The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary’s famous lion brothers have returned to their pride of place on top of their rock beside the seaside in Sandown.
Kumba & Vigo’s new Iconic Rock has been completed and they are back on high and in pride of place right where they belong at The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary – formally known as the Isle of Wight Zoo.
After many years of standing proud in the centre of the sanctuary, the harsh winters and wild winds blowing in from the English Channel caused significant damage to the rock, which collapsed earlier this summer.
The old rock was a solid formation but staff have taken the opportunity to completely rebuild it with an improved concept encompassing a cave and a more naturalistic design. This has added complexity and interest to Kumba & Vigo’s habitat, encouraging a greater range of behaviours whilst returning that all-important vantage point for them.
This structure was designed to recreate the natural African boulders or ‘Kopje’ that wild Lions seek as a focal point in their territory and was based on an original hand drawn sketch by Wildheart Animal Sanctuary’s Facilities Manager, Darren Carter-Smith.
The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary worked with a team of construction experts to bring the vision to life and build the new rock in an exceptionally tight timeframe to ensure Kumba & Vigo were only kept out of their habitat for a short period.
Lawrence Bates, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary Chief Operating Officer, has said:
“We were humbled that Chris Carless and Tom Holden from Island Carpentry Ltd kindly donated their labour and a substantial percentage of materials used in the construction of the timber platform which was used to shape and support the faux rockwork structure around it.
“We were lucky enough to work with Alan Bishop from Themeworks Ltd, one of the country’s top theming companies specialising in bespoke, hand finished faux rockwork who worked tirelessly to complete the works ahead of schedule in a searing heatwave.
“Reynolds and Read built the earth mound surrounding the rock”.
Have missed seeing ‘the boys’ whilst their new rock was built ! They seem to love it and look so beautiful when they are up there relaxing. Congratulations to the guys who built it in such extremely hot weather.
Sandown Zoo. It will always be Sandown Zoo, no matter how not woke that sounds to nice people on their hollibobs. Just once more; it’s Sandown Zoo.