African Lion Safari (Warragamba)
Encyclopedia
The African Lion Safari was a wildlife park that Stafford Bullen
opened in 1968. It operated near Warragamba on the outskirts of Sydney
in New South Wales
, Australia
until 1991.
There was a dolphinarium in African Lion Safari.
(1925–2001) in 1968. At the time Bullen was still operating a traveling circus, but in 1969 he gave this venture a permanent home at Bullen's Animal World
. For the opening, a promotional single of The Tokens
' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was recorded by a band using the name "The Love machine" (the band turned out to be Tymepiece). The safari was popular in its early years and attracted up to 200,000 visitors each year.
With the suburbs encroaching on the facility, and extensive work required to upgrade the park following legislative changes, it eventually closed in 1991 but continued to hold animals on site that were used in a circus
but not displayed to the public.
es escaped from the park, terrorised the nearby townships of Warragamba & Silverdale and killed a dog. The lioness responsible for killing the dog was shot. As a result of the escape the park was required to upgrade facilities. A bear also escaped and was shot by residents.
Stafford Bullen
Stafford Bullen was a circus proprietor and co-founder of the African Lion Safari, Warragamba....
opened in 1968. It operated near Warragamba on the outskirts of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
until 1991.
There was a dolphinarium in African Lion Safari.
History
African Lion Safari was opened by Stafford BullenStafford Bullen
Stafford Bullen was a circus proprietor and co-founder of the African Lion Safari, Warragamba....
(1925–2001) in 1968. At the time Bullen was still operating a traveling circus, but in 1969 he gave this venture a permanent home at Bullen's Animal World
Bullen's Animal World
Bullen's Animal World was a circus style theme park located at Wallacia on the outskirts of Sydney. Its address was 11 Park Road, Wallacia.It was opened in 1969 by Stafford Bullen, the son of circus founder Alfred Percival Bullen, and operated until 1985...
. For the opening, a promotional single of The Tokens
The Tokens
The Tokens are an American male doo-wop-style vocal group from Brooklyn, New York. They are known best for their chart-scoring 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" .-Career:...
' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was recorded by a band using the name "The Love machine" (the band turned out to be Tymepiece). The safari was popular in its early years and attracted up to 200,000 visitors each year.
With the suburbs encroaching on the facility, and extensive work required to upgrade the park following legislative changes, it eventually closed in 1991 but continued to hold animals on site that were used in a circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
but not displayed to the public.
Incidents
On August 7, 1995 several lionessLion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
es escaped from the park, terrorised the nearby townships of Warragamba & Silverdale and killed a dog. The lioness responsible for killing the dog was shot. As a result of the escape the park was required to upgrade facilities. A bear also escaped and was shot by residents.