Latest news with #TwycrossZoo
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dormice freed from secret cages after vet check-up
Hazel dormice have been released into Leicestershire parkland after vets gave the miniature mammals a clean bill of health. Since June, more than 20 dormice have been living in open cages in a secret location at Bradgate Park, near Newtown Linford. On Wednesday, vets from London Zoo and Twycross Zoo assessed the health of the dormice before they were released into the wider park. The release is part of a project to boost the species' declining numbers, said Bradgate Park Trust. A spokesperson for the trust said: "With stethoscopes in hand, vets carefully assessed each dormouse for heart rate, muscle tone, and coat condition. "All were found to be in great health, with the majority receiving a top score of three, excellent condition!" The trust said following their release the dormice would continue to be fed while they adapt to their new environment. Hazel dormice are a native rodent to the UK, the only one with a distinctive furry tail, and while they can live in many habitats, they favour woodlands and hedgerows. But the dormouse population has dropped by 70% nationally since 2000, and the species is now extinct in 20 English counties, according to a 2023 report. Ian White, dormouse and training officer at the People's Trust for Endangered Species, said dormice "hadn't been seen here for a very long time", and the next step would be litters in the woodlands of Bradgate Park and Swithland Woods in the autumn. Mr White added that the reintroduction formed "part of a long-term effort" to boost numbers across Leicestershire. He said: "It took 100 years for numbers to fall - restoring them will take just as long." Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Dormice reintroduced at park to boost population Mink 'control' policy in bid to save water voles People's Trust For Endangered Species Bradgate Park Trust
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Dormice released into Bradgate Park after vet check-up
Hazel dormice have been released into Leicestershire parkland after vets gave the miniature mammals a clean bill of June, more than 20 dormice have been living in open cages in a secret location at Bradgate Park, near Newtown Wednesday, vets from London Zoo and Twycross Zoo assessed the health of the dormice before they were released into the wider release is part of a project to boost the species' declining numbers, said Bradgate Park Trust. A spokesperson for the trust said: "With stethoscopes in hand, vets carefully assessed each dormouse for heart rate, muscle tone, and coat condition."All were found to be in great health, with the majority receiving a top score of three, excellent condition!" The trust said following their release the dormice would continue to be fed while they adapt to their new dormice are a native rodent to the UK, the only one with a distinctive furry tail, and while they can live in many habitats, they favour woodlands and the dormouse population has dropped by 70% nationally since 2000, and the species is now extinct in 20 English counties, according to a 2023 report. Ian White, dormouse and training officer at the People's Trust for Endangered Species, said dormice "hadn't been seen here for a very long time", and the next step would be litters in the woodlands of Bradgate Park and Swithland Woods in the White added that the reintroduction formed "part of a long-term effort" to boost numbers across said: "It took 100 years for numbers to fall - restoring them will take just as long."
BBC News
22-06-2025
- BBC News
Bus service changes for Leicestershire confirmed
New stops at railway stations and tourist attractions have been added to bus services in Leicestershire following a county council review. The council has announced that changes, which also include the introduction of free travel for a month on a bookable service called FoxConnect, will kick in from 14 follows a review of services partly funded by the government. The changes also aim to connect new developments in Loughborough, north west Leicestershire, Hinckley and Bosworth with towns, villages, other transport routes and destinations including Twycross Zoo and 1620s House. Councillor Charles Whitford, cabinet member for highways, transport and waste, said: "The new routes are developed with residents in mind. "Importantly, they're designed to reduce journey times, link rail stations and newer housing developments and unlock better links to towns and villages across the county."The changes include: Service 2 from Kinchbus will now run hourly with a re-route in Loughborough to cover part of the previous route 13, providing access to Great Central Service 5 will be re-routed to serve the Haddon Way/Grange Park estate and improve access to Loughborough's town centre, replacing the temporary Service north west Leicestershire, Hinckley and Bosworth, the former Service 7, now called LC12 will offer a fixed bus service during key commuter times to serve Witherley, Fenny Drayton, Atherstone, Ratcliffe Culey, Sibson, Carlton, Market Bosworth, Newton Burgoland and zones eight, nine and 11 will be introduced by LA Travel to serve the north west Leicestershire, Hinckley and Bosworth formerly Service 125, which runs from Coalville to Leicester has been re-designed to provide a "direct service with reduced journey times", the council county council has organised drop-in events for residents to find out about the changes in next event is at Coalville Library on Monday from 11:00 to 13:00 BST, before one is held at Hinckley Library on Friday between 11:00 and 13:00.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Twycross Zoo's new £25m centre 'will act as conservation hub'
A new £25m Global Conservation Centre is being developed at Twycross Zoo, which bosses say will act as a hub for scientific research and conservation centre will include a new Indonesian-themed area, 200-seat lecture theatre, a science lab, as well as accommodation for visiting experts and of the Indonesian-themed area will become a habitat for the Bornean orangutan, as well as other threatened species from the is due to start at the end of the month and the new centre is expected to generate 90 jobs after its estimated opening date in late 2026. Twycross Zoo has said the centre will not only be a conservation hub, but a space to inspire and train "the next generation of conservation leaders".The centre will also include three indoor classrooms with wildlife gardens nearby, along with 24 bedrooms to accommodate visiting researchers and £18m of the total project cost came from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund and the Leicestershire-based zoo has committed the additional investment. The zoo published its first public-facing conservation strategy in 2023 which pledged to scale up its actions to "fight the biodiversity crisis that our planet currently faces". It has pledged to expand its existing conservation projects in Indonesia, in partnership with Borneo Nature Foundation, and Action Rebecca Biddle, chief conservation officer at Twycross Zoo, said: "We believe that being alongside the species we are working to save will offer unrivalled opportunities to study, learn and develop real-world solutions for endangered wildlife."
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Penguin chicks and baby monkey born at Twycross Zoo
Twycross Zoo has welcomed two new penguin chicks and a baby monkey, born as part of efforts to increase numbers of both species. The baby De Brazzer's monkey has been born to a first time mother, said to be "displaying exceptional maternal instincts" after learning parenting skills from older female primates in her group. While the two Humboldt penguin chicks have been born to monogamous parents which have raised chicks at the zoo before. Matthew Ford, curator of primates at Twycross Zoo, said the births "highlight the important role zoos play in safeguarding wildlife for the future". The Humboldt chicks are being kept in nest boxes until they are 70 days old, but can be seen by visitors when they eventually emerge having grown distinctive grey fluffy feathers. They have been hatched as part of a European conservation scheme called the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP), which aims to create a healthy population of endangered species in zoos to act as a support for their wild newborn De Brazza's monkey is also part of an EEP and born to a mother who Twycross said observed multiple births during her early years and left her "well-equipped to embrace motherhood".The baby is being kept close to its mother and zookeepers will be able to determine its sex in the coming months as it gains confidence and begins to explore independently. Mr Ford said: "Every birth at Twycross Zoo is a testament to the dedication of our team and the collaborative efforts of the EAZA Ex-situ programmes. "They highlight the important role zoos play in safeguarding wildlife for the future, ensuring we maintain a genetically diverse population of species facing extinction, to act as a support system for their wild counterparts."It's particularly exciting to see animals thriving under our care, and helping to contribute to vital conservation efforts."
