THE GREAT BIG GREEN WEEK IS THE UK’S BIGGEST EVER CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROTECT NATURE.
UPDATE: Congratulations to our winners, Lucy from Cranbrook Brownies and Seren from Handcross Park School for their AMAZING bug hotels! We want to give a big thank you to everyone that entered!
The Big Cat Sanctuary is proud to be involved in this fantastic week running from 24 September – 2 October 2022. Visit their website here to find out more: https://greatbiggreenweek.com/
| Great Big Green Week
The Great Big Green Week is a nationwide celebration of action on climate change, taking place across the UK from the 24 September to 2 October. greatbiggreenweek.com |
In the spirit of The Great Big Green Week, The Big Cat Sanctuary would like to encourage all the young budding conservationists out there to take part in our competition for primary and secondary-aged students. For primary students, we invite you to design your own bug hotel and get as creative as possible! For secondary students, we challenge you to build the most impressive species specific habitat for tigers. This is a little tribute to the fact that it is the year of the tiger. We are super excited to see how imaginative and creative you can be. If you’re stuck for ideas, we’d recommend looking online at tiger and insect habitats. You can use these as inspiration for your designs.
Please send your submissions to education@thebigcatsanctuary.org the closing date for your designs is Monday 10th October. We’ll announce the winner via email and then on social media. Submissions must include your name, age, school/college/educational group and an explanation of what you’ve made!
The lucky winner for both age groups will win an outreach visit from The Big Cat Sanctuary’s Educational Officer, as well as a tiger cuddly toy (made from recycled materials). If the winner is based outside of Kent, the outreach session will be virtual. Good luck!
Watch the video below to find out more about what we do to stay green and two of the projects we’ve supported in India this year.
Take part in one of our amazing animal experiences at The Big Cat Sanctuary including big cat experiences, photography experiences, safari lodges and overnight safari stays, ranger for a day experiences and our big cat afternoon tea with Paul Hollywood. You can also adopt a big cat and help the conservation efforts that support our amazing animals!
We are sorry to say that The Big Cat Sanctuary has some sad news. On Wednesday afternoon Nuwara, the rusty-spotted cat was put to sleep.
For such a tiny cat, she as left a big hole in our hearts. Nuwara was a huge favourite with not only the staff but the guests as well. In fact, when researched, she was discovered to be the favourite of 60% of the guests to our lodges. And why?……. well, what she lacked in size, she made up for in personality. And what a personality.
Having arrived here in 2011 at 11 months old, this little lady with a big attitude immediately started capturing the hearts of everyone who caught sight of her. Fast, fun, and feisty she would race around her enclosure whenever keepers brought food, keeping her distance, mostly, but never letting you take your attention off her. The beautiful big eyes with her gorgeous terracotta coat often prompted comments about how she resembled Shrek’s Puss in Boots. In personality too she resembled him very much, perfecting the innocent gaze, while also being a little hooligan when she wanted to be. Thank goodness nobody gave her his sword!
Food was Nuwara’s favourite thing, she was never a particularly playful cat, but we were able to keep her stimulated using nutritional enrichment, we would have her solve puzzles or get a workout while obtaining her food. No surprise that Nuwara would always throw herself into these challenges with gusto and a sharp intelligence that made her achieve her prize quickly and efficiently. Nothing could keep her from her beloved food.
Another reason why Nuwara was such a charmer is perhaps because people had to work to see her. Nocturnal in nature, she wouldn’t always be the easiest cat to spot, hiding in plain sight, she would often be missed by people not noticing her nestled in her outside nest box, she would blend in so well with the straw. All this just meant that when she did make an appearance, she was extra special, and who could not fall in love with this zippy, zesty little madam.
In the last couple of years Nuwara had certainly slowed down and mellowed slightly. Still bright, sharp as a tack and bursting with personality but more relaxed and focussed. For the last year she has formed a special partnership with our tallest member of the keeping team, Nathan, who has taken on the role of being her primary trainer, with great success. This little and large pair did great work together getting Nuwara prepared for when she might need veterinary treatment, and eventually, when we were beginning to think she might keep going forever, she did need treatment. At the end of July, we started to notice that Nuwara’s belly seemed a little swollen. Gradually she became bigger, and investigations pointed towards issues with her heart. Despite attempting various medications, we were unable to slow the fluid build up which had direct welfare impacts as Nuwara was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. It was therefore decided, with the support of our incredible veterinary team, that we were no longer able to provide good welfare for our tiniest family member, and it was in her best interest to say goodbye.
Although this is a very difficult loss, we must be encouraged by the fact that Nuwara was 12 years old. The maximum age for a rusty. She had a fabulous life with us at the Sanctuary and she inspired so many guests to really take notice of how incredible small cats can be. Guests often come for the big cats and leave having a new love for small cats and much of this is down to Nuwara. Despite being the smallest cat on earth, she had an enormous impact and left an enormous impression.
This tiny Puss in Boots has left very large boots to fill.
The Big Cat Sanctuary is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen and our hearts are with the Royal family as well as the British public at this deeply sad time.
Her Majesty The Queen has upheld a passion for animals throughout her reign. She will be remembered fondly as an animal lover and a fantastic advocate for the work of zoos and aquariums to save species and create a better world.
To pay our respects to The Queen on her Funeral day, the Sanctuary will be closed to experiences from this Sunday evening through to morning of Tuesday 20th September