Chris Wilson Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Jane and I went with a friend and his wife to a zoological park near Ashbourne, Derbyshire today. He was going to look at a tapir he fancied buying, we just went to look and go for lunch with them. I ended up buying a pair of kookaburras (the Australian bird you here in all Oz jungle scenes that makes that wonderful noise) and then I got offered a real rareity, a breeding pair of eagle owls, at a fantastic price as they were shortly to demolish the owl section to rebuid it elsewhere. These are the big buggers that can bring down a small deer. We even had a great meal at a pub we stopped off at purely by chance, as our usual haunt was closed for some sort of private party Pics at http://gatesgarth.com/animals There's an MP3 of Kookaburras calling, you'll have heard them before, for sure, but probably didn't know what they were. The animal in the background of the tapir photo is a cappabarra, the worlds biggest rodent. We didn't tell Jane they are bloody dangerous until she got out of the compound Back to cars and engines tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 3rd pic not working! Great noise they make Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 Sorry, re loaded it, seems OK now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 The Eagle Owl really is gorgeous! Do you keep your own kind of mini zoo, Chris? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 what is that in the first picture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris aka fonz Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Id like a day trip out to see your animals , sod twycross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittyclaws Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 eagle owls, are lovely birds,, is that the European eagle owl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 satnav: Yep a pair of European Eagle Owls. If I had more time I'd like to get a youngster to fly, but it's incredibly time consuming training and keeping them fit. Local people with small dogs, or cats tend to get a bit miffed if a bird takes one, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbeh Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Chris, sorry its off topic, but what tyres do you use on your Skyline for track days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 what is that in the first picture? It's a tapir, a member of the horse ans rhinocerus family http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/learning/animals/mammals/tapir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 Chris, sorry its off topic, but what tyres do you use on your Skyline for track days? Michelin Pilot Sport Cups if I am feeling flush, Pirelli P-Zero Corsas if I am not (most of the time.... ) The Michelin is, IMO, the better tyre, but is a lot dearer than the still excellent Pirelli. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbeh Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Where do you get them from? I've dont a few searches online and cant find much information about them, let alone suppliers... do they do them in 17s? Usually the only track day tyres that pop up are Avons ZZRs, Toyo 888, Dunlops and Khumos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Wow - Awesome animals. I had no idea that the Tapir was so large! Look at the way it's just sitting there taking affection from Jane. The Eagle Owls will certainly make interesting keeping I've no doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Very different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 Where do you get them from? I've dont a few searches online and cant find much information about them, let alone suppliers... do they do them in 17s? Usually the only track day tyres that pop up are Avons ZZRs, Toyo 888, Dunlops and Khumos. http://www.silverlinewheels-tyres.com/contact/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbeh Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Thanks Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Used to know someone who owns a falconry centre. She came back from Oz with a kookaburra. It used to fly around her house when she first got it, all I can remember is that it used to sit on a lamp shade by the sofa and burn it's tail which touched the bulb ! Burnt Kookaburra - not a nice smell !! Great little bird though... Eagle Owls are a great looking bird arn't they, pity they are not easier to train for hawking (or should that be Owling) ? G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 I laughed out loud when i saw the tapir, never seen one before, the fat lazy bugger Chris, Interesting hobby you have outside motors, I bet you must need a license to keep specialist animals like these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Cool! What does one 'do' with a Tapir? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Cool! What does one 'do' with a Tapir? Well he would make an interesting xmas roast dinner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 I am not entirely sure just what you would "do" with one, save, as Osso says, feed the masses. I personally would recommend one kept upwind of one, as they appear to suffer quite dramatic flatulence. My pals wife heard it from afar, thought it was him, not the beastie, and gave him some earache about manners and going to the pub.... I suppose when you have the collection of exotica he has, a tapir is just something he hasn't already got, or had before. He runs a big dairy and beef farm, on hundreds of acres, so he can accomodate his fancy for big wild animals I settle for the smaller things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guru Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Lovely animals Chris! You should start advertising and selling tickets to family's on the weekends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Lovely animals Chris! You should start advertising and selling tickets to family's on the weekends lol I was about to suggest the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_supra Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Wow, that is one hell of a variety of animals you've got! A guy I used to know kept Eagle owls, a male and a female and they were huge! he was very cautious with them, as one had ripped through the webbed bit of skin between his finger and thumb when he tried to handle them. They had young aswell, baby eagle owls look so weird! just big balls of white fluff with legs and a beak!He had to give them away in the end, he moved and didn't have the space to build an aviary of the size they would need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun. Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Lovely animals Chris! You should start advertising and selling tickets to family's on the weekends He Does ! When I picked up my car a month or so ago after Her service, Chris kindly showed myself, Wife and the 2 kids the full on tour Very impressive collection and pleasant distraction from motors. Shaun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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