A Ram's Day at the Spa - LettsSafari Style!
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A Ram's Day at the Spa - LettsSafari Style!
Spa days are a rare treat for some of the older herbivores at LettsSafari
Nearly a decade ago LettsSafari set out to select and breed the first specialist herbivores for smaller-scale rewilding. Breeds designed to manage the wild lands and to drive the natural forces of habitat regeneration. The ones that work in large scale rewilding do not work in smaller spaces. So we had to find a new approach. One of the breeds we tested was the Welsh mountain-top Badger Face. There are two strains of this revered breed - the Torddu (black markings on a white body) and the Torwen (white markings on a black body). We decided to try them both.
Two 4 year old rams were transported across the border down to southwest England - each with a clutch of females. To cut a multi-year story short, the Torwen proved the most effective and today run wild and happy at LettsSafari’s Dawlish park. As a result the female Torddu were sent to another project. Sadly the then elderly ram was too old to go with them. This ageing rockstar used to be a top contender in the Welsh nationals - representing this ancient, semi-wild breed. So we decided to keep him - in glorious retirement.
Every six months he is taken in for a day of check ups and pampering at LettsSafari’s day spa!
We kick it off with a shave and a soothing body massage. You know, to ease out those knots and to energise his muscles and joints.
We get up close and personal to pamper his face. After all, this guy used to be a national champion. He loves the attention. Always a show-off! (The ram, not the LettsSafari ranger… we think...)
The more he is pampered and shaved - the more he relaxes. Just like a bro’s day out at an upmarket man-spa. Starting out a little stiff and macho - once caught and worked on he quickly spirals into a wobbly mama’s boy.
And it’s not long before he’s all soft and manicured. Kind of squidgy at the edges.
In fact Baloo could not have said it better:
After a good shave, cut and hot summer-breeze blow-dry he spends a few hours cooling down and chewing the cud. LettsSafari style.
In the early evening he is returned to his place in the wild - pampered and sweet smelling. He’ll be back for more spa action in about six months time. A retirement indeed!
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