Dartmoor Zoo

Missing Lynx – How You Can Help

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 10:53:00 +0000

Cameras - an essential tool in the safe recovery of Flaviu

Efforts to secure the safe return of Flaviu are entering Day 13. Since his escape, we’ve been incredibly encouraged by the many offers of help and support for his recovery. As we strive to improve our resources in the search area, there is a way you can help.

Recently, most of our time has been dedicated to building larger humane traps, searching for physical evidence and deploying more day/night vision equipment.

The humane traps are spacious and sturdy with a large entrance. They employ a bait-trigger and are designed to ensure that Flaviu will be well away from the door when he triggers the trap by grabbing the bait.

Inside, he’ll be comfortable with lots of bedding and a nice meal to keep him busy until the recovery team come to collect.

Positioning the traps is based on what we know about his territory and his movements. Once he’s comfortable with the territory he’ll have areas he favours for rest and relaxation, areas for keeping an eye out for trouble and areas for hunting. We hope that he’ll eventually develop a fairly predictable routine which will further inform our choices for humane traps and tracking.

Camera traps are vital, but so far he’s evaded them. They were placed according to the physical evidence we had gathered including footprints, fur on gates and fences, as well as trails and ‘rings’ in the tall grass where he’s stopped to take a nap. We’ve also used input from the landowners who have observed evidence in the unusual behaviour of their livestock.

His ability to avoid the cameras suggests that he has still yet to decide on the boundaries of his territory which means he’s a lot more mobile and his territory is larger than we thought.

This really stretches our resources, but is not all bad news because this is based on sound evidence which also gives us good reason to believe that he hasn’t left the area entirely; a real danger, made all the more possible by recent interference with our efforts.

A number of photographers and animal trackers (at least one claiming professional experience), have entered the area without authorisation and despite warnings from police. It is hard to know what they hope to achieve, arriving mostly after dark, but one thing is certain; their presence in the area significantly increases the chances of Flaviu leaving to find another territory.

One thing that has been a huge help in both assisting the tracking of Flaviu and deterring the uninvited visitors is the presence of the camera traps. People tend to think twice before getting themselves on camera during an act of aggravated trespass.

However, given that the area is now significantly larger than we had first thought, we desperately need more cameras. In addition to securing the area from visitors, it will give us the opportunity to track Flaviu and make sure he’s safe, whilst keeping human activity in the area to an absolute minimum.

The cameras we have deployed have been lent or donated by our supporters and they play a hugely important role in the effort to safely recover Flaviu. We’re hoping that some of you will be able assist us in obtaining more.

Cameras come in a variety of technical specifications offering different levels of functionality on stills, video, motion sensitivity, programming, thermal or infrared, etc., According to the task at hand we’ve identified two models which offer good functionality in the £120 to £150 range. Given the size of the area we will need at least 30 units to add to the cameras already deployed.

In addition to helping us find Flaviu, these cameras are an essential conservation tool which means that once the job is done, they will have a full and useful life tracking wildlife on conservation projects both here and abroad, including our Iberian Wolf project in Portugal.

Once again, the support we've received so far during this challenging time has been overwhelming. Any help you are able to give with this important project is greatly appreciated by the entire team.

Missing Lynx Up-Date

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:59:00 +0000

We’re now entering day seven of the effort to recover our missing lynx, Flaviu. Since he escaped from his house overnight last Wednesday, we’ve been working around the clock to ensure his safe recovery.

In the early stages of the operation, this involved over 30 staff and volunteers dealing with intense media interest, evaluating reports of possible sightings, deploying humane traps and patrolling the area through the night.

Based on what we know of the animal’s behavioural characteristics, coupled with reports from landowners, we were able to establish his location within hours of the escape. Whilst deploying the humane traps we were delighted to get firm confirmation by means of a positive sighting of Flaviu by one of our staff.

The key to a successful recovery at this stage is to allow Flaviu to settle in his new territory and ensure that human activity in the area is kept to an absolute minimum. To this end we have reduced the active team from over 30 people to just four.

We have also deployed a number of day and night vision cameras throughout the territory. These will enable us to confirm our assumptions about his movements and behaviour and identify opportunities to increase the chances of a safe recovery.

We’ve also taken steps to provide Flaviu with reasons to remain in the area. These include ensuring that there are small amounts of food available outside the humane traps and playing audio recordings of other lynx. We’re also considering using his mother’s scent from bedding obtained from Port Lympne to provide him with some reassuring and familiar smells.

Some people have expressed concern that Flaviu has been separated from his mother and have questioned the ethics of doing so.

We can fully understand how the implications of separating the mother/child bond would inspire feelings of anxiety in people; some have assumed that his escape was an attempt to get back to his mother. However, with regard to animals, and the lynx in particular, the opposite is actually true.

Flaviu is a two year old male approaching sexual maturity. It is at this age, and often earlier, that we would expect him to be leaving the immediate care of his parents and setting off to establish a territory of his own. In the wild, there would be no further contact with the parents and any close proximity might well lead to territorial conflict.

Throughout this operation we have been in close contact with the keepers at Port Lympne who are of course very familiar with Flaviu and his mum Klementyna.

They have assured us that while mum and dad were very patient caring parents they are likely pleased that he has now moved on.

Having created the best possible circumstances for a safe recovery the team here are now playing the waiting game. It remains a round-the-clock operation and everyone here is dedicated to ensuring that Flaviu returns safe and sound.

Flaviu the Lynx escapes from Dartmoor Zoo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 13:37:00 +0000

Flaviu the Carpathian Lynx

At 10am this morning, 7^th July 2016, Keepers at Dartmoor Zoo found that newly arrived Flaviu the Lynx had escaped from his new home at Dartmoor Zoo.

2 year old Flaviu arrived at Dartmoor Zoo last night, 6^th July from Port Lympne and was settled into his new house at 7.30pm.

The house into which he was released has successfully held Lynx for 8 years, however he managed to escape by chewing through a board in the wall of the house.

This was discovered at 10am this morning when Keepers came to release him. A search party immediately set out and quickly established that it was extremely unlikely for the Lynx to still be on site and the local police and Radio Devon were informed at 10.20am.

Our main concerns now are for the safety of the public and for the welfare of Flaviu. He is extremely timid and his instinct will be to stay away from people so we are asking the public to be vigilant and inform the police on 999 if they see him.

Search teams are being organised for the local area and we have humane traps which we will be laying out in the vicinity. These are of ample size to fit a Lynx and will not hurt him. They will contain various types of meat from specialist suppliers to tempt him and the door will then close behind him, trapping him unharmed where he can safely be returned to the Zoo.

We will keep this blog updated so keep an eye out here for any more news.

Thank you to everyone for their support and we hope he will safely found soon.

UPDATE: 9.50pm - we can confirm that we've had a positive sighting in the area that we expected him to head and are hopeful of a positive conclusion within hours.

A Thank you to DZP Sponsors - My Claim Solved

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 11:05:00 +0000

From left to right: Kathryn, Michael, Ashley, Mr Pickles,
Benjamin, Jessica.

Dartmoor Zoo would like to extend a huge thank you to new sponsors My Claim Solved, who have sponsored the wonderful Mr Pickles!

Operations Manager Michael Cooke visited the Zoo to meet Mr Pickles with some of the members of their large and friendly Torquay based team.

He said:

“Sponsoring Zoological establishments has always been a passion of My Claim Solved, with a kind hearted ethos and a supportive and giving nature, it only feels right to give back to organisations who put others (the animals) at the forefront of their minds, by continually striving to provide and nurture such wonderful and amazing creatures.

Dartmoor Zoo especially touched our hearts, of course everyone has seen the Hollywood movie and fell in love with the story, but it’s the deep passion they have to rescue and care for animals, the enthusiasm of Benjamin Mee, witnessed both first hand and read about which led to My Claim Solved wanting to be a part of the zoo in any way it could.

We decided on sponsoring Mr Pickles because, well let’s face it he’s cute, and watching him wonder around the zoo just living in his element put a smile on the faces of everyone at the company, plus when we visit we can have photos and interact with him, we would have sponsored Hayley or Fudge but we couldn’t imagine getting a good photo opportunity!!!

My Claim Solved would love to continue helping the Zoo in any way it can and would recommend others to put their hand in their pocket for a great charity and a wonderful place.

We take our hats off to Mr Mee and the staff and volunteers working tirelessly to continually develop the Zoo”

Thank you so much to My Claim Solved for supporting us at the Zoo with their sponsorship of Mr. Pickles. It means a lot to us as it enables us to continue looking after our animals as well as move forward with our vital research and conservation projects.

Find out more about My Claim Solved by visiting their website: http://myclaimsolved.com/

Or if you'd like to find out more about sponsorship you can visit: http://www.dartmoorzoo.org.uk/getinvolved/corporatesponsorship

A Thank you to DZP Sponsors - Devon Fit Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 13:25:00 +0000

Claire Morgan-Hughes from Devon Fit Camp and
Dartmoor Zoo CEO Benjamin Mee

The Team at Dartmoor Zoo would like to extend a massive thank you to Devon Fit Camp for all their support over the years. Most recently they have sponsored the Dartmoor Zoo van, a vital vehicle for the Zoo which visits local supermarkets and picks up food for the animals, transports supplies, and has even been known to move the odd animal or two!

They have also very generously sponsored Vlad the Tiger, proceeds of which go towards the essential looking after of our animals on a day to day basis.

Claire Morgan-Hughes from Devon Fit Camp visited the Zoo to see the new sponsorship plaque and said:

“We have been proud supporters of Dartmoor Zoo for the last five years. As a local charity and a family attraction, it is close to my heart both personally and professionally. Over the years we have worked together on many projects and are excited to be planning some more for 2016. Being a business in the heart of Devon, I feel it is important to be as supportive as possible to both businesses and charities in our community. We are delighted to be sponsoring Dartmoor Zoo and in particular Vlad, for another year and thankful for the support that Ben and the Zoo give us time and time again.”

So thank you to Devon Fit Camp. Without support from partners like them, the vital work we do in conservation, education and research, as well as the day to day looking after the animals, couldn’t be done.

Watch this space for some upcoming collaborations…

You can find out more about Devon Fit Camp by visiting their website: www.devonfitcamp.co.uk

Or learn about Corporate Sponsorship opportunities by visiting: http://www.dartmoorzoo.org.uk/getinvolved/corporatesponsorship

City College Plymouth Sponsors Dartmoor Zoo Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:21:00 +0000

Dartmoor Zoo would like to welcome City College Plymouth on board as the exclusive sponsor of our E-newsletter.

Their support will go towards enabling our fantastic education and research departments continue their wonderful work researching and raising awareness of conservation issues.

Moving forwards we hope that the partnership will grow and that students of the College will benefit by having the opportunity to put their learning into practice by taking part in practical tasks up at the Zoo, from Engineering steel gates, to plastering, building walls, and conducting studies into visitor patterns at the Zoo.

CEO of the Zoo, Benjamin Mee, said: “Collaborating with educational establishments is something I seek to do on a regular basis here at the Zoo. It is a wonderful resource which is ideal for helping students develop their skills for work and progress down their chosen career paths, whilst at the same time enabling the Zoo to carry out projects which otherwise may not have been possible. Together we can achieve amazing things and I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with City College Plymouth.”

So thank you to City College Plymouth for their valuable support, and watch this space for more developments!

To stay up-to-date with news and developments at the zoo, subscribe to the newsletter here.

New Membership Deals for 2016

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:11:00 +0000

We're getting the New Year off to a great start at DZP with the introduction of out brand new Membership Programme which is more flexible and delivers great value for money.

As part of a wider review of our plans for 2016 and beyond, we have recently undertaken a comprehensive review of our membership packages to ensure they meet the needs of our visitors and continue to offer great value for money. From January, we’ll be introducing a new Standard Membership alongside an enhanced Premium Membership option as well as a host of new benefits and a greater variety of purchase options.

The review took into consideration the benefits of our existing membership, and the manner in which people use their membership throughout the year. We also looked at what other zoos and family attractions offer, as well as taking comments from our members and regular visitors.

We have found that whilst representing very good value for money, as it stands our 2015 membership offering does not best serve the needs of all our members, nor does it present the best opportunity for those members who wish to make the most of their contribution to the zoo by taking advantage of Gift Aid.

To address these concerns, from January 2016 there will be two new membership options: Standard Membership and the enhanced, Premium Membership.

These packages will deliver:

More flexible options
Enhanced benefits
Added value
Great savings

Standard Membership:

Our review indicated clearly that year round unlimited free admission to the zoo is considered the primary benefit of membership. As such, for the majority of our members, it is the primary reason for purchase. If that’s all you need, then the Standard Membership is for you.

Premium Membership:
For those who are more involved with the life of the zoo, attending events, taking advantage of experience days, DZP Rangers, etc., the Premium Membership package offers a host of opportunities for further savings.

Premium Membership will continue to offer the following great benefits:

Unlimited free admission all year round
Priority booking and discounts on DZP events
20% discounts on all DZP experience days such as Keeper for a Day
20% discount on venue hire for parties and functions
50% discount on daily admission to selected attractions such as the National Marine Aquarium, Pennywell Farm and The Big Sheep

And to these great benefits we’ve added:

20% Friends & Family discount on admissions (on full price admissions with Premium Member present)
Special discounts on “Members’ Days” throughout the year – see web site for details
Complementary Guest Tickets – One ticket for Two Free Adult admissions with each membership (excluding single Adult and single Child Premium Membership)
10% Discount on DZP Rangers and Rangers’ Academy
20% discount on kids’ parties (if the child is a Premium Member)
10% discount on gift shop items (minimum spend of £5 applies)
Priority access to selected on-site events such as kids’ TV character days

New Family/Multiple Options:
Our review also indicated a need for greater variety in the range of multiple options available. To address this, we’ve introduced multiple options for families and introduced a couples’ option for further savings.

Prices:

	Standard Membership	Premium Membership
Family (2 adults + 2 children)	£95	£125
Adult (16yrs and over)	£35	£45
Adult Concession (OAP, Student, Disabled)	£30	£35
Child (4 to 15yrs)	£20	£30
New Family/Multiple Options:
Couples (2 x Adults)	£65	£85
Family (1 X Adult + 1 Child)	£50	£70
Family (1 x Adult + 2 Children)	£70	£105
Family (2 x Adults + 1 Child)	£85	£115

Try before you buy
Simply visit and pay the usual daily admission. If you enjoy your day and you’d like to come back as many times as you like with one of our Membership options, talk to a member of staff – we’ll refund the cost of your daily admission and process your membership.

Existing Member Renewal Offer

To introduce the new membership packages, we have implemented a renewal offer to ensure that our existing members are able to choose the best option and take advantage of the benefits whilst avoiding any immediate price increase.

If you already have a DZP Membership, regardless of the expiry date, you have until January 30^th to renew your existing membership at the 2015 prices. When your current membership expires, we’ll simply continue the new membership, complete with full benefits, for twelve months thereafter.

As an existing member, to take advantage of the renewal offer, please contact Charlotte Higgins by email or telephone: 01752 837 645.

You can purchase the membership that best suits you on our web site.

Operation 'Pen-Pals'

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 10:22:00 +0000

Jasiri and Josie, soon to be together

Our lions, Jasiri and Josie, have been getting used to each other as close neighbours since Christmas. This summer you can help us bring them together for the first time. However, with large territorial predators this is a delicate, challenging operation.

The male lion, Jasiri arrived from Newquay Zoo just before last Christmas. He moved into the large enclosure next to the female, Josie, following the sad loss of Tasmin our much loved Amur Tiger.

He made himself at home very quickly and started to get to know his new neighbour across the ten meter divide between their enclosures. Even at this considerable distance the delicate process of introduction was underway.

At first, Josie was very cautious and kept her distance. Within a few days she became curious, spending more time observing the new male who by then had begun to make his presence known to her, and anyone within the five kilometer range of his impressive roar.

In the intervening time it has become commonplace to find them each sitting calmly at their respective boundaries, pointedly ignoring the other. And that's a good sign.

It has always been the plan to bring the two together in Josie's enclosure, but this is by no means as simple as it sounds. African Lions, both male and female, are fiercely territorial. Once they have laid claim to a patch of land any interloper can expect a serious challenge. In the wild, encounters such as this are a matter of life and death. Without careful management, it can be the same in captivity.

Jasiri and Josie like to keep an eye on each other

With the Operation 'Pen-Pals' project, we can allow Jasiri and Josie to go through the natural process of integration, during which they will 'negotiate' acceptable terms for cohabitation, whilst keeping the friction and stress to an absolute minimum.

By building a strong connecting pen between the two enclosures we can effectively bridge the ten meter gap and bring the two lions face-to-face for the first time. Here they will be free to snarl and spit and roar and claw at each other on either side of the security mesh, thereby keeping the physical consequences of such behaviour to a minimum.

By alternating which of the two has sole access to the connecting pen, over time they should also begin the recognise the pen as a 'no man's land' over which neither has exclusive domain.

During this process, which will last as long as the lions deem it necessary, the keepers will be able to closely monitor the way they react to each other. We should expect negotiations to resolve to a tense but largely peaceful detente.

The next stage will see Jasiri and Josie in the connecting pen together. Being a relatively small space compared to the main enclosures, it will afford keeping staff the opportunity to safely intervene from outside the pen if the encounter becomes too physical. This will usually involve nothing more serious than a CO2 fire extinguisher.

Ultimately, the whole process will end with Jasiri and Josie sharing what is currently Josie's enclosure as cooperative companions.

The Grow for Good team clearing the space for work to begin

But that's not the end of the project. Once the integration is complete Jasiri's enclosure will be free to accommodate another big cat species. We have a number of suitable occupants in mind and conversations with other collections continue. Whoever takes up residence will play a major role in our ongoing conservation work.

What's more, the pen between the two enclosures will also serve as an ideal 'cubbing pen' into the future, enabling us to participate fully in managed breeding programmes for endangered species.

We have diverted some funds from our day-to-day operational budgets to get this important project underway, but we'll need your help to drive it to completion this summer.

By making a contribution, however large or small, you'll be enriching the daily lives of these magnificent animals who, merely by their presence here, have already given great joy to thousands of visitors. You'll also be helping us to further improve our big cat collection and fulfill our ongoing commitment to the conservation of these important species.

You can contribute via our secure donations platform below or, better still, visit the zoo, see Jasiri and Josie and talk to the staff.

Your support is vital, and very much appreciated.

Pole-Dancing Jaguar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 15:38:00 +0000

Today we gave our Jaguar a bit of enrichment in the form of hanging meat.

Keepers placed a meaty bone inside a heavy duty cardboard tube then hung it up high on a tree stump. Jaguar are extremely good climbers and by hanging his food in the tree promotes a bit of extra exercise and agility as well as encourage a bit of hunting ingenuity. This also helps him keep fit and use those muscles that do not always get a workout.

It's also great fun.

Chincha, or Nico as the keepers have nicknamed him, came to us from Parc de Felis in France in April. When he arrived he was understandably nervous of his new surroundings and charges. It took a few weeks for him to settle but now he is very happy. He can be seen playing up the trees or in the long grass and especially in his moat. He is an excellent swimmer and loves playing with his ball in the water.

Jaguars are the largest of the South American cats and the third largest cat in the world. Tiger and Lion being the biggest.

Jaguar can weight up to 114kgs. Chincha weighs around 90kg. They have the most powerful bite force of all the big cats at around 2000psi, compared to Tigers at 1050psi and Lions at 800psi. This means Jaguar can crush the skull of their prey, such as Capybara and Tapir, with a single bite.

The video demonstrates how strong they are and how agile they can be. At one point you can see how he is able to hold his entire body weight by his teeth!

The arrival of Chincha the Jaguar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 May 2015 13:20:00 +0000

Chincha looking very sophisticated

It's always an exciting time when we welcome a new animal to Dartmoor Zoo, and the arrival of Chincha the Jaguar was no different!

After the very sad passing of Sovereign - Dartmoor Zoo's infamous escapee - everyone at the zoo was keen to ensure that his memory lived on, and that we continued to support the incredibly important conservation of the Jaguar.

Jaguars are classified as Near Threatened, and can still be found in the wild in the southern parts of the Americas, where their numbers are unfortunately in decline. Their decrease in numbers is mainly due to the loss and fragmentation of their habitat, as well as a significant number being killed by humans.

As an animal protected by the CITES agreement (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which was drawn up to ensure that international trade in plants and animals doesn't threaten their survival, trade in Jaguars or their parts is prohibited, but they are seen as a threat by some farmers and ranchers who take matters into their own hands.

In an effort to improve numbers there are breeding programmes in place at various zoos in conjunction with education and release projects. Chincha will hopefully become part of one of these programmes in the future as we work towards becoming a member of EAZA - the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Chincha is a 2 and a half year old male and came to us from Le Parc Des Felins in France. After much planning he finally arrived with us on 22nd April. You can see a video of the arrival here:

He was understandably a little bit shy for the first week or so as he got used to his new surroundings, but he's well over that now and he's been very adventurous as he explores his enclosure. Although Jaguars are built for swimming, Sovereign hated the water, but Chincha loves it and was testing out the pool for the first time when we captured the below footage:

So, we are all thrilled to welcome Chincha and are extremely excited about what the future will hold for him.

Vervet enrichment goes viral!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:49:00 +0000

Jay the Vervet with another enrichment example

At Dartmoor Zoo we are always trying to come up with new ways to provide enrichment for the animals that live here. Enrichment is fantastic to stimulate the animals, and promotes the use of natural behaviours and problem solving.

Most people have seen the viral video of the dog playing with a bottle that spins, and when upside-down a treat is released. If you haven't it's one to watch!

Image from www.dogloverstoday.com

It's a great example of a DIY toy that keeps dogs entertained for hours!

One day one of our fantastic volunteers came into the zoo with a modified version made by his dad, and we just had to try it out!

Here's the video of what happened when Kiki and Jay, DZP's resident Vervet monkeys got their hands on it!

Curator Colin Northcott filmed their reaction. They right away knew that there was a problem to be solved and they absolutely loved it. Kiki went straight up to it and immediately started spinning it. It has left Colin wondering who is smarter, Kiki or Jay? Jay watched Kiki, copied her a little, but mostly waited for her to do the work and he took the spoils!

We're really pleased to say that the video has gone viral, and zoos all around the world have contacted Colin saying that they're going to give it a go with their animals, including zoos in Toronto, Denmark, Florida and Hungary! A great example of how social media and the internet help zoo professionals communicate and share ideas

We'll try it out with some of our other animals too, and keep you posted on how it goes...

Tagging a Lechwe calf

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 11:32:00 +0000

Head Keeper Mike Downman tagging a Lechwe calf

Just like agricultural animals, zoo animals have to be identifiable. One method of identifying an animal is by tagging them with a brightly coloured ear tag. This is especially good for animals such as the Lechwe as they can easily be seen from a distance.

We've added a video which you can watch below to see the process. It is a very quick and painless procedure and also gives us an opportunity to give the calf a health check and determine its sex.

For safety reasons the Lechwe calf is first separated from its mother. You can hear it calling to her through the procedure, which only takes around 3 minutes so they aren't apart for long. The calf's natural response is to lay low, hoping to avoid being seen by any potential predators. This allows us to capture him very easily as he makes to attempt to avoid being captured. Their mothers will often leave them for hours, they lie in the overgrowth, hiding from predators, as it would be too dangerous for them to wander around in the open. At 10 days old they tend to join the main herd in the open when they are less vulnerable.

After we've caught him, and you need at least 2 people to do this, one will hold him while the tag is prepared by the other. In the video's case Curator Colin Northcott has this task. The tag itself is a two sided soft disc containing a unique number. Like an earring it has a pin on one side and a catch on the other and clicks shut when they come together. One in it won't fall out.

In the video you can see Colin checking the ear before inserting the tag. This is essential because the ear has 3 veins running through it which have to be avoided. Once happy at the location he quickly and firmly squeezes the applicator together. The animal is so young that he doesn't feel anything. The other ear is then done as a back-up in case at some pint the animal loses one. It might look large to you at this point, but as the animal grows it looks much more in proportion.

The ears are checked for bleeding, then the animals is given a quick check and is sexed and it's time to release him to re-join mum. 3 minutes and all done.

Farewell to Tasmin

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 10:32:00 +0000

Tasmin following her operation in 2011

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of one of our most loved animals. Tasmin, one of our Amur Tigers, was put to sleep on Wednesday 3^rd December following veterinary advice.

Born at Blackpool Zoo in January 1996 and arriving at Dartmoor Zoo in the summer of the same year, Tasmin was one of the two oldest Amur Tigers in the UK, along with her brother, Turlough who lives at Longleat Safari Park.

Despite her age she enjoyed very good health, surviving a major operation to correct an embedded claw in 2011, an injury which she would not have survived in the wild.

However, her health declined recently and vets called to the zoo diagnosed a severe abdominal condition. Unfortunately, given her age, another major operation was not advised.

“Her condition was severe, and it was clear that we had to act in her immediate best interests,” explains zoo director, Benjamin Mee. “However, we had to weigh her current welfare against the expected quality of life should she survive a major operation. Sadly, it was clear that an operation really wasn’t an option.”

Known for her aggressive demeanour, Tasmin was well loved by staff and visitors alike. During her time at Dartmoor Zoo, Tasmin gave birth to three cubs which have since joined breeding programmes in the Netherlands and Asia.

The news is particularly hard since it comes so soon after the recent loss of Blotch, another Amur Tiger, and niece to Tasmin, who was diagnosed with cancer in July this year.

However our ongoing conservation mission received a boost recently when the zoo was accepted into several international breeding programmes for big cats.

“We have a fantastic facility here for big cats,” says Mee. “Many zoos are jealous of the enclosures and the opportunities they present for important conservation work. This is now officially recognised by the bodies that manage the breeding programmes and plans are already underway for the introduction of a number of cat species to Dartmoor.”

“Our aspirations for the future are unashamedly ambitions,” says Mee. “As a charity, Dartmoor Zoo will become a centre of excellence for conservation, education and research and our involvement with big cat breeding programmes is central to that mission.”

#CrowdfundDartmoorZoo

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 16:10:00 +0000

It's amazing what we can do
if we all come together

On the 17th of November, Dartmoor Zoo will embark on a bold new chapter in the story that began in 2006.

We'll be launching a crowdfunding campaign which will help us convert fully to charitable status and secure the future of the zoo as a centre of excellence for education, conservation and research.

In 2006 the Mee family bought Dartmoor Zoo to prevent the majority of the animals from being destroyed.

Since then, despite the release of the Hollywood film 'We Bought a Zoo' which was based on the bestselling book by Benjamin Mee, the threat to the zoo remains. Two global recessions and five of the wettest English summers on record have shown that this zoo needs to shift its centre of gravity from dependence on seasonal tourists towards becoming a charity focusing on research and education. This process is already well underway.

Our aspirations for the future are unashamedly ambitious - and will have a global impact. As well as developing our international conservation and education programmes, we aim to establish a world class research centre in animal cognition, exploring animal consciousness to promote the rights and welfare of animals everywhere. But our project is also about regenerating people, using the platform of the zoo to encourage volunteering, training and education, from pre-school to postgraduate and beyond. People from around the world have been inspired by this story of hope. Now everyone can actively participate in keeping this hope alive.

The crowdfunding campaign kicks off on the 17th November with a launch event at Plymouth University featuring a Q&A with Benjamin Mee and a showing of the movie, We Bought a Zoo. Unfortunately, seats for the event were snapped up in record time but you can help in the meantime. Our Thunderclap campaign is already underway and you can 'pledge' your social media following to ensure we get the message out to the widest possible audience. It's really simple, takes a few clicks and it's absolutely free.

You can add your voice to the Thunderclap campaign using the widget on the right.

There will be some special events during the campaign so be sure to keep up-to-date via our Twitter and Facebook profiles and keep an eye out for the hashtag #CrowdfundDartmoorZoo. #CrowdfundDartmoorZoo Tweets

Top Ten Tips for the Perfect Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 16:57:00 +0000

Ben & Claudia tied the knot in 2013

2014 has proven to be a popular year for weddings at Dartmoor Zoo with over twenty couples saying, "I do" at the zoo in the company of over 2000 guests.

We started the year with Sarah and David who tied the knot on a surprisingly sunny March afternoon. They had a selection of their closest friends celebrate their special day using the Manor House as the backdrop for their ceremony and the restaurant for their reception.

In August with much better weather, Matt and Gail had their ceremony outside the Manor House allowing their guests to top up their tan in the open air. The celebration continued in the marquee situated in the heart of the zoo amongst the tigers, cheetah and monkeys.

Our two remaining weddings are in October, but there’s no time to rest with the calendar for 2015 already looking much busier! What have we learnt from the experiences of 2014?

Prepare, prepare, prepare. Many of our wedding couples across the years have thought planning a wedding was easy, until it came to their special day. Planning a wedding is like a military operation, everything must be planned to perfection, and when I say everything, I mean everything. Here are our top tips when planning your wedding:

Know the date: It sounds obvious but be sure when contacting a venue that you know the exact date you are looking for. Good venues fill up very fast and their prices depend specifically on the day and date you are looking for. The venue won't be able to give you an accurate idea of costs without a date.

TIP: Weekdays outside of school holidays tend to be cheaper.

Know your numbers: Make sure you have written your guest list well in advance of your big day. The worst thing in the world is not knowing how many guests to expect weeks before the wedding and again, this is essential if you want an accurate idea of costs from the venue.

TIP: Give guests a strict deadline; normally venues will say 6 weeks prior to the wedding so tell your guests you need to know eight weeks before your big day. At the end of the day you are paying for it, so don’t be afraid to push!

Choose the food you want: Don’t be tempted to think too much about other people's preferences when it comes to the food. It is your wedding, pick what you want. Think about this carefully when looking at venues too, sometimes they can be quite pushy and insist on you having their menu. If you aren’t happy with it, don’t have it. That venue obviously isn’t the place for you. Like most venues, we offer a selection of menus, but we don't insist that our couples stick to them. Many choose BBQ’s, hog roasts or if they do choose a 3 course meal they choose what they want; sometimes a Mexican theme, and sometimes a roast dinner. It is your special day, remember that.

Claire & Paul tied the knot in 2014

TIP: keeps costs and complications to a minimum, only offer your guests one option for their main meal.

Chair covers: Chair covers can make a huge difference to your special day. However don't order them online and dress them yourselves. You might think you are saving money but do you really want to be dressing your chairs minutes before the most important event of your life? Let the supplier or venue take care of that - it's their job.

TIP: Shop around with companies, sometimes they throw in table runners or sweet carts which can really improve the ambiance of your wedding. Your venue should have good contacts and will normally offer a reduced rate.

Seating Plan: It doesn’t matter how low key or casual your wedding is going to be, always have a seating plan. This makes it easier for your guests and for the venue.

TIP: Ask the venue if they have an easel or something similar. This will save you a few quid and will make the room look much more sophisticated.

Photographers: Do you want to remember your special day for the rest of your life? Do you want to reminisce with your children and grandchildren in years to come? Then book well in advance. Good photographers book up very quickly. Make sure you shop around for the right kind of photographer, see samples of their work, the quality of their prints etc. Make sure you like their style and book them quickly.

TIP: Ask the venue if they have an in-house photographer. Chances are they do and this photographer knows the venue inside out. They know where the best photo opportunities are and chances are they are given more freedom than someone the staff don’t know, meaning your photos will be that little bit more special.

Extras: Do you want your wedding guests to be bored? Your day will be full - make sure its the same for your guests. Little extras like candy carts, photo booths and even a bouncy castle, really make your special day that much more special for your guests.

Sadie and Chris met Vlad on their special day in 2014

TIP: As above shop around and use your contacts. There must be a friend out there who knows a sweet shop. Use them, you’ll save bundles. But remember, make sure you let the venue know well in advance, they will need the boring, necessary stuff like Public Liability Insurance.

Ceremony: Do not overlook your ceremony. Really, the amount of times we see couples just rock up to their wedding ceremony clueless is staggering. Trust us; you do not know what you are doing.

TIP. Arrange a ceremony rehearsal a few days before the wedding or if this isn’t possible, practice at home. Make all your mistakes before the big day!

Signs: Do all your guests live locally? Signs might not seem significant but if half your guests don’t arrive because they are lost, it will soon become a big thing.

TIP: Ask the venue in advance if they have signs to use around their venue. If not jump on EBay, ‘Wedding ceremony this way’ signs can be as cheap as £3.

Itinerary: Put together a comprehensive itinerary, one for the guests and one for the venue. The guest’s itinerary can be a bit general such as “Gather in marquee for food”. Whereas the venue's one needs to be much more comprehensive e.g. “Guests will arrive in the marquee for food. Ensure staff are ready to welcome guests and assist with the seating plan.” Include every tiny detail, your venue host will thank you for it.

TIP. Make sure you plan your itinerary with your guests in mind – leaving a big gap between the ceremony and the food is not a good idea, throw in a bouncy castle or a photo booth here, and trust us it works!

Finally, help the venue as much as possible: At the end of the day the venue are the people making sure your wedding goes exactly as you planned. If you don’t tell them what you’ve planned, how are they going to ensure it happens?

So follow the above steps to ensure your wedding runs smoothly and that all your guests leave with memories as cherished as yours.

For more handy tips follow @DZPEvents on twitter.

Family planning for big cats

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 11:35:00 +0000

Senior Keeper, Kate Stone with Josie

A large part of being a zoo keeper is getting to know your animals. Being familiar with their individual personalities and their day-to-day behaviour is an essential part of good animal care since changes in their behaviour could indicate injury or illness. Often their behaviour can change according to their breeding cycle.

With some animals this change can be quite radical and potentially dangerous; a normally passive, cooperative reindeer can change into a real threat to safety overnight.

When it comes to the big cats they are never considered safe. Management is always a two-person job and we have strict safety protocols in place for even the most routine tasks.

As reported here by Senior Keeper, Hannah, we recently lost the pride of our collection, Solomon, the male African Lion. He shared his enclosure with his daughter, Josie so it was extremely important that we manage their ability to breed as well as the behavioural consequences of the breeding cycle.

We always knew when changes in the lions’ behaviour were related to breeding. They would both lose interest in food and for Solomon breeding was the one thing on his mind – he wouldn’t leave Josie alone! In the wild there is only one dominant male, he is top-dog, and the rewards for being the fittest and the strongest are the rights to breed with the females. Solomon was always top-dog.

During the breeding cycle Solomon would follow her around and stand over her whenever she lay down just in case another male wanted to mate with her, despite the fact that they were the only lions in the enclosure! In all his time here the nearest male lion was in Paignton Zoo but that didn’t stop Solomon performing in every respect like a dominant male with a territory and a female to protect.

For Josie the behaviour was a little different. First, she’d begin to flirt, which Solomon didn't seem to mind at all. However, after a while the honeymoon period would come to an end and she’d grow rapidly tired of Solomon’s attention. With Solomon being her constant shadow, she would become grumpy and irritable. This is very species-typical behaviour and in the wild it would usually lead to the pair losing all interest in food and instead spending several days together mating.

Since they were related, Josie was given a contraceptive implant which would have to be replaced every three years. The most recent replacement was on 30th November 2012.

The implant is injected just under the skin, a procedure that takes about 30 seconds. However, managing big cats is never that simple. Before we can get to that point there’s a whole lot of work to be done.

In order to get close enough to Josie to perform the procedure safely she must first be sedated inside her pen in the lion house. Once she was inside, Mike our Head Keeper, who is part of the firearms team, used the dart gun to deliver the anaesthetic. Putting animals under anaesthetic, especially big cats, is quite a risky business for both keepers and cat. When dealing with an animal that has three inch long sharp retractable claws and mighty jaws containing canine teeth four inches long, which they can open to 12 inches wide, safety is all important.

However, it’s also risky for the cat. She would have to be sedated enough to ensure she wouldn't wake up during the procedure, but not given so much that she might not wake up when given the reversal drugs. An average lioness can weigh between 110kg-140kg, animals Josie's size and bigger are not really designed to be knocked out, their body weight can be quite a strain when under the influence of anaesthetic.

To keep the procedure as stress free as possible, only Mike and our vet went into the house when they were ready to dart her. Everyone else waited outside being very quiet.

Once she was darted it took around 10 to 15 minutes for the drugs to take effect. To be sure that she was fully asleep the vet checked her for reactions. It was lucky that she had decided to lie down against the mesh of her pen so the vet could touch her easily whilst he stood safely in the keeper corridor of the house.

Once the vet was happy that she was fully sedated he could enter the pen to complete the procedure by injecting the contraceptive implant under the skin between her shoulder-blades.

After only a few minutes of full sedation she was given the reversal drugs by manual injection and within 20 minutes she was up and about in the house no doubt wondering what had happened.

After this kind of procedure it was crucial that Josie remained under observation to ensure that she recovered properly. One keeper stayed in the house making sure she was behaving as expected. Once everyone was happy that she was in good health she was let back out into the enclosure with Solomon.

For keepers participating in veterinary procedures like this is a huge perk of the job, and it's not every day you get to see something like this.

Kate Stone
Senior Keeper

DZP Declares the Start of Summer

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:49:00 +0000

Baby meerkats enjoying the sunshine

Encouraged by the recent improvement in the weather, Plymouth attraction, Dartmoor Zoo has declared the start of summer and moved into its summer timetable six weeks ahead of schedule.

Based on the edge of Dartmoor, the zoo has borne the brunt of recent severe weather conditions including torrential rain, snow and high winds.

Operations manager, George Hyde has been counting the cost. “The weather is the one thing over which we have no control,” he says. “We’ve pulled out all the stops with special offers, free kids ticket promotions and such, but despite enthusiastic up-take, if the weather is against us then people just don’t come.”

Turning off the visitors is not the only negative impact the weather has on the zoo. In the 33 acres of natural woodland, severe weather can be very dangerous. “Sometimes there really is no option but to close the park to visitors,” explains George. “High winds after weeks of relentless heavy rain dramatically increase the possibility of trees coming down. When it comes to public safety that’s a risk we simply cannot take.”

A close call at Tiger Rock

There was a particularly close call recently when heavy snow brought down a large branch from a pine tree overhanging the tiger enclosure, causing significant damage to the perimeter of the enclosure. “On the face of it, this was a typical nightmare scenario,” says George. “A large branch breaching the perimeter of a carnivore enclosure is at the top of the list of things you don’t want to happen around here. However, because this is a real possibility we have strict procedures in place. At the time the branch came down we’d already taken precautionary measures by ensuring all three tigers were safe and secure inside their house.”

Regular tree surveys help the staff at the zoo identify potential problems and intervene before they become an issue. But with thousands of branches on hundreds of trees in both public and non-public areas it’s an almost impossible task. Recently a large branch from a beach tree came down in high winds close to the coati enclosure. It caused no serious damage but it took all available staff to remove over one ton of wood from the pathway.

“When you think of what might have happened in events like this, it’s more than a little scary,” explains George. “However, it happened after hours. If it had happened during opening hours our procedures would have already ensured that the park would have been closed to visitors.”

The expense of repairing damage and the cost of necessary closures has been keenly felt by everyone at the zoo, so the positive turn in the weather has been very welcome.

“We’ve decided that summer is already upon us and moved to summer opening hours six weeks early,” says George. “I admit that declaring the start of summer is mostly blind optimism, but with a winter like the one we’ve just had we could all use a little optimism; blind or otherwise.”

However, the radical change in schedule is not entirely whimsical. There are real practicalities in play says George, “The weather forecast for Half Term is quite favourable, the days are longer and visitor numbers are fairly good. Most importantly we need to make the best of the good weather to compensate for the unavoidable cost of the bad.”

In addition to extending the opening hours to 6pm daily the zoo is hoping to attract visitors with a number of special offers, the most recent of which is the, “BoomerangTicket” which entitles full paying visitors to a second visit free of charge. This and other offers can be found on the zoo’s web site and Facebook page.

An Evening with...

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

A great evening had by all

On Friday the 8^th February we hosted the first of our “Evening with...” events. They’re an opportunity for our visitors to hear all about the zoo’s activities from the senior staff whilst enjoying good food and great music.

This event was, “An Evening with Benjamin Mee” and focused on the recent history of the zoo looking at what projects we have underway and what to expect in 2013.

Head Keeper, Mike Downman (standing in for Curator, Colin Northcott currently recovering from a recent operation) got things underway with an entertaining rundown on all the animal comings and goings. He dealt admirably with the difficult task of covering the recent loss of two of our most iconic residents, Ben the European Brown Bear and more recently, Solomon the African Lion.

These major characters have played an important role in the life of the zoo and their loss is keenly felt by staff and visitors alike.

Mike also had plenty of good news such as the arrival of lots of baby Lechwe Antelope, African Pygmy Goats and more recently, meerkats as well as the touching story of bay tapir, Luta. He also brought everyone up-to-date with recent important additions to the collection including the introduction of Iberian Wolves and Grants Zebra.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by Frankie Canale-Dow, a local singer who is gathering notoriety whilst she volunteers and studies for her Extended Diploma in Animal Management here at DZP with Bicton College. She was accompanied by Gary Platts on guitar with whom she’d been working diligently over the previous weeks to learn and rehearse many new songs. They both put on a great performance roundly appreciated by the audience.

Between the main course and dessert, Conservation and Research Officer, Adam Cook gave a presentation illustrating the import contribution we make in these fields. With the help of a volunteer from the audience he was able to bring more than a little humour to what might otherwise be considered a rather dry subject. Conservation and research activities are crucial activities in the day-to-day life of a modern zoo which often go unnoticed by the visitor so we were thrilled to see just how the enthusiastic reception from the audience highlighted the value of this kind of event.

Benjamin signing copies of We Bought a Zoo

After dessert it was time for Zoo Director, Benjamin Mee to give his presentation. He took the opportunity to take the audience back to the earliest days of the Dartmoor Zoo story from the very real struggle it was to actually buy the zoo, through the drama of the jaguar escape, meeting Matt Damon and Scarlet Johansson, right up to the most recent events and future plans.

In a lively Q&A, members of the audience had the chance to quiz Ben on his talk and highlight areas of personal interest.

To close proceedings Ben kindly signed copies of, “We Bought a Zoo” and posed for photographs with the guests.

All in all, the event was a resounding success with many of the guests keen to know when the next event would be.

On 12^th April we’ll be hosting, “The History of Man’s Fascination with Animal Captivity.”

UP-DATE: You can find full up-to-date details on the event here.

Presentation Team Supervisor, Emma Baker will be giving a fascinating talk illustrating the history of animal captivity from the earliest Egyptian menageries designed to enhance the status of the pharaohs through the golden age of imperial collections to the modern day zoological collection and its focus on conservation, education and research. It’s a unique opportunity to see how and why attitudes have changed over the years whilst the fascination remains the same.

Curator, Colin Northcott will then draw on his 25 years of personal experience to give a modern history of life as a zoo keeper including some truly hair-raising stories of all-too-close-encounters with large captive carnivores.

Once again, places are limited so for further information and booking, contact Naomi today.

If all that is still not enough to tempt you to join us, here are some very kind comments from the audience for, “An Evening with Benjamin Mee.”

“A big thank you to Benjamin and the rest of the staff for an absolutely fantastic evening on Friday night! The atmosphere was fantastic and I loved every second of it.” - Dawn Loxham

“Just wanted to thank everyone at Dartmoor Zoo for a lovely night last night. We got our books signed and really enjoyed the presentations from all the speakers. Meeting Benjamin was an absolute delight. He's a real inspiration and a very genuine person with amazing qualities and a fighting spirit. Thanks again for giving us the opportunity to be a part of the evening, we hope to come back and visit you all again soon.” - Emma Matthews

“What a great evening last night. So interesting and good food. Glad to see it was so well supported. To top it off, as we got into our car outside the main house, a real rumble from one of the big cats. Thanks guys.” - Amanda Mabley

“Great Evening. Thanks all, lovely to meet you, especially Ben .” - Godoartist

“Great evening at the zoo this evening. Thanks for organising...let's do it again sometime!” - Lindsay Brown

“Had a great evening @DartmoorZoo last night with #BenjaminMee. He gives me great strength and hope and is a true inspiration to me. “ - @EmmasPlanet

“Last night was brilliant! Thank you for such an enjoyable evening.” - @APieceofCake7

“Just home from a great inspirational evening @DartmoorZoo. Interesting talks from the keepers, good food and a chat with the man himself!“ - @onlyloupigs

“Please thank everyone for a great evening. We learnt a lot about behind the public scenes. Must look up some of the animals mentioned.” - @pakafe

“Adam Cook @DartmoorZoo has helped me realise just how important the behind the scenes work this zoo does is to other zoos and the animals.” - @TraumaCleaning

“I had such an amazing time meeting Benjamin Mee last night, from Dartmoor Zoo. He's truly inspirational.“ - @APieceofCake7

“Great night at Dartmoor Zoo's ‘An Evening with Benjamin Mee’ Thank you all at DZP.” - @mazhome

Contact Naomi today for information and booking.

Behind the scenes with the big cats

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:57:00 +0000

Behind the scenes with our Amur Tigers

One of the experiences we offer here at Dartmoor Zoo is being a Big Cat Keeper for the day, providing people with a chance to work alongside the keepers in the daily routine for the big cats. It’s an all-day, hands-on experience getting as close to the big cats as is possible to get without being eaten!

The day starts at 8am in the Jaguar Restaurant where participants meet the keepers they’ll be spending the day with. It’s a chance to have a cuppa and go through all the important health and safety briefing that is necessary for getting behind the scenes with the big carnivores.

Then it’s off to the keeper’s yard to prepare food for the morning feed. Most of the cats are fed every other day to approximate their natural feeding habits in the wild where not every hunt would be successful making daily feeding rare. In the wild, once a kill has been made they would eat until they are fit to burst then rest for two to three days conserving energy for the next hunt. Lions are known for sleeping around 20 out of 24 hours!

The morning round can take around two hours making sure all the animals are in their enclosures, they are healthy and showing normal behaviour. At each enclosure the keepers give the participants all the background information on the animals from a keeper’s point of view. They learn all about the individual animal’s personality and to how they would live in the wild.

One thing to bear in mind when doing an experience like this is that it’s quite common to come into contact with poo, which can be a bit stinky! Also, dealing with large carnivores means dealing with large amounts of raw meat and, when the feeding is done, lots of bones.

The highlight of the day is assisting with the big cat talk for members of the public to watch in the afternoon. Participants help the keepers put out the cats’ meat, clean their enclosure, (that’s where the poo and bones comes into it) then stand back and enjoy the public talk by the Presentation Team.

At the end of a long, often tiring day, you get to take home a certificate to say you did a Big Cat Experience at Dartmoor Zoo, as well as lots of photos and memories of getting up close and personal with our amazing cats. Oh, and don’t forget the lovely keepers!

This is one of our most popular experiences and it never fails to impress. You can find out more about our Big Cat Keeper for a Day experience and see what visitors have to say about it here.

Kate Stone
Senior Keeper

New zebra settling in nicely

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:52:00 +0000

George with Milo, Ella and Benjamin Mee

On December 5th 2012 we received our new Zebras from Longleat Safari Park, and they were immediately placed in their new, purpose built stable. They took to their new home very quickly, and have rapidly become a firm favourite of the Keepers.

They were named by a special DZP visitor, George Koshti-Richman as Zebedee, Zak & Spot. They are all easily identifiable, as each zebra’s stripes are unique to that animal, a bit like our fingerprints. Zebedee can be identified by the thick black stripe down the centre of his back, Zak has thick black stripes under both eyes, and Spot has a small white “heart” shape on the top of his back right leg and a black “Y” on his upper right foreleg.

Their unique markings make it easy for us to identify individuals, but there is one intriguing questions regarding the zebra’s stripes; are they white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? The answer is to be found at the end of this article.

You may be surprised to see three males together, but in zebra society this is perfectly normal. Young males leave their family herd at between one and four years old and join all male bachelor herds until they are able to lead a herd of their own. Inter zoo co-operation allows these natural set-ups to happen by sending males to other collections who have the space to hold bachelor herds. Here at DZP they can form a bachelor herd where they can exhibit natural behaviours such as play fighting, learning new social skills, and generally behaving normally.

Zak, Zebedee and Spot enjoying their accommodation

Zebras can, and will become aggressive if they feel threatened, and they have some pretty formidable weapons with which to defend themselves. When confronted by any form of danger they will lash out with their powerful hind legs, or they will try to bite with their impressive teeth. Either can cause quite serious injuries and all the Keeper Team have been trained to manage the zebra with minimal risk to both parties.

We are planning to let them out into the African Paddock sometime in March, when, hopefully, the ground will have dried out. As they are designed for life in arid areas they can sometimes suffer hoof problems if the ground is too wet, and after our very rainy winter we want to make sure everything is perfect before giving them access to the fields. This has given us the opportunity to train the zebra, getting them to treat the stable block as a place of security, comfort and food. This will be important in the summer months when we may need to get them in for paddock maintenance or routine veterinary examinations and procedures.

Grants Zebras are the smallest of the Plains Zebra sub-species, being typically 120-140cms tall, and weighing on average 300Kgs. They can live up to 25 years in the wild, but in zoos and wildlife parks we can expect them to live for up to 40 years.

They are without doubt one of the most readily identifiable of all the African animals. No-one who has ever seen a Zebra can confuse it with anything else, which in a way is ironic. The very thing that makes the zebra most identifiable is the one thing that may help it when being attacked by lions, hyenas, hunting dogs or leopards. When they are in a large herd their stripes act as a disruptive camouflage, confusing predators because they cannot distinguish one individual from another.

Zebras are social animals, living in a herd system consisting of a stallion several mares and their young. Some herds may combine to form larger ones numbering several hundred, but family members will always remain close to each other.

Zebras are an iconic African species that inspire joy and excitement in all who see them, but there is still one unanswered question that perplexes staff and visitors alike. Are they white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? The current opinion from scientists is that they are black with white stripes. What do you think? Either way they are indeed striking animals, and we look forward to seeing them in all their glory for years to come.

Mike Downman
Head Keeper

Teachers Meet the Education Team

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:49:00 +0000

A well attended event for Devon educators

On the 17th January we hosted the first of this year’s Educators’ Open Evenings. Attendees at these events get a showcase of all we have to offer and the chance to share their ideas and challenge us to find challenging and engaging ways to meet their learning objectives.

"[A] very enjoyable and informative evening."

"I didn’t realise how much you offered for education visits."

"Your workshops can be adapted for all levels of students, even students with English as an additional language."

These are just some of the emails and comments we received from participants at the event.

It was a great success with teachers getting a showcase of all our educational activities including our new Bush Craft workshops for primary, secondary and beyond.

Teachers and educational group organisers were also treated to a Close Encounters sessions with the extensive range of animals we use for key stage specific activities here at the zoo and in our outreach programme.

A highlight for many was the visit to our unique Dissection Theatre where we’ve been fascinating students of all ages for well over a year now. Originally designed for post sixteen classes, it’s proven to be a valuable experience for students as young as year seven.

We also managed to pick up some great suggestions from teachers in a lively question and answer session.

The DZP Education Centre’s brand new prospectus illustrating all the activities on offer was also very well received. Whilst primarily aimed at schools and colleges, all the workshops are adaptable for the general public, businesses, children’s activity groups and more. Many of the workshops on offer will form the basis of holiday activities for the general public.

Education Officer, Coral Higham is excited for the future, “We’re trying very hard to find the limit to what we can offer here but we haven’t found it yet” she says. “The input we get from teachers looking to achieve their learning objectives in fun and challenging ways really helps.”

We will be holding a second Educators’ Open Evening shortly after Easter. To book your place, please contact Coral and the team now.

Happy Birthday to Fudge

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:37:00 +0000

Fudge exploring her birthday treats

In January the keepers put on a very special celebration to mark the 35^th birthday of a very special resident. Believed to be the oldest of her kind in captivity, Fudge the bear was born in London Zoo on the 15^th January 1978.

She was born during Britain’s “Winter of Discontent” presided over by Labour Prime Minister, James Callaghan. When the BBC strikes allowed, the TV schedule at the time included the likes of Mr Benn, Jackanory, The Clangers and Crackerjack. She also shares her birthday with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929) and actor Lloyd Bridges (1913).

Fudge arrived at Dartmoor Zoo (then, Dartmoor Wildlife Park) in January 1981. She was later joined by Haley in 1988 and big male, Ben in 1993. Sadly, Ben passed away in 2012. Both Hayley and Fudge have spent the last 25 years together, 20 of those years in their current enclosure. As Bears in the wild only live to around 20 to 25 years at the most in the wild, a 35th birthday is one to celebrate.

To mark the occasion, the keepers prepared a teddy bears’ picnic complete with a bear sized Twister board. Careful consideration is needed when giving animals enrichment, so animal friendly materials were used such as water soluble glue and water based paints to ensure the Bears don’t come to any harm should they decided to eat some of their enrichment.

The enclosure was decorated with brightly painted recycled paper cups strung between the trees to give it a party atmosphere. Cardboard boxes that the keepers bring in from home were covered in wrapping paper and filled with scents such as curry powders and perfumes along with straw to fill them out to act as presents. We provided a piñata filled with nuts and treats and hung from a tree. As a special treat Hayley and Fudge were given sugar free blackcurrant jelly and a bear-friendly birthday cake which included essential vitamins and minerals, wholemeal flour, eggs and dried blueberries. All the treats were laid out in the enclosure with fresh fish, fruit and vegetables.

All of the animal staff were there to celebrate the big day. Watching the bears push their faces into the presents to cover themselves in the strong smelling scents and eating all the specially prepared food (especially the birthday cake) is a very rewarding part of the job.

The fact that Fudge is the oldest mammal in the zoo and is not the only reason her birthday deserves special attention. Whilst records from London Zoo indicate that she is a European Brown Bear, her physical characteristics suggest that she is actually a Syrian Brown Bear. Staff are working with experts at Plymouth University examining her DNA to establish her true heritage. If this is found to be the case, she will be the oldest bear of her kind in captivity.

Syrian Brown Bears are one of the most endangered sub species, listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Whilst they can no longer be found in Syria, a military flight recently spotted some in Iraq via night vision cameras.

Apart from showing signs of arthritis in recent years, Fudge is in excellent health and very active for a lady of advanced years. Even at her age she can be expected to be around for quite a while yet. One famous Syrian bear, Kara from Vienna Zoo, lived to 41 years old.

Hollie Dutton
Keeper

Farewell to Solomon

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:02:00 +0000

Solomon: 1995 - 2013

The life of a zoo keeper is full of amazing highs, and some terribly sad lows. Solomon has been part of, and responsible for, so many great memories for all of those who worked with him; his death at the beginning of February was heartbreaking.

Solomon was almost 18 years old, a good age for a male lion in captivity; except for a few minor illnesses, he had enjoyed a healthy life. Routine blood tests a few years ago indicated that his kidney function was deteriorating, so he was monitored closely but continued to enjoy life to the full. Then, in mid January, Solomon suddenly became ill and was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure. In consultation with the vet, and after all potential treatments failed to improve his condition, it was decided that the kindest thing would be to put him to sleep.

Solomon was 3 years old when he moved to Dartmoor in 1998. He was introduced to a female, Emma, and her daughter, Peggy. Emma was a large and confident lioness and, unusually for these big cats, she remained the dominant animal in the pride throughout her life. Solomon would be put in his place in no uncertain terms were he to question her authority! The lions used to be fed through a sort of meat ‘post box’; Sol would hide cautiously behind this and wait for Emma to take her piece and move away before eating his own. Peggy was gentler and it wasn’t long before Solomon became a father, siring several litters of cubs over the next few years including, of course, Josie.

After Emma’s death in 2007, a year after Peggy’s, Solomon grew rapidly into his position as top cat and relished his new place as head of the family. He would still have to watch his meat though; any opportunity to steal a snack and Josie would be there!

Solomon was a very vocal lion, roaring several times each day and always when he’d just been fed. He definitely appreciated the sound of his own voice and over the years we watched him master the art of roaring whilst keeping hold of his meat in his mouth! Sol actually had a love of making any loud noise. He would pound on the feeding hatch which, over the years, caused so much damage it eventually had to be removed! Solomon would also thump repetitively on the door to his house if the keepers were inside cleaning. This gave the door an unusual polish but eventually he bent it out of shape, and it was replaced with a mesh hatch! Still determined to make his presence felt, when shut in prior to feeding during his later years, he would pummel the floor with alternate feet – he even taught his daughter this one!

Solomon, rising to the challenge

Like any lion, Solomon spent countless hours sleeping but he enjoyed the different enrichment items we provided and particularly liked different smells, which encouraged him to scent mark. Solomon was actually quite nervous of new things and situations so we always took care to introduce anything unfamiliar gradually. He was more courageous when food was available. He once climbed much higher than we ever imagined; to reach some meat that had been placed high up in the trees for Josie. He then leapt head first 12 feet to the ground while the gathered crowd let out an almighty gasp! Solomon also gave visitors a spectacular display whenever his meat was hung from the trees.

All those who knew Solomon well, right through to those who met him just once, were impressed by his majestic looks, his strength and amazing power. What some people may not have realised is that, though there are many wonderful words we can use to describe Solomon, intelligent probably shouldn’t be one of them! This is well illustrated by one of the very first things I was taught about looking after him. ‘If you need to get Sol in quickly for any reason, and you don’t have any meat close at hand, put a log in his house’. This, I was told, he would mistake for meat and walk straight in. He did, and not just once or twice, but repeatedly, and over many years!

Solomon and Josie; happy cats

Certain animals, in any zoo, will have such beauty, presence and personality that they become a favourite with many staff and visitors alike. Solomon definitely lived in this category; past and present keepers all found him nothing but a joy to care for, and hundreds of visitors have spoken of him with great wonder and admiration. Solomon leaves two sons and a daughter in other zoos, as well as Josie here at Dartmoor. The two grew ever closer, Josie keeping Sol young with her fun and games and Dad generally obliging and joining in. She will miss him as do we, he will never be forgotten.

Solomon: an unforgettable lion, an unforgettable life.

Hannah Webb

Senior Keeper

DNA Mystery

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:35:00 +0000

Fudge: European or Syrian?

Here at Dartmoor Zoo there are two bears named Hayley and Fudge. It was originally believed that both were European Brown Bears, however there are notable differences between the pair. The most obvious differences, which indicate that Fudge may not be a European Brown Bear are the length of her claws, her overall size and fur colour. As a consequence, despite her records showing otherwise, we have long thought that Fudge is in fact a Syrian Brown Bear.

So, we decided to turn to scientists at Plymouth University for a definitive answer.

We contacted several zoos around Europe to find a collection willing to send hair follicles from a true Syrian Bear to compare to our own. Heidelberg Zoo in Germany kindly sent a sample of hair from a Syrian Brown Bear in their collection. We also took samples from our own bears, a process which thanks to their training was stress free for all concerned.

Dr Mairi Knight of Plymouth University’s School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences is currently working with the samples. At this point, it’s important to point out to all readers familiar with CSI that DNA sampling isn’t a straightforward case of shaking liquids about in test tubes.

The first step is to extract DNA from all the samples. Whilst extracting DNA from hair is now routine in many laboratories, since there is not much DNA contained in hair (the main source being from the follicle cells in the root) yields of usable material can be very small. To get at the DNA the scientist will digest the cells using particular enzymes to free up the DNA, and then carefully remove the other cellular material by a process of ‘chemical washing’ to leave a clean solution of just DNA. In mammal hair often colour pigments can inhibit part of the later processing and so care needs to be taken to ensure that these are also removed.

Once the DNA material has been isolated, a technique called ‘PCR’ (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is then used to amplify a small section of DNA into enough copies for analysis.

This final step involves using a Genetic Analyser which highlights the particular strands of interest. DNA sections or ‘regions’ that are known to be particularly useful for tracing the ancestry of a species will then be screened. The exact sequence of DNA from Fudge and the comparison brown bear samples can then be analysed for similarities and differences, allowing Fudge’s most likely ancestry to be determined.

There are many subspecies of the Brown Bear, which have adapted to different habitats making the specie as a whole more diverse. Brown Bears are distinguished from others by their shoulder hump, the consequence muscles specially adapted for digging. They have the widest distribution of any of the bears and can be found in Europe, Japan, North Asia and other places. Subspecies of the Brown Bear include the Alaskan, Asiatic and European Brown Bear, as well as the Grizzly Bear, Himalayan Snow Bear, Kodiak Bear and the Syrian Bear.

European Brown Bears have small, round ears and have brown fur ranging from yellow to dark brown. They can be found in Northern Europe and Russia and are the most widely distributed subspecies of bear.

Syrian Bears are the smallest subspecies of Brown Bear and the only Bear known to have long white claws. Their fur is very light brown while the fur on the shoulders has a darker grey base. Also, on some Bears there is a dark stripe running down the back.

Syrian Bears are found generally in the mountainous areas in Iran, Iraq, Turkey and the former Soviet Union, however due to habitat loss and poaching, the population is in decline. They can no longer be found in Syria.

Fudge is a very special part of the DZP collection. If our suspicions are confirmed, she will be the oldest of her kind in captivity (she recently celebrated her 35^th birthday). However, the search for a definitive answer to the question of Fudge’s origins is a lengthy and complex process and there’s even the possibility that the results will raise more questions. There are some within the scientific community that believe, despite the obvious physical differences between what we term to be European and Syrian Brown Bears, that at a genetic level there is a case for declaring no difference at all.

We’re very much looking forward to seeing where our investigations will take us.

Hollie Dutton
Keeper

Baby Luta, Lives up to His Name

noreply@blogger.com (MouthAlmighty) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 10:21:00 +0000

Luta required round-the-clock attention

There are some dates that stay with you forever, and April 5^th 2012 is one date that Dartmoor Zoo staff will always remember fondly. It was the day that Luta was born.

Luta, or Lutador to give him his full name, is a Brazilian Tapir. Brazilian Tapirs, despite their name, are found throughout South America, from northern Argentina up to Venezuela. They belong to a group of animals known as “odd toed ungulates,” a group that also includes horses and rhinos.

They feed on fruits, leaves and other plant material that occur in their tropical forest homes. Luta is the first Tapir to be born and raised at DZP, and as tapirs have a thirteen month pregnancy we had a long time to wait for his arrival.

When he eventually arrived it was a moment of joy, followed by worry and concern. We caught the moment he was born on CCTV which showed that he had a breech birth, coming out back end first. He was unable to stand and extremely weak. As a consequence he was unable to follow mum, Chana and therefore not unable to suckle.

After much deliberation we decided to take him away from his mum for hand-rearing. Every member of Animal Department helped out with this, committing to a grueling schedule of round-the-clock feeding and attention.

With each feeding we paid close attention to his condition looking for the tiniest sign of improvement or regression. He took to feeding from a bottle very easily. Every day he showed signs of regaining his strength, and crucially, the use of his back legs. He was a true fighter.

Reintroducing Luta to mum, Chana was a tense moment

Although he was out of the woods, we still had a way to go. Our biggest worry was that Luta would become imprinted on us. The earliest days are crucial to the bonding process, and spending all that time with the keepers taking care of his basic needs there was a danger that he might not realise he was in fact a tapir. To avoid this, throughout the separation period we would swap bedding between Luta and his mum so that each would be properly familiar with the other’s scent. This strategy worked really well, for when Luta was reintroduced to his mother after two weeks they both took to each other very quickly.

Initially the introductions were only for an hour, and always supervised by keepers. The supervision was not because we expected any trouble, but more because tapirs, although very gentle giants, can be a little clumsy, and it is not unknown for adults to accidentally crush babies by rolling over onto them.

Encouraged by the behaviour of both animals we steadily progressed to “sleepovers,” whereby the new family would be left together overnight unsupervised, and within a very short time we felt confident enough to leave him with his parents permanently.

Our little boy had grown up!

Baby Luta under the watchful eye of mum on his first swim

Since that time Luta has grown into a healthy, active, inquisitive creature who doesn’t show any signs of the trauma of his early days. He can often be seen enjoying the full run of our large South American paddock which he shares with mum and dad, rhea, capybara and an assortment of ducks. He’s a firm favourite with staff and visitors alike.

We are all immensely proud of him and his fighting spirit. He took everything in his stride, and overcame all the obstacles he faced with sheer determination. His name, Lutador, is a reflection of that; in Portuguese it means, “fighter,” and it suits him well.

Mike Downman
Head Keeper