Amazing Animals

Story by Kate Farquhar-Thomson

Local residents and friends of Enstone Parish were given a rare treat the other weekend by Jim Clubb's Amazing Animals http://www.amazinganimals.co.uk - and truly amazing they were!

From pigmy hippos to pythons and black bears to black panthers, the Heythrop Zoological Gardens are where all these animals are to be found but, normally, not seen by the public. This was a very special event and a first.

Personally my favourite of the whole day was the Polar Bear – he swam and swam for us and gazed at us through his window next to his beautiful deep blue pool – he was simply gorgeous!

The sun was shining that day and the Hyenas were basking flat out in their pen, the Pigmy Hippo was also fast asleep but the Lemur’s were as keen to look at us as we were at them!

Also to be found in this secret location are Lions and Tigers and how amazing were they you ask? A spectacular show was put on by Jim and anyone who thinks training animals is wrong just think of the joy your dog has retrieving a ball, or your horse jumping a jump. These big cats were all ears for ‘ringmaster’ Jim’s instructions. You could see their ears standing to attention just waiting for their next instructions. Very very intelligent animals.

We were also lucky to see bats, giraffes, camels, wolves and giant tortoises amongst many many others!

We so look forward to next year if we are lucky enough to have another open day – all the proceeds from the open day were going to a new penguin enclosure and pool and I very much look forward to seeing that!

Thanks Jim from all in Enstone Parish!

These beautiful photographs were taken by Oxford Times journalist Helen Peacocke who also spent a lovely day seeing the animals with me.