IN 1971 Merseyside became that little bit wilder when Knowsley Safari Park was opened to the public by the Earl of Derby. Its appeal was obvious from the start as it gave visitors the chance to drive through large enclosures where the animals roamed, bringing the wilderness areas of the world to within eight miles of the city centre of Liverpool. The park was extended after only two years, so that the attraction now had five miles of road allowing more animal attractions to be brought in to delight and fascinate car loads of visitors. Lions, tigers, elephants, cheetahs, monkeys and giraffes can all be seen along the route, and camels and rhino are also present. Elephants in the park have flourished and now have to be kept behind an electric fence, so their feeding habits don't see off all the vegetation on the estate! Knowsley Safari Park has long been one of the most popular attractions on Merseyside, and has won awards both as a tourist attraction and for its work in the field of animal husbandry. For more information, see www.knowsley.com | 
