Brits miss out on the wonders of wildlife

Nearly one in every two Britons has not seen a wild animal in the past five years, new research shows. Despite the majority (52%) saying wildlife can provide some of the greatest and most memorable moments in life, Brits have been missing out for years.

Close to one in ten (9%) say they have only ever seen a wild animal in a zoo or animal park, while one in five (22%) say they are more likely to have seen a pterodactyl on television than a red kite in the wild, one of Britain’s most exciting birds of prey.

With a wingspan of nearly two metres, sightings of red kites are possible once again thanks to several re-introduction programmes in the UK. However, following the ‘Summer of the Staycation’, when so many British families chose to holiday in the UK, and with nearly 1 in 10 Brits thinking twice about travelling long distances because of their carbon footprint, it is evident we could soon be learning more about the wildlife on our own doorstep.

One of the world’s key wildlife watching destinations is Scotland, which is home to vast expanses of protected ground and two spectacular National Parks. Autumn is one of the most exciting seasons in Scotland’s calendar as it is such a pivotal time for wildlife with changes sweeping through the natural environment. Some of Scotland’s best autumn wildlife moments are captured on visitscotland.com/autumnwildlife.

Commenting on the wildlife watching opportunities available in the UK, Kate Humble, wildlife and nature TV presenter said: “Many people think you have to go abroad on a safari in order to watch animals in the wild, but it is possible to witness some of nature’s finest creatures right here in Britain. Wildlife spectacles abound in Scotland during the autumn months from the annual arrival of up to 40,000 pink-footed geese from their Arctic breeding grounds, to the magnificent rut of the red deer.”

Lorna Bruce, VisitScotland’s Product Manager said: “We are seeing a growing interest in wildlife tourism in Scotland and autumn is a great season to remind visitors of the wonderful wildlife watching opportunities here. For anyone who is new to wildlife watching and looking for advice about where to go or who to go out with, Wild Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Tourism Association is a useful starting point. They have 80 members who can help ensure visitors make the most of the wildlife watching opportunities during this exciting season.”

For more information on planning a break to Scotland, wildlife watching opportunities and how to capture an autumn moment, go to visitscotland.com/autumnwildlife.