The Tiger Kings – and Queens!

Let’s face it, there are easier (and cheaper) hobbies than building – and paying for – your own zoo from nothing.

Their collection of animals at the Wolds Wildlife Park on the outskirts of Horncastle earned them an appearance of a prime-time ITV show – ‘‘Britain’s Tiger Kings’ – hosted by Ross Kemp.

Well, on the evidence of a the 60 minute programme, Andrew and Tracy are two of the more saner keepers of big cats in this country.

The programme also included a British International showjumper who kept lions in a small enclosures at the back of his house –slap, bang next to the M1.

Then, there was the former circus owner who liked nothing better than stroll into an enclosure of big cats and perform a kind of Dr Doolittle act on them.

As for Andrew and Tracy, they came across well (flash car and all ) and certainly contributed some of the best lines.

Andrew (to Ross Kemp) – “You can’t go to Tesco and get a tiger” and Tracy (again to Ross Kemp who winced as a lion crunched through a bone) “That could be your head!”

Ross Kemp did accompany Andrew to Munich (first class flight?) to meet the Lacey brothers who have supplied big cats to various UK owners .

Andrew provided another highlight when he took Ross Kemp to see the late, great ‘Syas’ being worked on by a taxidermist who appeared to live (and work) in a former church.

Syas, a Bengal Tiger, died just before the programme was made last year.

Andrew admitted he been reduced to tears for about the only time in his life.

Quite what the programme set out to achieve was far from clear.

The boggle-eyed Ross Kemp continually questioned whether the big cats would be better off in a sanctuary (or back in the wild).

All the owners 
(there was a second part screened last night - Tuesday) defended their collections.

We saw Ross Kemp (the hard man) have his face made-up by a monkey.

We saw more of Andrew and Tracy’s remarkable collection. No-one could fault their devotion – or the standard of care provided.

“They’re my babies,” said Tracy.

Cue a surprised Ross Kemp. He might have beaten up half of Albert Square – but this was one fight he stayed well clear of!

Andrew and Tracy seemed pleased with their role in the documentary.

They said: “It was a pleasure to have Ross and the camera crew here at the park.

“You’re never quite know what to expect but we literally do not have anything to hide and are very proud of what we have achieved.

“As you saw, our animals are relaxed and well cared for.”

•The park reopens to the public on April 12- pre bookings via the park website.