the cars out their way. It looked more like head flicks and shunts rather than trying to do serious damage, but 3 cars were hit repeatedly.

But the issue is is that this lasted a long time, around 5mins. During this time the park did not stop cars coming in. As they had not seen what was going on people were still trying to pass to get into the fighting arena with their kids hanging out the windows.

There was no influx of keepers to help the one getting hit and they still kept sending the cars through. These things happen but there seemed to be no alert go out to stop the cars. Or even a halt for 5mins to assess the situation if the fighting rhinos needed to be removed and the park was safe, just keep the money flowing in.

I have tried to contact the park but just got a well read your email in 7 days and no other way to contact.

What would you like mumsnet to do about it?

I expect they will say they have disclaimers about there being wild animals around which may damage your car. And suggesting keeping children inside with the windows closed.

They’re wild animals and you drove into their enclosure.

This isn't how rhinos are supposed to live. Poor bloody things, having to deal with cars.

This sounds stressful OP. Did they have that sign up that they do in some safaris where they say sound your horn if there is any issue?

You’re in a good mood! Nothing thanks 🙂 Just talking to the ether like most people do on MN.

Omg 😬😄

Yes, but the keeper was already there getting battered/watching other cats get hit so sounding a horn to a pissed off animal was not going to help. The keepers should have some kind of emergency panic button to stop cars coming in. Or if they have something like that it didn’t work

Oh 100% I’m sure when you buy a ticket it says so in the T&Cs, accept that. It was just their response to the situation and handling of it. Longleat has more signs about entering at your own risk etc

Cars were nose to tail so they couldn’t pass through like they normally do when it’s quiet, so they were just shunting to get through. No blame on the animals kept in cages, although I appreciate going to a safari is supporting it. More space and less cars would have meant it wouldn’t have happened.

Anybody who lets their kids hang out of their windows is an idiot.

I remember going there as a kid and one of the monkeys broke a windscreen wiper off our car. Animals give no fucks about damaging cars. Important lesson to learn before driving into an animal enclosure.

Absolutely having just driven past the keep the windows closed sign. Little kids hanging out the windows looking forwards, like windows aren’t seen tough and people with stick cameras hanging their arms out

Blimey op glad you're ok, I bet that was a quite a shock to see.

I've mixed feelings about safari drive through as had an awful experience in the late 90's, would it be ok if I share? Sorry to thread hijack.

A group of monkeys smashed my Corsa up and stole several parts after I stalled it and panicked and couldn't turn key and I had to drive back home on motorway without any wing mirrors. The back box which connects to my exhaust was also stolen and car sounded awful for over a month before I could afford to have it repaired. In all there was over £1000 of damage and the car was never the same again and the park said there's no evidence as before dash cameras.

In situations like this it's not a question of own risk, these things can happen but the park didn't seem to have any emergency procedure. As to OP said at least they should have stopped more cars entering. I cannot imagine why drivers were driving into what was obviously a dangerous situation.

Thank you @ShakyBake it was so surreal I think at the time it was so bizarre it’s as the day has gone on it’s an oh fuck that could have been worse if we were 3seconds faster etc.

Of course you can share and you haven’t hijacked and even if you did that’s ok too!

@Maninasuitcase youve written in perfectly thank you. We put our hazards on to try and get people to stop passing us but then turned them off to not want to piss off the rhino once they had calmed down.
We just kept saying why are they not stopping people or coming to help?

i would moan more about kids hanging out windows after working in a safari pack its well noticed to keep windows closed its also noted you enter at your own risk towards damage to cars

Rhinos are not supposed to live with in the West Midlands for fucks sake. There is so much wrong with this kind of 'park', it blows my mind.

Same, at Knowsley. Never again.

Just out of curiosity reptilemad1985 , did you work for west Midlands safari approx 1997/1998 ? If so could you pm me please, I wanted to ask about something damage related

At Blair Drummond Safari Park there are lots of notices about keeping windows closed and doors locked. Also, you can drive through other enclosures but skip the monkey one if you're worried about car damage. I would have expected keepers to be in contact with each other with walky talkies if not mobiles.

sorry after that date you can message me tho i maybe able to help

OMG op this is my worst nightmare.

I would love to take dc there but I have always been wary (for years!) thinking what if an animal went mad or something- this has made me 100% sure I will never go.

Just out of curiosity- would you go back again?

I previously had an incident there with a different animal although not fighting it only damaged my wing mirror.
WMSP is a great place to go and the walk round section is almost another park in itself.
From experience though they do seem to employ young staff without a great deal of training and in a real emergency I'm not sure they would be equipped to deal with it.
I presume though there must be qualified personnel amongst them for animal care/handling.

It’s almost like we shouldn’t be cooping up wild animals in places they don’t belong for our own entertainment!