ONE of the world's most popular authors visited Marwell Zoo near Winchester to see how a ground-breaking scheme to save endangered animals is coming on.

Wilbur Smith, writer of more than 30 best-selling novels, is the new patron of the scheme that sees native African animals that have been bred in captivity in Europe, brought back to Africa to increase wild populations.

Marwell Zoo has a world-wide reputation for its endangered animal breeding programme and now the park has now teamed up with the organisation Back to Africa to begin returning bred animals to their native countries.

The organisation is based in Mr Smith's home country of South Africa and the scheme is dear to his heart.

On Thursday, four Sable Antelope will be leaving Marwell for a park near Kimberley in South Africa.