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Post by Catnip on Sept 25, 2003 22:15:57 GMT
For weeks now I've been meaning to post some pics of my birthday treat back in August! We went to Dartmoor Wildlife Park in Devon, where the tigers are kept in compounds with no wire mesh fences to separate them from the public - just deep moats and a solid wall! I had my new camcorder with me to try out on them, and as you can see from the 'still' pics, I was able to zoom in very close! Seeing the tigers without the hindrance of wire mesh fences was fantastic.      There were also lions and other large cats, wolves, bears, etc. which were in wired enclosures, and deer, tapir, prairie dogs, ducks and other birds, to mention but a few. The weather wasn't brilliant, being chilly and damp, but it didn't spoil the day at all. I was too engrossed in the tigers to notice! |
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Post by Ann on Sept 26, 2003 0:29:16 GMT
What fabulous pictures Sue. The close up is brilliant - he looks like a real softie at heart, although I wouldn't want to be the one to put it to the test! I like the first shot too. Just who's watching who? What a wonderful day out.
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Post by Daisy on Sept 26, 2003 8:36:30 GMT
:oOur Grand Ladyperson has always wanted to tickle a tiger on the tummy! She'll be bowled over by these pictures Ann!
If we had one of those, there wouldn't be any room on Ladypersons lap for us would there.
Daisy
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Post by Chaos_and_Company on Sept 26, 2003 12:52:15 GMT
Your photos are wonderful and what a delight to see these magnificent animals up close and looking so relaxed.
In some of the photos they reminded me of our own precious felines. I felt I could go right up and give that beautiful tiger a big hug...but on second thought maybe not.
It is nice to observe these spectacular cats being able to move freely and in a natural habitant, instead of coop up in a small cage and looking bored out of their minds.
Bobbie
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Post by Catnip on Sept 26, 2003 21:21:42 GMT
Ann,
Yes I was dead chuffed with that close up shot! The camcorder has a much better zoom than my digital camera, or even my ordinary one. When I filmed that tiger his eyes were closed and they slowly opened until it seemed like he was staring right at me! Quite scary, actually! In the first picture, the tigers were waiting for their meal to be thrown to them!
Daisy and Bobbie,
I really wanted to have a cuddle with those tigers and tickle their lovely tummies, too!
There was one bit that made me feel sad, though...there were a pair of servals in a long, narrow enclosure, with only an earth floor and a few branches and logs lying around in it. The female was curled up on a platform, but the male was pacing and pacing, up and down the same stretch, and the only time he seemed at all animated was when visitors with dogs passed by -he showed a great interest in them for some reason. And when people stood by the door to his enclosure he went up to them, turned his back and ejected a spray of urine at them! I had to laugh! Just like one of my own pussy cats marking territory! I don't know why the servals had such a poor enclosure - all the other animals there had decent ones, and seemed contented. I wanted to get the wire cutters and set him free - he was such a pretty chap it was a shame to see him looking so unhappy.
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Post by GabyNiggemeier on Oct 1, 2003 16:53:57 GMT
OH, wonderful photos. Just watched a documentary on Tigers on the Discovery Channel - amazing cats and sadly, almost extinct, that is so hard to imagine...
I am planning a trip to the Bronx Zoo here in NYC, they have a Tiger habitat there. I hope that on the day I go and visit, I'll be lucky enough to spot one or two outside.
Those shots with "mouth wide open" remind me of someone...hmmmmmmmm? Who could that be?
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Post by jen on Oct 9, 2003 21:05:38 GMT
wonderful pictures! It's so refreshing to see the animals in an environment that is natural
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