This time final yr, Twycross Zoo celebrated the arrival of a brand new child bonobo, the primary to be born within the UK since 2019. In 2023, Twycross Zoo is celebrating it’s sixtieth anniversary and is proud to be the one zoo within the UK dwelling to the bonobo species of nice ape, human’s closest residing kin. To focus on the importance of Upendi’s delivery, for this endangered species, we’re re-sharing the superb story…
Again in September 2021, Twycross Zoo’s in-house veterinary group found that Cheka was pregnant throughout a daily well being verify, carried out when Cheka and the zoo’s household of bonobos moved into an expansive new enclosure. The brand new habitat supplied the 13-strong group with more room, in addition to improved lighting and heating. It additionally provides the bonobos extra climbing buildings for his or her ongoing enrichment, plus two outside areas to discover.
Dr Rebecca Biddle, Director of Conservation at Twycross Zoo mentioned:
“The arrival of our new child bonobo is a tremendous achievement for the zoo. As a conservation charity performing to protect the way forward for these unbelievable animals, the brand new child is a big increase for the European inhabitants of this endangered species.
Twycross Zoo is dwelling to 10 % of the complete European inhabitants of bonobos so it’s important that we work intently with different EAZA zoos to make sure that this inhabitants is sustainable for the long run. “
Twycross Zoo is working on the forefront of conservation and making a worldwide impression for endangered species all over the world, from the very coronary heart of the UK. It really works with associate organisations throughout the globe reminiscent of Buddies of Bonobos within the Democratic Republic of Congo. By way of the Conservation Welfare fund, Twycross Zoo contributes to the day by day working of Lola ya Bonobo, the organisation’s sanctuary for greater than 70 orphaned bonobos. Twycross additionally helps Buddies of Bonobos’ 120,000-acre protected reserve the place they’ve efficiently rewilded greater than two dozen bonobos up to now.
Fanny Minesi, Basic Director of Buddies of Bonobos of the Congo, feedback: “Bonobos are beneath growing menace as a consequence of habitat loss and the unlawful bushmeat commerce, with as few as 10,000 left within the wild. They’re our closest residing kin within the animal world, and far about them continues to be unknown. It’s crucial that we work collectively to guard them and their rainforest habitat. We’re grateful to Twycross Zoo for his or her long-standing assist of this pressing mission.”
Twycross Zoo’s bonobos are a part of The European Affiliation of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Ex Situ Programme (EEP), which scientifically manages bonobos in EAZA Member zoos to make sure a genetically and demographically wholesome inhabitants. This includes making suggestions about breeding and transfers of animals to maintain the inhabitants wholesome.
Jeroen Stevens, Bonobo EEP Coordinator mentioned: “The delivery of this bonobo is motive to have fun as a result of they’re an endangered species. The world is constant to expertise fast losses of species and habitats. Bonobo populations are present process important declines as a consequence of habitat loss and searching and have gotten more and more small and fragmented. That’s the reason the European Affiliation of Zoos and Aquaria work with zoos throughout the continent, like Twycross Zoo, to assist the administration of populations in zoos alongside different conservation actions in Africa to make sure the bonobos’ long-term persistence.”