New Forest Wildlife Park, Ashurst
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Wild Boar at New Forest Wildlife Park
Starting with involvement in the conservation of the Eurasian Otter in the 1970s, the New Forest Wildlife Park has grown over the years to include other indigenous species such as the following (taken from website):
- Eurasian Otter
- Asian Short Claw Otter
- North American River Otter
- Giant Otters
- European Grey Wolf
- Northern Lynx
- Wild Boar
- Bison
- Red Fox
- Harvest Mice
- Hedgehog
- Red Neck Wallaby
- Scottish Wildcat
- Pine Marten
- European Polecat
- Ferret
- Red Deer
- Sika Deer
- Fallow Deer
- Reeves Muntjac deer
- Snowy Owl
- Tawny Owl
- Barn Owl
- Little Owl
- Great Grey Owl
- European Eagle Owl
- North American Great Horned Owl
- White Faced Southern Scop Owl
- South American Great Horned Owl
- Mckinder’s Eagle Owl
- Spectacled Owl
- Brown Wood Owl
- Ural Owl
- Boobook Owl
- Tropical Butterflies
Otter
Wallaby
In addition to drop-in visits, full day Wildlife Keeper experiences are available, and include the following (taken from website): During the day you will have the opportunity to make up the various animal diets and feed them; clean out sleeping boxes, water baths, food trays etc. Make an enrichment toy and then watch the otters play with it or ignore it! Also, the chance to feed the otters, deer and many more.
Unlike the more domesticated farmyard animals found at Longdown Activity Farm up the road, the wildlife here is much more shy, so there is no guarantee that you’ll see every species. I find that this adds to the excitement of seeing an otter poking its nose out from its hiding place – after all, in the wild you tend not to see animals lining up for inspection.
At the cost of up to £180 per person (accurate on date of publication), this sounds pretty steep – although if wildlife is a passion, it’s a unique opportunity.
Website: www.newforestwildlifepark.co.uk
