Hungry for a get-out clause
WATCHING Chris Packham’s joy at being reunited with his beloved poodle in the waiting room of a veterinary surgery last week brought tears to the eyes.
Hundreds of thousands have downloaded the touching scenes as waggy-tailed Scratchy, fresh from cataract surgery, sees the Springwatch presenter and smothers him with a flurry of wet, doggy kisses.
Choked and overwhelmed, Chris described the precious moments as the “best day of his life” and dog lovers the world over got his sentiments. Scratchy is almost 16 and deaf but by removing the veil from his eyes he will hopefully live to see many more years with his devoted human buddy and also continue to make cameo appearances on television.
As Chris waxed lyrical about the canine companion he describes as the most important creature in his life, he also told me about another welcoming party he has planned for a pair of special animals. Licks and hugs are likely to be off the agenda.
Winter’s Planet has always remained a Brexit-free zone but our pending departure from the European Union is leaving uncertainty over the arrival of two rescued Spanish circus lions destined to live out their days at the
Isle of Wight Zoo which is run by Wildheart Trust, the conservation charity set up by Chris’s partner, Charlotte Corney.
Providing creature comforts is key to the trust’s work supporting rescue projects and raising awareness of the plight of exotic animals that have fallen victims to the circus and pet trade.
At present, magnificent big cat brothers Vigo and Kumba are biding their time at a rescue centre in Alicante, having been rescued from a miserable life under the big top. The hope is they will soon follow in the paw prints of five circus tigers saved by an international rescue group and rehomed at the Isle of Wight Zoo last summer after a 1,300-mile road trek.
Ensuring the lions are not caught up in bureaucratic red tape that could see the Channel awash with import and export lorries as March 29 approaches is creating a logistical nightmare for the Wildheart Trust, with fears the charity will not be able to find or afford a way of bringing Vigo and Kumba to the UK before the deadline. If the lions have not arrived by this historic date there are worries they will become ensnared by even more customs bureaucracy.
Chris says the big cats, already robbed of their flowing manes because they have been castrated, should not have the charity’s pledge to provide them with a contented forever home also stolen.
“The clock is now ticking to change the fortune of these lions, with Brexit looming and all the trade restrictions which will come in the aftermath, we are really up against it,” Chris explains.
“If we can raise the required funds to move the lions before March 29 we know that we’ll also be securing a home for two more ‘in need’ big cats.
“We can’t risk Brexit breaking our promise to these lions so while our leaders debate our fate we’ve got to get on with the job in hand. On behalf of Vigo and Kumba, any support we receive in the next few weeks will be very much appreciated.”
Anyone wishing to help with the fundraising effort for the rehoming of these lions can visit: justgiving.com/campaign/kumbaandvigo