Twycross Zoo: January/February News Sheet (From Worcester News)

Twycross Zoo: January/February News Sheet

1:07pm Monday 15th February 2010 in News

Vets of the future

Twycross Zoo has been awarded a £40,000 grant to develop a unique new experience for the budding vets of the future. The funding has enabled the zoo to purchase diagnostic veterinary equipment including ear thermometers, heat imaging cameras, stethoscopes and even night vision technology. With the help of our animal team the young scientists will be checking there are no feverish ferrets, chesty chinchillas or wheezy wallabies at the zoo! This project will provide students with a real insight into the world of a zoo vet and will hopefully inspire them to pursue a science related career.

Adult and Junior Keeper for the Day

For those of you who have been waiting and wanting to experience Keeper for the day at Twycross Zoo, well now is your chance. This is an opportunity to experience all aspects of animal care including cleaning, food preparation and feeding. For more information on dates, times and cost please see our website www.twycrosszoo.org, to check availability and book a date please contact 01827 880 250.

Amur Leopard SOS

Twycross Zoo is a supporter of the Amur leopard, the most endangered big cat in the world. They are classified as critically endangered with less than 36 animals left in the wild. Twycross houses two Amur leopards. Conservation projects are trying to save this majestic creature from extinction, but recent events may spell their demise. In the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve, in the Primorski region of Russia, there is a lack of agreement between state agencies and badly planned reforms have left the reserve without the vital funds to continue its work. Twycross is raising funds and awareness of this terrible situation, over the last few months we have raised £320.00. To help this very worthy cause contact Twycross Zoo’s Amur leopard SOS by calling 01827 880250.

Twycross Zoo’s Going Ape Campaign

This campaign has been running throughout 2009. Twycross Zoo has linked in with the WAZA Year of the Gorilla campaign to raise the profile of apes and highlight their plight. Twycross Zoo is the only zoo in the UK to hold all of the 4 species of great ape. During 2009 we aimed to raise funds and awareness. We held children’s activity days in January. A display in the Zoo Centre showed the differences between the great apes and monkeys (a common mistake is calling the apes monkeys) and showed the problems they face in the wild. So far we have raised £1370 for the campaign and we will continue into 2010.

Record breaking number of children taught

Twycross Zoo’s Education department has had another bumper year of teaching. The steady increase in the number of students taught over the last 4 years has been blown out of the water with over 32,000 students being taught either at Twycross Zoo or as part of our outreach programme. Twycross Zoo’s education department offers a range of sessions from reception age up to PhD level. We focus on animals and conservation, but subjects such as the applied science – science in the workplace sessions - are becoming more popular. Hopefully 2010 will see another bumper year, enabling us to get our conservation message out to more children than ever.