TV wildlife presenter and working vet Steve Leonard had a close encounter with some rare animals in Nantwich last week during a visit to Reaseheath College.

Steve toured the college’s animal centre before presenting a talk to students about his experiences while filming Orangutan Diaries for the BBC.

During his visit he met up with some of Reaseheath’s resident animals including tapirs, ring tailed lemurs, meerkats, capybara and a buzzard called Breeze.

Steve said: “Reaseheath students are very lucky to have facilities like these.

"When applying for jobs, they will be able to say they have hands-on experience of handling exotic animals and have been involved in their management and in the design of enclosures.

“Due to the pressures of climate change, more and more people are becoming interested in conservation and sustainability.

"Because it has moved with the times, Reaseheath is able to offer young people a fantastic opportunity to pursue those dreams. Qualifications open more doors than anything else.”

Steve’s talk outlined the campaign by Borneo Orangutan Survival to save the orangutan, Asia’s only great ape.

The orange coloured ape is endangered because its forest home is being destroyed at an alarming rate to make way for palm oil plantations.

The charity’s work, presented by Steve Leonard and Michaela Strachan, featured in two prime time television series.

Student Jane Anderson said: “It’s been fantastic meeting Steve and hearing about his work with the orangutans.

"I’m really keen to help save rare animals like these when I’m qualified.”