UK's first zoo-bred lynx selected for release into the wild
The lynx will have to pass examinations and be relocated to a rewilding facility in Germany, where she will spend time in a semi-wild environment. The transitional period allows the cat to develop the skills necessary for survival in the wild.If she does well during this preparation period, she will be released into the wild.
Dina Gebhardt is an expert on Eurasian lynxes for the European Endangered Species Programmes (EEP).She said: "Now that the Carpathian lynx EEP is part of several in situ projects in Europe, the demand for offspring – especially females – has risen considerably. "The goal is not only to keep the ex situ population genetically diverse and healthy, but also to provide individuals to introduce into the wild. "For that, we need professional scientific led zoos that follow the Linking Lynx protocols conscientiously."The Wild Planet Trust which runs the zoo said collaborations demonstrated how local conservation centres could play a crucial role in international wildlife preservation efforts.Dr Kathy Baker, trust research officer said: "We are a charity, and every person who visits our zoos is directly contributing towards programmes like this that could help restore wildlife populations around the world. "Our organisational mission is to help halt species decline, and this is a fantastic example of the work we are doing to enable us to achieve this goal."
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Tiny otter orphan found squeaking and blind was a 'miracle in the making'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A tiny otter cub with his eyes still closed was found squeaking next to a stream in Gwynedd. Weighing less than a can of fizzy drink, the odds of him surviving without his mother were considered 'almost impossible'. Passers-by heard his high-pitched squeaks next to a small, overgrown stream near Bala. His mother was nowhere to be found - it's thought she may have been killed on a nearby road. Weighing just 340 grams, and estimated to be less than seven-weeks-old, the Eurasian otter cub was still too young to have opened its eyes for the first time. Knowing his chances were slim, his finders contacted wildlife charity UK Wild Otter Trust (WOT). The charity's first response was that they were looking at a 'miracle in the making'. The cub duly went on to become the smallest cub it has ever successfully rescued. The baby otter was given the Welsh name Idris - thought to translate as 'fiery leader'. For the next few days, Idris was kept alive on milk until he was strong enough to be handed over to the charity. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community Idris was slowly weaned onto fish before being transferred to WOT's specialist Otter Rehabilitation Centre in north Devon. There he met two young otters close to his age, Scratch and Mingo. (Image: UK Wild Otter Trust) The charity said Mingo is something of a miracle himself, saying: 'He was discovered in the most unlikely of places, wandering inside the flamingo habitat at Colchester Zoo. 'How he ended up there remains a mystery, but it makes for an extraordinary pairing: two young otters, each with survival stories that defy the odds, now learning and growing together on their road back to the wild.' Over the coming months, the trio will undergo a long rehabilitation process, learning vital survival skills before their eventual release into the wild. Until then, WOT founder and CEO Dave Webb said the cubs are living proof that sometimes the smallest creatures can have the biggest will to live. He added: 'Cases like Idris are incredibly rare. For an otter cub so young and so underweight to survive without its mother is remarkable. 'Idris has shown unbelievable strength and now, alongside Mingo and Scratch, he has the best chance of living wild again. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday 'Idris is the smallest cub we've rescued who has managed to survive, so for all of us at the Centre, it's a real victory to see him out of the woods and thriving.' Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- North Wales Live
Tiny otter orphan found squeaking and blind was a 'miracle in the making'
A tiny otter cub with his eyes still closed was found squeaking next to a stream in Gwynedd. Weighing less than a can of fizzy drink, the odds of him surviving without his mother were considered 'almost impossible'. Passers-by heard his high-pitched squeaks next to a small, overgrown stream near Bala. His mother was nowhere to be found - it's thought she may have been killed on a nearby road. Weighing just 340 grams, and estimated to be less than seven-weeks-old, the Eurasian otter cub was still too young to have opened its eyes for the first time. Knowing his chances were slim, his finders contacted wildlife charity UK Wild Otter Trust (WOT). The charity's first response was that they were looking at a 'miracle in the making'. The cub duly went on to become the smallest cub it has ever successfully rescued. The baby otter was given the Welsh name Idris - thought to translate as 'fiery leader'. For the next few days, Idris was kept alive on milk until he was strong enough to be handed over to the charity. Idris was slowly weaned onto fish before being transferred to WOT's specialist Otter Rehabilitation Centre in north Devon. There he met two young otters close to his age, Scratch and Mingo. The charity said Mingo is something of a miracle himself, saying: 'He was discovered in the most unlikely of places, wandering inside the flamingo habitat at Colchester Zoo. 'How he ended up there remains a mystery, but it makes for an extraordinary pairing: two young otters, each with survival stories that defy the odds, now learning and growing together on their road back to the wild.' Over the coming months, the trio will undergo a long rehabilitation process, learning vital survival skills before their eventual release into the wild. Until then, WOT founder and CEO Dave Webb said the cubs are living proof that sometimes the smallest creatures can have the biggest will to live. He added: 'Cases like Idris are incredibly rare. For an otter cub so young and so underweight to survive without its mother is remarkable. 'Idris has shown unbelievable strength and now, alongside Mingo and Scratch, he has the best chance of living wild again. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday 'Idris is the smallest cub we've rescued who has managed to survive, so for all of us at the Centre, it's a real victory to see him out of the woods and thriving.'
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
People heard squeaking near a stream and the answer was impossibly cute
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