A rare red panda cub has been born at Longleat after keepers launched an international lonely hearts ad to find a mate for their male. It’s the first time the famous Wiltshire safari park has successfully bred red pandas and keepers are delighted with how well the cub, which has yet to be named, is doing. Dad Ajenda, which means ‘King of the Mountain’, came to Longleat from Germany in 2012 and mum Rufina, meaning ‘red-haired’, arrived from Italy just over a year later, following an appeal by keepers. Full story: Read more
RARE BABY ARMADILLO BORN AT LONGLEAT
A rare southern three-banded armadillo has been born at Longleat. Born at the end of April, Charlie, as he has been nicknamed by keepers, is only the second armadillo to be successfully reared at the Wiltshire park. The species has suffered a 30% decline in population in the last 10 years in its native South America and is now officially designated as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Full story: Read more
LONGLEAT HOUSE PLAYS HOST TO ROYAL PREHISTORIC GUEST
Longleat House has played host to many monarchs over the centuries, including both Queen Elizabeths. However its latest ‘royal’ visitor can surely lay claim to the oldest heritage. A four-metre-tall tyrannosaurus rex, or king of the dinosaurs, made quite an impact when it was temporarily installed in the Great Hall of Lord Bath’s family home. The 65-million-year-old reptile is part of ‘Dinosaurs Alive: A Prehistoric Adventure’ which features 20 animatronic dinosaurs. Full story: Read more