Cornwall Nature Conservancy Half-Year Report January to early August 2019
January
Late last year the female Jaguarundi died of old age just after producing a kitten. Our keeper Pixie (really Lauren) hand reared this tiny creature very successfully. In January 2019, we introduced him to his father, slowly and carefully. He was accepted.
Pixie continued to raise Pumpkin the young Puma after his mother rejected him. His sister was accepted and is growing far quicker on her mothers’ milk. They are both, in due course, to go the “Crocodile Zoo” in Denmark.
February
In February, we moved the trio of European Lynx, one male called Shane and his two females, Freda and Orla, into a much larger enclosure, both in size and in height. They settled in immediately. The enclosure has two large dens as well as a large outdoor enclosure.
Unfortunately, the female Leopard Cat injured herself. We do not know how. It might have even been a “scrap” but the family have got on very well. Nevertheless, the young male, born last year was separated. She slowly recovered but not before almost £1,000 in vets bills. We receive no favours or reductions in spite of our charitable status and conservation efforts.
Rab, our Maintenance Manager, completed a very attractive new enclosure, with two dry indoor dens and a lovely outdoor space for the promised Civets.
These giant African Civets were collected on the 22nd February. They were very wild and literally bounced around their new home, very nervous and wild! Pixie (a bit of an animal whisperer) sat and talked to them. Within two weeks, they settled but have definitely “got character” as well as being a very African blend of spots, rosettes, and lines. I really like them.
On the 26th, we received our BIAZA inspection (BIAZA is the association of all the zoos in Britain including London, Chester, Edinburgh etc., and sets standards of husbandry, welfare, safety, and understanding). All went well.
March
The female Leopard Cat had a further visit to the vets as she pulled some stitches. She will remain in isolation away from her mate until she is fully recovered.
In mid March, a Serval was born to Shakira but ignored by her mother and unfortunately, despite our best efforts, sadly died. Shakira, the four-year-old rescue, has already enjoyed two lots of successful cubs, so this was a surprise and a disappointment.
On the 25th, we received a female Jaguarundi as a mate for our male. We kept her separate from, but next to the male.
April
Cherry and I spent a week in the Scillies bird watching and at the Glen Grant Hotel in Scotland where I gave two lectures, one on the “Conservancy,” and why we do what we do. The second was on the topic of “The life of Gerald Durrell,” who I met and volunteered for when I was training as an Accountant in Jersey. I enjoyed his embryo zoo enormously.
While in Scotland, we collected two mature Scottish Wildcats, one from the Wilderness Reserve at Alladale and the other from Edinburgh Zoo. They are both part of the “Breed and Release” studbook run by David Barclay of the Highland Wildlife Park.
As we returned, the female Jaguarundi was introduced to the male and they got on well.
Last year, Pixie brought up six Canada geese. They were put on our big pond and this year a pair bred a further five chicks, not rare, but very beautiful.
May
We picked up a ten-week-old rescue fox cub. We named him ‘Mr Chips’ and he is to live with ‘Roxy’; the female rescue fox we have. They were introduced within ten days and get on very well indeed.
In mid-May two Jaguarundi kittens were born, bright red and tiny. The female must already have been pregnant.
Later in May, two sets of Lynx were born; two to Freda and three to Orla.
June
On Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd, the Pumas were mating all weekend with much snarling and ‘roaring’.
The Lynx became one united crèche within two weeks, both females laying with and feeding both sets of young. We took the opportunity while they are tiny of ‘microchipping’ them, all females, for further identification. We also microchipped the Jaguarundi, one female, the other male.
Cherry and I went on a trip to watch Polar Bears, a lifetime ambition as I am still working at 73 as a Chartered Accountant, a wonderful treat to see the Arctic birds and walrus, whales and Arctic foxes.
July and August (up to the 7th)
This month we moved to other collections: the young male Leopard Cat, a mature male Serval and last year’s female Fishing Cat.
We brought into our collection a most beautiful female Red Ruffed Lemur. She is calm and has settled extremely well.
Three baby Lynx have already moved to new homes and the female sister of Pumpkin has been moved to a marvellous zoo in Belgium.
Without any apology, Crocodile Zoo in Copenhagen, just as the baby Pumas were ready to move, told us that they did not want them. Hence the female going to Belgium. Pumpkin however, will now stay with his adopted mum, Pixie, forever!