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Secret location of reintroduced butterfly revealed

Chequered Skipper male butterfly2021, Dave James

Rare butterfly species back from the brink following successful reintroduction. This summer, wildlife enthusiasts will be able to see the Chequered Skipper butterfly in the wild for the first time in more than 40 years. Extinct in England since 1976, the butterfly has been successfully breeding in a hidden forest, thanks to the expertise of … Read more

‘Extinct in the wild’ oryx calf born at Marwell Zoo

An extremely rare antelope calf has been born at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire. The one-month-old scimitar-horned oryx, named Freya, is thriving say keepers and enjoys running around the large paddock she shares with her parents Christina and Tenzi, and white rhinos, Grevy’s zebra and ostrich. “The calves will hide for the first few days, which is … Read more

Tiny arrival big news for Marwell

This adorable little mouse deer is a rare Javan Chevrotain – one of the smallest hoofed animals in the world – and Marwell Zoo’s newest arrival! Weighing in at just 370 grams when born, the tiny youngster is doing well, keepers report, although interactions are minimal due to the sensitivity of the species. Tim Rowlands, Marwell … Read more

Rare monkey birth for Yorkshire Wildlife Park

A critically endangered species of monkey has been born at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster. The birth of the baby Roloway monkey is a first the UK, and a major triumph for the European breeding programme of the rare species. The new arrival is one of only three babies to be born in zoos around … Read more

Chicks offer hope for ‘extinct’ dove species

Chester Zoo has announced the hatching of two chicks belonging to a species that was declared extinct in the wild 47 years ago. The Socorro dove originates from an island located 400 miles off the west coast of Mexico, but vanished from the wild completely in 1972. The birds were wiped out after sheep were … Read more

Rare wildcat kitten born at Chester Zoo

A rare Scottish wildcat kitten has been born at Chester Zoo and cameras have captured the first footage . The female kitten is part of a breeding programme to save Britain’s rarest mammal and conservationists have welcomed the new arrival as “another lifeline for the species.” As few as 100 wildcats – also known as the ‘Highland … Read more

Incredibly rare monkeys rescued from Lebanon

Benny & Nia, a pair of young white-throated guenons, arrived at Monkey World in Dorset this week after being rescued from Lebanon. The incredibly rare monkeys were confiscated by Lebanese authorities at Beiruit airport after being smuggled from Accra, Ghana. White-throated guenons are a species vulnerable to extinction and native only to small regions of … Read more

Longleat in bid to save rare spider

Longleat in Wiltshire has joined an international rescue programme to try and save one of the world’s rarest spiders. The critically endangered species of wolf spider lives within a small valley on the uninhabited Desertas Grande island, part of an archipelago off the south east coast of Madeira. It is estimated that only around 4,000 … Read more

Rare lemur born for the first time in Great Britain

Cotswold Wildlife Park, Oxfordshire, is celebrating the birth of one of its most iconic and rare lemur species – the crowned sifaka. The baby male, named Yousstwo, is the first breeding success for new parents Bafana and Tahina and is the first sifaka birth in the park’s history. Cotswold Wildlife Park is the only mainland … Read more

Rare giraffe born at West Midland Safari Park

A rare Rothschild’s giraffe has been born at West Midland Safari Park in Worcestershire – the third baby welcomed into the herd in just six months. The six-foot-tall baby boy is son to first time mum, five year old Arusha. He joins playmates, Embu and Emali, who were born in August and September 2016. Rothschild’s … Read more

Rare dwarf sperm whale spotted in Cape Town

Visitors to Cape Town’s Victoria and Alfred Waterfront often spot marine animals such as Cape fur seals frolicking in its harbour. However, recently, they were treated to a extremely rare sighting of a dwarf sperm whale – the smallest whale species in the world. Dwarf sperm whales are not often sighted at sea – as … Read more