Latest news with #EuropeanEndangeredSpeciesProgram
New York Post
03-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
This lynx could become the first UK zoo-born cat to be successfully released into the wild
A lynx in England could become the first UK zoo-born cat to be successfully released into the wild. The nine-month-old Eurasian lynx, who was born in the Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, has been moved to southwestern Germany's Black Forest, which is an unusual move for animals born and raised in zoos. However, the request for its transfer was made due to a shortage of female lynxes in the European breeding program. Dina Gebhardt, the lynx-breeding coordinator for the European Endangered Species Program, was the one behind the demand. 'Basically I'm Tinder for the zoo-born lynx,' she told the BBC. A lynx born in the Newquay Zoo has been moved to southwestern Germany's Black Forest. Newquay Zoo/Facebook 'Our nature is very fragmented, due to railways and streets and cities. And this means we created a lot of barriers for the lynx, which leads to inbreeding.' The animal will spend several months in an enclosure being monitored to see if it can withstand the new conditions. John Meek, curator of plants and animals at the Newquay Zoo, was there to oversee the transition. 'I'm a big boy but I had a few tears in my eyes,' Meek told the outlet. 'Nowadays, zoos are not here to keep animals in cages. They're there for conservation. And this is it, conservation in action.' Eurasian lynx, which can weigh up to over 65 pounds, were native to the UK, but were wiped out in the wild around 1300 years ago because of hunting and habitat loss.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
An Asian elephant calf was born at Zurich Zoo and its name will start with the letter Z
ZURICH (AP) — A 19-year-old Asian elephant at the Zurich Zoo gave birth this weekend to a male calf whose name, starting with the letter Z, will be announced this week. A light-sensitive monitoring camera picked up the birth before dawn Saturday and the baby's earliest, wobbly steps inside the zoo's Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park. It's now home to six of the pachyderms: four females including mother Farha; bull elephant and father Thai; and the new calf. Zoo Director Severin Dressen said staff were happy but 'still cautious' about the birth. 'The first weeks of a calf's life are always the most delicate — even if the calf currently appears healthy and fit,' he said in a statement. The Asian elephant, or Elephas maximus, is a critically endangered species with about 50,000 estimated in the wild, and their numbers are declining, the zoo said. The zoo breeds the elephants as part of conservation efforts under the European Endangered Species Program, Dressen said. Zoo staffers made sure to keep Farha — already a mother of three — away from another female named Panang, who has had little previous experience with young animals, and the separation will continue for the coming days. Such births are relatively rare in zoos compared to those of other species because of the elephant's nearly two-year gestation period, zoo officials said. A zoo spokesman said the name of the new calf will be announced after a staff meeting on Wednesday, but 2025 is a 'Z' year so the moniker will automatically start with that letter.
The Independent
20-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
An Asian elephant calf was born at Zurich Zoo and its name will start with the letter Z
A 19-year-old Asian elephant at the Zurich Zoo gave birth this weekend to a male calf whose name, starting with the letter Z, will be announced this week. A light-sensitive monitoring camera picked up the birth before dawn Saturday and the baby's earliest, wobbly steps inside the zoo's Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park. It's now home to six of the pachyderms: four females including mother Farha; bull elephant and father Thai; and the new calf. Zoo Director Severin Dressen said staff were happy but 'still cautious' about the birth. 'The first weeks of a calf's life are always the most delicate — even if the calf currently appears healthy and fit,' he said in a statement. The Asian elephant, or Elephas maximus, is a critically endangered species with about 50,000 estimated in the wild, and their numbers are declining, the zoo said. The zoo breeds the elephants as part of conservation efforts under the European Endangered Species Program, Dressen said. Zoo staffers made sure to keep Farha — already a mother of three — away from another female named Panang, who has had little previous experience with young animals, and the separation will continue for the coming days. Such births are relatively rare in zoos compared to those of other species because of the elephant's nearly two-year gestation period, zoo officials said. A zoo spokesman said the name of the new calf will be announced after a staff meeting on Wednesday, but 2025 is a 'Z' year so the moniker will automatically start with that letter.
Associated Press
20-04-2025
- General
- Associated Press
An Asian elephant calf was born at Zurich Zoo and its name will start with the letter Z
ZURICH (AP) — A 19-year-old Asian elephant at the Zurich Zoo gave birth this weekend to a male calf whose name, starting with the letter Z, will be announced this week. A light-sensitive monitoring camera picked up the birth before dawn Saturday and the baby's earliest, wobbly steps inside the zoo's Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park. It's now home to six of the pachyderms: four females including mother Farha; bull elephant and father Thai; and the new calf. Zoo Director Severin Dressen said staff were happy but 'still cautious' about the birth. 'The first weeks of a calf's life are always the most delicate — even if the calf currently appears healthy and fit,' he said in a statement. The Asian elephant, or Elephas maximus, is a critically endangered species with about 50,000 estimated in the wild, and their numbers are declining, the zoo said. The zoo breeds the elephants as part of conservation efforts under the European Endangered Species Program, Dressen said. Zoo staffers made sure to keep Farha — already a mother of three — away from another female named Panang, who has had little previous experience with young animals, and the separation will continue for the coming days. Such births are relatively rare in zoos compared to those of other species because of the elephant's nearly two-year gestation period, zoo officials said. A zoo spokesman said the name of the new calf will be announced after a staff meeting on Wednesday, but 2025 is a 'Z' year so the moniker will automatically start with that letter.
