In memory of Neil Macpherson – founder of the Highland Wildlife Park

11/01/2017 in Highland Wildlife Park

Neil Macpherson had been the driving force in setting up the Land Agency firm Bingham Hughes and Macpherson in 1962. This involved looking after a number of estates all over the north of Scotland. One winter, coming back from one his factoring jobs in the west, it dawned on him how privileged he was in seeing so much wildlife which so many summer visitors did not. He wanted to share this and had the idea of setting up a wildlife park for indigenous animals of Scotland. He and his wife Janet studied maps and pinpointed various locations, ending up at Dunacton with Sir Andrew Forbes Leith who was an enthusiastic supporter of the idea. 

To ensure the swift construction of the wildlife park, Neil and his family spent many weekends and school holidays in a caravan on site, carefully watching the enclosures and buildings being erected. The park’s first red deer were fed turnips within the park grounds and the perimeter fence was finished around them one winter’s night. Eyebrows were raised with the re-introduction of wolves, bears and bison but they all accepted their new homes without exception. Another famous resident was Hercules the bear, who many will remember for his trip to the Western Isles and wrestling with his owner Andy Robbins. Beavers were imported from Russia and Sweden, becoming some of the first to settle in a natural habitat in Scotland since the 16^th Century.

Once up and running, Neil's real love was the interaction of red deer throughout the year; in those days they had the majority of the 200 acres in which to roam. The Highland Wildlife Park was opened in 1972 and has grown significantly since then, becoming part of RZSS in 1985.

Neil sadly passed away on 8 November 2016 aged 83 years leaving his wife Janet, three daughters and six grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

By Kirsty Macpherson