Latest news with #LondonZoo
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Two bears ESCAPE at UK zoo with visitors locked down and cops scrambled as bosses probe how they got out
TWO escaped bears channelled Winnie-the-Pooh — and made a beeline for the zoo's honey store. Mish and Lucy, both 5ft and 30st, were caught on CCTV nosing through supplies before guzzling a week's worth of the sweet sticky treat. 5 Two bears escaped from their enclosure and guzzled a week's worth of honey Credit: Supplied 5 The incident was caught on CCTV at Wildwood Devon, in Escot Park, near Exeter Credit: Supplied 5 The zoo had just had a huge food delivery an hour before Credit: Supplied 5 Mish and Lucy wandered back to their enclosure for a nap after the feast Credit: Neil Hope Visitors were ushered into secure buildings and the satisfied five-year-olds wandered back to their £100,000 enclosure for a nap. Mark Habben, director of zoo operations at Wildwood Devon, in Escot Park, near 'It was still in boxes and they made their way straight to it. 'They tore into containers and also smashed a jar of peanut butter.' read more on uk news Police headed to the scene while staff monitored the European brown bears but a zoo spokeswoman added: 'Mish and Lucy posed no threat. 'They enjoyed a selection of snacks — including the honey — before being safely returned to their enclosure by the keeper team within the hour. 'Then they fell asleep.' Police confirmed: 'Specialist officers attended and visitors taken to places of safety.' Most read in The Sun The siblings arrived at the zoo in 2022 after they were found as cubs in 2019, abandoned by their mother in the mountains of Albania. It was deemed too dangerous for them to be returned and they were kept briefly in Belgium. I work at London Zoo and my day even includes making Tea for the animals Wildwood said at the time it wanted an enclosure that was as natural as possible and launched an appeal for funds. The pair soon settled in and became firm favourites with its visitors. Mr Habben said: 'We are investigating how they got out — but we suspect they've gone through an unlocked gate. 'We've managed bears for 21 years and never had an incident like this. 'Mish and Lucy are going to be on a restricted diet. 'It's only the bear necessities from now on.' 5 The siblings arrived at the zoo in 2022 after they were found as cubs in 2019 in Albania Credit: Cover Images Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Two bears ESCAPE at UK zoo with visitors locked down and cops scrambled as bosses probe how they got out
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO escaped bears channelled Winnie-the-Pooh — and made a beeline for the zoo's honey store. Mish and Lucy, both 5ft and 30st, were caught on CCTV nosing through supplies before guzzling a week's worth of the sweet sticky treat. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Two bears escaped from their enclosure and guzzled a week's worth of honey Credit: Supplied 5 The incident was caught on CCTV at Wildwood Devon, in Escot Park, near Exeter Credit: Supplied 5 The zoo had just had a huge food delivery an hour before Credit: Supplied 5 Mish and Lucy wandered back to their enclosure for a nap after the feast Credit: Neil Hope Visitors were ushered into secure buildings and the satisfied five-year-olds wandered back to their £100,000 enclosure for a nap. Mark Habben, director of zoo operations at Wildwood Devon, in Escot Park, near Exeter, told The Sun: 'We'd had a huge food delivery an hour before. 'It was still in boxes and they made their way straight to it. 'They tore into containers and also smashed a jar of peanut butter.' Police headed to the scene while staff monitored the European brown bears but a zoo spokeswoman added: 'Mish and Lucy posed no threat. 'They enjoyed a selection of snacks — including the honey — before being safely returned to their enclosure by the keeper team within the hour. 'Then they fell asleep.' Police confirmed: 'Specialist officers attended and visitors taken to places of safety.' The siblings arrived at the zoo in 2022 after they were found as cubs in 2019, abandoned by their mother in the mountains of Albania. It was deemed too dangerous for them to be returned and they were kept briefly in Belgium. I work at London Zoo and my day even includes making Tea for the animals Wildwood said at the time it wanted an enclosure that was as natural as possible and launched an appeal for funds. The pair soon settled in and became firm favourites with its visitors. Mr Habben said: 'We are investigating how they got out — but we suspect they've gone through an unlocked gate. 'We've managed bears for 21 years and never had an incident like this. 'Mish and Lucy are going to be on a restricted diet. 'It's only the bear necessities from now on.' 5 The siblings arrived at the zoo in 2022 after they were found as cubs in 2019 in Albania Credit: Cover Images Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Two of the biggest rodent on Earth go on holiday to London Zoo
Meet Kiwi and Gizmo, a pair of capybaras - which are the biggest rodents on have just arrived at London Zoo for a holiday in the city!The adorable duo be staying at London Zoo temporarily whilst a new habitat is being prepared for them at Whipsnade Zoo, in visitors will have to be quick if they want to spot the pair in their new holiday pad. Capybaras are found natively throughout northern and central South America. They are semi-aquatic mammals, meaning they are well adapted to spend lots of time in water - they have partially webbed feet and their eyes, noses and ears are located high on their heads so that they remain above water while can therefore expect to spot Gizmo and Kiwi having fun in the sun both on land and in the Jessica Lawrence said: "Gizmo and Kiwi are a really charismatic pair, and we're really enjoying getting to know them and their preferences and quirks."We can't wait to see the joy on people's faces when they meet Gizmo and Kiwi this May half term – we expect they'll spend a lot of time splashing around outside.' Capybara facts: Capybaras are the world's largest are closely related to guinea other rodents, capybara's teeth grow continuously, and they have to wear them down by grazing on aquatic plants and also have a less nice habit - they eat their own poop. The grasses in their natural diet can be hard to break down, so by eating their own poop, they have a second chance of digesting they don't mind being alone, capybaras also live in groups of up to 40.
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.
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
How David Attenborough reshaped how we see the natural world
Over the course of seven decades, Sir David Attenborough's documentaries have reshaped how we see the natural world, shifting from colonial-era collecting trips to urgent calls for environmental action, write Neil J. Gostling and Sam Illingworth. His storytelling has inspired generations, but has only recently begun to confront the scale of the ecological crisis. To understand how far nature broadcasting has come, it helps to return to where it started. When Attenborough's broadcasting career began in the 1950s, Austrian filmmakers Hans and Lotte Hass were already pushing the boundaries of what was possible by taking cameras below the sea and touring the world aboard their schooner, the Xafira. In one of their 1953 Galapagos films, a crewman handled a sealion pup, having crawled across the volcanic rock of Fernandina honking at sealions to attract them. A penguin and giant tortoise were brought on board Xafira. And as Lotte Hass took photographs, she'd beseech some poor creature to "not be frightened" and "look pleasant". This is a world away from today's expectations, where both research scientists and amateur naturalists are taught to observe without touching or disturbing wildlife. When the Hasses visited the Galápagos, it was still five years before the creation of the national park and the founding of the island's conservation organisation Charles Darwin Foundation. Now, visitors must stay at least two metres from all animals – and never approach them. At the same time, television was beginning to shape public perceptions of the natural world. In 1954, Attenborough was working as a young producer on Zoo Quest. By chance, he became its presenter when zoologist Jack Lester became ill. The programme followed zoologists collecting animals from around the world for London Zoo. Zoo Quest was filmed in exotic locations around the world and then in the studio where the animals found on the expedition were shown "up close". Attenborough has since acknowledged that Zoo Quest reflected attitudes that would not be acceptable today. The series showed animals being captured from the wild and transported to London Zoo – practices which mirrored extractive, colonial-era approaches to science. Watch: David Attenborough's Zoo Quest for a Dragon aired in 1956 Yet, Zoo Quest was also groundbreaking. The series brought viewers face-to-face with animals they might never have seen before and pioneered a visual style that made natural history television both entertaining and educational. It helped establish Attenborough's reputation as a compelling communicator and laid the foundations for a new genre of science broadcasting – one that has evolved, like its presenter, over time. After a decade in production, Attenborough returned to presenting with Life on Earth (1979), a landmark series that traced the evolution of life from single-celled organisms to birds and apes. Drawing on his long-standing interest in fossils, the series combined zoology, palaeobiology and natural history to create an ambitious new template for science broadcasting. Life on Earth helped cement Attenborough's reputation as a trusted communicator and became the foundation of the BBC's "blue-chip" natural history format – big-budget, internationally produced films that put high-quality cinematic wildlife footage at the forefront of the story. The series did not simply document the natural world. It reframed it, using presenter-led storytelling and global spectacle to shape how audiences understood evolutionary processes. Watch: Sir David Attenborough tells the story behind Life on Earth For much of his career, Attenborough has been celebrated for showcasing the beauty of the natural world. Yet, he has also faced criticism for sidestepping the environmental crises threatening it. Commentators such as the environmental journalist George Monbiot argued that his earlier documentaries, while visually stunning, often avoided addressing the human role in climate change, presenting nature as untouched and avoiding difficult truths about ecological decline. What makes Attenborough stand out is the way he speaks. While official climate treaties often rely on technical or legal language, he communicates in emotional, accessible terms Building on the legacy of Life on Earth, Attenborough's later series began to respond to these critiques. Blue Planet (2001) expanded the scope of nature storytelling, revealing the mysteries of the ocean's most remote and uncharted ecosystems. Its 2017 sequel, Blue Planet II, introduced a more urgent tone, highlighting the scale of plastic pollution and the need for marine conservation. Although Blue Planet II significantly increased viewers' environmental knowledge, it did not lead to measurable changes in plastic consumption behaviour – a reminder that awareness alone does not guarantee action. The subsequent Wild Isles (2023) continued the shift towards conservation messaging. While the main series aired in five parts, a sixth episode – Saving Our Wild Isles – was released separately and drew controversy amid claims the BBC had sidelined it for being too political. In reality, the episode delivered a clear call to action. Ocean With David Attenborough was recently launched in cinemas. Doug Anderson/Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios Attenborough's latest film, Ocean, continues in this more urgent register, pairing breathtaking imagery with an unflinching assessment of ocean health. After decades of gentle narration, he now speaks with sharpened clarity about the scale of the crisis and the need to act. A voice for action In recent years, Attenborough has taken on a new role – not just as a broadcaster, but as a powerful voice in environmental diplomacy. He has addressed world leaders at major summits such as the UN climate conference Cop24 and the World Economic Forum, calling for urgent action on climate change. He was also appointed ambassador for the UK government's review on the economics of biodiversity. On the subject of environmemtal diplomacy, Monbiot recently wrote: "A few years ago, I was sharply critical of Sir David for downplaying the environmental crisis on his TV programmes. Most people would have reacted badly but remarkably, at 92, he took this and similar critiques on board and radically changed his approach." Attenborough not only speaks. He listens. This is part of his charm and popularity. He is learning and evolving as much as his audience. What makes Attenborough stand out is the way he speaks. While official climate treaties often rely on technical or legal language, he communicates in emotional, accessible terms – speaking plainly about responsibility, urgency and the moral imperative to protect life on Earth. His calm authority and familiar voice make complex issues easier to grasp and harder to dismiss. Frequently named Britain's most trusted public figure, Attenborough has become something of an unofficial diplomat for the planet – apolitical, measured, and often seen as a voice of reason amid populist noise. Despite his criticisms, Attenborough's documentaries walk a careful line between fragility and resilience, using emotionally ambivalent imagery to prompt reflection. He shares his wonder with the natural world and brings people along with him. Ocean shows our blue planet in more spectacular fashion than Lotte and Hans Hass could ever have imagined. But it is also Attenborough's most direct reckoning with environmental collapse. With clarity and urgency, it confronts the damage wrought by industrial trawling and habitat destruction. After 70 years of gently guiding viewers through the natural world, Attenborough's voice has sharpened. If he once opened our eyes to nature's wonders, he now challenges us not to look away. As he puts it: "If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime filming our planet, I'm sure that nothing is more important."
