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Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire recently held its first service for pets. Discover Animals’ Geoff Moore went along to find out more. The ‘All Creatures Great And Small: A Service Of Blessing For Our Pets’ was an informal afternoon service that gave thanks for the joy and companionship that pets bring to our daily lives. All … Read more
Steve Backshall, one of Britain’s best-loved and most intrepid naturalists and television presenters, is returning to Longleat in Wiltshire for the first time in over a decade this May half term. He will present an all-new wildlife show, created exclusively for Longleat, from Saturday 25th May until Sunday 2nd June. Tickets are on sale now. … Read more
Monty the koala celebrated his first birthday at Longleat in Wiltshire at the end of June. He is the first male southern koala born at Longleat and also the only one to have been born anywhere in Europe. Delighted keepers held a special party for him to celebrate his big day. Monty is the second koala to … Read more
Koala keepers from Wiltshire wildlife attraction Longleat have returned to Australia to see how wildlife is recovering following the devastating bushfires. In 2020, two koala keepers travelled to Cleland Wildlife Park to help with the aftermath of their fires. Three years on, keepers Jon Ovens and James Dennis have made the trip back to South Australia … Read more
In this short film, Discover Animals’ Geoff Moore visits Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm on the Wiltshire/Hampshire border to find out more about what the site offers including pig racing and guinea pig fishing!
Discover Animals’ Geoff Moore climbs the 332 steps of the Salisbury Cathedral tower to meet a pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons and their four chicks. Records appear to indicate the presence of these birds of prey at the cathedral since the mid 1800s. The last time the peregrines bred here was in 1952 until they returned … Read more
A pair of cute porcupines have been captivating keepers with their amusing antics since arriving at Longleat from separate collections recently. The two female prehensile-tailed porcupines, named Pumpkin and Squash, are both less than a year old and look just like the niffler from ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’. Both were bred in … Read more
Longleat’s newest arrivals made the most of a break from the rain recently to explore their outdoor enclosure – complete with mounds of leaves filled with tasty treats from their keepers. Born to mum Yana in June, the two cubs – male Rusty and female Yuki – are part of a European wide breeding programme for … Read more
Koala numbers are decreasing at an alarming rate in the wild due to habitat loss and disease, with estimates at less than 100,000 remaining in their native Australia. However, scientists working with a group of koalas at Longleat have discovered vital genetic clues which may help to secure the long-term survival of the iconic Australian … Read more
Longleat welcomed two endangered Amur tiger cubs in June, the first at the Wiltshire safari park for nearly 20 years. This week male Rusty and female Yuki, who weighed just over a kilogramme when born, took their first steps outside. Initially cautious, the cubs soon overcame their nerves and began exploring their outdoor enclosure, under … Read more
Keepers at Longleat have enjoyed a baby boom among its herd of Grant’s zebra this summer with four new arrivals making 2019 ‘one of the best years ever’ for the safari park. Following a year-long pregnancy, foals are born weighing just over 15kgs and rather than their familiar black and white stripes, babies appear with … Read more
A pair of Amur tiger cubs have been born at Longleat – the first in nearly 20 years for the Wiltshire safari park. Mum Yana and dad Red, both four years old, arrived at Longleat last year as part of a European breeding programme for the endangered species from separate collections in Sweden and Norway. … Read more
Seven tiny European wolf pups have been born at Longleat in Wiltshire, to the delight of the park’s keepers. This is the second litter to be born at the Safari Park in the last year and boosts the pack size to 14. The pups weighed less than half a kilogramme when born, but at a month … Read more
Longleat’s most famous residents enjoyed the warm weather last week as their woodland home became carpeted with a stunning display of native bluebells. The welcome sunshine prompted tens of thousands of the beautiful wildflowers to start flowering in woodland across the Wiltshire estate. The majority of native bluebells are found in old and ancient woodlands – … Read more
Longleat has unveiled a host of all-new animal displays for 2019, including a spacious purpose-built semi-aquatic enclosure for a pair of two-metre long critically endangered Cuban crocodiles. Renowned for their ability to jump high out of water, the crocodiles will share their new 80,000 litre home with shoals of freshwater fish and dozens of exotic butterflies. … Read more
In 1966, Longleat became the first location outside Africa to open a drive-through Safari. Over 50 years on, Longleat remains one of the UK’s leading tourist attractions. Boasting animals, Elizabethan architecture, 900 acres of parkland, and easy access from the A350, A36 and A361 Longleat truly is the perfect choice for a day out. A trip to Longleat affords you the chance to … Read more
One of the biggest litters of successfully reared cheetahs in the UK has made their first public appearance at Longleat. Born in August, the four cheetah cubs have been busy exploring the great outdoors at the Wiltshire wildlife attraction, while keeping mum Wilma close by. However, it wasn’t long before the cubs started venturing further afield and … Read more
If you are a fan of koalas you will love Longleat’s newest attraction. Set to open Spring 2019, Koala Creek is currently home to five Southern koalas (four female and one male) and two hairy nosed wombats (one female and one male), who recently arrived from Australia. The marsupial group are currently off show to … Read more
A group of male spotted hyenas – collectively known as a ‘cackle’ – can now be seen in a new drive-through enclosure at Longleat Safari Park. These magnificent sub-Saharan hunters are known as ‘laughing’ hyenas due to the bizarre giggling sounds they make when excited. The ‘laugh’ is one of up to 12 different vocalisations the … Read more
Take a trip Longleat this bank holiday weekend and meet a host of brand new animals who arrived at the park over the summer holidays. The newest arrivals include a colony of colobus monkeys, native to central Africa, and a group of spotted, or laughing, hyenas, a first for the Wiltshire wildlife attraction. The newcomers … Read more
Longleat welcomed twin red panda cubs two weeks ago and mum Rufina has already been spotted taking one of her tiny new arrivals outside for the first time. Rufina and dad Ajendra are important members of a European breeding programme for the species, which is officially recognised as endangered in the wild. The pair have raised … Read more
Longleat in Wiltshire has welcomed a pair of Amur tigers – the largest type of big cat in the world. Part of a European breeding programme for this endangered sub-species, the two new arrivals are a male Amur from Norway and female named Yana from Sweden. Although they will need to be kept apart for … Read more
A female cheetah cub is being hand reared by her keeper at Longleat after being abandoned at just 10 days old. The cub was being cared for by second time mum Wilma, but was discovered cold, weak and on her own. Numerous attempts were made to get mother and baby back together, but the decision … Read more
Prehistoric creatures from the world famous Natural History Museum be the stars of a brand new exhibit opening at Longleat in Wiltshire next month. T.REX: The Killer Question features eight animatronic dinosaur models and static scenes, taking visitors on a journey to unravel an ancient mystery, millions of years in the making. Was the fearsome Tyrannosaurus … Read more
Longleat in Wiltshire will be home to some of the planet’s most remarkable predators from this weekend, Saturday 24th March. Visitors to the safari park will be able to watch in awe as a dozen highly-realistic animatronic creatures come to life as part of the thrilling new Predators attraction. Let your imagination run wild as you come face … Read more
Record numbers of Chilean flamingos have hatched at Longleat in Wiltshire with the safari park welcoming a total of 15 chicks to the colony this year. Flamingos lay just one egg at a time on top of a tall cone nest. Each chick hatches with white plumage, which they will keep for around three years, … Read more
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