Twycross Zoo completes its annual stocktake

2016 has been one of the best yet for animal breeding at Twycross Zoo. When staff began their yearly stocktake of all the zoo’s animals on 1st January 2017, 41 babies will have been added to the zoo’s count.

Twycross Zoo is dedicated to wildlife conservation, and many species at the zoo are part of European Endangered Species Programmes, which aim to secure the future of wild species through captive breeding.  Underlying the important role of zoos in conservation, over 65% of babies born at Twcyross Zoo in 2016 were from species that are part of international breeding programmes, including two Amur leopard cubs, a bonobo and a gorilla.

The zoo is also home to one of the largest primate collections in Europe, and this year staff welcomed the arrival of several baby monkeys, including the first Diana monkey born at Twycross Zoo in 25 years, the first ever L’hoest guenon born at the zoo, the birth of a critically endangered black-headed spider monkey and the birth of two Francois langurs whose father was transferred to the zoo from San Francisco Zoo earlier in the year.  Other babies born during the year included bushdog pups and Humboldt penguins.

Zak Showell, Animal Records Registrar at Twycross Zoo, said: “We carefully monitor our animals on a daily basis, but once a year we are required to provide an official census of all our animals. The data we collect is fed into a large database that is accessible by other zoos from all around the world, providing vital information about animal populations and breeding potential.”

There are 153 different species at Twycross Zoo, of which 35 are invertebrates.  Small and easily camouflaged insects and invertebrates, such as butterflies and cockroaches, are much harder to count, but their large numbers bring the total count of individuals at Twycross Zoo this past year to 2,699.

Twycross Zoo is open to the public from 10am to 5pm. For more information and to book tickets visit www.twycrosszoo.org or call 0844 474 1777

 

 Twyrcoss Zoo Facts: 

• Now celebrating over 50 years of business, Twycross Zoo is one of the UK’s major zoos and home to one of the largest primate collections in Europe.  The zoo cares for around 150 species of animals and is the only place in the UK to see all four types of Great Ape (Gorilla, Orang-utan, Chimpanzee and Bonobo) and a wide collection of gibbons.

• Many species at Twycross Zoo are part of European Endangered Species Programmes that aim to secure the future of threatened wild species by building a safe captive population.

• Twycross Zoo welcomes around 500,000 visitors a year to its 80-acre site in Leicestershire, funds and conducts scientific research, and has an award-winning education and outreach programme.

• Twycross Zoo contributes to conservation in the wild through their Conservation Fund. The fund was created in 2006 and has supported over 55 conservation and welfare projects from many different countries around the world, including Ape Action Africa, Lola Ya Bonobo and the Cao Vit Conservation Programme.

• In 2015, the zoo launched its 20-year, £55 million Masterplan. Since then, new habitats Giraffe Savannah and Gibbon Forest have opened to the public. Additional renovations and new exhibits include Lorikeet Landing, a Lemur Walk-through and the Butterfly House, all of which offer visitors an immersive experience with the animals.

• Twycross Zoo’s Himalaya Centre offers a spacious 300 seat all-day restaurant with views overlooking a Himalayan landscape enclosure for snow leopards, corporate facilities, a gift shop and a soft play attraction.