Two families feared they would die after their cars were smashed by a pair of fighting rhinos at West Midlands Safari Park. The animals caused around £12,000 of damage when they rammed the vehicles of Zoe Farmer, 53, and Charlotte Baker, 24, at the attraction in Bewdley, Worcestershire.
The pair watched in horror as the two white rhinos charged at their cars, leaving children screaming last Sunday. Zoe's Dacia Sandero Stepway was left with significant damage to its front and side, while Charlotte's BMW 3 Series suffered £6,000 worth of damage and her husband was hospitalised with back pain.
No rangers in sight
Both traumatised mums said there were no park rangers in sight, meaning they had to carry on through the park with their mangled vehicles. The attraction has since offered them free tickets as compensation, which Zoe and Charlotte have branded 'an insult'.
Gran-of-one Zoe, a school nurse assistant from Accrington, Lancashire, had been enjoying the safari drive-through experience with her grandson and husband when she encountered the rhinos. She said: 'We were sitting in a line of traffic through the rhino part when we heard what sounded like a massive car crash. We didn't know what to do, whether to drive or stay put, so we just stayed where we were.
'The next thing, the more aggressive rhino just charged at the front of the car. The two animals carried on fighting around the side of the car – and the rest of the damage was done by one pushing the other into the car.
'The car was swaying, and I thought we were going to die. I thought it was going to tip over and my grandson was out of his car seat as I had him on my lap to see the animals.'
Safety concerns raised
Zoe said she was screaming out of fear but trying to calm herself down to keep her grandson calm. She added: 'Nobody came to help, there wasn't a park warden in sight, so we just had to carry on with our damaged car while really shaken up. We drove around the rest of the park for around 15 minutes before a ranger eventually came up to us.
'They escorted us to the car park and didn't offer anything in the way of an apology – they just said 'we're not liable' and that we could drive around again for free if we wanted.'
Zoe said that she complained and was offered free tickets, which she said was a bit of an 'insult'. She said she isn't bothered about compensation – but is concerned for the safety of others. 'These are powerful animals, the horns could easily pierce through a car and a child or a person,' she said.
'Another visitor staying in the rhino lodge said one was acting aggressively that morning, so why was it not removed for the safety of visitors? This has happened before there. But I don't think they will do anything until there is a fatality.'
Park's response
Charlotte, of Tipton, West Midlands, who was with her 24-year-old husband and 18-month-old child, said: 'It felt like we had been hit by a car. I thought a car had lost control and hit us. We could have died.
'The rangers did nothing to stop it and continued to let customers into it, so it could have carried on. My husband has had to go to hospital with back pain. He has had to take a day off work.'
Charlotte criticised the safari park's response and questioned why the rhinos were allowed to free roam if an incident had happened before. She added: 'The attitude of the staff stunk. I show more empathy to our customers who have scratches on their cars. My husband was in hospital yesterday, and they haven't even given us a courtesy call.'
A spokesman for West Midlands Safari Park said: 'We are aware of an incident involving three guest vehicles and the white rhinos in the Safari Drive on the morning of Sunday, 9 August. An altercation between two rhinos resulted in collisions with the vehicles.
'The safety and welfare of our guests and animals is our highest priority and keepers in patrol vehicles are always in close attendance to monitor all animal and vehicle movements. Our keepers responded immediately to the altercation, checked all guests, and offered assistance to those involved throughout the morning. The rhinos quickly settled and remained under close observation.'
The spokesman added: 'We are happy that our rangers acted swiftly and appropriately and we have since had emails from other guests who witnessed the incident, praising their swift actions.'
'We kindly remind guests both online and through onsite signage that they are entering an environment where animals are free-roaming and that they do so at their own risk.
'All the guests will be contacted ASAP by our Guest Relations team and we will require their insurance companies to get in touch with us, so this is all being taken very seriously and appropriate compensation will be discussed.'
