|
Walker the polar bear has space to prowl around at the Highland Wildlife Park- much more than Mercedes had when we last saw her in Edinburgh Zoo.
|
|
He also has space to tumble...
|
|
...and to lick his paws!
|
|
Doe, a deer. A female deer.
|
|
Stag.
|
|
Bison.
|
|
Snow Monkey.
|
|
Amur Tiger.
|
|
Snowy Owl. Doesn't it look cute, and soft, and white...
|
|
They don't looks so cute when wolfing down dead chicks...
|
|
Or perhaps just holding on to a spare chick for a snack later...
|
|
Pine Martin.
|
|
Wildcat - scratching just like our cat does.
|
|
The wildcats have tunnels running between a few different cages - they seem to like to pose in them.
|
|
Wildcat posing.
|
|
I thought this cloud was shaped just like a swimming penguin...
|
|
Wolf. The wire fence isn't very good for photography, but is somewhat reassuring between me and a predator!
|
|
Wolf on lookout duty.
|
|
The low-hanging coat makes this Yak look like it has six legs when it walks.
|
|
I think Ruth looks like an old-fashioned movie star in this one...
|
|
...and in this one!
|
|
A visit to the Cairngorm Sled Dog Centre. No5 likes to pose.
|
|
Another poseur.
|
|
The Alaskan Huskies (and crosses) are very beautiful.
|
|
No5 posing.
|
|
A beautiful day in Rothiemurchas.
|
|
The centre looks a bit post-apocalyptic - a jumble of fencing, shacks, sheds and dogs.
|
|
A 12 dog team set out for a training run, pulling a buggy with Ruth riding in it.
|
|
They seem extremely excited to be in out working.
|
|
The dogs that don't get out seem upset to be left behind.
|
|
Chewing a metal bowl. I'm rather glad the dogs are friendly, given the state of the bowl.
|
|
No5 posing.
|
|
Husky in the sunshine.
|
|
Culter, only slightly similar to the wolves at the Highland Wildlife Park yesterday.
|
|
The dogs reach the half-way point of their run.
|
|
Still running hard.
|
|
A wee rest and time for water before they head off into the forrest.
|
|
Arriving back at the centre.
|
|
Ruth still seems to be smiling.
|
|
The dogs pulling a buggy look a little incongrous in the brown grass.
|
|
The dogs arrive back at the yard, still excited. They have to be wrangled back to their homes.
|
|
Wrangling the dogs can be quite a physical activity.
|
|
No5 poses nicely for Ruth to take a photo.
|
|
No5 looks completely crazy for me when I take a photo.
|
|
Ruth is really a cat person, but she's prepared to say hello to the dogs.
|
|
Did I mention she's really a cat person?
|
|
Ruth prefers cats.
|
|
Thermometer, important because the dogs only run if the termperature is under 12C to avoid overheating.
|
|
The dogs have a pretty good view.
|
|
Ruthven Barracks is very striking from the A9 so I've always wanted to drop in. It turns out the view from the A9 is probably as good as it gets.
|
|
An autumnal sky at Ruthven Barracks.
|