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Whipsnade Zoo’s new arrivals take part in annual weigh-in

An Asian Elephant at Whipsande Zoo's Annual Weigh In 2026

Following a bumper year for conservation breeding at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, keepers have begun the mammoth task of taking all of the weights and measurements across the zoo. From giant giraffes to tiny cheetah cubs, every weight and measurement is recorded to help keepers and veterinarians monitor the health and wellbeing of the animals … Read more

Book on the Bird Table: Wild Footprints

The cover of Wild Footprints by Judy Wise

Our latest Book on the Bird Table is Wild Footprints, published by Scholastic, a debut non-fiction picture book from author Judy Wise, which aims to teach young readers about the importance of the natural world through the curious and diverse footprints left by Earth’s varied wildlife. It captures young imaginations and provides the catalyst for … Read more

Wonderful wildlife at Vienna Zoo!

A wallaby at Vienna Zoo

The joke often seen on Austrian tourism merchandise is ‘no kangaroos in Austria’. Not strictly true as there are wallabies at the entrance to the city’s zoo in Vienna as Discover Animals’ Geoff Moore finds out in this short film. Being the oldest zoo in the world still operating and drawing in around 2 million … Read more

Stay in new Shepherds Huts on Brownsea Island

Birdlife on Brownsea Island

In this short film, Discover Animals’ Geoff Moore visits the new Shepherds Huts on The National Trust’s Brownsea Island in Dorset. The historic campsite at Brownsea Island within Poole Harbour can now offer two Shepherds Huts for a very different camping experience. The island has a mixture of woodland, heathland and reedbeds plus lakes and … Read more

The wildlife and wetlands of WWT Steart Marshes

WWT Steart Marshes

In this short film, Discover Animals’ Geoff Moore talks to Alys Laver, WWT Steart Marshes General Manager, about what to expect from a visit including large amounts of wintering birds, salt and freshwater marshes, and plant life. The manmade site was finished in 2014 to compensate for the loss of salt marsh habitat in Somerset … Read more

St Martin-in-the-Fields presents The Conversation: Coming Together to Talk About the World

The Conversation at St Martins-in-the-Fields

Continuing on Tuesdays at 7pm, the 2026 Conversation Spring Series at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square in London explores the themes of social justice and how we write about the world with curiosity, rigour and a sense of wonder. The series looks at how we can have faith in humane intelligence that searches for knowledge … Read more

Crush the turtle rescued after storm on Jersey

Crush the turtle

The UK airline Loganair transported a very special passenger, ‘Crush’ the loggerhead turtle, recently. As the largest regional airline in the UK, it received special dispensation to fly Crush within the passenger cabin on a scheduled service from Jersey to Southampton. With no temperature control in the cargo hold, Crush had to travel in the … Read more

Cubs enjoy first Christmas at West Midland Safari Park

WMSP cubs first Christmas

Tiger and red panda cubs at West Midlands Safari Park have been enjoying some early festive treats to celebrate their first Christmas. The youngsters were gifted carefully planned Christmas enrichment by their keepers, with species appropriate treats hidden inside sacks and stockings. The 11-month-old Sumatran tiger cubs, Nova, Nadirah and Naresh, along with their older … Read more

Endangered giraffe calf born at Whipsnade Zoo during meteor shower

Baby giraffe and mum Luna at Whipsnade Zoo

While stargazers were searching the skies for the Leonids meteor display last month, zookeepers at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire were observing their own other-worldly spectacle – the birth of a giraffe calf. After a 15-month gestation period, the female reticulated giraffe calf was born to aptly named mum Luna at 8:50am on Tuesday 18th November, … Read more

New track celebrates return of the White-tailed Eagle

Alice Boyd

Musician, sound artist and composer Alice Boyd has released a new single, Return of the White-Tailed Eagle, created in collaboration with the RSPB to mark the 50th anniversary of the successful reintroduction of White-tailed Eagles to the UK. Our largest bird of prey, the species had previously been driven to extinction due to persecution and … Read more

Capybaras cool off at Blackpool Zoo

Capybaras swimming at Blackpool Zoo

As the hot weather continues this week, the capybaras at Blackpool Zoo took a break from greeting their adoring fans to cool off in the lake. The supersized rodents have shot to stardom on social media in recent months and the zoo is feeling the capy-craze after it introduced a Capybara Encounter, which became the … Read more

Saving strays in Sri Lanka

Lucas Helps Dogs helps strays in Sri Lanka

In this short film, Discover Animals’ Geoff Moore meets Dorset-based Alena Warburton, who has just headed off on an animal care charity project in Sri Lanka. Her team from ‘Lucas Helps Dogs’ will be neutering and spaying animals living on the streets or owned by poor families. There are millions of cats and dogs living … Read more

Argonne Discovery Park welcomes UK visitors

Loups blancs arctiques Yéti & Claranore

Families from the UK visiting the French Ardennes are being encouraged to visit the Argonne Discovery Park near Vouziers, an ideal place to observe wolves, birds and other wild animals. On the edge of the Argonne forest, the park invites you to meet over 50 animal species. including owls and other birds of prey, raccoons, … Read more

WWT highlights plight of Bewick’s swans

Bewick's swans

Annual swan counts suggest that Britain could have lost up to 43% of its population of Bewick’s swans in just five years. WWT, the charity for wetlands and wildlife, is warning that the species could soon be a rare sight, after only 700 Bewick’s swans and only five cygnets were recorded during annual winter counts. … Read more

The Wildlife Trusts bring magic of rainforests to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025

Treecreeper (c) Ben Porter

The Wildlife Trusts are creating a British Rainforest Garden, designed by award-winning Zoe Claymore, for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. The garden will evoke the lush, wet woodlands that once swathed vast areas of the west coast of the British Isles and is sponsored by grant giving charity, Project Giving Back, and supported by insurer, … Read more

Rare species recorded in New Forest restoration project

The Willow Emerald damselfly - a recent colonist in the New Forest

Nearly 40 rare species have been recorded in the New Forest during a project to restore areas for nature. The species were identified during surveys undertaken by Wild New Forest last year as part of the Species Survival Fund, which is restoring and creating habitats to halt species decline. The surveys were completed at 10 … Read more

Eurasian Lynx could return to Scotland but not through unwelcome illegal releases

European Lynx (Lynx lynx) adult female in winter birch forest, Bardu, Norway

Lynx to Scotland, a three-charity partnership working to restore lynx to the Scottish Highlands, welcomes the humane capture of two Eurasian lynx illegally released in the Cairngorms National Park. Peter Cairns, Executive Director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, one of the charities involved, said: “It’s excellent news that experts from the Royal Zoological Society of … Read more

Trio of rare lion cubs born at Whipsnade

Three newborn African lion cubs sleeping peacefully in their den at Whipsnade Zoo

A trio of rare Northern African lion cubs have been born at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, marking a huge conservation success for the vulnerable subspecies. Born to three-year-old lioness Winta, and three-year-old dad Malik, the litter of three arrived on 25th November 2024. Footage captured by the conservation zoo‘s ‘cub cam’ CCTV shows attentive mum … Read more

Where to visit animals this Twixmas 2024

Twixmas at Stratford Butterfly Farm

Scratching your head trying to decide how to keep the kids busy this Twixmas? Then why not try these animal-themed ideas: Glow Marwell There’s still time to visit Marwell Zoo in Hampshire this Twixmas, which has been transformed into a stunning illuminated wonderland until 30th December. Glow Marwell 2024 invites guests to immerse themselves in … Read more

Butterfly Conservation launches first ever Youth Panel

The new Butterfly Conservation Youth Panel

Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has launched its first ever Youth Panel, championing its mission to engage more young people with nature. This groundbreaking initiative brings together 10 passionate young people aged 16-25 from all corners of the UK to help shape the future of butterfly and moth conservation. The Youth Panel aims to break down … Read more

Marwell welcomes companion for red panda

Marwell Zoo's new red panda

Hampshire-based Marwell Zoo‘s male red panda, Tashi, welcomed a companion in September following the arrival of a female red panda called Cherry from Manor Wildlife Park in Wales. Cherry is settling into her new home where she will share the zoo’s red panda habitat with Tashi, who arrived last year. Cherry is seven years old … Read more

The first Salisbury Cathedral pet service

A dog companion at the pet service

Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire recently held its first service for pets. Discover Animals’ Geoff Moore went along to find out more. The ‘All Creatures Great And Small: A Service Of Blessing For Our Pets’ was an informal afternoon service that gave thanks for the joy and companionship that pets bring to our daily lives. All … Read more

Celebrate Halloween 2024 at Edinburgh Zoo

Sloth Nico enjoys some Halloween pumpkin enrichment at Edinburgh Zoo

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo is encouraging visitors to celebrate Halloween with a range of family-friendly and adult-only events this October. Carve pumpkins for the wildlife conservation charity’s animals to enjoy, learn more about species anatomy at the adult-only Skulls and Sips or get up close with wee beasties, nocturnal birds … Read more

Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me

Anne Brummer and Sir Brian May who are working to end the badger cull

A new documentary, Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me, is now available on BBC iPlayer, charting Sir Brian May’s journey as he looks to explore the different attitudes of farmers and those who – like himself – oppose the culling of badgers in the ongoing battle against bovine tuberculosis (TB). The film has been … Read more

New Ozi activity sheet encourages children to connect with nature

The Ozi activity sheet

A new activity sheet for children has been developed following the release of animated family feature film Ozi: Voice of the Forest, which is produced by Academy Award Winner Leonardo di Caprio and Mike Medavoy and is in cinemas now. The film encourages young environmentalists to become involved with the fight to protect nature by telling … Read more

Giraffe baby boom at Whipsnade

Newly born male giraffe calf explores his new home at Whipsnade Zoo

Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire has welcomed a second endangered reticulated giraffe calf, just a few weeks after the arrival of another. The baby boy, an important addition to the conservation breeding programme, was born to mum Luna and dad Bashu on Monday 15th July, just three weeks after fellow mum Ijuma had her baby girl … Read more