PRIMATE KEEPER CLIMBS MOUNTAIN FOR CHARITY
PRIMATE KEEPER AT THE ZOO…. DRUMMER IN THE BAND AND NOW, MOUNTAINEER…. WHAT NEXT FOR KENT’S MATT CRITTENDEN?
Local man, Matt Crittenden never fails to surprise! Now in his forties, Matt started his band, Burst as a drummer twenty years ago and he still plays regularly at weddings, functions and parties across the county. He takes on a completely different role as a day job - for the past five years he has been working as a primate keeper at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park looking after over ten species of monkey.
His latest venture is to raise money for the Scottish wildcat project at Port Lympne. An accomplished amateur climber, Matt along with his brother, Ian, and other members of the family, set off to climb the highest and most difficult mountain in the Snowdonia National Park, northwest Wales. It reaches 893 meters at its summit named Penygadair (top of the chair).
Matt and his companions had climbed lesser mountains in the past but this was a real challenge:
“I was particularly concerned about the weather closing in as it would have made the climb really difficult. It took us seven hours to reach the top and three to get back down again. If we hadn’t taken a wrong path at one point we would have achieved it in a faster time.”
So far, Matt has raised over £600 for the Scottish Wildcat appeal and he and his colleagues at Port Lympne are planning other events in the near future. Donations can already be made for the project by visiting www.justgiving/savethescottishwildcats ENDS JUNE 2009
Press Information:
Tricia Corkhill, Media Relations Manager
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Notes to Editors:
The Scottish Wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia) was once found throughout the British mainland but is now restricted to the Highlands of Scotland above the industrial belt of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is now critically endangered with an estimate of 400 pure Scottish wildcats remaining in the wild showing a preference to stream edge and woodland habitats but also occurs at the edge of mountains and moorland with rough grazing.
A large striped tabby cat weighing up to 9kg, it has a very dense coat varying from a greyish brown to a yellowish brown with distinctive dark brown/black stripes. A number of perfect black and brown bands encircle the tail which is thick and ends in a blunt black tip.
It prefers rabbits and hares, but small rodents also provide a significant part of their diet and occasionally, small birds are also consumed. It is a solitary and largely nocturnal animal with a life expectancy in captivity is up to16 years.
After a gestation of 65 days, an average of 3 – 4 kittens is born. Being a seasonal breeder most births occur between the months of March and May.
Kittens become independent at about 5 months, and are sexually mature at the age of 10 months.
