Wildlife Warriors

 During the May half term holidays me and my family went to Twycross Zoo to spend the day as Wildlife Warriors!

In 2006 Twycross Zoo set up the Conservation Welfare Fund to make a positive contribution to animal conservation and improve animal welfare worldwide. This was an amazing commitment by the Zoo to the animals.

                      

This is one of the main reasons why we wanted to visit this Zoo to support the good work they are doing.


The Zoo has over 55 conservation and welfare projects from 27 different countries around the world. As well as financial support, Twycross Zoo provides expertise in animal and veterinary care. As well as enclosure construction, design and behavioural welfare.

Here are some of the conservation projects that Twycross Zoo currently supports:

  • Fauna and Flora International for their Cao Vit Gibbon Project
  • Ape Action Africa to support the work of the ape sanctuary in Cameroon
  • Wildlife Vets International for work with Amur leopards in the Russian Far East
  • Friends of Bonobos with continued support for the world's only bonobo sanctuary: Lola ya Bonobo
  • The Association Européenne pour l’Etude et la Conservation des Lémuriens (AEECL) for research, community and conservation work on Madagascar's endangered lemur habitat
  • Awely for their community education team the Greencaps working in bonobo territory in the Congo

            

Me and my brother took part in the Wildlife Warriors Challenge. This is where we had to go around the whole zoo and learn about all the different species of animals.

At base camp you are given a map, booklet and all you need is an pencil. You need to have your eyes and ears alert for the items you need to find as well as the sounds you need to hear!

We had to investigate and assign footprints to the correct animals. We headed deep into the Savannah to find the Zebras where we could see that each individual Zebra had their own pattern of stripes.  We then had a go at drawing a Zebra which was lots of fun! Do you know scientists believe that Zebras use their black and white stripes to confuse insects so they don't land on them and bite them.   

     

On the trip around the Zoo you are surrounded by many animal sounds so you need to listen out. These animals make these sounds to find a partner, talk to other members of their group and protect their territories.

Here is a video of Siamangs singing;

  




We went on a bug trail where we had to keep an eye out for the different colourful insects we spotted. This was my mum's least favourite part of the day! These insects are a vital part of our ecosystem.

Next we went to find the Eastern black Rhinos which are very rare. They were so big we were very impressed by them. 
                                                                                     
 We went and read about, as well as viewing them up close, the animals that the Zoo is acting like a sanctuary for them. The Zoo is also working towards protecting them and other animals; Sumatran Tiger, Ring-Tailed Lemur, Humboldt Penguin and the Amur Leopard. 


     

The Kingdom of Apes is where the four great apes live. We went and observed their behaviour and we saw them playing, climbing, resting, eating and even having a poo!    

                                

                                

Next we went to to the Lorikeet Landing where we got up close and fed the birds, they were so beautiful!

           

Our favourite part of the day was seeing the Giraffes, was so great to see them walk and feed with their long necks. 

After we had been round the whole Zoo, there are lots more animals to see we went back to base camp. The Wildlife Warrior checked our booklets to make sure we had all the answers. Me and my brother were then presented with our certificates to say we had successfully completed the Wildlife Warriors Challenge!

 

As a family we would recommend a trip to Twycross Zoo as there is so much to see and do, which is lots of fun. You also then support the ongoing conservation work that this Zoo is doing.

I would like to say A BIG THANK YOU to all the staff at Twycross Zoo for making our day so much fun and we learnt so much about the different species.

One more thing to mention, Twycross Zoo offers animals adoptions, which for my upcoming birthday I will be asking for one as a present. Therefore, you can also support the Zoo by adopting an animal. The link to this is;


You can read up more about Twycross Zoo at the following links;



                                               

Images Credit: Bally Dulay