Animal Cwtch

Norbert is not as smart as Basil!

🦟 World Mosquito Day 🦟

One question our Zoology Club Level 1 graduates should all be able to answer…

What is the deadliest animal on the planet?

It’s not a shark.It’s not a snake.It’s not a lion.

It’s the tiny mosquito.

Mosquitoes are responsible for spreading diseases such as malaria, dengue and other illnesses, making this tiny insect one of the most dangerous animals on Earth.

But here’s where things get interesting…

Mosquitoes aren’t just “annoying little pests”. They are part of huge food webs. Their larvae provide food for aquatic animals, and adults become food for birds, spiders, frogs, fish and one of our favourite flying mammals — bats.

Bats are incredible natural pest controllers, eating huge numbers of insects and helping keep ecosystems balanced.

And Josh will probably never forget how important they are after his recent South America trip… when he discovered that a tiny hole in a mosquito net was apparently all the invitation they needed!

A very real reminder that these little animals are everywhere!

This is why biodiversity matters.

Every species has a role. Even the ones we might not be the biggest fans of.

So today we’re celebrating one of the most misunderstood animals around…

The mosquito. 🦟

(Although we might still recommend checking your mosquito nets properly!)

🦧 World Orangutan Day 🦧

Today we’re celebrating one of the most incredible animals on the planet…

The orangutan.

These amazing great apes are incredibly intelligent, with complex social lives, incredible problem-solving skills and a close genetic connection to us.

But orangutans are facing a huge challenge — habitat loss.

One of the biggest causes of rainforest destruction in areas where orangutans live is the expansion of palm oil plantations.

Now, this is where things get complicated…

Palm oil itself isn’t the problem. It’s actually one of the most productive crops in the world and is found in thousands of everyday products, from food and cosmetics to cleaning products.

The issue is unsustainable palm oil production, where rainforests are destroyed and animals lose the habitats they depend on.

Orangutans spend most of their lives high in the rainforest canopy. When those forests disappear, they lose their homes, their food sources and their safe spaces.

The good news?

Small choices can make a difference.

Looking for sustainably sourced palm oil, supporting conservation projects and understanding where products come from all help.

Conservation isn’t just about saving one animal.

It’s about protecting whole ecosystems — the plants, insects, birds, mammals and everything connected together.

So today we’re celebrating the “people of the forest”…

The incredible orangutan. 🧡

I’d make this one less about reptiles specifically and more about the heart of Animal Cwtch — why the encounters matter. Something like:

Why do we do what we do?

It’s a question we get asked quite a lot.

And honestly, the answer is quite simple.

Because we believe experiences matter.

Sir David Attenborough famously said:

“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”

And that is exactly what we see every single week.

A child who arrives nervous about snakes and leaves wanting to know everything about them.

Someone who says “I hate spiders” but then finds themselves fascinated by a tarantula.

A child who struggles in many environments but feels completely comfortable sitting quietly with an animal.

A family making memories together.

An older person smiling because they’ve remembered a pet from years ago.

Someone discovering a love for wildlife that they never knew they had.

Animals create connection.

They create curiosity.

And curiosity is where learning starts.

We don’t just bring animals out for people to look at.

We want people to understand them.

Why they behave the way they do.

Where they come from.

What amazing adaptations they have.

Why every species has a role in the world around us.

Because people protect what they understand.

And they understand what they have had the chance to experience.

That’s why we work with schools, families, care settings, community groups and events across South Wales.

Every encounter is a chance to replace fear with fascination, myths with facts, and create a little more kindness towards the incredible animals we share our planet with.

Thank you to everyone who supports us, books us, shares our posts and allows us to keep doing what we love.

We genuinely believe every animal has a story worth sharing.

🌿🦉 **FREE ANIMAL CWTCH! 🐍🦔** 🐢🌿

We’re absolutely delighted to be bringing FREE Animal Encounter Experience to Llansamlet Community Centre 💚

🐾 Tuesday 25th August

🦁 **Group 1:** 12.30pm – 1.30pm
🦉 **Group 2:** 1.45pm – 2.45pm

This is a fantastic opportunity for children and young people in our local community to enjoy a fun, exciting and hands-on animal experience !🐍🦔🦉

🎟️ Spaces will be RANDOMLY SELECTED from everyone who completes the Google Form.

👧 Spaces are capped at a maximum of 25 children/young people per session.

📋 To enter the draw, simply complete the form here:
[👉 ENTER THE FREE ANIMAL CWTCH DRAW HERE](https://forms.gle/kBmZiqKpuUv3WyZq9?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

✅ All staff are DBS checked
👨‍👩‍👧 Parents/guardians can drop off and collect, or wait outside until the session finishes.

**Please note:** Completing the form does not guarantee a place. Successful participants will be randomly selected and contacted with their allocated session.

We’re so excited to offer another FREE experience for the children and young people of Llansamlet and our surrounding community.*💚

🐾 Good luck everyone! 🐾



Animal Cwtch

Fraser says hi!