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Nikki Hawes 
The Reindeer Centre is the home of England’s original ‘Reindeer Grotto’. A few reindeer were imported from Sweden about 14 years ago and they now have in excess of 100 reindeer thanks to their successful breeding programme. The reindeers are English bred and farm reared (some by hand), making them extremely tame and are perfect … Read more
Wander around our beautiful 24 acre parkland and see over 100 species. The magical Bird of Prey flying displays have been a regular feature since the park opened and we have gathered an eclectic mix of over 100 species from Anaconda to Zebra.
See animals such as tigers, otters, meerkats, ponies, monkeys and bats. Meet the keepers in Bug City for a really hands on experience, see birds of prey flown, feed the fish and get to see the tigers up close from the high level viewing area. Visit the Discovery Centre to learn more about wildlife and … Read more
WWT London Wetland Centre was voted the UK’s Favourite Nature Reserve 2012 by Countryfile magazine. Roam the beautiful walkways amongst the lakes and pools of this 105 acre wildlife haven, perfect for spotting birds and other wildlife. World Wetlands is home to rare birds from around the globe plus a family of otters. Watch wild … Read more
The Chestnut Centre is an enjoyable day out, strolling through 50 acres of unspoilt Derbyshire countryside. Encountering four species of otters, over 10 species of deer, foxes, Scottish wildcats, pinemarten and others. The Nature Trail is a natural environment for wildflowers throughout the changing seasons.
This superb wildlife centre is home to the finest collection of native species in the country and you will see and learn about Britain’s own wonderful wildlife. They have over 40 different species of animals and birds from the smallest harvest mice to red deer, snowy owls and buzzards. Visit the cheeky otters, Scottish wildcats … Read more
The Shetland pony is a breed of pony originating in the Shetland Isles, located northeast of mainland Scotland. They have heavy coats, short legs and are considered quite intelligent. They are a very strong breed of pony, used for riding, driving, and pack purposes. Photo Credit: Silver & Gold Shetland
In the wild, reindeer live between 10 and 20 years, with females outliving the males by up to 10 years. They live in large herds and migrate to breeding grounds where food is more plentiful. They are strong swimmers and readily cross rivers to reach their destination. They have an excellent sense of smell which … Read more
The caracal is a medium-sized cat that lives in woodlands and savannas in Africa, Southwest Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. They are carnivores which are nocturnal (hunting at night) and solitary. The word comes from the Turkish karakulak, meaning black ear. Each ear is controlled by about 20 muscles, helping a caracal zero in on the … Read more
Donkeys are the smallest members of the equine family. Since their domestication over 4000 years ago, they have been an important part of human civilization and culture. Donkeys are also known as burros, jackstocks and asses, but regardless of name, all donkeys are descended from the African Wild Ass, which is now critically endangered. Photo … Read more
The llama is a South American camelid, widely used as a pack animal by the Incas and other natives of the Andes mountains. These sure-footed animals can carry as much as 200 pounds for 12 hours a day, but they are not ridden. Photo Credit: Evelyn Simak
A member of the weasel family, polecats were once widespread and common throughout mainland Britain. They are solitary in nature and active throughout the year. Their favoured habitat is woodland, riverbank and surrounding farmland. They will hunt by night or by day for small rodents, birds and insects using a keen sense of smell to locate … Read more
It is the tawny owl which hoots and our most common owl in Britain. It is totally nocturnal, roosting by day in a hollow tree or thick bush, often holly. Its habitat is very different to the barn owl, being mainly woodland areas and its diet of small mammals and birds will also consist of … Read more
The fox is a remarkably adaptable and successful animal found, where food is plentiful, in almost every habitat. It is a success because it is willing to eat almost anything and has become particularly adept at surviving alongside man in farmland and urban areas. With its bushy tail, large ears and narrow muzzle, the fox … Read more
Britain’s only wild member of the cat family bears a close resemblance to the domestic tabby, but it is more striped and has a bushier, blunt-ended tail marked with thick black rings. Now confined to the Scottish highlands, wildcats disappeared from southern England in the 16th century; the last one recorded in northern England was … Read more
The badger is the largest member of the Mustelid family and Britains largest land carnivore. They are nocturnal, emerging at dusk in summer to spend the night foraging. In winter they are much less active but do not hibernate. They live in social groups of 4 – 12 adults and when not active they lie … Read more
Fallow deer were probably first brought to England by the Romans, but the main introduction was by the Normans in the eleventh century for hunting purposes. It is a docile, herding deer that thrives in parklands, making it ideal for semi-domestication. Increasing in number and slowly in distribution, they are now found throughout much of … Read more
Several Sea Life centres will be turning the spotlight on scary critters of the deep this Halloween. As well as meeting creepy spider crabs, batfish, wolf-fish and other appropriately named creatures however, visitors will learn that it is we humans who are the real monsters! The centres’ special package of fright-fest’ entertainment running from 24th … Read more
A pair of wonderful new arrivals has been welcomed at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire with the birth of two critically endangered Amur tiger cubs, born to four-year-old tigress, Minerva. These tigers are amongst the largest and rarest cats in the world, and the new cubs signify an important achievement not just for the park, … Read more
Join The Deep in Hull this October half term (24th October to 2nd November) as they go on a trail for lost treasure, and you could be in with a chance of winning a pirate prize! Enjoy a whole host of pirate themed activities including the family treasure trail – just follow the treasure map … Read more
Cute baby crabs are making a rare public appearance after sneaking into Manchester Sea Life Centre hidden in a bag of mussels. The tiny edible crab and shore crab – christened Eddie and Sean – both about the size of a 50 pence piece, must have been scooped up accidentally as they hid among the … Read more
At SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth you can see awesome Sharks, cheeky Penguins, creepy Crocodiles and much more – from the rescued to the rare and the enigmatic. And can get closer than ever before. Many of their creatures are on the endangered list, which have been rescued and cannot be released into the wild, or … Read more
On Thursday 15 October Cindy, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo’s oldest chimpanzee, will be celebrating her 50th birthday at the Budongo Trail. The event comes just a few weeks after RZSS celebrated the 10th anniversary of its involvement in the Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS) in Uganda. To mark the special occasion, keepers will be giving Cindy … Read more
Open daily, Bristol Aquarium is a must see attraction for all the family. Explore the amazon, UK native waters, coral seas and discover over 4,000 aquatic creatures including sharks, stingrays, piranhas, seahorses and clownfish.
Journey through over 50 marine displays and get up close to majestic sharks, graceful rays and enchanting seahorses. Meet our adorable seals and hear the touching stories behind their rescues or visit our playful otters, Isla and Lewis. Look out for rare red squirrels and other local wildlife as you explore our Nutkins Nature Trail … Read more
Hunstanton SEA LIFE Sanctuary is a state-of-the-art marine aquarium taking visitors on a memorable undersea odyssey filled with amazing close encounters with sea creatures of astonishing variety. Dive in and be wowed by the many strange, beautiful and fascinating creatures of the deep. Combining a spectacular indoor aquarium with a seal hospital and rescue centre, … Read more
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