Paws and Pixels

Paws and Pixels Wildlife photography with teeth. Big on detail. Sharp on timing. Partial to stripes.

Tigers, tamarins, rhinos and more — captured across UK zoos, edited with obsession, and delivered with clarity, character, and the occasional dramatic stare.

Hidden amongst the reeds, Anya keeps a watchful eye on everything around her 🐆👀Anya is one of two Amur leopard cubs born...
04/06/2026

Hidden amongst the reeds, Anya keeps a watchful eye on everything around her 🐆👀

Anya is one of two Amur leopard cubs born at Colchester Zoo in November 2024 to mum Esra and dad Crispin. She and her brother Akovi are part of the vital European breeding programme for one of the world’s rarest big cats. Fewer than 100 Amur leopards are believed to remain in the wild, making every successful birth incredibly important. (Colchester Zoological Society)

Watching her quietly observing from cover, it’s easy to forget you’re standing in a zoo and not somewhere deep in the forests of the Russian Far East.

📍 Anya – Amur Leopard
📍 Colchester Zoo

Behind the Shot:
This was one of those moments where patience paid off. Anya was partially hidden amongst the reeds, and for a few seconds she paused just long enough for her eye to catch the light. Sometimes the best wildlife portraits aren’t the obvious ones – they’re the ones that make you feel like you’ve stumbled across a secret.

Double trouble. 🐾🐾Two of Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s newest cheetah cubs enjoying a quiet moment together.At this age it’s...
04/06/2026

Double trouble. 🐾🐾

Two of Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s newest cheetah cubs enjoying a quiet moment together.

At this age it’s hard to believe that these tiny bundles of fluff will eventually become the fastest land animals on Earth. For now though, they’re much more interested in sticking close to their sisters, exploring their surroundings, and causing the occasional bit of mischief.

With the cubs beginning to spend more time out and about, visitors are finally getting the chance to catch glimpses of the park’s newest stars.

I’ll never get tired of photographing moments like this — a simple interaction, a little bit of curiosity, and those unmistakable cheetah cub faces. ❤️

📍 Yorkshire Wildlife Park
📸 Paws and Pixels Photography

🐆❤️ One of Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s newest little stars…One of Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s four female cheetah cubs, born...
03/06/2026

🐆❤️ One of Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s newest little stars…

One of Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s four female cheetah cubs, born to Darcy and Brooke on 14th February 2026, taking a moment beneath the leaves while a lone poppy provided the perfect finishing touch.

Cheetah cubs are born with a distinctive silvery-grey mantle running along their backs and necks. It’s thought to help them blend into long grass and may even make them resemble honey badgers, giving them a little extra protection while they’re young.

At just a few months old, these four girls are already capturing the hearts of visitors — and after spending some time watching them today, it’s easy to see why.

📌

What’s your favourite detail in this photo – the cub, the poppy, or that incredible fluffy mantle?

🦎 A Tiny Dragon in Disguise 🦎While exploring Hamerton Zoo today, I came across this stunning Panther Chameleon, and spen...
02/06/2026

🦎 A Tiny Dragon in Disguise 🦎

While exploring Hamerton Zoo today, I came across this stunning Panther Chameleon, and spent a while watching it move slowly through the branches. The colours, textures, and incredible detail in its skin are unlike anything else in the animal kingdom.

Panther chameleons are native to Madagascar and are famous for their ability to display vibrant colours, with males often showing a dazzling mix of blues, greens, reds, and turquoise tones. Their eyes can move independently of one another, allowing them to scan for predators and prey at the same time!

Sometimes the less obvious animals steal the show, and this little reptile was definitely one of the highlights of my day.

📍 Hamerton Zoo Park

What’s the most unusual animal you’ve ever photographed or seen at a zoo?

PawsAndPixels

🐅 Tiger Tuesday with a smile! 😁I think Mohan may have misunderstood the instruction when I asked him to smile for the ca...
02/06/2026

🐅 Tiger Tuesday with a smile! 😁

I think Mohan may have misunderstood the instruction when I asked him to smile for the camera today at Hamerton Zoo...

White Bengal tigers aren't a separate species or subspecies. They're Bengal tigers carrying a rare genetic trait that gives them their distinctive white coat and dark stripes. Despite their striking appearance, they face many of the same conservation challenges as their orange-coated relatives in the wild.

While I was hoping for a few tiger shots during today's visit, I certainly wasn't expecting this grin! Moments like this are a reminder that wildlife photography isn't always about fierce expressions and dramatic poses — sometimes it's about capturing a little personality.

📍 Hamerton Zoo Park

Have you ever seen a tiger smile? 😄

🐆 From Snowball to Snow Leopard 🐆It doesn't seem that long ago that Bheri was a tiny ball of fluff scrambling around the...
01/06/2026

🐆 From Snowball to Snow Leopard 🐆

It doesn't seem that long ago that Bheri was a tiny ball of fluff scrambling around the rocks at Chester Zoo.

Now, as she approaches her first birthday, she's starting to look every bit the snow leopard she's destined to become.

The oversized paws are still there, the famous fluffy tail is still impossible to ignore, but there's something different now. The playful cub is slowly being replaced by a young predator, and every visit seems to reveal a little more of the adult snow leopard she'll become.

Snow leopards are perfectly adapted for life in some of the harshest mountain environments on Earth, with thick insulating fur, powerful legs for climbing, and tails that help them balance on rocky terrain.

📸 Behind the Shot

One of the things I love about photographing Bheri is seeing the changes over time. Looking back at photos from last summer, it's hard to believe this is the same cat. Watching animals grow and develop is one of the biggest rewards of returning to the same places again and again.

So, be honest...

Who remembers seeing Bheri as a cub? 🐾

And if you've got a favourite Chester Zoo animal, let me know below 👇

🐘 Family Matters 🐘One of the highlights of my day at Blackpool Zoo was spending time watching the elephant herd, especia...
31/05/2026

🐘 Family Matters 🐘

One of the highlights of my day at Blackpool Zoo was spending time watching the elephant herd, especially young Zaiya, who was born September 2025.

In this moment, Zaiya is surrounded by some of the adults of the herd, including mum Tara, and it's a lovely reminder of just how important family groups are for elephants. In the wild, young calves rely on the protection, guidance and experience of the herd as they learn how to navigate the world around them.

Elephants are incredibly social animals, forming strong family bonds that can last a lifetime. Calves aren't raised by mum alone either—other females within the group often help care for and protect the youngsters.

📸 Behind the Shot

This image was taken shortly after the herd had been enjoying a mud bath. While Zaiya had spent most of the morning charging through puddles like a toddler who's just discovered that getting dirty is great fun, there was a brief moment where the family grouped together and everything just seemed to fall into place.

Sometimes wildlife photography isn't about dramatic action or perfect portraits—sometimes it's about capturing a quiet moment that tells a story.

Not every reptile at the zoo is a lizard...Meet the Tuatara – one of the rarest and most fascinating reptiles on the pla...
30/05/2026

Not every reptile at the zoo is a lizard...

Meet the Tuatara – one of the rarest and most fascinating reptiles on the planet.

At first glance, it might not look particularly remarkable, but the Tuatara is actually the last surviving member of an ancient group of reptiles that dates back over 200 million years. While dinosaurs came and went, these incredible animals somehow survived.

They're native to New Zealand and are often referred to as "living fossils" because they've changed very little over millions of years.

I've looked for these every time I've visited Chester Zoo, and this is the first one I've ever managed to spot. Usually they're experts at hiding and blending into their surroundings, so finding one out in the open felt like a bit of a win!

📸 Behind the Shot

This image was taken from ground level in the tropical house, which may or may not have involved lying on the floor and getting some very strange looks from passing visitors. Wildlife photography isn't always glamorous. 😆

Sometimes the rarest subjects aren't the biggest or the most colourful—they're the ones quietly sitting in the corner while everyone walks straight past.

After a few days away from posting while travelling back from Chester (and feeling a bit under the weather), here's a qu...
30/05/2026

After a few days away from posting while travelling back from Chester (and feeling a bit under the weather), here's a quiet Caturday portrait from the archives.

This is Tujuh, the male Sumatran tiger at Lincoln Zoo
I don't always chase action shots. Sometimes it's the smaller details that catch my eye — the intricate stripe patterns, the texture of the fur, the whiskers, and that watchful gaze focused on something just out of frame.

A reminder that big cats don't have to be roaring or running to be impressive.

📍 Tujuh, Lincoln Zoo
📸 Paws and Pixels Photography

Have you ever noticed that no two tigers have the same stripe pattern? Just like fingerprints, every tiger is completely unique.

Young Jarang absolutely stole the show at Blackpool Zoo yesterday. 🧡There’s something about young orangutans that’s so ...
28/05/2026

Young Jarang absolutely stole the show at Blackpool Zoo yesterday. 🧡

There’s something about young orangutans that’s so relatable… the curiosity, the expressions, the way they quietly sit watching the world around them like they’re deep in thought. One minute full of chaos and climbing everywhere, the next looking like they’re contemplating life decisions. 😅

Orangutans are actually considered one of the most intelligent primates on the planet, with problem-solving abilities, tool use, and emotional behaviours that are incredibly close to our own. Sadly though, they’re critically endangered in the wild due largely to habitat loss and deforestation.

Moments like this are exactly why modern zoos and conservation breeding programmes matter so much. They help connect people with animals they might otherwise never truly appreciate.

And yes… I still asked if I could take him home. Apparently “absolutely not” was the official answer. 🤣

📍 Blackpool Zoo

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Alford Road
Mablethorpe
LN121NE

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+447983445288

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