The West Lothian Courier has teamed up with Blair Drummond Safari Park to offer readers the chance to win a family pass for two adults and two children each week - and learn a bit more about their residents at the same time.
Park communications and conservation manager Jamie-Leigh Green said: “If you drive through our African reserve, your eye is sure to be drawn to our two impressive Ankole cattle.
“This species of cattle can date its ancestry back more than 6000 years and has often been known as the ‘cattle of kings’.
“This reputation is partly due to the fact that only a few tribes in Africa work these cattle and very few use them for meat. “Ankole are highly prized as status symbols used for ceremonial functions or just to show off how rich a tribe or family is.
“Overall wealth can be measured by the number of Ankole cattle in a person’s possession.
“Here at the park, we have two Ankole cattle: our mother and son duo, Dolores and Fernando. Dolores is a very good mum to Fernando, and you can often spot her giving him a bath.
“Ankole cattle are a dark reddish-brown in colour and have horns that can grow up to 1.8m long tip to tip. Both the males and the females have the largest horns of any cattle species, but males have shorter, forward-facing horns whereas the females’ horns curve upwards.
“The horns act as radiators, dispersing heat via blood vessels that run through the honeycomb-like bone structure within them. Ankole cattle have very strong herding and protection instincts.
“During the day when the mother Ankole is grazing, her calf will sleep with an ‘auntie’ cow for protection.
“At night the whole herd will sleep together with the calves in the middle so that they can be protected by the horns of the adults.
“Although they are usually quite placid and docile, they can become aggressive if they are protecting their young.”
For a chance to win a family pass, which can be used any one day during the park’s opening season this year, just answer the following question: Which direction do the horns of a male Ankole face?
Send the coupon with the answer, name, address and contact number to: Safari Park Competition, West Lothian Courier, One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 8DA. Deadline is Tuesday at 4pm. Only original vouchers will be accepted. Blair Drummond Safari Park is open seven days a week, from 10am until 5.30pm.
Tickets can be booked online at blairdrummond.com.
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