London Zoo’s Lucifer and Abi have had another pair of cubs! The Asian lion cubs are important to their conservation with only around 350 animals left in the wild. Although they are yet to be sexed, they have been given the Halloween-inspired names Pumpkin and Spook.
If you’re lucky you might be able to see them with their mum in their den…before they’re let out into the rest of the enclosure in November.
This incredible photo of a young Qinling golden snub-nosed monkey is one of the winners in this year’s Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
The species is endangered with an estimated less than 4,000 left. The huddled up pose is the best way for the monkey to keep warm in the extreme cold when not near its mother.
An exhibition with all the winning photos opens at the Natural History Museum from tomorrow before going on tour.
Photo : Cyril Ruoso
No lilos to be found here, it’s London Zoo’s new enclosure for their penguin Humboldt and Macaroni colonies! The zoo’s original penguin pool, a 1934 Grade I listed building, can no longer be used due to the concrete floor being very bad for the penguin’s health. Instead, their new pool includes a special breeding area and small pool for chicks to learn how to swim.
Sad news…Mjukuu’s baby mountain gorilla has died. The little infant had been introduced to the male silverback Kesho and the rest of the group successfully. But during the second time, a scuffle broke out and the young gorilla was injured and could not be saved. Gorillas, like most primates, have complex social structures and as Kesho was not related to the young gorilla, it was particularly difficult.
Selfridges have joined up with over 20 environmental and conservation groups to help promote the problem of over-fishing. Project Ocean hopes to inform people of all the threats to the ocean and how what we eat can make a big difference. Selfridges doesn’t stock endangered fish and they’ve produced a handy booklet to show which fish are good replacements for recipes containing endangered ones.
Go to their website for more info and also to donate towards helping the ZSL create Marine Reserves, protected havens for fish and wildlife.
Today begins the animal charity RSPCA Week! This vital organisation help rescue animals all over the country every year…but they need our help. Find out what’s going on near you and see what you can do to get involved. I’ll be popping down to the London Pet Show (for the rabbit show jumping and pig agility!) where they will have a stand giving out useful pet info and advice.
Paddington Bear has a new rival in terms of having a little commute. This little ferret (named Mickey by the SPCA who took him in) was found at Edinburgh train station after he apparently got off a train from London. Mickey appears very friendly so is probably someone’s pet who escaped before taking off on his little adventure. The ferret is a domesticated relative of the pole cat and has been living with humans for about 2,500 years.
It’s been the first lovely sunny day that’s felt like Spring! (I’m sure British March showers are only round the corner…but let’s enjoy it while we can!)
Why not capture your neighbourhood nature coming to life and enter the British Wildlife Photography Awards? We’ve had brave blackbirds stealing raisins from windowsills, the odd buzzing bumblebee and our garden foxes have been sunbathing a lot more recently!
There’re some handy photography hints from the Wildlife Trusts who are sponsoring one of this year’s categorys.
Photo : Oli Scarff/Getty
Three-month old Tiny has been filmed taking his first tentative steps around his home at London Zoo. Mum, Mjukuu, gently encouraged him to leave her side and explore the area while the rest of the troop watched his progress.
Considering Tiny could grow to over 6ft and weigh 200kg, keepers are considering thinking of a more suitable permanent name!
Romeo is the name the builders have given this cheeky little fox. He was found living in the UK’s tallest skyscraper, the Shard on the London’s South Bank.
He was picked up on the 72nd floor of the 945ft high building and has apparently been surviving on the scraps of food left by builders. He was checked over (and from his photo he looks in pretty good nick!) and released nearby as foxes tend to live in family groups with a joint territory.
PS English pedants will know that the line from Shakespeare actually means why are you called Romeo not where…but I couldn’t resist!
