12 Facts About Terry Nutkins

Terry Nutkins appeared in the UK children's programmes Animal Magic, The Really Wild Show, Brilliant Creatures and Growing Up Wild.

Terry Nutkins was born in 1946 in Marylebone, London, and spent most of his childhood there.

Terry Nutkins skipped school to spend time with the elephants at London Zoo.

At the age of 12, Terry Nutkins went to work in the West Highlands of Scotland, the naturalist Gavin Maxwell having written to London Zoo requesting help from two young assistants to look after otters that he was keeping as pets and studying at his remote home at Sandaig near Glenelg.

Terry Nutkins was initially hired for a summer placement, but did not return home and with the permission of his parents he spent several years working and living with Maxwell.

At the age of 15, Terry Nutkins lost part of two fingers to one of the otters, named Edal.

Terry Nutkins revisited the site of the cottage he shared with Maxwell on the BBC's Countryfile programme in 2010.

Animal Magic's run ended in 1983 and a year later Terry Nutkins was asked to put together a new animal series, which resulted in The Really Wild Show which he presented from 1986 to 1993.

Terry Nutkins made an appearance on the BBC's Winterwatch programme talking about how otters had survived the harsh weather in January 2012.

Terry Nutkins was a keen beekeeper and a member of the British Beekeepers' Association.

Terry Nutkins had been receiving treatment for nine months for acute leukaemia.

Terry Nutkins died at his home in Glenelg, Scotland, and was survived by his wife and eight children.