Page 70 • The HERALD • 12th March 2026 v WE’VE BEEN YOUR LOCAL SINCE 1994 v ANIMAL MAGIC Victoria: 07503 813594 Daniel: 07584 534818 SELF SERVICE DOG WASH Open 7 days a week 189 Long Lane, SO45 2PA Forestsidegrooming.co.uk Celebration At New Forest Wildlife Park As The UK’s Only Breeding Pair Of Smooth-Coated Otters Welcome Cubs In a conservation victory for one of the world’s most threatened otter species, New Forest Wildlife Park has announced the birth of two male smooth-coated otter cubs from the only successful breeding pair in the United Kingdom. Born on 7th December 2025, the cubs strengthen the genetic pool for smooth-coated otters, whose wild populations have plummeted 30% over the past three decades, with another 30% decline predicted by 2054. Unlike the park’s giant otter programme, which bene ts from multiple breeding facilities across Europe, smooth-coated otters face a precarious future in managed care. e New Forest Wildlife Park is home to seven individuals, which is more than a third of the nation’s entire population of this vulnerable species. “We’re not just celebrating two healthy cubs,” says Jason Palmer, Curator. “We’re contributing to the genetic diversity for a species that’s vanishing from Southeast Asian waterways at an alarming rate. With only our pair successfully breeding in the UK, these births carry the weight of the UK’s conservation programme.” e cubs are thriving under care from parents Soriah (11) and Song (13), plus siblings Anupa, Ananda (both 7), and particularly energetic one-year-old Banhhea. “Females are dominant and mum runs this romp,” says Lizzy McNamara, Senior Keeper. “But everyone pitches in with babysitting, teaching swimming, exploring together. Even Anupa, the spoilt mummy’s boy, now gives his fish to Soriah while she’s nursing.” e “strong cubs” took their rst swim on 23rd January and passed their health checks at the end of January, which was described as a “very noisy” a air where one cub urinated on keepers in classic otter fashion. In collaborative conservation work, keepers have been documenting the cubs’ weekly growth since they were just 12 days old, sharing detailed measurements and photographs with their various contacts in Southeast Asia. When con scated or orphaned otter cubs arrive at rescue centres that have o en been seized from wildlife tra ckers, discovered abandoned or found a er their mothers were killed for fur, knowing their exact age can mean the di erence between life and death. e New Forest data provides crucial benchmarks for nutrition, care and development that help give wild cubs their best chance of survival and eventual release. is work helps to tackle a growing crisis as social media videos of otters as pets drive illegal wildlife trade demand, with “cute” content normalising wild animals in domestic settings. e park supports Share Savvy, an initiative educating social media users to spot and report harmful wildlife content that fuels tra cking. Families visiting can now watch the cubs exploring their naturalistic enclosure alongside their protective family group. For opening times and admission information, visit: www.newforestwildlifepark.co.uk A big thank you for the recent donations to Barry’s Farm in Frost Lane, £106.05 has been transferred to the Farm’s Mole Valley account to go towards food and supplies for the animals. If you would like to make a cash donation to help with the upkeep of the animals, you can pop it in the pot in e Herald o ce. Alternatively online donations can be made via the GoFundMe page: www.gofundme. com/f/barry-the-farmer-frost-lane Cards featuring the animals at Barry’s Farm, past and present, by local artist Christine Jones, are on sale in e Herald o ce, £2 cash, with proceeds from the sales going to the Farm. Thank You From Barry’s Farm Help Wanted With Horse Field A local lady is looking for someone to help her part time, as required, with ‘poo picking’ at her horse eld in Exbury. £10 an hour, if you are interested please call: 07795 379484. Lepe Country Park is delighted to present the annual Bark on the Beach dog show on Saturday 13th June, 10am–3pm. Now in its third year, the event brings together a fantastic selection of dogthemed stallholders and features the muchloved ‘Scru s’ competition. For more information or to get involved, please visit: www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryparks/lepe/ whats-on or email: lepe.enquiries@hants.gov.uk Bark On The Beach DOGSTIVAL IS BACK Dogstival the greatest festival for dogs is approaching faster than a whippet on roller skates. They are cramming Burley Park with even more epic canine approved entertainment on 30th and 31st May. Two days of festival fun with tail wags, zoomies, treats and furiends. e Dogstival pop-up beach is back, get ready for sandy toes, pup-tails, sun loungers and DJ’s! ere are activities for dogs to get their paws involved, not 1, not 2 but 3 dog pools this year, barkour, yball, agility, dog-friendly pub, Naturo Healthy Hound Cookery School, plus over 130 lovely stands to shop, graze and sni around. For more information and tickets visit: dogstival.co.uk Smooth-coated otter cubs (Credit: Helen Pinchin)
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