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BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Cornish zoo welcomes new zebra from Devon
A Cornish zoo has welcomed a new arrival - a male zebra from Parsley, a Chapman's zebra (Equus quagga chapmani) made the journey from Dartmoor Zoo down to Newquay has joined a six-year-old female, Luna, in the zoo's savannah habitat and zookeepers hoped the couple would become breeding Meek, Newquay Zoo's curator of plants and animals, said: "We're hopeful that this beautiful new male zebra will build a strong connection with Luna and eventually contribute to the breeding success of the species." Mr Meek said Parsley had "already shown great interest in Luna", adding: "We're all feeling very positive about his introduction this weekend."Mr Meek said Chapman's zebras were known for their "striking striped patterns and strong social bonds". 'Immersive experience' As well as Luna, Parseley will join three black wildebeest and four nyala in the savannah zoo said the habitat offered an "immersive experience" where visitors could "observe the natural behaviours of the zebras alongside other African grazing animals".Chapman's zebras are native to southern Africa and are considered "of least concern", the zoo said. A spokesperson said: "However, like many plains species, they face increasing threats from habitat fragmentation and human encroachment. "Responsible zoo breeding programmes play a key role in raising awareness and maintaining a genetically healthy population under human care."
BBC News
02-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Can this lynx born in a zoo learn to live in the wild?
As the door of its crate opens, the lynx sniffs the air, checks the coast is clear and cautiously takes its first steps toward freedom in Germany's Black Forest. A lynx born in a zoo in Cornwall could become the first UK zoo-born cat to be successfully released into the wild. Animals born and raised in zoos are rarely considered for release because they either don't have the survival skills or have become too used to human interaction. But a shortage of female lynxes in the European breeding programme led to the unusual request being made for the cat from Newquay Zoo. It has been moved to Germany where it will spend the next few months being monitored in an enclosure to see if it's up to the challenge. This week the BBC watched on as, with the help of some judicious prodding with a broom, the Newquay lynx was loaded onto a truck headed for southwestern Germany. Two days later we were in Germany as it was cajoled into a 1,200-sq-metre enclosure. John Meek from Newquay Zoo was also on hand to see the lynx gingerly stroll out into its new home. "I'm a big boy but I had a few tears in my eyes," he said. " Nowadays, zoos are not here to keep animals in cages. They're there for conservation. And this is it, conservation in action." Thousands of lynx already roam wild in European forests but efforts are being made to introduce new cats to increase their genetic diversity particularly in central Europe. Though not officially classed as a "big cat" Eurasian lynx can weigh up to 30 kilos and hunt deer for food. Once native to the UK they were driven to extinction hundreds of years ago and with British deer populations at record levels there have been calls for their re-introduction. "Basically I'm Tinder for the zoo-born lynx," says Dina Gebhardt from Bern Animal Park with a smile when I speak to her on Zoom. It was her who sent out the SOS for the Newquay lynx. The lynx-breeding coordinator for the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), she matches females and males from across the continent as well as finding new homes for their offspring. "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," Dina says. To combat that Dina finds captive young lynx that can be introduced into the wild to increase numbers and improve the genetic mix. Usually Dina's lynxes have been raised from birth with the minimum of human contact, specifically with release in mind. But last year, much to Dina's frustration, there was a particularly high number of male lynxes born. And a successful rewilding programme needs females much more than males. So Dina reached out to Newquay Zoo to ask them if their one year old female might be available. "Of course we said yes straight away, that's something that we'd love to do," says John Meek, the curator of plants and animals at Newquay Zoo. Over the next few months the lynx will be monitored to see if it has the necessary skills to survive in the wild. Catching and killing prey is not expected to be a problem. "If you know your cats, you know that even a cat that has lived in a room its whole life, once it gets out is able to kill a bird or a mouse," Eva Klebelsberg who runs the lynx reintroduction programme for Baden-Württemberg told us. We're standing over the carcass of a Roe Deer in the Black Forest just outside Karlsruhe. There is a small population of lynxes already living in the forest and this is one of their kills. There are puncture marks on its throat – a sure sign. "Our ecosystems in Europe are missing large predators," Eva says, explaining that the lynx helps control populations of deer as well as ensuring that they keep moving and don't strip forested areas. The key question in relation to the Newquay lynx is likely to be its relationship with humans. Having spent its entire life looking through bars at visitors and being fed by keepers it will need to show that it is not going to seek out more human interaction. "Central Europe is very crowded and we don't have many places where there is enough space for larger animals." says Dr Marco Roller from Karlsruhe zoo, who manages the enclosure. "We don't want human animal conflicts. So for us it's important we don't have aggressive animals or curious animals which may walk through cities or close to human settlements." The final decision on the Newquay lynx's fate will be taken later in the summer after several months of close monitoring. Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. Rewilding
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lynx could be first UK zoo-born cat freed into the wild
A lynx born in a zoo in Cornwall could become the first UK zoo-born cat to be successfully released into the wild. Animals born and raised in zoos are rarely considered for release because they either don't have the survival skills or have become too used to human interaction. But a shortage of female lynxes in the European breeding programme led to the unusual request being made for the cat from Newquay Zoo. It has been moved to Germany's Black Forest where it will spend the next few months being monitored in an enclosure to see if it's up to the challenge. This week the BBC watched on as, with the help of some judicious prodding with a broom, the Newquay lynx was loaded onto a truck headed for southwestern Germany. Two days later we were in Germany as it was cajoled into a 1,200-sq-metre enclosure. John Meek from Newquay Zoo was also on hand to see the lynx gingerly stroll out into its new home. "I'm a big boy but I had a few tears in my eyes," he said. " Nowadays, zoos are not here to keep animals in cages. They're there for conservation. And this is it, conservation in action." Thousands of lynx already roam wild in European forests but efforts are being made to introduce new cats to increase their genetic diversity particularly in central Europe. Though not officially classed as a "big cat" Eurasian lynx can weigh up to 30 kilos and hunt deer for food. Once native to the UK they were driven to extinction hundreds of years ago and with British deer populations at record levels there have been calls for their re-introduction. "Basically I'm Tinder for the zoo-born lynx," says Dina Gebhardt from Bern Animal Park with a smile when I speak to her on Zoom. It was her who sent out the SOS for the Newquay lynx. The lynx-breeding coordinator for the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), she matches females and males from across the continent as well as finding new homes for their offspring. "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," Dina says. To combat that Dina finds captive young lynx that can be introduced into the wild to increase numbers and improve the genetic mix. Usually Dina's lynxes have been raised from birth with the minimum of human contact, specifically with release in mind. But last year, much to Dina's frustration, there was a particularly high number of male lynxes born. And a successful rewilding programme needs females much more than males. So Dina reached out to Newquay Zoo to ask them if their one year old female might be available. "Of course we said yes straight away, that's something that we'd love to do," says John Meek, the curator of plants and animals at Newquay Zoo. Over the next few months the lynx will be monitored to see if it has the necessary skills to survive in the wild. Catching and killing prey is not expected to be a problem. "If you know your cats, you know that even a cat that has lived in a room its whole life, once it gets out is able to kill a bird or a mouse," Eva Klebelsberg who runs the lynx reintroduction programme for Baden-Württemberg told us. We're standing over the carcass of a Roe Deer in the Black Forest just outside Karlsruhe. There is a small population of lynxes already living in the forest and this is one of their kills. There are puncture marks on its throat – a sure sign. "Our ecosystems in Europe are missing large predators," Eva says, explaining that the lynx helps control populations of deer as well as ensuring that they keep moving and don't strip forested areas. The key question in relation to the Newquay lynx is likely to be its relationship with humans. Having spent its entire life looking through bars at visitors and being fed by keepers it will need to show that it is not going to seek out more human interaction. "Central Europe is very crowded and we don't have many places where there is enough space for larger animals." says Dr Marco Roller from Karlsruhe zoo, who manages the enclosure. "We don't want human animal conflicts. So for us it's important we don't have aggressive animals or curious animals which may walk through cities or close to human settlements." The final decision on the Newquay lynx's fate will be taken later in the summer after several months of close monitoring. Why are lynx loose in the Highlands? The return of the lynx Swinney rules out return of lynx to Scotland
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Two penguin chicks born at Newquay Zoo
Two penguin chicks were born at a Cornish zoo recently, keepers have Humboldt penguin chicks, from separate breeding pairs, both hatched in April after their eggs were laid in March, Newquay Zoo keeper Dan Trevelyan has successfully reared many penguins in his time at Newquay said the team was thrilled to welcome the chicks but it was a "critical period". "While everything is going well, we're monitoring them closely to ensure they stay healthy and strong," he one breeding pair - Oreo and Humbug - it was their first time as 28-year-old Ebony and her partner of 20 years, Patch, have successfully raised many chicks over the years and are even grandparents to some of the zoo's current penguins."Ebony and Patch are experienced and reliable parents who've successfully raised several offspring over the years," Mr Trevelyan said."It's fantastic to see Oreo and Humbug stepping up as first-time parents." The zoo recently held a pool party to celebrate several penguin birthdays, a spokesperson event included special talk for visitors, behind-the-scenes insights and enrichment activities - a bubble machine to stimulate playful penguins are native to Peru and Chile and classed as Vulnerable because of habitat loss, overfishing, and climate Zoo said the species was part of a coordinated breeding effort across European zoos."While the chicks remain safely tucked in their burrows next to the penguin pool, visitors might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse - or even hear a tiny chirp - on their next visit," the spokesperson said.
