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.

Boycott all zoos and Safari parks. Wild animals should be wild, free to roam and live their lives.

Keeping animals captive, there is always a price to be paid, and sadly it is the animals who pay.

Rhinos gonna rhino and monkeys gonna monkey.

If you're not up for some of that, I would say probably best avoided.

I've seen videos of monkeys on cars and I'll never drive though the monkey section of any safari park. I'm surprised the Rhinos were not behind a barrier though.

Rhinos are going to rhino, you accept you might get damaged. it was just the parks lack of response to it and keeping the money going.

Read the newspaper article that says the park say they’ve had lots of emails of people praising them for their swift actions. They don’t say they’ve not replied to emails of people who were caught up in it but not damaged. Radio silence still.

I’ve also sent a query about why they send the rhinos into the traffic before the park closes. I just want to feel it’s more safer going forward.

Poor things they sound very stressed, they should not be exploited like this.

I have very limited sympathy for the drivers as for the park it sounds entirely unsuitable for these wonderful majestic animals.

Get rid of zoos and places like this. That's the answer.

Please report it to https://tusk.org/

Just pay for the bus they get you closer tell stories and its their clutch to burn out or vehicle to damage at the end of the day

I have a theory that the monkeys are gradually stealing a different part of each car and saving them up until they have enough to build a complete vehicle to launch their escape.

The rhinos at the West Midlands have always been free to roam , at Longleat they are in an enclosure

I am glad you have done that too. I guess they read all the “positive” emails before they read ours.

Thank you, I had a look and couldn’t see a governing body as such it just said local councils are responsible.

I agree with everyone that says they are wild animals and under stress there. I am always torn between a few animals living like this means conservation work for others and it’s just not needed. The rhinos at longleat have the safest smallest enclosure and that feels very wrong. Most of the animals are pacing the perimeter

I'm sorry but "A group of monkeys smashed my corsa up" really made me belly laugh 🤣😅

I would just email them

They aren't a governing body but are a very respected charity in terms of rhino conservation and will know who to flag with

West Midlands rehomed their monkeys because they attacked too many cars im guessing the rhino's will go the same way if they are not financially viable anymore

The rhinos at Longleat have a sandy enclosure off their house and a field attached to that , it’s not that small .

We drove through the Longleat monkeys in our own car and loved seeing all the babies. Downside is once they’re up on your car they then use the rear wiper to swing themselves back down to the ground, snapping practically every one in the process. The £18 I had to pay for a replacement was small change though as they also have a penchant for reversing sensors. We watched a little gang run between stationary cars and poke them all in which I’d imagine resulted in some hefty repairs!