Don’t miss it!   Meet the Bears on Natural World

Tonight, (that’s BBC2 at 8pm UK time, 4 November 2019), Natural World takes a look at the habits of a family of bears in “Meet the Bears”. 

The programme looks at the skills they need to learn to survive, such as finding food, raising their cubs, facing rivals and habitat loss.

It introduces bears in all their different forms from the spectacled bear to the sloth bear, the polar bear and the grizzly bear.

The footage should be quite something to see and there are short clips to enjoy while we’re all waiting.

Hugh Bonneville is the narrator.  If you miss it, the programme should be available on IPlayer shortly after viewing, and there’s the most beautiful gallery of pictures you can take a look at here.

Visit Meet the Bears’ website here 

You’ll find a list of bear charities here.

PS The week after, on 11 November 2019, Natural World looks at Saving the Orangutan.

This tiger has no voice - so please give this poor animal your voice.

The tiger is in a tiny cage in Greece.  

In Rhodes in Greece, the Esperos Village Hotel is keeping a tiger in inhumane conditions.

All our signatures are needed to urge the hotel to release the tiger to a sanctuary now.   

The hotel owns thousands of acres of land but this tiger is in a tiny cage.  The only source of shade is a metal container - and that can get boiling hot in the summer heat.  

The tiger is supposed to be an attraction for its guests - but visitors often throw stones and rocks on top of the netting covering the tiger's enclosures. 

The tiger needs to go to a sanctuary that can offer a more natural home and veterinary care.   

Sign the petition urging the Esperos Village Hotel to release its tiger to a sanctuary.

There’s a wonderful video on the BBC website about an amazing couple who live in Morocco who have set up a retirement home, orphanage and care centre for working animals there.

The centre is in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains near Marrakech.

Charles Hantom is a retired solicitor from Manchester, and Susan Machin was a barrister in Manchester too.   They moved to Morocco and as well as caring for these equines, they also provide work for local people.  You can find out more about them here.

The muleteers are all Berbers raised alongside animals and who have ridden since childhood so they are experienced in the handling of donkeys and mules.

You can help by making a donation or adopting a mule or donkey.  And don’t miss Tommy’s Blog.

Thank you to Charles, Susan and the muleteers for all you’re doing to help the equines of Morocco.