Lesser Antillean iguanas at Durrell Wildlife Park

Image from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

For the first time in eleven years, the rare Lesser Antillean iguanas at Durrell Wildlife Park have successfully bred, producing two young hatchlings.  Increasingly endangered in its wild habitat, the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, and held by only a handful of zoological institutions worldwide, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust remains the only place to successfully breed this species.
Commenting on this exciting news, Mark Brayshaw, Head of Durrell’s animal collection, said, “We are delighted by the arrival of these new hatchlings. They are feeding and growing well, and we are continuing to monitor them carefully at our herpetology department. We will continue our efforts to breed the iguanas and are encouraged by this recent success.”

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE- OTTAWA, CANADA

A beautiful pileated woodpecker seen today!  It flew right up to our outdoor classroom.

 

The Grade 6 students from St-Laurent Academy drilled through the ice in search of aquatic invertebrates.  

ACID OCEANS: IN SOME AREAS ACIDIFICATION IS A HUNDRED TIMES GREATER THAN THE NATURAL VARATION

GNU Free Documentation License

CORAL REEFS ARE AT RISK

  

Emissions of carbon over the last two centuries have raised the acidity of the oceans to the highest levels in 21,000 years and likely beyond, according to a new study in Nature Climate Change.   This change threatens marine reefs and a host of aquatic invertebrates.

Check out the following link:  http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0124-hance_oceanacid.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter 

MILLER'S GRIZZLED LANGUR REDISCOVERED

Public Domain image

Miller's grizzled langur was thought to be extinct, but scientists in Borneo captured images of creature using camera traps.  The scientists were baffled to find the Miller's grizzled langur in an area well outside its previously recorded home range.  With virtually no photographs of the species in existence, the scientists faced a challenge to confirm their suspicions, Brent Loken, a PhD student at Simon Fraser University in Canada and one of the lead researchers, said. The only images available were museum sketches like the one above.

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE- OTTAWA, CANADA

While our winter here in Ottawa has been fairly mild, Grade 6 students from St-Laurent Academy have been able to research invertebrates under the marsh ice. 

In some drill holes, students have discovered mayfly larvae and phantom midge larvae.  Ice thickness has been around 18cm along the shore. 

Chickadees are very common, and very tame. 

Mustard plants retain their green colouring under the snow. 

SECOND ANNUAL GREEN SCHOOLS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

February 27-29, 2012

Be a part of the largest gathering of K-12 leaders and educators coming together to "green" the nation's schools as the way to save money, improve student health & achievement and save the planet! Register NOW before rates go up February 1.

Durrell undertakes a comprehensive animal audit (UK)

Image Colm Farrington

Holding a baby panther chameleon

Each New Year at Durrell kicks off with a momentous mathematics exercise, as all zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums are legally required to undertake a comprehensive animal audit.

Durrell’s total headcount for 2011 reached over 1600 individuals of more than 150 species and therefore the audit process proved to be a time consuming job for the keepers tasked with accounting for all of Durrell’s annual arrivals and departures.

Perhaps the most memorable departure during 2011 was that of Silverback gorilla Ya Kwanza who had been a popular resident at the conservation charity’s wildlife park in Trinity since 1993. Significant arrivals included 22 orange tailed skinks rescued following the invasion of Flat Island, Mauritius by the predatory Indian musk shrew; and of course Ya Kwanza’s replacement Badongo who arrived from France in July and is who is now settling in well.