PTES group in discussion with Dr Terry Moore

Female Puma

To give you a quick history the Trust was formed in 1976 to save unwanted cats from zoos and private collections and try and find new homes for them. It has also established an important breeding programme for rare species. Crucially, since 1992 it’s work has extended beyond the centre in the UK following the establishment of a 10,000 acre reserve in Misiones province, Argentina. This reserve has created a safe environment which is home to around 70 cats of five different species.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the Trust is just another zoo, it’s anything but. For starters it’s not open to the public, only members by appointment. The wellbeing of the cats is paramount not the entertainment of visitors, but this creates an environment where you have unbelievably close access to jaguars, clouded leopard, caracal lynx. pumas etc and you really feel priviledged to share that proximity.

Amongst the residents at the moment are a number of snow leopards (no surprise that I quickly sought them out) and they have some beuatiful individuals there including one adult who starred as the motion-capture model from which a CGI snow leopard was created for the movie “The Golden Compass” starring Daniel Craig.

I defy anyone to spend an hour or two in the company of the Trust’s founder Dr Terry Moore and manager Rob Martin without being humbled by their unceasing devotion to the protection of cat species. I’m extremely gateful to them for being so giving of their time. Their encyclopaedic knowledge of species left me awed and I promised myself immediately that I would do whatever I could to help them raise awareness and financial support for their plans. They are well aware that the survial of cat species still hangs in the balance and long-term commitment to environmental protection is the only way we can hope to conserve them. They should be applauded for everything they have already achieved and yet their focus is all on what more can be done. Nothing short of inspirational.

There could however be only one highlight to the day, knowing as I did that the Trust had two eight week old Snow Leopard cubs.

Before the day I could never have imagined being able to observe Snow Leopard cubs this closely, it was an absolute joy and they were both cute and colourful characters!

Everyone in the PTES group was enthralled by what they saw and heard and I was no exception. So I’ll leave you with this thought.

Next time you think about going to your local zoo to be entertained by exotic animal species, why not do a little research into other ways you can have a great day out, enjoy nature and support valuable causes at the same time. Whether it’s membership of the Cat Survial Trust, attending a PTES event or just spending time at your local nature reserve as visitor or volunteer, think about what you can do to help and interact. Inspiration is all around you…

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This lovely portrait was taken at the Cat Survival Trust in Hertfordshire on a recent shoot. This is one of a pair of 8 week old Snow Leopard cubs who were the undoubted star of the show during my visit. I only had a very limited time with them, the cubs have lungs designed to cope with living at altitudes of 13,000 ft + from birth and as such they can have serious problems with pneumonia in humid sea-level conditions like the UK in August.

Regardless, they are absolutely adorable and hopefully I can make it back there to capture their progress as they grow up!

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This image was taken on a calm late summer’s evening at the coral beach Tra an Doilin at the village of An Cheathrú Rua. The beach appears to be sandy, but is in fact made up of many, many thousands of tiny pieces of coral. It’s a wonderfully relaxing environment, if you find yourself in the Connemara region of County Galway I highly recommend a visit!

The group we encountered numbered between 10 -20 indviduals. The real highlight was when we spotted a baby in the group and to our amazement the little one proved the most playful of the group, swimming directly under the bow of our boat. I was determined to get an image (not easy with dolphins all around and being able to judge where she and Mum would surface next!) But my perseverance was rewarded with this lovely shot of her breaching beside her parent.

All too soon the group moved on searching for new shoals of fish across towards the Kerry coast side of their hunting  grounds. We got a last look as they made their way but it was a magical 20 minutes or so in their company.

But that was by no means the end to our interesting sights for the day. The cliffs around Loop Head make for spectacular viewing in their own right and they are a haven for Gannets, Shearwaters, Fulmars and may other species, including this motley group of Shags.

Shortly after I took this image we had a slightly more unexpected sighting. A large group of Rock Pigeons suddenly burst into the air, grouping themselves tightly together as a small figure came swooping down over the headland. Geoff, our skipper, called it at the time as a Peregrine Falcon. Sorry to report Geoff, it actually wasn’t! When I looked at my images I wasn’t sure if it might have been a Merlin. I double-checked it with renowned peregrine expert Ed Drewitt and he kindly confirmed for me that what we had actually seen was a female Kestrel. Here’s the image I got of the moment she emerged over the clifftop to launch her attack.

If you ever find yourself in southwest Ireland, I really do recommend you visit the Loop Head peninsula and book yourself a place on one of the Dolphinwatch trips, you’ll have lots of fun!

To be honest this was a bit of a throwback. I don’t really do zoo photography anymore. I used to love it, but the restrictions annoy me and the challenge for naturalistic images in perfect light mean I’d rather spend time out tracking down species in their own environment.

But if you want to photograph Amur Leopards, sadly soon this will be the only place you find them unless we can effect a conservation miracle.

It’s not often these days that I have a real first at Marwell having been such a regular visitor for a long time. But in all my visits an Ocelot even remotely awake is rare. So imagine my delight to find not one but TWO nuzzling and playing in the sunshine. An absolute treat!

And as if that wasn’t enough I was reunited with a very old friend.

Since January Marwell have been settling in their new Snow Leopards Irina and Indeever in separate parts of the enclosure. This has meant there was no room on public display for the older female Yasmin, who I have photographed many, many times. The younger cats are now sharing, so there is room for Yasmin to be back out for her public. We caught sight of her dozing in a small cave-like nook at the side of her enclosure, but she soon stirred and came out to say hello. It was lovely to see her doing well and she wandered down to give me several lovely portrait shots.

In fact I can exclusively reveal that Yasmin will be starring in the 2011 Snow Leopard Trust calendar, as 2 images from my archive have been selected to appear. Please give the Trust your support and if you keep up with my updates on Twitter and Facebook I’ll let you know when the calendar is available to buy.

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Of all the landscape images from my recent visit to Ireland, I think this one is my favourite. It shows the River Fooey in its final stretch before it empties into Lough Fooey on the border of County Galway and County Mayo. It seems to encapsulate for me all the elements of the Irish landscape, mountains, rivers and a mix of sun with lurking rain causing the lushness that gave the “emerald isle” its nickname.

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For me, any visit to Scottish Highlands begins with a stop-off at one of my favourite places, Loch Lubnaig . Heading north from Glasgow a great many people head past the more famous Loch Lomond, but they are missing a treat, for if you take the more easterly route you pass this lovely small loch. My advice is to visit early and avoid the coach parties, I spent a magical couple of hours enjoying the shores last summer.