Got a birthday coming up and just don't know what to buy? Well here are some of my favourite ideas for the conservationists, animal welfare conscious and all round wildlife lovers.

Yummy, cruelty free cosmetics.

One word. Lush. You cannot go wrong. I love love love lush! Not only are their products absolutely dreamy, but also completely animal friendly. Lush often get involved in wildlife conservation and animal welfare campaigns so they are definitely worth putting your money into. Why not try my favourite, Honey I Washed The Kids soap. It is so delicous. Lather it up with your favourite sponge and rub it into your skin to create a gorgeous creamy honey sensation! Cost: as little or as much as you want!


Save a species.

I love giving adoptions. Not only does the person receiving get an incredible present. But the buyer also feels like they have done good. The WWF offer a whole variety of animal adoptions, from turtles to tigers, so you can choose their favourite. Why not go for the leopard? With less than 40 remaining in the wild they need all the help they can get! You really can feel great about spending your money! Cost: Around £40


Jewellery with meaning.

A girl can never have enough jewelley, especially when it has so much meaning behind it! The power bracelet by energy muse says it all. It represents the wearers respect for exotic animals, and it looks gorgeous too! Not only that but a portion of the proceeds go to PETA! I reeeaaaally want one of these! They also do a mens version. Cost: Around £60 delivered.


An incredible encounter.

Take your gift to the next level. Get up close to some of the worlds most endangered animal. An animal experience is a fantastic opportunity give someone the gift of a lifetime. Lots of parks offer animal encounters, but my favourite is done by the WHF. Get a tour of their amazing site dedicated to big cats. Your money helps go towards big cat conservation and the receiver gets to feed a big cat! Cost: £200-£250


A gift that cares.

Born Free offer a unique gift for the animal lover. From vitamins for a lion, to boots for a wolf warden, these gifts make an incredible statement. A gift that donates to a very worthy cause. Your money goes to a chosen cause and the receiver will love knowing that their present has helped to make a difference. Cost: £5-£35

Its that time again, and worldwide experience are looking for their next Voice of Conservation. One lucky winner will be jetted off to South Africa to volunteer at the Shamwari Game Reserve. You will use your passion for conservation to blog about various issues and connect with the online community.





So what are you waiting for? Get your entries in!

http://www.worldwideexperience.com/voice-of-conservation/

So my working life has finally properly begun...and I have been doing exactly what I love, spending my time with big cats! Longleat is home to three Amur tigers, Soundari, Shouri and Svetli. Three sisters. I have already discovered that Soundari is the naughty one, Shouri is shy and Svetli is moody. I can just about tell them apart....sometimes...

The Amur tiger, also known as the Siberian tiger, is the largest of all big cats. It originally roamed throughout Western Asia, Central Asia and eastern Russia, but now it is only present in the far east of Russia. In the 1940's the Amur tiger was facing extinction, with less than 40 left in the wild. Luckily due to serious conservation efforts it was saved, and numbers are now around 400-500, but the threats to the tiger are far from over. Genetic studies have shown that there is little genetic variation, and is actually only equivalent of 30 animals.

But captive breeding may be the answer... studies have shown that some captive animals still have genes that the wild animals have now lost. Hopefully through captive breeding, and eventually re-introduction into the wild these valuable genes can be put back into the wild. But putting animals back into the wild will still be useless if we cannot make other changes. Habitat destruction and hunting could send them back onto the brink so we must ensure we keep up the conservation efforts we have already made.

Why not come and see our three beautiful Amur tigers at Longleat (and give me a wave). I have already had so many laughs watching their anticts, Soundari as she stalks her sisters and a frantic chase after a daredevil pheasant. Perhaps you will see just how incredible these animals are and just how devastating it would be to lose them!

Photo by: Martin Pettitt

A few weeks ago I sent my CV out to various zoological parks and crossed my fingers. I got many replies, most explaining they had no vacancies but would keep my CV on file. Then last week I had a message that got my pulses racing...

On Tuesday I had a missed call....from Longleat Safari Park! I gave them a call back as soon as I could and they explained they had a position on the big cat section and wanted me to come in for an interview! Eeeek! I couldnt believe what I was hearing...finally a step in the door..my chance to follow my dream! We arranged for Thursday and I quickly rushed into town to buy some smart clothes...

As I arrived at Longleat my heart was racing...I was so nervous yet so excited. But my nerves were soon calmed. I met the deputy head keeper...Ian Turner who immediately told me to relax as it was very informal. He gave me a run down of the job. The morning would consist of reserve maintenance/food prep/cleaning etc. Then in the afternoon you would either be on gate duty, ensuring that no animals were near the exit as you opened gates for guests, or patrolling, where you keep watch on the animals in the enclosure.I would be working on the tiger, lion, wolf, and soon to be cheetah sections....eep!

Next I met Bob, an experienced big cat keeper at Longleat. He gave me a tour of the sections, introducing me to all the cats and wolves. As we passed through the tigers one cheeky girl decided she was going to chase us down and we quickly sped away from her in the jeep. This was definitely going to be exciting! They explained that I should hear back about their decision within a week.

Photo by: Odolphie

The next day I had a missed a call from them, they left a message asking me to get back to them...but when I tried to call back they had already gone home...agh! I was tearing my hair out...did i get the job? Not knowing was driving me crazy! I called early Saturday morning and was thrilled when they offered me the job! Yahhhhooooo! I can't believe how lucky I am!

Today was my last day volunteering at Chessington Zoo (I have been volunteering twice a week with them for 3 weeks). It was sad to say goodbye, not only to the staff who were incredible, but also the amazing animals...Impi the goat, Charlie the meerkat, the adorable capybara and the cuddly spider monkeys...but I was going on to better things...a full time job...doing exactly what I always wanted! Yippie!