The hazel doormouse as a breeding project would be nice. The Orinoco matamata as an addition is certainly a gem.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
The dormouse is probably part of the long running reintroduction project which ZSL has been part of. There was a good BBC article about it earlier this year albeit focusing on London, the general information on it mentions ZSL more widely
ZSL vets help dormice get ready for release into wild
There are a few zoos as well as ZSL involved in the project and it's another great example of our zoos helping to conserve native species.
Native wildlife conservation | Whipsnade Zoo
A trio of scimitar-horned oryx were housed in that enclosure for a while too (after the gaur and before the warty pigs).
So two have been crossed off the list, probably leaving three. Of course Whipsnade may not ask for another female immediately but I suspect they will at some stage in the future.
1 Male named Tapon.
Would these not be the matamata that they already had, just now split into the new species? From good record-keeping of their origin perhaps?
Follow link below for more information about ZSL's conservation work with hazel dormice:
Hazel dormouse | ZSL
Thanks Tim. The only major UK zoo mentioned as having an ex situ conservation breeding part in the UK restoration project is Paignton Zoo. There should also be a working group Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group (I have not information ATM which organisations and facilities are part of this part of the program.
I did read the other 2 species, garden dormice and edible dormice are invasive European Continent species. NOTE: In my native country - the Netherlands - the edible dormice is an endangered species.
It would be interesting to know from what source populations both the garden and edible dormice escaped into the UK environment (even invasive species may have be a source of ecologically and (sub-)species-wie correct source populations for re-establishment within range ...! Just an idea from my side.
The banker and zoologist Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild kept edible dormice at his private collection in Tring, Hertfordshire. In 1902, Some dormice may have escaped from Rothschild's estate or Rothschild introduced some into his estate or into Tring Park or escaped and bred, establishing themselves in the wild as an invasive species.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
This link explains how the scheme works
Dormice reintroductions - People's Trust for Endangered Species
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
No Mata Mata on show when I was last there a couple months ago
I believe Lord Rothschild deliberately introduced edible dormouse to Tring Park....
That's what I thought, but there seems to be alternative ideas about what happened in 1902
I believe to some extent this is because most places haven't worked out what they actually keep since the split was published - so the number of listed collections may well be set to rise.
popslck
Member
Visited yesterday and saw two of the European Brown Bears fighting and making quite a racket. I saw four keepers stood between the main part of the enclosure and the extension and they occasionally rang a bell. Any idea what was going on here? I would have thought the new bears were settled now- they've had the new sisters for a while now if I remember correctly?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I think there are still a few issues with Cinderella the older bear and the newer arrivals but they will probably work themselves out again - it appears to be a bit of rough stuff vs all out war. Guess it might have been her and the largest of the other three unless something else was going on.
They are mostly mixed together but they do also come out in two different groups. Cinderella was a lone bear for quite a long time of course. I've heard a bell calling the bears from one side to another so perhaps they were trying to do that / distract them.
Visited yesterday afternoon for the rhino weekend, although the activity tent was over by the Birds of the World arena, which seemed an interesting choice.
Good sightings of both lynx and also the new tiger, who was up on top of his platforms surveying his kingdom. Last couple of times we've been, he was very definitely staying in his house/'off-show' area, so he must be feeling much more confident there now.
Good sightings of both lynx and also the new tiger, who was up on top of his platforms surveying his kingdom. Last couple of times we've been, he was very definitely staying in his house/'off-show' area, so he must be feeling much more confident there now.