Lots to see here

Finally, Marie, Jenny, Tracey and I, managed to get to the zoo having avoided the heat, the masses of children, and the small typhoon which have hit Marwell at various times over the last few months. I have misgivings about zoos like everyone else, but I have also seen all of the disadvantages of living life on the edge in the wild where you could be eaten alive, eaten as soon as you were born, or starved to death in a drought. I think I might just prefer a cosy, clean bed and a parade of fascinating people passing by, and my meals presented at predictable times of day even if it is strung up in a tree to stretch my imagination a bit more every day. Give me a variety of fresh fish every day and I would be a very happy Asian short-clawed otter, with a fast-flowing river running through my domain. 

In any event, Marwell devotes itself to the conservation and careful breeding of endangered species, coordinating with all of the other zoos across the country to keep careful records and observations of all of their animals, and passing them around where gaps need to be filled, either for company or advanced courtship. Little does the new three-year-old male Rothschild giraffe know that his journey from Chester to Marwell was part of a careful plan to protect his own species. 

Rhinos are critically endangered in Africa, killed for their precious horn, which is no more than matted hair, but believed by some to be good for their libido. It takes less than five minutes to cut off a rhino horn and make a run for it. 

The four of us had a really good laugh especially over a missing Mars bar and a disturbingly loud child called Frank. All of the staff and volunteers at the zoo were really pleasant and I swapped noted with a lady called Claire who had just come back from volunteering in Ol Pejeta. 

With four horsey girls in one place, we couldn't resist going to see the zebra who seemed as peaceful as horses in their field. They certainly didn't have to be as hyper-vigilant as zebra in the Serengeti!

The tigers were pacing along their fence-lines but looked superbly well. We should remember that it is human behaviour and human overpopulation that has forced tigers to become an endangered species. We shot them for fun in colonial times and then they were pushed into smaller area where they came into conflict with local populations or each other. 

Knowing what we know, and listening to David Attenborough, it is hard to put these things out of your mind, but after all these animals don't think about it and they make the most of what they have got.