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Showing page 7 of 30 (89 current news items, 139 archived)
Woo at the Zoo enrichment fun!
Colchester Zoo
The Woo at the Zoo event is running throughout February half-term, including specially themed animal enrichment feeds for everyone to enjoy!
Rajang and Tiga, our two male Orangutans have been enjoying a 'Bachelor Pad' feed, with healthy food hidden away in takeaway boxes and placed around the enclosure for them to find and get stuck into!
Watch our video to see them enjoying their takeaways!
http://www.colchester-zoo.co.uk/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&id=547
The Woo at the Zoo event is running throughout February half-term, including specially themed animal enrichment feeds for everyone to enjoy!Rajang and Tiga, our two male Orangutans have been enjoying a 'Bachelor Pad' feed, with healthy food hidden away in takeaway boxes and placed around the enclosure for them to find and get stuck into!
Watch our video to see them enjoying their takeaways!
http://www.colchester-zoo.co.uk/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&id=547
Primates in Peril - worlds 25 most endangered primates
Bristol Zoo
The world's 25 most endangered primates have been revealed in a new report.
Mankind's closest living relatives – the world's apes, monkeys, lemurs and other primates – are on the brink of extinction and in need of urgent conservation measures according to Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2008–2010.
The report reveals that nearly half of all primate species are now in danger of becoming extinct from destruction of tropical forests, illegal wildlife trade and commercial bushmeat hunting.
The list includes five primate species from Madagascar, six from Africa, 11 from Asia, and three from Central and South America, all of which are the most in need of urgent conservation action.
Compiled by 85 experts from across the world, the report was launched at Bristol Zoo Gardens (on Thursday, February 18), with guests from national and international conservation and research organisations.
Conservationists want to highlight the plight of species such as the golden headed langur (Trachypithecus p. poliocephalus), which is found only on the island of Cat Ba in the Gulf of Tonkin, north-eastern Vietnam, where just 60 to 70 individuals remain.
Similarly, there are thought to be less than 100 individual northern sportive lemurs (Lepilemur septentrionalis) left in Madagascar, and around just 110 eastern black crested gibbons (Nomascus nasutus) in northeastern Vietnam.
The list has been drawn up by primatologists working in the field who have first-hand knowledge of the causes of threats to primates. One of the editors of the report is Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Head of Research at the Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation (BCSF), a sister organisation of Bristol Zoo Gardens.
Dr Schwitzer, who is also an advisor on Madagascan primates for the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, contributed the chapter on the critically endangered Sclater's lemur (also called the blue-eyed black lemur). Dr Schwitzer said: "This report makes for very alarming reading and it underlines the extent of the danger facing many of the world's primates. We hope it will be effective in drawing attention to the plight of each of the 25 species included. Support and action to help save these species is vital if we are to avoid losing these wonderful animals forever. "
Almost half (48%) of the world's 634 primate species are classified as threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The main threats are habitat destruction, particularly from the burning and clearing of tropical forests (which results in the release of around 16 percent of the global greenhouse gases causing climate change), the hunting of primates for food, and the illegal wildlife trade.
Dr Russell Mittermeier, Chair of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and President of Conservation International, said: "The results from the most recent IUCN assessment of the world's mammals indicate that the primates are among the most endangered vertebrate groups.
"The purpose of our Top 25 list is to highlight those that are most at risk, to attract the attention of the public, to stimulate national governments to do more, and especially to find the resources to implement desperately needed conservation measures. In particular, we want to encourage governments to commit to desperately needed biodiversity conservation measures when they gather in Japan in October. We have the resources to address this crisis, but so far, we have failed to act. We have chosen Bristol Zoo Gardens to launch this year's list, the fifth since 2001, because of the great leadership that this institution has taken in primate conservation in some of the world’s highest priority regions."
Dr Schwitzer added: "This research is a good example of the growing importance of collaboration between the international conservation, research and zoo communities in the protection of species and habitats. At Bristol Zoo Gardens, we will continue our conservation and research with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of the conservation activities, as well as increasing our understanding of these, and other, critically endangered species."
Despite the gloomy assessment, conservationists point to the success in helping targeted species recover. In Brazil, the black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus) was down listed to Endangered from Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as was the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) in 2003, as a result of three decades of conservation efforts involving numerous institutions, many of which were zoos. Populations of both animals are now well-protected but remain very small, indicating an urgent need for reforestation to provide new habitat for their long-term survival.
Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2008–2010 has been compiled by the Primate Specialist Group of IUCN's Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the International Primatological Society (IPS), in collaboration with Conservation International (CI).
http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/news/News2020
The world's 25 most endangered primates have been revealed in a new report.Mankind's closest living relatives – the world's apes, monkeys, lemurs and other primates – are on the brink of extinction and in need of urgent conservation measures according to Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2008–2010.
The report reveals that nearly half of all primate species are now in danger of becoming extinct from destruction of tropical forests, illegal wildlife trade and commercial bushmeat hunting.
The list includes five primate species from Madagascar, six from Africa, 11 from Asia, and three from Central and South America, all of which are the most in need of urgent conservation action.
Compiled by 85 experts from across the world, the report was launched at Bristol Zoo Gardens (on Thursday, February 18), with guests from national and international conservation and research organisations.
Conservationists want to highlight the plight of species such as the golden headed langur (Trachypithecus p. poliocephalus), which is found only on the island of Cat Ba in the Gulf of Tonkin, north-eastern Vietnam, where just 60 to 70 individuals remain.
Similarly, there are thought to be less than 100 individual northern sportive lemurs (Lepilemur septentrionalis) left in Madagascar, and around just 110 eastern black crested gibbons (Nomascus nasutus) in northeastern Vietnam.
The list has been drawn up by primatologists working in the field who have first-hand knowledge of the causes of threats to primates. One of the editors of the report is Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Head of Research at the Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation (BCSF), a sister organisation of Bristol Zoo Gardens.
Dr Schwitzer, who is also an advisor on Madagascan primates for the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, contributed the chapter on the critically endangered Sclater's lemur (also called the blue-eyed black lemur). Dr Schwitzer said: "This report makes for very alarming reading and it underlines the extent of the danger facing many of the world's primates. We hope it will be effective in drawing attention to the plight of each of the 25 species included. Support and action to help save these species is vital if we are to avoid losing these wonderful animals forever. "
Almost half (48%) of the world's 634 primate species are classified as threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The main threats are habitat destruction, particularly from the burning and clearing of tropical forests (which results in the release of around 16 percent of the global greenhouse gases causing climate change), the hunting of primates for food, and the illegal wildlife trade.
Dr Russell Mittermeier, Chair of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and President of Conservation International, said: "The results from the most recent IUCN assessment of the world's mammals indicate that the primates are among the most endangered vertebrate groups.
"The purpose of our Top 25 list is to highlight those that are most at risk, to attract the attention of the public, to stimulate national governments to do more, and especially to find the resources to implement desperately needed conservation measures. In particular, we want to encourage governments to commit to desperately needed biodiversity conservation measures when they gather in Japan in October. We have the resources to address this crisis, but so far, we have failed to act. We have chosen Bristol Zoo Gardens to launch this year's list, the fifth since 2001, because of the great leadership that this institution has taken in primate conservation in some of the world’s highest priority regions."
Dr Schwitzer added: "This research is a good example of the growing importance of collaboration between the international conservation, research and zoo communities in the protection of species and habitats. At Bristol Zoo Gardens, we will continue our conservation and research with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of the conservation activities, as well as increasing our understanding of these, and other, critically endangered species."
Despite the gloomy assessment, conservationists point to the success in helping targeted species recover. In Brazil, the black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus) was down listed to Endangered from Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as was the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) in 2003, as a result of three decades of conservation efforts involving numerous institutions, many of which were zoos. Populations of both animals are now well-protected but remain very small, indicating an urgent need for reforestation to provide new habitat for their long-term survival.
Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2008–2010 has been compiled by the Primate Specialist Group of IUCN's Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the International Primatological Society (IPS), in collaboration with Conservation International (CI).
http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/news/News2020
Introducing Casper the white lion
Isle of Wight Zoo
In January the Isle of Wight Zoo made history when a rare white lion arrived and laid his first tracks down on Island ground. Travelling from his home at West Midlands Safari Park, three and a half year old Casper was secretly transported across the Solent by Red Funnel. For a while it was touch and go whether he would be able to travel on the scheduled day, which coincided with the heavy snow. Fortunately the motorways were clear and the journey went smoothly.
During the closed winter season, the big cat team have been quietly settling Casper into one of the zoo's naturalistic enclosures. He has been enjoying the chance to climb onto the high rock and survey his new territory. For the time being his feline company is in the form of sibling tigers, Diamond and Aysha, living in a nearby enclosure but by Easter the zoo hope to bring Casper a belated Valentine gift in the form of a female white lion.
White lions are not albinos, but carry a combination of genes that cause them to release less pigment than a normal tawny lion. When he was born Casper would have been snow white, as he has matured he has adopted a pale sandy colour. Another striking difference from the normal coloured lions is that they have glacial green or icy blue eyes.
The Isle of Wight Zoo is now one of only three wildlife centres in the UK where white lions can been seen. There are literally a tiny handful of these unusual animals existing worldwide both in human care and in African reserves where breeding and re-introduction programmes are in operation.
The zoo team are looking forward to introducing Islanders to their newest resident and hope that everyone will brave the cold, wrap up warm and make tracks to welcome Casper during the half-term week!
http://www.isleofwightzoo.com/news/general/introducing-casper-the-white-lion-6.aspx
In January the Isle of Wight Zoo made history when a rare white lion arrived and laid his first tracks down on Island ground. Travelling from his home at West Midlands Safari Park, three and a half year old Casper was secretly transported across the Solent by Red Funnel. For a while it was touch and go whether he would be able to travel on the scheduled day, which coincided with the heavy snow. Fortunately the motorways were clear and the journey went smoothly.During the closed winter season, the big cat team have been quietly settling Casper into one of the zoo's naturalistic enclosures. He has been enjoying the chance to climb onto the high rock and survey his new territory. For the time being his feline company is in the form of sibling tigers, Diamond and Aysha, living in a nearby enclosure but by Easter the zoo hope to bring Casper a belated Valentine gift in the form of a female white lion.
White lions are not albinos, but carry a combination of genes that cause them to release less pigment than a normal tawny lion. When he was born Casper would have been snow white, as he has matured he has adopted a pale sandy colour. Another striking difference from the normal coloured lions is that they have glacial green or icy blue eyes.
The Isle of Wight Zoo is now one of only three wildlife centres in the UK where white lions can been seen. There are literally a tiny handful of these unusual animals existing worldwide both in human care and in African reserves where breeding and re-introduction programmes are in operation.
The zoo team are looking forward to introducing Islanders to their newest resident and hope that everyone will brave the cold, wrap up warm and make tracks to welcome Casper during the half-term week!
http://www.isleofwightzoo.com/news/general/introducing-casper-the-white-lion-6.aspx
New Feature
Animal Directory
»In The News
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