Breeding Seahorses
ZSL London Zoo Aquarium currently has a variety of breeding programmes in place that aim to help the conservation of endangered fish. One of our main focuses is the breeding of long and short-snouted seahorses.
During 2010, the ZSL London Zoo Aquarium have focused on its short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) breeding programme (with 918 babies born!) and through 2011-2012 the focus shifted towards the long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus). Both of these species can be found in the UK, and even inhabit the the River Thames. They are also both threatened in the wild, so are in dire need of conservation help.
Seahorses' reproductive strategy – including pair bonding and male pregnancy – is very unusual in the animal kingdom. Find out more about how seahorses breed .
Most importantly, seahorses are representative of global threats to marine life: overfishing, bycatch (non-target fisheries) and habitat degradation and loss. Projects such as Project Seahorse protect seahorses and, as a result, protect their delicate marine habitats for myriad other species. Find out more about Project Seahorse.
Find ou more about the Aquarium at ZSL London Zoo .
Watch this incredible footage and hear from our Curator of Aquarium, Brian Zimmerman:
