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ZSL annual report highlights 12 months of achievement
Tuesday 17 June 2008
From Roxy the penguin looking for love on the internet to ground-breaking scientific research, 2007 was a busy year for the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
© ZSL
The year started on a massive high, with the launch of our revolutionary new EDGE of Existence programme. This is a radical new method of measuring conservation needs focusing on animals that are not just endangered, but also genetically distinct.
New exhibits at both ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos have brought visitors closer than ever before to western lowland gorillas, stunning butterflies, lemurs and a whole host of monkeys, birds and invertebrates native to South America’s rainforests. ZSL London Zoo swept the board at the Visit London Awards, picking up a grand total of three gold awards.
ZSL’s reach continues to span the globe with conservation programmes in over 30 countries worldwide. One particular success came when ZSL scientists discovered that Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, thought by many biologists to be extinct, is alive and living in Papua New Guinea.
At home, ZSL has been continuing it work to protect native British wildlife through health-screening programmes. In particular, ZSL has been working to establish a self-sustaining population of extremely rare barberry carpet moths at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
ZSL President Sir Patrick Bateson said:
‘The year has been remarkable, with significant conservation successes in the field, great advancements in science through the Institute of Zoology, and many exciting new additions and developments at both ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
‘We have enjoyed great breeding success, too. Young red titi monkeys, Gila monsters, greater one-horned rhinos, Egyptian tortoises and a baby elephant were all welcome additions to the populations at both Zoos (which have a combined total of over 800 species, as was revealed at the annual animal stocktaking).
‘With the new Blackburn Pavilion and Cheetah Rock, as well as a new home for our one-horned rhinos, our sites are truly growing from strength to strength.’
You can find out more in our latest annual review:
Annual Review 2007 / 08 (3.6 MB)
