The Alpacas.
At the A.E.C they have had a active breeding program for a few years now usually getting births a year
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Alpacas are animals domesticated in the high altitudes of South America thousands of years ago for their luxurious fleece. They are members of the camelid family, which also includes camels, llamas, vicunas and guanacosAlpacas have coexisted with humankind for thousands of years. The Inca civilization of the Andes Mountains in Peru elevated the alpaca to a central place in their society. The imperial Incas clothed themselves in garments made from alpaca and many of their religious ceremonies involved the animal. Outside of their native South America, the number of alpacas found in other countries is extremely limited. In fact, 99 percent of the world's approximately three million alpacas are found in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile
Alpacas are disease resistant easy keepers and are gentle on the land. There are two types of alpacas - suri and huacaya. The fleece of the suri hangs in pencil locks, while huacaya fleece is more like sheep's fleece without the lanolin. The life span of an alpaca is 20 to 25 years. Females can be bred when they weigh 95 pounds, which generally occurs between 14 and 18 months of age. Males usually begin breeding when they are two years old, although a six month variation in age is not uncommon. Females are induced ovulators, which means they can be bred year around. Following an 11 ½ month gestation, they give birth to a single cria that weighs between 15 and 22 pounds. Adult alpacas usually weigh between 125 and 200 pounds and yield 5 to 8 pounds of fleece annually. Shearing is done in the spring to keep the alpaca comfortable during the summer months. Fleece grows 3 to 6 inches per year. Alpacas come in 16 different colors ranging from white to black, beige to dark brown. The fleece is prized by spinners for its softness and is warmer and lighter weight than wool. People who are allergic to wool can often wear garments made of alpaca, which is as soft as cashmere. |
The Wallabies
Wallabies are members of the kangaroo clan found primarily in Australia and on nearby islands. There are many wallaby species, grouped roughly by habitat: shrub wallabies, brush wallabies, and rock wallabies. Hare wallabies are named for their size and their hare-like behavior.
All wallabies are marsupials or pouched mammals. Wallaby young are born tiny, helpless, and undeveloped. They immediately crawl into their mothers' pouches where they continue to develop after birth—usually for a couple of months. Young wallabies, like their larger kangaroo cousins, are called joeys. Even after a joey leaves the pouch, it often returns to jump in when danger approaches. Wallabies are typically small to medium-sized mammals, but the largest can reach 6 feet (1.8 meters) from head to tail. They have powerful hind legs they use to bound along at high speeds and jump great distances. When wallabies are threatened by predators, or when males battle each other, they may also use these legs to deliver powerful kicks. These marsupials also have large and powerful tails. Wallaby tails are not prehensile (gripping), but are useful nonetheless. The animals use them for balance when moving and to prop themselves up in a sitting posture. Nail-tailed wallabies even sport a sharp growth at the end of their tails. Wallabies are herbivores, and the bulk of their diet is grasses and plants. Their elongated faces leave plenty of jaw room for the large, flat teeth necessary to chew their vegetarian meals. Wallabies live between 12 and 15 years, weigh from 35 to 40 pounds, and reach about 2 1/2 feet (knee high) at full growth. . They love the outdoors and can take cold weather if they have shelter. There are roughly 30 different species of wallaby found in a variety of habitats throughout the Australian continent. |
The Deer.Fallow deer are herbivores and graze all types of ground vegetation. They also browse shrub layers in a wood, and the growing shoots and leaves of holly and beech trees. Fallow deer can be found in most counties in England and Wales, and there are large populations in pockets spread across Scotland. The species was introduced by the Normans and quickly became established in the wild in hunting forests and chases. There are no really accurate estimates, but there must be tens of thousands of fallow deer in Britain.
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The Mini Shetland Ponies.
Visitors to the centre will have noticed the addition of the four mini Shetland ponies.They arrived late march . The very friendly foursome are1. Captain Bumble2.,Sergeant Socks on Fire,3. Duke of East Park and 4. Princess Daisy May.
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A little bit of History
Shetland ponies originated in the Shetland isles, located northeast of mainland Scotland Small horses have been kept on the Shetland Isles since the bronze age. People who lived on the islands probably later crossed the native stock with ponies imported by Norse settlers.Shetland ponies also were probably influenced by the Celtic Pony, brought to the islands by settlers The harsh climate and scarce food developed the ponies into extremely hardy animals.
Shetland ponies were first used for pulling carts carrying peat and coal and other items, and plowing farm land. Then, as the Industrial revolution increased the need for coal in the mid-19th century, thousands of Shetland ponies traveled to mainland Britain to be Pit ponies, working underground hauling coal, often for their entire lives. Coal mines in the eastern United States also imported some of these animals. The last pony mine in the United States closed in 1971.
Shetland ponies were first used for pulling carts carrying peat and coal and other items, and plowing farm land. Then, as the Industrial revolution increased the need for coal in the mid-19th century, thousands of Shetland ponies traveled to mainland Britain to be Pit ponies, working underground hauling coal, often for their entire lives. Coal mines in the eastern United States also imported some of these animals. The last pony mine in the United States closed in 1971.
The Goats.
At the education centre they have a large collection of goats from many species.
The Rheas
Rheas, also known as ñandús (pronounced in Spanish, or Ema in Portuguese, are two species of flightless ratite birds native to South America – the greater or American rhea and the lesser or Darwin's rhea. The name was given in 1752 by Paul Mohring; his reason for choosing this name, from the Rhea of classical mythology, is not known. Rheas are polygamous, with males courting between two and twelve females. After mating, the male builds a nest, in which each female lays her eggs. The male incubates from ten to sixty eggs; the chicks hatch within 36 hours of each other. The females, meanwhile, may move on and mate with other males. While caring for the young, the males will charge at anyone — including female rheas and humans — who approach the chicks. Rheas are omnivorous, preferring broad-leafed plants, but also eating seeds, roots, fruit, insects, and small vertebrates. Rheas have only three toes. This is probably an adaptation to allow them to run faster than if they had four like most other birds |
Around the farmyard.
Although they are birds the peacocks and chickens have been included in this section as they are found around the farmyard along with its other residents .Peacocks do fly and tend to get into the most unusual positions. you can often see them on top of the building Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird's back and touches the ground on either side. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.
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The chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Jungle fowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003,[1] there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird. Humans keep chickens primarily as a source of food, consuming both their meat and their eggs
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In Western societies, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a household pet since its introduction by European traders in the 16th century. Their docile nature, their responsiveness to handling and feeding, and the relative ease of caring for them, continue to make the guinea pig a popular pet. Organizations devoted to competitive breeding of guinea pigs have been formed worldwide, and many specialized breeds of guinea pig, with varying coat colors and compositions, are cultivated by breeders.
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Chalky the oldest of the geese.
Chalky the goose is possibly the oldest resident at the A.E.C.
I started working at east park in 1984 and he was there then making him at least in his late 20s .He knows all the staff and is usually seen with his little mate tagging along.He always says hello when called by his name.He knows all the staff on sight and is a very social goose. He is usually in the company of his little mate Daffy Duck seen in the picture. Sadly chalky passed away on 27th march 2013 at the vets whilst suffering from a few health complications.He will be missed by all the Staff and regulars at the park who knew him.. |