The Courier has teamed up with Blair Drummond Safari Park to offer readers the chance to win a family pass for two adults and two children each week - and learn a bit more about their residents at the same time.
Last week, the park celebrated Endangered Species Day on Friday May 20, a day dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness of the need to protect our planet’s biodiversity.
There are currently more than 16,000 plants, animals, fungi and algae that are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means that they are all considered to be at a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The safari park’s education officer Jamie-Leigh Green said: “Zoos and safari parks play an important role in sharing this message, as well as engaging in essential research to preserve these species, and providing funding for conservations projects all over the world.
“Here at Blair Drummond Safari Park one of the most endangered species that we look after is our Western Chimpanzees.
“Western Chimpanzees are classed as Critically Endangered, meaning they have an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future. Our three chimpanzees Chippy, Copper and Jill live in a unique island enclosure, which can be viewed from an outdoor viewing platform.
“Our male chimp Chippy is 33 years old and was the last chimp to be born here in the park.
“Our two females Jill and Copper both moved here from other zoos, and are 51 and 32 respectively.
“Chimps in the wild generally have a life span of around 25 years, whereas in captivity they can live for over 60.
“The main reasons for this are that in captivity they always have enough food, they can see a vet whenever they need to, and they are protected from any predators or hunters.
“Chimpanzees are very social and grooming is one important way that they go about strengthening bonds within the group.
“They can also communicate with each other in very similar ways to humans – by kissing, hugging, tickling and even laughing!”
Blair Drummond Safari Park is open seven days a week, from 10am until 5.30pm. Tickets can be booked online at blairdrummond.com.
For a chance to win a family pass, which can be used any one day during the park’s opening season this year, just answer the following question: What is the expected life span of a chimpanzee in the wild?
Send the coupon with your answer, name, address and contact number to: Safari Park Competition, West Lothian Courier, One
Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 9DA.
The deadline is Tuesday at 4pm. Only original vouchers will be accepted.
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