British Wildlife Centre

2011.07.09

Josh, one of the centre's adult foxes, was very brave and came right up to the fence to sniff my hand.

Biscuit, who shares an enclosure with Josh, was a little more reserved and watched me from a distance.

Flo's cubs were very relaxed and happy to pose!

The otters were so sweet and one of them was very intersted in my red camera bag when I put it down beside the fence!

I had a lovely few minutes with this muntjac deer who was sitting only a few feet away from me. Captions please!

Oona is the centre's oldest Scottish Wildcat. She's recently suffered with an eye ulcer but it's been treated and is now beginning to heal.

This is Dougal, Oona's partner, looking very relaxed.

Dougal again, sitting to attention on a log.

Oona was very alert and eager at feeding time.

"Please give me some grub!"

I visited the British Wildlife Centre once more today for their annual members’ evening. The centre extended its hours to 8 o’clock and put on some extra keepers’ talks to tell us more about the breeding and research work they’re doing there. It was wonderful to have access to the animals after the general public had left and the sun eventually came out to give us some warm evening light to shoot in. The centre is phenomenally popular with photographers thanks to the easy access to the animals and it really did look like a meeting of ‘long lenses anonymous’ this evening – I felt distinctly out gunned at times! Each time I visit the centre I have good luck with different animals and this time the otters were particularly happy to pose for our cameras. The foxes were also very active and the new cubs were lolling lazily around in the grass. Matt, the head keeper, also told us all about the centre’s work in aiding the survival of the Scottish Wildcat, the UK’s last remaining wild species of cat. There are only about 400 left in the wild (although many have now interbred with feral domestic cats) so the breeding work they do at the centre to increase the numbers is crucial. Last year one of their females, Kendra gave birth to three kittens but sadly both she and Oona (the centre’s oldest female at the age of 16) lost their litters this year. The keepers now suspect Kendra may have become pregnant again so they are still keeping their fingers crossed for a healthy litter second time round. I’ll keep an eye on the centre’s blog for more information and will certainly be going back later in the summer to see the kittens their suspicions turn out to be right.

Helen, although I am on vacation and I am extremely limited in time that I can spend on PB - mainly only to post, I had to let you know the foxes are FANTASTIC and they now inhabity the rest in my favorites zoo!

danrav · 2011-07-11: 08:13