woburn safari park accident

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Moment bear ‘attacks’ family car inside Woburn Safari Park after becoming enraged by the heat

Tanya Mallaney was terrified when the overheated beast launched itself at her family’s Ford Fiesta as they drove through the park

• Rob Pattinson
• Published : 19:10, 27 Jul 2018
• Updated : 19:11, 27 Jul 2018

A GRAN claims safari park keepers failed to react when a black bear aggravated by the heat attacked her family’s car.

Tanya Mallaney, 53, was left terrified when the overheated 6ft snarling beast snapped and launched itself at her family’s Ford Fiesta.

They sounded the horn three times - a sign of distress to rangers at Woburn Safari Park, Beds., as the animal tried to bite its way in and tear at the windscreen.

But no staff rushed to the rescue.

Instead they filmed the incredible moment they were forced to drive off with the predator still on their BONNET.

When the family reported the attack park officials shrugged it off as the bear ‘being too hot’.

Tanya, who was in the car with daughters Sophie and Danielle and her gandson, six, said it was only change they had locked the doors moments earlier.

Civil servant Tanya said: 'We drove around and hadn't seen many animals yet when suddenly we rounded a corner and saw a bear which jumped straight onto the car.

“We beeped the horn three times - as per the instructions around the park to call for help during emergencies - but no one responded.

“It was incredibly frightening as it was 100% trying to get inside. It's teeth were out, it wasn't a friendly bear.”

She said: “The manager said he had never seen anything like this in time time at Woburn before, and was quite shocked himself.

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“He blamed the heat and offered us a £400 VIP package as an apology, which was sweet but I wasn't completely satisfied as they had no answer for the missing rangers.”

Woburn today said the bear showed "curiosity around their car" on Monday but denied the heat played a part in the attack.

A spokesman said: "We would like to apologise for the bear worrying the family, the incident was investigated by the Duty Manager who was reassured that the family were all okay, and can confirm that the heat played no part in the bear’s curiosity. "We are glad to see from the photo that the family enjoyed the rest of their visit to the park."

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Man in 20s dies in Ridgmont crash between car and motorbike near Woburn Safari Park

A man in his 30s has been arrested

• 16:41, 18 JUN 2022

A man has died in a crash between a car and motorbike in Bedfordshire, near Woburn Safari Park. The incident happened at 8.30am yesterday (June 17) in Cobblers Lane, Ridgmont. The two vehicles involved in the crash were a black Mercedes van and a silver Triumph motorbike.

Bedfordshire Police confirmed today that one man in his 20s had died in the crash and that another in his 30s has been arrested in connection, however he has now been released under investigation. Officers are appealing for information about the incident or dashcam footage from passing drivers.

Read more: Bedfordshire crime: Luton drug dealers who sold 'blocks of cocaine' worth thousands jailed for 32 years combined

Cobblers Lane is a narrow country lane which cuts between Eversholt Road and Berry End, looping under the M1. The crash happened near the Woburn Safari Park near Milton Keynes. Anyone with information about the fatal crash should contact Bedfordshire Police online or by calling 101.

• Woburn Safari Park
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Bears swan around in pedalo at flooded Woburn Safari Park

• Woburn Safari Park
• Bedfordshire
• Monday 25 March 2024 at 7:00am

Bears and swans are not normally seen together, but visitors have been treated to quite a spectacle at Woburn Safari Park, Bedfordshire.

The black bears have been enjoying a novelty swan pedalo which has been added to a waterlogged area of their 13-acre enclosure.

Keeper Tommy Babington explained: “ There's been so much wet weather this year, that a new mini lake has formed in the black bears' drive-through at Woburn Safari Park, so we had the idea of turning this into interesting enrichment for them.

"The 'sleuth' of bears was immediately intrigued by their new neighbour and wasted no time in investigating the swan peddle boat.”

The young sibling black bears are two males and two females, known as Harvard, Maple, Colorado and Aspen.

Bears are naturally curious animals and keepers at Woburn Safari Park say they encourage this with all kinds of enrichment through their habitat to keep their minds and bodies active.

Mr Babington said: "The swan boat enrichment may be a less conventional approach to stimulating their natural behaviours, but it certainly was a hit."

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Woburn Safari Park welcomes two new rhinos and bids farewell to one

The safari park is welcoming two southern white rhinos.

Woburn Safari Park has announced the arrival of two new southern white rhinos as it prepares to bid farewell to one “much loved” member of the herd.

Granville, a five-year-old male, arrived from West Midlands Safari Park on August 20 and Azeeza, a three-year-old female, arrived later the same day from Safari Zoo Cumbria.

Alongside the arrival of the two new rhinos, keepers are preparing to say goodbye to Granville’s aunt and a “much loved” member of the herd, Bonnie, as she embarks on a new adventure at West Midlands Safari Park, the Woburn park said.

New rhino Granville is known for his friendly nature, curiosity and confidence and is expected to settle in well with the rest of the rhino herd, according to the safari park.

Born in 2021 to mother Ntombi and father Muzungu, Azeeza’s name means “strong, powerful, and dear” and she is known for a stubborn streak inherited from her mother.

Keeper Zack Turner said: “It’s always sad to see any of our animals go, especially Bonnie. She’s a great rhino to work with and has so much personality.

“Although it’s sad to see her go, the chance to hopefully have a breeding group of rhino, with the introduction of Granville, is something that excites us all.

“With white rhinos being a species that faces a lot of struggles out in the wild, breeding them here at Woburn would be a great step in the right direction for their conservation.”

To ensure a smooth transition for Bonnie, the safari park keepers have spent training time with her, making sure she feels comfortable and at ease for her journey, the park said.

The process has involved using the crate as a tunnel between the house and the sand yard, which has helped her become familiar and comfortable with the crate in the weeks leading up to the move.

Keepers hope the new arrivals will breed, as southern white rhinos are classified as “near threatened” due to ongoing poaching and habitat loss out in the wild.

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2 children suffer head injuries after car crashes into horse buggy in Hanover Township

H ANOVER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WILX) - A car crashed into a horse buggy over the weekend in Hanover Township, leaving two children injured.

On Sunday at 6 p.m., Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers were called out to the area of Moscow and Hatch Roads for a crash involving a Ford Escape and a horse buggy carrying nine people.

Investigators said the driver of the car, a 16-year-old girl from Jackson, was driving south on Moscow when she crashed into the buggy that was also heading southbound.

MSP said the driver of the car had minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.

A 32-year-old woman who was a passenger in the buggy had a hip injury. In addition, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy had severe head injuries from the crash.

The three injured passengers were taken to the hospital.

The remaining passengers on the buggy, ages 2-7, were not injured.

All the people in the buggy were from Hanover.

Officials said alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the crash.

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Thirteen monkeys die in fire at Woburn Safari Park

"Devastatingly for everyone" at Woburn Safari Park, none of its 13 patas monkeys could be saved following the fire.

Tuesday 2 January 2018 15:41, UK

Thirteen monkeys have died following a fire at Woburn Safari Park.

The fire broke out in the patas monkey house in the the park's African Forest drive-through area in the early hours on Tuesday, a park spokesman said, with the enclosure "well alight" by the time firefighters arrived at the scene.

The roof of the outbuilding collapsed in the blaze.

In a statement, the safari park said: "Staff and fire crews attended the scene, however, devastatingly for everyone at the park, none of the 13 animals could be saved.

"All other animals within the jungle drive-through enclosure are being monitored, but early signs suggest that they have not been affected.

"An investigation is under way into the cause of the fire and whilst the park will remain open, the jungle enclosure will remain closed for investigation.

"The park is grateful to the quick response from Bedfordshire Fire Brigade, who attended with three appliances."

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• Fire Service

The fire was spotted by security guards during a routine patrol at about 2.30am. Firefighters confirmed they attended shortly afterwards.

Safari park spokesman Drew Mullin told Sky News an initial investigation by the fire service indicated the blaze had been caused by a generator fault.

He said: "We must now clear up and look after the staff. They are devastated, they build up a bond with the animals.

"We will keep the jungle closed for today, tomorrow and the next few days and then we will make a decision about reopening."

A Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said the outbuilding housing the atas monkeys "was well alight and its roof had fallen in" when firefighters arrived.

"They fought the fire using fire hoses while wearing breathing apparatus to protect themselves from the smoke and fumes. The building was 90% damaged by the fire."

Firefighters closed the incident at 4.46am.

It comes 10 days after four meerkats and a nine-year-old aardvark were killed in a fire at London Zoo on December 23.

An investigation into the cause of that blaze is also being carried out.

According to Woburn's website, its patas monkeys shared a 16-acre space with barbary macaques and a herd of mountain bongo.

They were free to roam all night during summer months, but would have been housed indoors during the colder winter nights.

In the wild, patas monkeys are classified as being of "least concern" so are not thought to be under threat.

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