conservation

Zoo staff save tiny baby

Dedicated keepers at Paignton Zoo in Devon are caring for a rare baby that weighed little more than a CD at birth.

The pygmy slow loris – which weighed just 22 grams when it was born - was one of twins born to a first-time mother. One twin did not survive, and keepers stepped in to save the other when its mother abandoned it.

For the first night head mammal keeper Craig...

Rare frog found after three year search

A Devon conservation charity has found a rare African frog after a painstaking search lasting three years.

The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, which runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, carries out fieldwork with rare amphibians in the mountains of Eastern Tanzania.

The work is funded by zoo visitors and supporters and carried out with...

Gym heroes are all Winners

Members of a local gym teamed up to help Paignton Zoo’s orang utans.

A group from Winners 2000 Fitness in Paignton worked in heavy mud to build a new climbing frame on one of the islands used by the great apes.

Emily Rogers from Paignton Zoo said: “They made light work of the huge task. There were more than twenty large wooden poles that needed erecting on the island and the...

Torquay is a fertile breeding ground

A Devon zoo is the best in Europe for breeding some key species. And it’s partly down to its location – in Torquay.

Living Coasts is the best among top animal collections for breeding species such as African penguins, blue spotted stingrays and Inca terns. Its coastal position is one of the keys to its success.

Clare Rugg, the Living Coasts Operations Manager, explains: “The...

English Heritage reveals South West heritage at risk

English Heritage today (Thursday 10 October) launched the Heritage at Risk Register 2013. It reveals that in the South West, 154 Grade I and II* buildings, 1,396 scheduled monuments, 50 places of worship, 18 registered parks and gardens, one battlefield, 57 conservation areas are at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate change. More buildings and structures have been successfully removed...

Conservation works planned for medieval Stonehouse wall

Plymouth City Council has been awarded £210,000 by English Heritage to carry out works to repair and protect a medieval wall in Stonehouse.

The wall, which forms a boundary between Stonehall Flats and the site owned by Princess Yachts, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and dates back to 1540. It used to defend the town of Stonehouse and is a rare example of medieval military architecture...

Sixty per cent of UK species in decline, groundbreaking study finds

UK nature is in trouble – that is the conclusion of a groundbreaking report published today by a coalition of leading conservation and research organisations.

Scientists working side-by-side from 25 wildlife organisations have compiled a stock take of our native species – the first of its kind in the UK. The report reveals that 60% of the species studied have declined over recent...

Royal portrait returns to city following conservation work

A mysterious portrait believed to be of Queen Elizabeth I has gone on display at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery.

'Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I' is featured in a new-look version of the Museum’s popular ‘Women in Art’ exhibition, following expert conservation treatment funded through a grant from the Woodmansterne Art Conservation Awards 2012/13.

The portrait is painted...

Fridges for frogs and kettles for kangaroos

A Devon business has come to the aid of a local wildlife charity with a donation of white goods.

Sparkworld, based at Heathfield Industrial Estate, Newton Abbot, delivered a heap of domestic appliances to Paignton Zoo, which is a registered charity. The gift included fridges, freezers, microwave ovens and kettles.

Paignton Zoo’s Jenny Paton said: “These items will help hard-...

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