Latest news with #WhipsnadeZoo


BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cells from dead rhino could bring new life, says Shropshire charity
A skin sample from a rhino could bring the promise of new life thanks to the work of a wildlife charity, four years after the rhino's 40-year-old southern white rhino from Whipsnade Zoo died in October 2021, with vets teaming up with three specialist groups to collect tissue samples from the dead Shropshire-based charity Nature's SAFE has created "millions" of new living cells from the sample. It believes this is the first time this has happened in the charity, based in Whitchurch, said it was the first stage in an innovative process that could allow scientists to develop new egg or sperm cells from this rhino. It would enable the rhino to contribute to the breeding population of southern white rhino for years into the future, despite her having died in SAFE preserved a skin sample from the rhino's ear while it was still in a living state, with the charity banking its hope upon the cells remaining alive while preserved at -196C, so that when thawed out in the future, they could be revived and cultured to create fresh cell lines.A spokesperson for the charity said: "Although it may sound like science fiction, this technology is already developed in mice, demonstrating its potential to assist reproduction in other animal species too." In April, the cells were carefully removed from the liquid nitrogen storage tanks and four years after the rhino's death, the team have successfully cultured these and have grown new cell Morgan, the lab technician behind this success, said: "These cells represent living DNA from this rhino that is readily available for conservation use even though the rhino itself is deceased." Nature's SAFE, described as a "bio bank", has now stored biological samples from 300 species, including 37 which are critically endangered and four which are extinct in the ambition is to save animals from extinction by protecting the genetic diversity of wild animal species and supporting technologies, like artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilisation, to maintain and restore healthy animal populations. Debbie Rolmanis, chief operations officer, said: "By preserving and cultivating skin cells from threatened species, we are building a living library of genetic material that can be used to help restore genetic diversity to declining animal populations and prevent extinction. "The key benefit of utilising skin cells is that we can obtain them easily and continue to regenerate them indefinitely; they are not a finite resource. This provides a powerful, proven way to protect DNA within a functional cell." Commenting on the reanimation of the rhino's cells, Tullis Matson, founder and chair of the charity, said: "This could be an absolute game-changer moving forward. Now we've proven that this rhino's cells are truly in a living state even though she passed away almost four years ago. "This is a powerful tool for protecting many more of our critically endangered species; animals like the mountain chicken frog or Lake Patzcuaro salamander, which otherwise might have fallen into extinction, could be saved using these new bio-banking technologies. "We are over the moon - this brings hope not just to the southern white rhino, but to any species on the brink!" Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.


BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
London Zoo becomes summer home for pair of giant rodents
London Zoo will be the temporary home for a pair of giant rodents while their permanent home is prepared for Gizmo and Kiwi will spend summer in the city until their move to Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, which is London Zoo's sister can meet the duo as part of the Feeding Time at the Zoo event over half Jessica Lawrance said: "Gizmo and Kiwi are a really charismatic pair, and we're really enjoying getting to know them and their preferences and quirks." Healthy appetites Capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are found throughout northern and central South America and are closely related to guinea are known for their healthy appetites - they eat plants and grasses - however they have a habit of eating their own poo as the grasses they eat can be hard to break down. Strong swimmers Gizmo and Kiwi will live next to Amara - a pygmy hippo transferred from Edinburgh as part of the zoo's conservation breeding programme for endangered species. Jessica expects the rodents will spend a lot of time splashing around outside."We can't wait to see the joy on people's faces when they meet Gizmo and Kiwi," she added.


BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Whipsnade Zoo lion to be renovated with tonnes of chalk
A hillside lion that is seen as a regional landmark is due to be restored using 1,100 tonnes of animal near Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire is thought to be the largest hill figure in zoo said maintaining the lion was an "enormous" job because of weed growth, but that new chalk would make the task Anne James, who helped remove weeds, described the project as "fantastic". Ms James, 74, regularly takes a rake to the steep slope to remove unwanted plants, and was volunteering there on mother saw construction of the lion in the early 1930s and her children "loved it".After two years of volunteering to clean up the lion she said "everybody is saying how wonderful it is to see it again". In 2023, the former Mayor of Dacorum Gbola Adeleke said he was concerned the figure was not being maintained properly and he offered to buy zoo said it was not for team leader Ben Mawhood said maintaining the lion was an "enormous" said the work "got a lot harder" in the 1980s when the area was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which meant pesticides could not be used and weeding must be done by hand. Volunteer David Jones, 75, said the lion was an "iconic part" of his life and a year ago the lion looked "green" because of the number of said the lion should look "brilliant" once the work was chalk was last added in 2018 and the zoo said it wanted the lion to look "spectacular" for next year's 200th anniversary of the Zoological Society of London, the charity that runs the zoo. The 147m-long (483ft) structure was designed by RB Brook-Greaves and was covered in World War Two to prevent it from assisting German pilots with new chalk is due to be laid this summer. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


The Independent
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Nine rare hazel dormice to be released in wild after successful health checks
Nine rare hazel dormice will be released into the wild next month following a successful health screening test. Each of the tiny 'charming' mammals, three of which were born at Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, received health checks from the Zoological Society of London's (ZSL) Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance Team (DRAHS). It will mark the first time the ZSL has bred dormice to be released in the wild, according to zookeepers at Whipsnade Zoo. The endangered animals were placed under anaesthetic to allow vets to check their heart, lungs, eyes, ears, nose, teeth and fur and ensure each dormouse was ready for release. Each mouse has been microchipped to allow conservation teams to monitor the animals and how they adapt to their new woodland habitat. Luke Pharoah, zookeeper at Whipsnade Zoo in charge of monitoring the dormice, said it feels 'rewarding' watching their growth from small animals to healthy adults, adding it was 'exciting' the mice had passed their health assessments. 'Whipsnade Zoo is the UK's largest zoo, so we're known for the larger animals that we care for – but behind the scenes, we're also working with these charming little dormice,' he said. 'Watching these three dormice grow from tiny, dozy newborns into adulthood has been so rewarding, and it's exciting to know that with the all-clear from our vets, they are now one step closer to raising their own young and boosting wild dormice numbers. 'Although we've supported DRAHS's work for a long time, this is the first time in 20 years that ZSL has bred dormice for release into the wild, and we will continue to use our keeper expertise to breed and care for more dormice for these vital translocations.' The checks formed part of national conservation efforts to recover populations of the vulnerable dormice, which were previously widespread across England and Wales. A 2023 report conducted by the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) found the population of dormice had declined by 70% since 2000 as a result of habitat loss and climate change. Through its annual dormouse reintroduction programme, the PTES hopes to reestablish hazel dormice populations in areas across England where the rodents are considered locally extinct. The ZSL has been involved with PTES's programme for 32 years, and it is hoped the health checks will help to reintroduce the dormice to 26 woodland habitats across 13 counties in England. Dr Clare McNamee, wildlife vet at ZSL's Institute of Zoology, who led the health checks, said: 'We're delighted to report that all nine dormice passed their health checks and are now ready for their big move in just a few weeks' time. 'These dormice might be tiny, but they have a big impact on their woodland habitat. By restoring dormouse populations, we're making huge steps to protect and recover all the wildlife they live alongside.' The health checks are also designed to help reduce the risk of disease being introduced into the woodlands where the dormice will be released. The DRAHS team is working with Natural England, a public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to monitor the health of more than 30 different species to ensure the animals are healthy before release. Dr McNamee said their work will help ensure 'dormice are fit and set up for success in their new homes, but it also helps to protect these habitats by reducing and monitoring the risks from disease'. The furry dormice are currently living in ZSL's London Zoo, where they are receiving specialist care and being monitored closely ahead of their release into the wild.


BBC News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Meet Noisy, an endangered rockhopper penguin chick
Meet Noisy. He's a two-week-old northern rockhopper penguin chick who is currently receiving around the clock care from keepers at Whipsnade care includes being hand fed a yummy "milkshake" made of blended fish and being kept warm in his own cosy nesting box. Noisy is part of the breeding program at the zoo that is helping to address declining numbers of rockhopper penguins. What is a rockhopper penguin? Rockhopper penguins are one of the world's smallest penguins and generally only reach around 50cm tall. However, for a small bird they have big well as loud cries, the penguins can be spotted by there distinctive yellow eyebrows and red eyes. As they live in rocky habitats, rockhoppers don't slide on their bellies to get around. Instead, they hop... It's in the name! However, the number of rockhopper penguins in the wild is declining. Whipsnade Zoo's section manager of birds, Tim Savage, said "wild populations have sadly declined by more than 57% in the last 27 years". This is why it is so important for the zoo to help breed and care for penguins like Noisy. Tim added: "We are one of only seven zoos in Europe to care for this rare subspecies, so we're monitoring our tiny hatchling around the clock to give it the best chance possible."