Chester Zoo has brought a new rare big cat into town, and she’s one good-looking feline.
The tourist attraction near Greater Manchester introduced the world to Inka, a two-year-old black jaguar, over the weekend.
She’s been brought to the zoo to be a companion for Chester Zoo‘s resident male, Napo.
Videos shared by the zoo show Inka exploring her new habitat with her jaw dropped – not a cat body language expert but she looks pretty stunned by her new home.
The gorgeous animal still has those signature jaguar markings, but she’s in shades of black and grey rather than the classic browns and oranges.
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It’s not just us falling in love with Inka either – Chester Zoo themselves described her as a ‘strikingly beautiful, bold and confident’ young jaguar. Which zookeeper’s been copying my Tinder bio?!
But then the zoo went on to say she has ‘short and thick set limbs’, which isn’t so complimentary.
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Fans have been delighted to see Inka making herself at home at the zoo, with hundreds of comments calling her ‘stunning’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘gorgeous’.
One person wrote: “She is beautiful! I follow the big cat sanctuary and love seeing her there, looking forward to seeing plenty of pics of her at Chester.”
Another said: “Stunningly gorgeous, what a beautiful addition to a brilliant zoo. So lucky to have Chester zoo on our doorstep.”
Carnivore experts at the zoo say her arrival will help to put a spotlight on her ‘remarkable’ species and support a European-wide conservation programme.
Jaguars are native to the Americas and listed as ‘near threatened’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Their numbers are declining in the wild, mostly because of humans – habitat loss, illegal hunting and conflict with humans are putting them at risk of extinction.
Dave Hall, team manager of carnivores at Chester Zoo, said: “Inka is a strikingly beautiful, bold and confident young jaguar and she’s quickly taken to her new surroundings.
“The union between her and Napo, the resident male here in Chester, has been carefully orchestrated by carnivore experts from here (Chester Zoo) and The Big Cat Sanctuary and the coordinators of a programme that’s working in partnership to ensure a genetically viable population of jaguars across Europe.
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Inka, a rare black jaguar, has arrived at Chester Zoo. Credit: SuppliedChester Zoo’s resident male jaguar Napo, who will be Inka’s companion. Credit: SuppliedInka inspecting her new home at Chester Zoo. Credit: Supplied
“We hope the two of them will go to form a strong and meaningful bond, and the early signs are positive.
“Like Napo, Inka is a wonderful ambassador for her species. Jaguars are remarkable animals and the two of them together will help us to raise more much-needed awareness of the survival challenges that they face in the wild, the work that’s already being done by zoos, our partners and the local conservationists and communities to protect the ecosystems that jaguars live in, and help us to inspire further action for their conservation.”
Paul Bamford, regional field programmes manager for the Americas at Chester Zoo, added: “Deforestation and habitat fragmentation are reducing jaguar populations across their range. According to the IUCN, close to 70% of deforestation in Latin America is driven by industrial agriculture, primarily for soy, oil palm and cattle production.
“Many of these products are exported to countries such as the UK, and therefore, our shopping habits can have a significant impact on global biodiversity loss. In our role as consumers, we are unwittingly contributing to the destruction of nature on our planet.
“At Chester Zoo we are working to influence policy, both in the UK and internationally, to address this. We are supporting efforts to improve production standards and legislation so that deforestation is minimised, or eliminated for good, and wildlife can live safely alongside productive areas.
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“The goal is to create a deforestation-free economy, in which countries are able to meet their development needs sustainably. If we can break the link between habitat loss and production, then we have the opportunity secure a future for people and wildlife.”
The northern spa retreat with one of the most beautiful outdoor pools in the country
Daisy Jackson
If you turn to the great outdoors to relax in your spare time, but you don’t actually want to swim in a pond, then we’ve found the absolute perfect spa retreat for you.
This spa might just have the best swimming spot in the UK, with an outdoor swimming pool sunk right into a natural pool so you can feellike a mermaid without actually touching a mystery plant with your bare toes.
This is the Yorkshire Spa Retreat, part of Hoseasons’ collection of holiday escapes right here on home turf.
And as soon as our friends over at The Hoot Leeds discovered it, we knew they’d landed on something special.
It’s set in more than eight acres of gorgeous rolling Yorkshire parkland, an oasis of tranquillity that’s the ideal place to give yourself some well-deserved TLC.
You can enjoy the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside with a dip in the hydro-pool, or take a turn in the herbal steam room, sauna, or salt chamber.
Then there is of course that incredible wild swimming pool.
The northern spa retreat with the most beautiful outdoor pool in the country. Credit: Hoseasons
Of course there’s a long list of spa treatments to take your reset to the next level and a menu of locally sourced food and drinks to keep you going.
All that relaxing deserves a good night’s sleep and here you’ll find a blend of bespoke luxury holiday homes and stunning lodges which are cosy and comforting with all of the best modern amenities.
You don’t have to spend the night if you don’t want to, with day spa packages available too.
But to be honest, I don’t think we’d ever be able to tear ourselves away once we were submerged here.
With an overnight or weekend stay, you’ll have a number of national parks on your doorstep, including the North York Moors which wraps around the Yorkshire Spa Retreat.
Nearby attractions include a Land Rover tour of the local area, Castle Howard, Rievaulx Abbey, the market town of Helmsley, and the city of York itself.
Aether – Manchester Airport’s new private terminal that treats passengers like royalty
Thomas Melia
An all new private terminal experience is launching at Manchester Airport giving you the chance to travel like the rich and famous.
With a £1.5 billion refurbed Terminal 2 steadily opening various eateries and boutiques paired with this new private terminal experience, Manchester Airport might just take the biscuit for one of the bougiest airports in the UK (don’t bring Terminal 3 into this…).
Aether is a brand new airport experience exclusive to Manchester Airport, which looks after passengers to such a degree that it even has a group of chauffeurs to take you to or from your journey to the aircraft in a fleet of BMWs.
Guests are greeted with nothing but relaxation, with Aether on hand to bring refreshments, including an exclusive menu curated by Adam Reid, of The French fame.
And just because it’s a private terminal doesn’t mean you need a private jet to board – the Aether experience is accessible to all those travelling to and from Manchester Airport, regardless of ticket class.
The private terminal’s minimalistic and modern interior is a beautiful space to relax before you jet off on your holiday or business trip.
Aether may guarantee a private and relaxing time in their sanctuary but they certainly don’t hold back on all the offers and goodies passengers are treated to.
This private terminal supplies its jet-setters with three separate packages to choose from depending on how engulfed guests would like to be in this world of luxury.
An ‘Express’ service will cost you £90 and includes select benefits such as a chauffeur and general access to the private terminal.
A taster of the menu from Adam Reid. Credit: Toby Mitchell The lounge in Manchester Airport’s new private terminal. Credit: Toby Mitchell
Guests who would like a little more pampering and a sample of the delicacies taken from the exquisite menu can do so for £150 and £170 under the ‘Inclusive’ package which has two branches depending on whether your party has cabin bags or checked luggage.
Instead of just transport and leisure covered, the ‘Inclusive’ deal provides complimentary alcoholic and soft drinks, an exclusive dining menu curated by Adam Reid and access to terminal private security.
If you’re considering this ‘elevated airport experience’ travellers can arrive up to three hours before departure and must get to this relaxing space at least one hour before your flight.
The private terminal will be opening every day from 4am meaning holidaymakers get to put their feet up and properly rest before they fly through the sky.
You can even visit the private terminal just to taste the delicacies of The Midland Hotel Chef as starting from £40 non-flyers can also taste the high life.
If you want to book your first private terminal experience at Aether in Manchester Airport already, more information can be found on the company’s website here.
Daisy Jackson -
6th August 2023 
