Latest news with #wildlifecharity
The Independent
30-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Conservationists call for urgent phaseout of keeping great apes in zoos
Conservationists are calling for the phaseout of great apes in zoos where they experience chronic stress and other health impacts. Wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation is urging members of the public not to visit attractions that keep animals such as gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans in captivity. In a report released on Thursday, the charity said more than 1,500 great apes are held in zoos across Europe, and of these, more than 300 are found in 21 establishments across the UK. The paper explores scientific literature, decades of observation and case studies that demonstrate the impact of keeping great apes in these environments, arguing that zoos will never meet the animals' complex physical, emotional and social needs. Great apes can suffer from abnormal stereotypic behaviours, chronic stress, obesity, heart disease and poor mental health in zoos, the report says. It also warns of the dangers posed to the animals breeding in zoos, such as traumatic births, high rates of stillbirths, maternal rejection and instances of infanticide. And zoo guidelines have been found to recommend treating great apes with antidepressants to alleviate anxiety caused by living in groupings and enclosures far removed from their natural habitats, according to the findings. Born Free criticised claims that keeping and breeding great apes in captivity is important for conservation efforts. The charity argues that zoo-bred species are genetically and behaviourally unsuitable for release into the wild and would pose serious risks to wild populations. The plea comes after the release of the UK Government's revised standards of modern zoo practice, which are set to take effect in May 2027. Born Free has questioned whether any zoo will be able to meet the new great ape welfare benchmarks in full if they are implemented effectively. In its report, the charity ultimately calls on governments, regulators, zoo associations and campaigners to work together to humanely phase out the practice across the world. Dame Virginia McKenna, Born Free's co-founder, said: 'When I see a great ape looking at me from behind the bars or reinforced glass in a zoo, something in me falters. 'These intelligent, feeling beings do not belong in cages.' Will Travers, Born Free's co-founder and executive president, said: 'Wild great apes and the places they live in around the world are crying out for help. 'Treating them as living commodities, to be stared at rather than admired and celebrated, shows us that, while humans may dominate this planet of the apes, we know the price of everything but the value of nothing.' Broadcaster and naturalist Chris Packham called the report 'a distressing catalogue of wrongs wrought upon our closest genetic kin'. 'All the evidence to prove radical change is now imperative is here,' he said. Ian Redmond, the world-renowned great ape expert, said: 'Having had the privilege of spending time with great apes in their natural habitat, where they take their own decisions in life, I find it increasingly uncomfortable seeing their lives in captivity. 'The zoo industry and the Government must take note of changing public attitudes and, based on scientific evidence of ape cognition and ecology, heed the recommendations in Born Free's new report.'
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Conservationists call for urgent phaseout of keeping great apes in zoos
Conservationists are calling for the phaseout of great apes in zoos where they experience chronic stress and other health impacts. Wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation is urging members of the public not to visit attractions that keep animals such as gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans in captivity. In a report released on Thursday, the charity said more than 1,500 great apes are held in zoos across Europe, and of these, more than 300 are found in 21 establishments across the UK. The paper explores scientific literature, decades of observation and case studies that demonstrate the impact of keeping great apes in these environments, arguing that zoos will never meet the animals' complex physical, emotional and social needs. Great apes can suffer from abnormal stereotypic behaviours, chronic stress, obesity, heart disease and poor mental health in zoos, the report says. It also warns of the dangers posed to the animals breeding in zoos, such as traumatic births, high rates of stillbirths, maternal rejection and instances of infanticide. And zoo guidelines have been found to recommend treating great apes with antidepressants to alleviate anxiety caused by living in groupings and enclosures far removed from their natural habitats, according to the findings. Born Free criticised claims that keeping and breeding great apes in captivity is important for conservation efforts. The charity argues that zoo-bred species are genetically and behaviourally unsuitable for release into the wild and would pose serious risks to wild populations. The plea comes after the release of the UK Government's revised standards of modern zoo practice, which are set to take effect in May 2027. Born Free has questioned whether any zoo will be able to meet the new great ape welfare benchmarks in full if they are implemented effectively. In its report, the charity ultimately calls on governments, regulators, zoo associations and campaigners to work together to humanely phase out the practice across the world. Dame Virginia McKenna, Born Free's co-founder, said: 'When I see a great ape looking at me from behind the bars or reinforced glass in a zoo, something in me falters. 'These intelligent, feeling beings do not belong in cages.' Will Travers, Born Free's co-founder and executive president, said: 'Wild great apes and the places they live in around the world are crying out for help. 'Treating them as living commodities, to be stared at rather than admired and celebrated, shows us that, while humans may dominate this planet of the apes, we know the price of everything but the value of nothing.' Broadcaster and naturalist Chris Packham called the report 'a distressing catalogue of wrongs wrought upon our closest genetic kin'. 'All the evidence to prove radical change is now imperative is here,' he said. Ian Redmond, the world-renowned great ape expert, said: 'Having had the privilege of spending time with great apes in their natural habitat, where they take their own decisions in life, I find it increasingly uncomfortable seeing their lives in captivity. 'The zoo industry and the Government must take note of changing public attitudes and, based on scientific evidence of ape cognition and ecology, heed the recommendations in Born Free's new report.'
The Independent
11-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Rare hazel dormice released to create Leicestershire's only known population
Conservationists have released 20 rare hazel dormice into a secret woodland location in Leicestershire to create the county's only known population. The tiny mammals were reintroduced this week to an undisclosed area of the Bradgate Park Trust estate by wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and its partners. It comes as part of national efforts to help the endangered species come back from the brink of extinction. The native dormouse, immortalised as the sleepy guest at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland, has suffered declines of 70% nationally since 2000 and has vanished from 20 English counties. Annual dormouse reintroductions began in 1993 and have been managed by PTES since 2000, with 1,142 being released into 26 different woodlands in 13 counties, including six English counties where they had previously been lost. The reintroduction in Leicestershire follows the successful reintroduction of 38 dormice to the National Forest from the National Trust's Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. The conservationists say this secondary reintroduction is a vital step forward for dormouse recovery nationally and regionally. The hope is that these two populations of dormice will one day form part of a wider population spanning the whole forest. Bradgate Park Trust, which is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and part of a national nature reserve, was chosen with the help of local wildlife groups to ensure the woodland is suitable for dormice now and in the future. Ian White, PTES dormouse and training officer, said: 'Despite once being a common part of Britain's woodlands and hedgerows, hazel dormice have experienced a historic and catastrophic decline due to habitat loss, degradation and poor management of woodlands and hedgerows, compounded by a changing climate. 'PTES's reintroductions, alongside habitat management, landscape projects and monitoring, are paramount to their long-term survival.' James Dymond, director of Bradgate Park Trust, said: 'As a small charity, we are proud to be entrusted with the care of these rare and charming creatures. 'This reintroduction is a testament to the past woodland management efforts on the estate, and we are committed to ensuring this special habitat continues to thrive—not only for the dormice, but for a wide range of other rare species that call it home too.' Ben Devine, head of nature recovery at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, added: 'This release is an exciting first step in helping dormice not only locally, but nationally too. 'Ensuring the right landscape and habitat is in place is key to ensuring continued nature recovery, and we will continue to monitor the dormice to ensure that Leicestershire's only known population thrives and one day expands beyond Bradgate Park estate.' The dormice are bred in captivity and undergo an eight-week quarantine with regular health checks before their release, to ensure only healthy animals are put into the wild. They have been released into their woodland habitat, which has been selected to make sure it meets their needs, in large wire mesh cages with food and water. Local volunteers from Bradgate Park Trust and the Leicestershire and Rutland Mammal Group will regularly check the cages and top up their food and water before the doors are opened after 10 days to allow them to start to explore their new home.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
Lake District walkers urged to look out for England's only mountain butterfly
Visitors to the Lake District are being asked to look out for England's only mountain butterfly to help scientists protect the rare species. The mountain ringlet, a small brown butterfly with orange wing spots, lives exclusively on mountains and is more commonly found in Scotland than in England, where conservationists say it is so hard to find that they have yet to discover whether numbers are going up or down. Adult butterflies usually emerge in June and fly for up to three weeks, but the timing depends on the weather – with the last week of May the earliest it has been spotted in Cumbria while the latest is mid-July. The butterflies are small – 35-38mm (1.4inches) – and only active in bright sunshine, keeping low to the ground in short flights, pausing on grass tussocks or feeding on the flowers of tormentil and heath bedstraw. Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is examining how mountain ringlets are responding to climate change, with concerns mountain species will be squeezed into smaller areas of suitable habitat as temperatures rise. The charity says sightings from the public, as they explore the Lake District national park, would help improve knowledge of the butterfly's distribution and breeding success. Butterfly Conservation North of England conservation manager Martin Wain said: 'We would be so grateful if fell walkers could keep their eyes peeled for this lovely little butterfly and report their sightings. 'You might even discover a new colony! We urgently need to know more about where it is so we can learn more about how to protect it. He added: 'Looking for the mountain ringlet can add extra interest to your hike, whether you slow down and mindfully look for it, watch out for it as you eat your sandwiches, or just keep it in mind as you walk.' The charity has produced a map of previous sightings of mountain ringlets, all above 450 metres (1,476ft), on mountains in the Borrowdale volcanic group – from Wasdale in the west to Mardale and Haweswater in the east. The map also includes potential new locations marked in pink squares, near to existing sightings, where conservationists are most keen to encourage people to look for new colonies. Lancaster University student Mim Woodward, who is helping to co-ordinate the project, said: 'If you can explore one of these pink squares, you could be the first to record a mountain ringlet there – helping to uncover a brand new colony. 'These are the most important areas for us to search, and your walk could make a real difference to Butterfly Conservation.' The charity hopes to work with farmers and land managers across Cumbria to trial different land management techniques, in particular grazing regimes, to see how to maintain the best habitat for the mountain ringlet.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Mountain ringlet: Walkers urged to spot this rare UK butterfly
People visiting the Lake District for a picturesque walk are being asked to not just look at the lovely scenery, but keep their eyes peeled for a rare species of butterfly. The mountain ringlet is England's only mountain butterfly and it's so hard to find that conservationists don't know whether its numbers are going up or down. It's found more commonly in Scotland but the season to see these in Cumbria, England has just started. Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is asking people to log any sightings so they can examine how these beautiful insects are responding to climate change. The timing of when these butterflies emerge is dependent on the usually emerge in June and fly for up to three weeks. The last week of May is the earliest they've been spotted in Cumbria and they've been seen as late as mid-July. Much like some of us, they're only active in the sun and keep low to the ground!The best place to spot them is when they pause on grass tussocks or feed on flowers. Conservationists are concerned climate change is forcing the mountain ringlet into smaller areas of habitat as temperatures why they're asking people to log any sightings so they can compile a map of where they've been seen and later analyse the butterfly's distribution and how well they Conservation North of England manager Martin Wain said: "We urgently need to know more about where it is so we can learn more about how to protect it."Looking for the mountain ringlet can add extra interest to your hike, whether you slow down and mindfully look for it, watch out for it as you eat your sandwiches, or just keep it in mind as you walk."
