We have had the most incredible day today. We went to Marwell - we like to go often and it is always good, but today was extra special. The reason for the visit today was to see Nigel's Christmas present. I adopted him a pair of ocelot cubs but one of them has already gone to another zoo to be mated. Nigel was given an additional adoption of the mother and father to compensate LOL And what a compensation.
I think the ocelots are my favourite cats of all. They might be smaller than the leopards and tigers, but their markings are stunning and they look so much like Kira. You could almost believe you could have one at home. However, play rough and tumble with one of them and they'd rip your throat out! We stood and watched them for ages, though they were behind glass and the light was poor in the enclosure. I was quite pleased with his picture though.
The park was incredibly quiet as the school have not yet broken up and so we had many areas completely to ourselves. It was a gorgeous sunny day, though very cold, and so we were treated to several of the big cats just sunning themselves in patches of light which just happened to be right by the glass panels in their enclosures. I have never seen the snow leopards so close. they were literally lying against the glass. The glass does give some reflection so they are not perfect photos, but we were really pleased with the pictures we got.
The snow leopards were stunning and we must have just watched them for a good 40 minutes. Their huge paws were very furry to keep them safe on the snow and ice and their coats were thick and dense - totally different to the Amur Leopards.
They have the most incredible grey eyes - though they were not much in the mood for showing them off today - they were too sleepy in the sun.
There are three of them in the wonderful new enclosure and all three were sunbathing. As it is one of the newest enclosures there, they have used a lot of glass, right round the front of the enclosure.
We were also blessed with a stunning show from the gorgeous Amur leopards who are so beautiful. Like the snow leopards they have unbelievable tails - thick and long and bulbous at the end. The sun picked up their coats so beautifully but again the glass does mean a little of their glory is lost - but we took pictures with our hearts as well as with the cameras and just sat watching them and drinking in their beauty.
It is horrifying to think that these animals are all endangered and that if action is not taken then we might lose them from the wild altogether.
Doing what we did today is, without a doubt, the ONLY way that anyone should ever shoot these big cats.