A WILDLIFE sanctuary that is home to mountain lions, meerkats, monkeys, zebras and some 40 other species has played a starring role in a hit BBC show.

Bill Bailey and Kaiser Chiefs frontman and former art teacher Ricky Wilson arrived at Wildside Exotic Rescue near Ross-on-Wye with a film crew for Extraordinary Portraits.

But owner Lindsay McKenna, who founded the sanctuary to house exotic wild animals rescued from private homes and closed down businesses, revealed the film crew’s appearance “was a long way from where this story began”.

“It started with an email from a man named Mo, asking if I’d be open to a Zoom call with a producer from Extraordinary Portraits,” revealed Lindsay, who hosted her first open day at the sanctuary on Saturday (May 9).

“My initial response was a polite no – it didn’t feel like a natural fit for what we do. But Mo persisted, he believed our message about the wild animal pet trade deserved a wider audience.

“Eventually, I agreed to reconsider. And a few months later, the crew arrived – camera operators, producers, and runners transforming our day-to-day rescue into a working film set.

“Alongside the serious work being documented, they also captured the personality that makes this place what it is – especially Milo.

“Our rescue dog quickly proved that a film set was far too exciting. He had to be crated after attempting to “play” with expensive camera equipment, stealing the crew’s sandwiches, and enthusiastically launching himself into almost every scene.

“It was chaotic, but it was real. Working closely with Ricky Wilson was a genuine highlight. He was exactly as down-to-earth and authentic in person as he appears on screen – something that made the whole experience all the more special.

“Over two days of filming and two visits to a very posh venue for interviews and the final shoot, our story began to take shape.

“And suddenly, the reality of the wild animal pet trade – the challenges, the animals, and the work we do every day – was no longer hidden.

“Maybe this is our chance... To start pushing back against a cruel and indifferent trade that too often goes unseen.

“Because behind the novelty of owning a wild animal is a very different reality – animals confined to spaces they were never meant to live in, suffering from stress, poor health, and, in many cases, early death.

“We’ve seen it first-hand. A young monkey, taken from her family at just eight weeks old, sold to live alone – dressed in clothes and kept in nappies, treated as a novelty rather than the wild animal she is.

“This is the reality. Ending the keeping of wild animals as pets won’t happen overnight. It will be a long road.

“But so were seatbelt laws. So was tackling drink driving. So was banning mobile phone use behind the wheel.

“All of those changes began the same way – with awareness. With people recognising harm and deciding it was no longer acceptable.”

You can watch Extraordinary Portraits: Living with 200 Wild Animals on BBC iPlayer.

Future sanctuary open days are on May 23, June 6, June 27, July 11 and September 5.

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