PENGUIN FOLLOWS KEEPER EVERYWHERE !

LOVE ME! Penguin desperate for attention follows zoo keeper everywhere http://t.co/028PPyexDf =)

Henry our resident Hedgehog

During the winter, our ‘fish house’ has been home to Henry the very cute hedgehog. Henry was first found to the surprise and shock of one of our Keepers a few months ago, wrapped in a pair of old waterproof trousers. Since then he vanished and reappeared this week, so the Keepers have made him a more permanent lodging during hibernation in the form of his very own cosy hedgehog house. We think that Henry had been surviving on a diet of flamingo pellets, as they are stored where he was found, hopefully he will survive the winter.

Hedgehog Facts
Hedgehogs are the only British mammal with spines. When threatened they will roll into a tight ball, with the spines providing sharp protection from predators. Young hedgehogs are born with soft spines under the skin to protect mum, with a second set of spines emerging within days. Hedgehogs aren't fussy when it comes to food: worms, slugs, frogs and even bird eggs can be taken during a two kilometre nightly forage, a resistance to adder venom can also put this snake on the menu.

Did you know?
The name for a baby hedgehog is a hoglet.

Why do Hedgehogs go into Hibernation?

Hedgehogs hibernate for one simple reason: to survive the winter. Because hedgehogs feed on insects, food becomes scarce in the cold of winter, so they go to sleep. During hibernation, the metabolism rate of hedgehogs falls dramatically, so hedgehogs burn much less fat. Doing this, they are able to survive the winter with no (or little) food.

We will keep you updated on Henry’s progress and fingers crossed everyone that he makes it through his hibernation!

UNIQUE VALENTINE GIFT IDEAS

WONDERFUL TRIP ADVISOR REVIEWS

“Wonderful animal experience with Dippy”

Reviewed 9 October 2013
All the staff were very welcoming and keen to share their knowledge of the animals. I took part in a penguin encounter- that is where you get to go in with the penguins and feed them. During my visit we were lucky enough to see a baby wallaby! The cafe served fresh good value food. All the animals look very happy and healthy. It is a must for all animal lovers young and old!

http://www.seaviewwildlife.com/wildlife_encounters/Penguin_Encounters/

DIPPYS TRIP TO COMPTON BEACH

I popped into my magic lighthouse this afternoon, which whizzed me over to the Needles. I was meeting up with some friends on Compton Beach to do a bit of surfing!!
When I arrived the crabs were all lined up with their boards, they very kindly let me borrow an extra surf board they had stored under the wooden steps.
The waves were perfect, huge rolling white crested waves which carried us as we balanced upon our surf boards. The crabs were experts, especially Snippy who had won several competitions.
After several hours of enormous fun and laughter we came out of the sea and warmed up on the beach as we sat huddled together around a roaring camp fire. We sipped nice hot tea from the shell cups the crabs had brought and toasted some Hot Cross Buns over the hot flames, which we all munched up very fast with creamy butter and strawberry jam.
Once I had warmed up I decided to take a little wander along the beach around to Brook Bay. The tide was now on its way out so I jumped across the rock pools filled with multicoloured seaweeds and collected a few pebbles for the otters Frank, Sammy and Dean back at the Park. They were redecorating the inside of their house and the bathroom walls were to be covered head to toe in pebbles, instead of  the traditional square tiles they'd had before.


I was about half way across Brook Bay when I spotted two seals sitting on the sand, it was when I got a bit closer I recognised them as my friends Mr and Mrs Grey who I had met a few summers ago. They were delighted to see me and invited me to join them on their knitted blanket which was spread across the dark black sand.
They were on their way to France for a winter holiday and had stopped at Brook for a rest before swimming through the night. We shared some fresh sardines together, which they had caught in Sandown and they drew a map in the sand of where they were going to stay. It was on a small campsite situated right next to a beach, self catering but all tents and equipment was inclusive which was very handy!
It was now 4.30pm and the sun was beginning to set and turn the white fluffy clouds into colours of pinks and purples. We said goodbye and I wished them both a safe and speedy journey.
Back at Compton the crabs were packing up, I helped to carry the surf boards to their secret hiding place and thanked them for a wonderful afternoons winter fun.
That evening at the Park, I told all the penguins at the pool about my brilliant afternoon adventure.

Dippy’s Spring Clean

I woke up bright and early this morning, it was still dark outside at 7am so I waddled through the Park to the kitchen. I made myself a very large bowl of creamy porridge and drizzled runny golden syrup all over it for a very tasty breakfast. It warmed my belly on this very chilly January morning and would hopefully give me lots of energy for my mornings work. Today I was off to Freshwater to help my two fox friends Flora and Fern do some Spring cleaning at the Coastguard Cottages up on High Down overlooking the Needles.

I popped my yellow marigold gloves, apron and feather duster into my rucksack and put on my waterproof mackintosh and wellingtons. By now the sun was beginning to rise and I carefully made my way across the slippery rain wet floor over to the penguin pool lighthouse. The small wooden door wouldn't open at first due to being so wet and swollen from all the winter rain, so I gave it a big strong pull and then stepped inside and closed it behind me. The lighthouse began to whirl around, twinkling sparkles appeared in the air above my head, the magic was happening, transporting me to the Needles lighthouse at Alum Bay.

Once I had arrived I made my way up the cliff using a climbing rope the foxes had left for me, which was secured tightly around a large tree at the top. At the Coastguard Cottages the foxes had already began and the Spring clean was in full swing. Fern was polishing the furniture using bees wax from a tin and a soft leather cloth, the dark wood gleamed and the smell was wonderful. Flora was busy brushing the floorboards with a strong tall bristled brush. My job was to wash the floors. I filled the large round red bucket with hot soapy water, bubbles bounced into the air when I dipped the mop in, swished it round and began to wipe the cottage floors super clean.

Next we scrubbed the bath, cleaned the net curtains and made the beds up with clean ironed white linen sheets. At midday we sat down completely exhausted from a very busy mornings work. Fern poured out some homemade fish soup from her thermos flask into three bowls which we ate with some crusty bread. Absolutely delicious!

My fox friends thanked me for helping with the big clean and said they would come and visit me soon at the Park. I packed up my rucksack and set off towards home looking forward to an afternoon dip in the pool with my penguin friends.

Check out more of Dippy’s adventures online at

http://dippytheisleofwightpenguin.com/

Albert and Arthur our two new male Black Turkeys

Today we welcomed two new residents to Pets Corner, Albert and Arthur two male Black Turkeys. The Black Turkey, sometimes referred to as the Black Spanish or the Norfolk Black, is a breed of domestic turkey. The "Norfolk Black" is generally considered the oldest turkey breed in the UK.

These boys seemed to have already settled in with our gang here. Here are a few photos taken of them this afternoon.

Welcome to the ranch boys!