Posted to the The Tea Rooms forum
2 November 2009 7:36 PM
Headed up to the Highland Wildlife Park today and had a fantastic time. Mercedes the polar bear now has a huge enclosure to play in that dwarfs the one she used to have in Edinburgh, and it seems she has been enjoying the mud that has resulted from the rain lately as she was far from white! The Amur tigers too were looking fantastic, the three cubs are so adorable! The wild cats and pine martin were out and about (the wildcats were watching red squirrels from their enclosure) and the arctic foxes were both beautiful. There was a red deer stag with an impressive set of antlers who seemed to have landed himself most of the hinds with the other males sulking not far away. The male wolf was trotting around his enclosure, apparently (being a former omega) he is finding it difficult to settle into an alpha role with his new lady friend but hopefully he will soon find his place at the top and the pair will produce cubs next year. This time I even got to see both of the lynx too! One was very shy but the other sat in full view. All in all I had a great time!
And now for some photos...
2 November 2009 7:43 PM
Brilliant collection! my favorites are the Fox and wild cat Photos very cool! Thanks for sharing.
John :-)
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
2 November 2009 7:50 PM
Highland McHale: Brilliant collection! my favorites are the Fox and wild cat Photos very cool! Thanks for sharing. John :-)
Thanks John :-)
I think the wildcats always look moody lol
2 November 2009 7:58 PM
KatTai: Highland McHale: Brilliant collection! my favorites are the Fox and wild cat Photos very cool! Thanks for sharing. John :-) Thanks John :-) I think the wildcats always look moody lol
I know that look is great! They look untamed and they will never crack. One of the few captives that keep the wild look to the end. lol
2 November 2009 8:05 PM
Yes, I like those too (and the tiger and wolf!). We've often passed by the Highland Wildlife Park but never called in - perhaps we will next time we're going in that direction, after seeing your great photos. :-)
2 November 2009 8:18 PM
Brilliant photos Kat Tai - thanks for sharing them. Good to see Mercedes looking so at home and at ease.
2 November 2009 8:30 PM
Hi Kat Tai
Love the photos - especially the wolf and the wild cat. The wild cat looks exactly (same expression an'all) of a cat I used to have. She spat at anything and anyone. I named her inappropriately "Poppy" but that was before I knew what she was like. She was given to me in a box looking frail and pitiful. Much later I found out she was actually from a litter of a feral cat that lived near a factory. In truth I should have called her "she who hates all humans" the only time I could stroke her was when she was half asleep! Had her 16 years spitting all the way! Loved her dearly tho! She had a funny way about her - loved frogs, found many dried up and petrified under my sofa on a regular basis (lol)
Regards
Kezmo
"What is the good of having a nice house without a decent planet to put it on?" Henry David Thoreau
2 November 2009 9:30 PM
Great photos, thanks. The wild cat was hiding the day I visited. And it is great to see the new animals that have joined the park. Definitely on my list if I ever revisit Scotland.
2 November 2009 10:21 PM
I love that place. I only visited last year and usually leave a couple of years between visits but what with polar bears, cubs and pine martens, I think it may be worth an earlier visit....
2 November 2009 10:26 PM
You've got some super photos there and I too like the wildcat. It's certainly got attitude! Thanks for sharing with us.
3 November 2009 8:28 AM
Thank you very much for the nice comments everyone :-)
It is certainly well worth a visit!
3 November 2009 9:15 AM
Great set Kat! Also love the wild cat but it has to be the wolf for me (I adore wolves!!). Must go one day! Did you get any pics of the pine martens? That's something I'd love to see!! Mercedes doesn't even look like a polar bear being that colour!! Lol!! Oh, love the fox too! :-)
3 November 2009 9:17 AM
Kezmo: Had her 16 years spitting all the way! Loved her dearly tho! She had a funny way about her - loved frogs, found many dried up and petrified under my sofa on a regular basis (lol)
Had her 16 years spitting all the way! Loved her dearly tho! She had a funny way about her - loved frogs, found many dried up and petrified under my sofa on a regular basis (lol)
Kezmo - great story! 16 years! You are good! Mind you, I do worry about you & your cats.... mummified frogs, shredded mice.... ;-)
3 November 2009 9:24 AM
MarJus: Great set Kat! Also love the wild cat but it has to be the wolf for me (I adore wolves!!). Must go one day! Did you get any pics of the pine martens? That's something I'd love to see!! Mercedes doesn't even look like a polar bear being that colour!! Lol!! Oh, love the fox too! :-)
I got a couple of pics of the pine martins but it was dark (and I won't use a flash when taking photos of animals) so they didn't come out very well. The pine martins were lovely though, they came right up close
3 November 2009 11:04 AM
KatTai, thanks so much for sharing your photographs. It is lovely to see that if these animals must be kept as captive animals, then they are kept in really excellent conditions. I just love tigers.