Really wild show helps quest for cheetah mate

A WILDLIFE centre in Eynsford is hoping to kick-start its breeding programme after holding a successful fundraising event.

Eagle Heights already owns a male cheetah and the staff are putting all their efforts into raising money for a female.

NEW FRIENDS: Nathan Hobley, six, enjoying the Eagle Heights Wildlife Park fundraising day in Eynsford PV2607091/66
GETTING THE BIRD: Martin Udy with his daughter Megan, 11, on the sponge the eagle stall at the Eagle Heights Wildlife Park fundraising day PV2607091/36
WAITING AND HOPING: A cheetah at Eagle Heights Wildlife Park PV2607091/55
The Eagle Heights Wildlife Park fundraising day in Eynsford on Sunday PV2607091/26
The Eagle Heights Wildlife Park fundraising day in Eynsford on Sunday PV2607091/26
ANIMAL MAGIC: The bird of prey flying display at Eagle Heights, right, and a camel at the wildilfe centre, far right PV2607091_7 and PV2607091_26
CELEBRITY VISITOR: Jodie Marsh and friend at the Eagle Heights Wildlife Park PV2607091/9

They hope the project will eventually be transferred to Africa so more cheetahs can be re-introduced into the wild.

Bird, mammal and reptile displays, stalls, competitions and celebrity guest Jodie Marsh provided fundraising entertainment for more than 1,000 people on Sunday.

Alan Ames, owner of the park, said: "It is a very long-term project, but we hope it will be successful.

"We already have links with Africa, but it is difficult to do much from this end, which is why we want to move part of the project out there.

"We work with the Landmark Foundation because they aren't the kind of charity that indulges in long lunches or business flights.

"They do what they say they are going to do with the money."

The centre is expanding its wildlife park to include many different species of animals, including cheetahs, meercats, snakes and lizards.