TV viewers enraptured by the recent spectacular BBC series Lost Land of the Jaguar need not travel to Guyana to see all of the creatures encountered by Steve Backshall and his team, as a Cumbrian attraction has already given them a home.
The terrifying looking Goliath bird-eating spider, featured in the BBC footage, moved in to the Lakes Aquarium, at Lakeside, Windermere, in the spring and although this creature is currently still a baby, it will reach the dinner-plate size of its el
ders in a year or two.
This spider from the tarantula family is treated with kid gloves by Lakes Aquarium handlers. As seen in the programme, it can get pretty nasty when agitated, sending thousands of tiny hairs flying into its tormentor's nostril and throat.
It lives in a display in the rainforest zone created by the Lakes Aquarium in early 2008, as the attraction shifted its focus to lakes around the world. It shares this area with other creatures seen on the gripping BBC series, including a caiman, pygmy marmosets, tiny tree frogs and a boa constrictor.
manager, Charlotte Brown, said: "We are delighted creatures like our amazing spider are now becoming better known, as conservation of the rainforest and its native species, is hugely important."
For details about visiting the Lakes Aquarium tog on to the
www.lakesaquarium.co.uk website.
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