EXOTICS NEWS

The latest from the world of exotic pet keeping

Zoo Update

BIAZA (the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria) have been working hard to try to ensure the Government provide financial help to zoos. However, despite the existing “Zoo Animals Fund” ( the Government`s emergency fund for zoos) having been set up, it has only benefitted a small number of zoos so far (some 28 zoos out of over 300 licensed zoos in England) as of the end of January. This is mainly due to the design of the scheme which is complex to apply for and excludes many such as Chester Zoo and the ZSL London Zoo from obtaining the help they desperately need. A recent BIAZA survey indicated that at least 24 BIAZA member zoos are likely to face permanent closure over the next 12 month period. Nearly 70% of members felt that they were being excluded from the “Zoo Animals Fund” due to restrictions imposed, yet 80% of members said that access to this fund would help them survive. (The deadline for applications was been extended until the 26th February). On the 5th February BIAZA wrote to the Prime Minister again, this time to suggest a new “Zoo Recovery Fund” to replace the current, somewhat ineffective, “Zoo Animals Fund” in order to better support struggling zoos throughout this coming year. (Source; www.BIAZA.org.uk)

Sandwich Wildlife Park

On the 25th January Sandwich Wildlife Park in Kent announced that it would not be reopening due to the current situation. Some of the animals will be moving to its sister collection at Wingham Wildlife Park, along with the staff, saving any possible redundancies.

Jersey Zoo

A pair of bush dogs have arrived – the female “Jessica” arrived from Knowsley Safari Park and the male “Tiago” arrived from Safari de Peaugres in France. They will take up residence in the Cloud Forest exhibit alongside the Andean bears and howler monkeys. There are around 200 bush dogs in 50 world zoos.

On the 2nd February former Zoological Director of Jersey Zoo Mr Jeremy Mallinson OBE sadly passed away. He originally joined the zoo in 1959, before too long he was promoted to Gerald Durrell`s right hand man where he was instrumental in helping shape the zoo and its future conservation work. Eventually he became Zoological Director, and his remarkable career at the zoo came to an end in 2001 when he retired.

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve

On the 12th January a male Javan gibbon, named “Tiga”, was born. Carrie Symonds (Boris Johnson`s fiancée) has been appointed as the new Head of Communications at the Aspinall Foundation. In addition to the wide range of overnight accommodation already offered at the park, a new “Giraffe Hall” will be coming in 2022. The 15th century, grade 2 listed, Wealdon Hall House on the estate has been lovingly restored, with the interior designed by Victoria Aspinall, it features 10 bedrooms, with a further 5 luxury cabins within the landscaped grounds and gardens. The unique accommodation will offer close up views and interactions with the park`s giraffe herd.

Zoo-Bred Cheetah Sent To Africa

Parc Safari, near Montreal in Quebec, recently sent two Canadian-born cheetahs back to Africa for a soft release and reintroduction program in Zimbabwe, with assistance from the UK`s Aspinall Foundation. Four cheetahs were originally born in 2019 as a result of a cooperative effort between the Toronto Zoo and Parc Safari.

Whilst the two female cubs remained in Canada, the two males “Kumbe” and “Jabari” were prepared for their long journey to the Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservation Preserve in Zimbabwe. Here they will be trained, using a lure, to hunt during a 60-day quarantine period, prior to their eventual release into the wild. Once released they will continue to be closely monitored. The whole move was part of the Cheetah Species Survival Plan, for the conservation of the species. (Source; www.torontozoo.com)

The New Smallest Chameleon

A newly described species of chameleon, discovered by zoological explorer Frank Glaw in the Sorata massif – a narrow stretch of degraded rainforest in Northern Madagascar, now appears to be the smallest known chameleon in the world, taking the title from the previous holder Brookesia micra which was discovered in 2012. It may also be the smallest known reptile in the world? This latest chameleon species, named Brookesia nana, is even smaller than B.micra at only 14mm in size. In total there are 30 known members of the genus Brookesia, or the dwarf chameleons. Most are found in Northern Madagascar but three species are found in the Southern half of the island. (Source; www.news.mongabay.com)

A Potential New Pangolin Species

Recently scientists at the Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Gardens at Tai Po in Hong Kong published their phylogenetic analysis of data which had been collected using DNA extracted from wild pangolin scales, in the illegal wildlife trade, and confiscated by Hong Kong customs in Southeast Asia in 2015.

The finding was a complete surprise. Phylogenetic data pertaining to the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) respectively, were included for reference. However, a distinct clade consisting of two haplotypes, H4 and H8, were shown to be different from any of the reference data. At that time, reference data for the Philippine pangolin, Manis culionensis was not available. Five years on from this initial discovery a group of pangolin researchers in China and Germany (the Pangolin Research Group) have since concluded that a fifth species of Asian pangolin is likely to exist.

The research group expanded the reference dataset to include all four known Asian pangolin species, and was able to show that haplotypes H4 and H8 do indeed form a distinct clade that differs significantly from any known pangolin species. But for now, the potential fifth Asian pangolin species remains undescribed in taxonomy and has only been found in the illegal trade. Pending further work to confirm its existence and elucidate its biology, every effort must be made to save the creature before it disappears for good at the hands of the poachers.

Sadly pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammal in the world today. (Source; Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Gardens. www.kfbg.org)

The Longest-Living Vertebrate

The Greenland or “sleeper” shark is believed to be the longest-living vertebrate on earth according to scientists. A team of researchers, led by Julius Nielsen, used radiocarbon dating of eye proteins to determine the ages of 28 Greenland sharks, and estimated that one female was about 400 years old, meaning that she was likely to have been born around 1620, which is incredible. The former vertebrate record-holder was a bowhead whale estimated to be 211 years old. Julius Nielsen, a marine biologist from the University of Copenhagen, said: “We had our expectations that we were dealing with an unusual animal, but I think everyone doing this research was very surprised to learn the sharks were as old as they were.”

The research was made possible, in part, by the atmospheric thermonuclear weapons tests that were conducted during the 1960s, which released massive amounts of radiocarbon that were then absorbed by organisms in ocean ecosystems. Sharks that showed evidence of elevated radiocarbon in the nucleus of their eye tissue were therefore born after the so-called “bomb pulse,” and were younger than 50 years old, while sharks with lower radiocarbon levels were born prior to that, and were at least 50 years old or older, the study authors wrote.

The scientists then calculated an age range for the older sharks based on their size, and on prior data about Greenland sharks’ size at birth and growth rates in fish. According to the results of the analysis – which has a probability rate of about 95% – the sharks were at least 272 years old, and could be as much as 512 years old, with 390 years as the most likely average life span, according to Nielsen. The team believes the animals only reach sexual maturity when they are 4m-long suggesting this does not occur until the animals are about 150 years old. Their longevity is attributed to their very slow metabolism and the cold waters that they inhabit. They swim through the cold waters of the Arctic and the North Atlantic at such a sluggish pace that has earned them the nickname “sleeper sharks.” Seal parts have been found in their bellies, but the sharks move so slowly that experts have suggested that the seals must have been asleep or already dead when the sharks ate them. Greenland sharks are huge and can grow up to 5m in length. Yet, they grow only by 1cm a year.

(Source; www.earthlymission.com)

Collated and written by Paul Irven.

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