Latest news with #WelshMountainZoo
BBC News
02-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Red squirrels back in Herefordshire after farm opens new enclosure
Red squirrels have made a comeback in Herefordshire after three arrived at a farm's new purpose-built enclosure. The rare animals are believed to be the only ones in the county following their move to Small Breeds Park Farm in Kington from Norfolk as part of a conservation effort. Their arrival on Saturday coincided with the official opening of the farm's new enclosure, where a captive breeding programme will now take Ella Pillidge said she hoped the project would help to bring more red squirrels back to the county. The enclosure opened in March after the farm received a rural tourism grant from the government. Ms Pillidge said the official opening, carried out by Herefordshire's High Sheriff Helen Bowden, would demonstrate how the programme would help the species. She added that the enclosure had "already been a hit" with visitors and said it showed how the farm was "moving forwards". The conservation effort is part of the work carried out by Welsh Mountain Zoo, which helps to protect the zoo has contributed to the successful release of 34 red squirrels, the UK's only native squirrel, into the wild since 1998. Ms Pillidge said the farm wanted to add to the population each year. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
North Wales Live
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Welsh Mountain Zoo opens biggest new attraction in years as it recovers from cyber attack
A tropical forest has been recreated for what the Welsh Mountain Zoo is billing as its 'most ambitious development since 2021". It comes as the popular attraction recovers from a major cyber attack that shut down its Facebook page for six weeks. 'Papillo Forest' provides an immersive indoor habitat showcasing the incredible diversity of tropical butterflies. The Colwyn Bay zoo spent six months transforming a disused building into 'Papillo Forest', an immersive indoor habitat showcasing the diversity of tropical butterflies. Zoo chiefs say it is the first in a series of new developments being planned. Last month the zoo issued an apology for the 'recent disruption' to its Facebook page. In late May, a hacker took control of the site and published posts promoting an 'organic product'. The attack was reported to Facebook and the Action Fraud department, which reports to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. Other systems, including membership data and personal information, remained 'safe and secure', said the zoo. In a statement, it said: ' North Wales Police Cyber Crime Unit has conducted a full review of our systems and confirmed they are safe and secure. 'While the original hacker's name may still appear in the background, they can no longer access or control the account thanks to prompt action taken on our side. We are continuing to work closely with Facebook to complete their investigation and ensure everything is fully restored.' The unhappy episode was the prelude to the formal launch of Papillo Forest – named after the Latin word for 'butterfly'. It's divided into three spaces. The first is a lush environment filled with different butterflies in which visitors can witness the insects' transformation from egg to caterpillar, pupa and adult. The journey continues into the reptile house - home to the likes of snakes, chameleons and tarantulas. Phase three remains under construction and will become the new lemur enclosure, replicating a Madagascan landscape. Zoo CEO Chris Mitchell said Papillo Forest was now ready to welcome visitors. 'It's been an exciting development on many levels and brings something very different to the zoo, having been lovingly crafted by our incredibly skilled in-house team. 'The world of butterflies is a fascinating one and Papillo Forest will help visitors own a cleaner understanding of their critical roles in pollination and ecosystems, as well as the environmental challenges they face due to climate change and habitat loss.' For the new attraction, reclaimed materials such as fallen trees were put to good use. Ultimately, it will focus on butterfly conservation. The butterfly house underwent a soft opening earlier this year and the attraction will 'continue to evolve', said the zoo. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Mr Mitchell added: 'The zoo is set to embark on an ambitious development programme this year, and the coming years, all of which will be designed to both enhance visitor experience and share vital conservation messages and learning.'
North Wales Chronicle
17-06-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Welsh Mountain Zoo regains control after Facebook hack
In May, the Welsh Mountain Zoo, in Colwyn Bay, wrote to supporters to say that their Facebook Page had been compromised. People were warned not to engage with any content, offers, or messages from the page, as these were not being posted by the zoo. Posts, advertising an organic product, were also appearing. Commenting on the disruption, the zoo said in a statement: "Firstly, we want to offer our sincere apologies for the recent disruption to our Facebook page. We deeply regret that this happened, and we know how important our page is for staying connected with you - our community, supporters, and friends. "We're pleased to share that we've now regained access and have taken strong steps to secure the page fully. While the original hacker's name may still appear in the background, they can no longer access or control the account thanks to prompt action taken on our side. "North Wales Police Cyber Crime Unit has conducted a full review of our systems and confirmed they are safe and secure, and we thank them for their time. We are continuing to work closely with Facebook to complete their investigation and ensure everything is fully restored. "Out of caution, we'll be easing back into our normal posting schedule. For now, we won't be sharing anything related to ticketing or support options. While that information remains available through our website - and continues to play a vital role in supporting our animals and conservation work, we're choosing to hold back on promotion until we've fully restored confidence in our social channels. RELATED STORIES Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay closes for major changes "To reassure everyone that the page is once again safe and under our control, we will soon be posting a short video message from a member of our team. "This has been a difficult time for us. As a conservation and animal welfare charity, these platforms are vital in helping us care for our animals and protect wildlife around the world. Disruptions like this have real consequences, but your continued support, patience, and belief in our work mean everything. "Thank you for standing by us." In 2024 the zoo welcomed Chris Mitchell, former head of zoo operations at Drayton Manor, as chief executive, a major appointment for the attraction and the first non-Jackson family member to take on the high-profile position. This was followed by the appointment of Steven Lester as director of business development and operations. Earlier this year, the zoo, which is a registered charity, owned and operated by the National Zoological Society of Wales, reported a six per cent increase in footfall. The zoo, which houses more than 60 species, is 'poised for exciting developments' this year. It is currently conducting a 'soft launch' of its new tropical butterfly habitat - Papilio Forest.
Rhyl Journal
16-06-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Welsh Mountain Zoo welcomes seven adorable babies!
A total of seven babies have been born in recent weeks at the Colwyn Bay attraction, including three Humboldt penguin chicks, two white-tailed sea eagles, one pine marten and one red squirrel. Humboldt penguin chick (Image: Welsh Mountain Zoo) The adorable penguin chicks are from two nests, with Poncho and Frankie having two chicks, and Pudding and Yoshi also having one chick. The two white-tailed sea eagle chicks also hatched in April, to proud parents Hallie and Albi - marking a first for the zoo and helping to boost their numbers in human care. Two white-tailed sea eagle chicks also hatched in April! (Image: Welsh Mountain Zoo) The red squirrel kit and pine marten kit also made their debut during April. Hannah Slaney, Head of Animals at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, said: 'It really has been a joyous time here in recent weeks as we welcomed all of our new babies. It's wonderful to see each of them developing and growing just as they should, gaining strength and confidence each day. Baby pine martens are called kits (Image: Welsh Mountain Zoo) 'Breeding programmes, all of which these species are a part of, are fundamentally why the zoo exists. Conservation, and ensuring the continued preservation of threatened or at-risk species, sits at the core of Welsh Mountain Zoo's values, and to see so many successful births really is heart-warming for us all.' All penguin chicks are developing as keepers would hope and expect. The zoo enjoys a long and rich history in breeding Humboldt penguins which spans over three decades.
