Otter Cubs

"Head Keeper with Otter Cubs" by Alan Jones

Well, do I have some exciting news for you!.. As ever, we have been keeping it a little quiet for the first few weeks just to make sure all is OK... but since they are no longer quiet, and all through my talk yesterday all we could hear were squeaks from the holt, let me introduce you to our two new otter cubs!

These two little ones were born at the end of October, and last week it was time to make sure they were fit health wise, microchip them and sex them. A boy and a girl! Not yet named, but knowing the keeper team I am sure they will be great... well, they will be names at least.

This weekend they are just over 5 week old, and so not coming out of the holt yet, but if you are lucky you may well here them calling.

So when will they out for people to see? Usually around 8 weeks is when we first see them, give or take, and then another couple of weeks for more reliable sightings... and what's that... that times perfectly with our open week after Christmas?.. Well yes it does, what a brilliant mum Emmy is.

We will keep you updated, and hopefully show some more photos of them as they grow. For now we are leaving them alone again for Emmy to do what she does best.

Photo of the Month: October 2018

"Basil the Fox" by Christine Sweet

As the temperature starts to the fall, the animals begin to get their thicker coats and arguably look their best during the winter months. As always, lots of photographs have been shared from around the Centre over the past week, but we chose this photo of Basil the fox, above, taken by Chris Sweet as our photo for October. 

Chris's photo will be in our coffee shop gallery next year, and in with a chance to win a photographic day here at the Centre next year if chosen by our professional photography judge at the end of the year. 

Below are a few other photos from October, and as always, to see more of Chris's or any of the other photographers pictures, clock on the link in their name. 

"Fox" by Tony Cox

"Young Scottish Wildcat" by Mike Crowle

"Heron in Flight" by Paul Stuart