Winston
The Isle of Wight Zoo may be most famous for its tigers, but recently some of the smaller creatures have decided that it’s their turn to bathe in a bit of the limelight.
The opening of a new mini-farm on site this summer has brought to the zoo a number of extroverted new animals determined to shake things up.
Rivalling the monkeys for mischief is Winston the mini-pig, whose escapades have rendered him infamous already.
Winston’s keepers originally hoped he would enjoy going for walks around the zoo in a harness so he could meet his public. Unfortunately they hadn’t counted on Winston’s knack for trouble, and he soon worked out that his unique proportions would allow him to slip out of his harness and take his own, much faster, route around the zoo.
The answer, staff hope, lies in getting a harness made specially for him. Winston is due to be visited on Wednesday lunchtime by the manufacturer, who will be taking his measurements and making him a bespoke, escape-proof harness. Then Winston will once again be able to go for walks around the zoo, meeting visitors and checking they haven’t dropped anything edible.
Potential visitors wanting to see Winston and his friends are reminded that Island residents with proof of address can get into the zoo for just £4 per person, and that the zoo is open 10am-6pm throughout September, and 10am-4pm in October. During November and December the zoo will be open on weekends (weather permitting) 10am-4pm.