A day to celebrate and raise awareness for some awesome animals, Endangered Species Day is observed annually on the third Friday of May, this year, that falls on the 15th May! It is a global event which is dedicated to raising awareness about threatened wildlife and celebrating conservation successes! So, for this week’s blog, I’ve decided to do just that!
One of our biggest conservation projects at the park is the white-clawed crayfish! Since 2020, we have been working hard to survey suitable habitats for ark sites to help increase Kent’s very own existing populations! These little guys are threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, pollution as well an invasive signal crayfish which carries a disease fatal for our beloved white-clawed crayfish.
The primate section have had some huge conservation successes over the years, but more recently, the births of Tonic (Borneo orangutan) and Jane (Western chimpanzee), have played a massive part. These fantastic species are threatened by habitat loss, disease as well as the bushmeat trade.
Here at the park we have four grey crowned cranes. The majestic birds are classed as an endangered species with populations declining out in the wild. They have a number of threats including: livestock farming, transportation & service corridors, hunting and pollution. Back in August 2024, we had 3 chicks born here at the park, with one recently moving on to pastures new to be part of a breeding program elsewhere.
On our mammal section, we are home to two beautiful red pandas, called Kai and Mai Xlang. Back in 2015 Mai gave birth to two male cubs, which have now moved to Gaia zoo in the Netherlands. She is a part of an EEP (European Endangered Species Program) which we work closely with to conserve this species in captivity. The IUCN classes this species as endangered in the wild, with the main threats it faces being caused by humans. This species was often heavily hunted for its beautiful fur, and while this still occurs it is no longer as common as it once was. Humans however, are still encroaching on their range and destroying their habitat, which is now their biggest threat.
On 1st May this year we welcomed three Asiatic lions. Thor, Theo and Rakesh are settling well and will hopefully be apart of their own breeding programmes in the future. Asiatic lions are an endangered species which is threatened by poaching.
Rico and Havanna are our two Cuban crocodiles who reside in our Reptile House. They are a critically endangered species with roughly 2,400 mature individuals left in the wild. These crocs are threatened by the invasive species/diseases as well climate change.
These are just a handful of the amazing species that we have here at the park that are struggling in the wild but with everyone’s help and support we can hopefully stop these animals from going extinct.
By Holly, Deputy Head of Primates
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