Latest news with #MarwellZoo
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Marwell Zoo to replace tigress killed by intended mate
A zoo has said it will replace a female tiger which was killed during an introduction to a Amur tiger Valentina sustained fatal injuries when meeting five-year-old male Pasha for the first time at Marwell Zoo near Winchester, Hampshire, on 1 operations manager Ian Goodwin said the pair's interactions had been "brilliant" before the said the zoo's tiger breeding programme would resume with a new female in the future. Valentina had been at Marwell for five years, having arrived from Hodonin Zoo in Croatia in 2020, when Pasha arrived in February from Port Lympne Safari the Hampshire zoo said the pair were "spotted interacting... through the fence line between their habitats".Mr Goodwin told BBC Radio Solent: "They were chuffing to each other. The interactions were brilliant between the two animals."It went very, very well initially. And then unfortunately something triggered in that wild instinct of an animal - that's what happens." Staff monitoring the tigers acted swiftly to draw Pasha away, the zoo previously Valentina had already been fatally Goodwin said: "We'll do a wash up of what happened - 'Can we do things a bit differently next time?'"But to be honest with you, with my experience, the answer is probably no. "We need to focus now on bringing another female in ready for when we start breeding again the future."In 2022, a tigress was killed by a male tiger during a breeding attempt at Knowsley Safari Park at Prescot, at London Zoo used airhorns and fire extinguishers in 2019 in a failed attempt to stop a male Sumatran tiger from killing his potential European zoos are part of a breeding programme aimed at protecting the endangered about 500 Amur tigers remain in the wild in eastern Russia, north-east China and North Korea. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Female tiger killed at zoo while being introduced to male
A female tiger was killed at a British zoo while being introduced to a male. Marwell Zoo, near Winchester in Hampshire, said Valentina, an eight-year-old Amur tiger, sustained fatal injuries before the zoo opened. Zookeepers sought to introduce Pasha, a male tiger, to the 'much-loved' Valentina, a process that the zoo acknowledged 'always carries significant risk'. Valentina had been at the zoo for five years, arriving in 2020 from Hodonin Zoo in the Czech Republic. In a statement on social media, the zoo paid tribute to the 'much-loved and charismatic character of the zoo family who captured the hearts of our teams and guests alike'. It said: 'Introducing big cats always carries significant risk both in zoos and in the wild. Since Pasha's arrival in February, our animal teams have been observing both tigers closely and had noticed encouraging behaviours with no signs of aggression. 'Our expert teams were monitoring the situation closely, were well-prepared, and acted swiftly to draw Pasha away. However, due to the speed and nature of the incident, it was not possible for our highly-experienced team to intervene, and Valentina had already been fatally injured.' Pasha was not severely injured during the altercation. He had arrived at Marwell as a five-year-old from Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent, and was said to have 'settled quickly', as he was spotted interacting with Valentina through the fence line between their habitats. Valentina had previously been mixed with a male tiger called Bagai shortly after arriving at the zoo. Bagai, who arrived at Marwell from Germany's Zoological Garden in 2013, died in June last year. He was described by Carrie Arnold, the carnivore team leader at Marwell Zoo, as 'lovable, goofy and cheeky'. The two tigers were said to have been very close, and often 'spent time grooming, playing and sleeping together'. The zoo said Valentina would be 'deeply missed' by the keepers, veterinary team and guests. Laura Read, the chief executive, said staff were feeling 'shock, grief and sadness'. 'I am incredibly proud of our team and the way they responded to the incident and aftermath of it,' she said. 'Our number one priority now is to look after our people and help them through the next few days and weeks.' She confirmed that the zoo would remain part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria programme for Amur tigers, which are the largest of the big cat breeds. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as endangered, with approximately 3,000 mature individuals left in the wild.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Marwell Zoo tiger, Valentina, killed by male during introduction
A "much-loved" female tiger has been killed during an introduction to a Zoo announced its eight-year-old Amur tiger, Valentina, sustained fatal injuries during a meeting with male tiger, had been at the zoo for five years, having arrived from Hodonin Zoo in Croatia in first arrived at the zoo in February and staff said they had "noticed encouraging behaviours with no signs of aggression" between the pair. In a statement released on social media, the zoo said Valentina was a "much-loved and charismatic character of the zoo family, who captured the hearts of our teams and guests alike".It said introducing big cats "always carries significant risk" and staff had been observing both tigers since Pasha's arrival."Our expert teams were monitoring the situation closely, were well-prepared, and acted swiftly to draw Pasha away," the statement explained."Due to the speed and nature of the incident, it was not possible for our highly-experienced team to intervene and Valentina had already been fatally injured." The zoo has confirmed Pasha was not severely injured during the had been paired with Marwell's previous male tiger, Bagai, shortly after her statement added: "She will be deeply missed by her keepers, who formed a strong bond with her, our veterinary team, wider Marwell teams and our guests."We do ask at this difficult time that our teams are given the necessary time to process this situation. Our priority is the wellbeing of our teams and ensuring Pasha receives the care he needs." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bus service to Marwell Zoo axed due to financial pressures
A bus service to a zoo has been scrapped over seasonal Bluestar route was subsidised by Marwell Zoo, near Winchester, and offered passengers discounted entry to the the zoo has said "unfortunately, uptake was low and the operator was unable to share the high cost, making the service financially unsustainable".Bluestar said it was "disappointed" funding had been withdrawn and apologised for any inconvenience. In a statement, Marwell Wildlife added: "As a conservation charity, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. "This was not a decision we took lightly, but as a charity, it's vital that we focus our limited resources where they can have the greatest impact."We're grateful for our guests' understanding and continued support."The Bluestar service from Eastleigh Bus Station stopped at Eastleigh Rail Station and the New Clock Inn in Fair Oak before getting to the its timetable released in February, it had been set to run hourly on weekends, school holidays and bank holidays until 2 September and also through the October half transport options to the zoo remain available via the Stagecoach 69 service, which runs direct to the site on Sundays and bank holidays. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Animal that smells like popcorn arrives at zoo
An animal that smells like popcorn has arrived at a zoo as part of a breeding programme. Marwell Zoo has welcomed its second binturong, a peculiar animal often described as a cross between a bear and a cat with a distinct scent reminiscent of buttery popcorn. The new addition, a male named Hanoi, arrived from France and will join Bellatrix, completing the zoo's pair of binturongs. These creatures, also known as bearcats, are classified under the civet family. Refurbished habitat welcomes Marwell's penguins after months in temporary quarters (Image: Marwell Zoo) Notable for their lack of agility, binturongs predominantly dwell in trees, using their prehensile tails for balance and to grab branches. The zoo staff hopes that the new arrival will breed with Bellatrix. However, not all news about binturongs is positive. Native to Southeast Asia, they are listed as vulnerable, mainly due to threats such as poaching, the pet trade, and habitat loss. READ MORE: Marwell Zoo to host activities for Love Your Zoo Week Carrie Arnold, Marwell's carnivore team leader, said: "This is such an important addition to our Marwell family. "Binturongs are a vulnerable species, so this new arrival is a really exciting and important step in our breeding efforts. "Our hope is that Hanoi and Bellatrix will form a strong bond and help secure the future of this fascinating species." Carrie also noted that the animals can prove elusive to zoo visitors. She suggested checking the Marwell app for feeding times, as this would provide a better chance of spotting the binturongs in their treetop habitat. The zoo also has more good news to share this half term, with the reopening of the penguins' home following renovations. After three months in a temporary habitat, the penguins will return to the refurbished Penguin Cove, complete with an innovative advanced water flow system designed to create variable-speed currents, ideally improving the penguins' fitness and muscle development. Marwell has invited and encouraged the public to visit the zoo during half term, from May 24 to June 1, to see the new animal residents and join the Love Your Zoo Week celebrations, which offer countless fun-filled activities and animal-related adventures. Tickets and more information about the zoo can be found on the Marwell website.
