World Pangolin Day 2014

Today is World Pangolin Day. Despite sounding like a little-known musical instrument, a pangolin is one of
the world's strangest animals. Also known as 'scaly anteaters', their name translates as 'something that rolls up' - thanks to their habit of rolling up into a ball. They are most commonly compared to anteaters, sloths, and armadillos.

There are four subspecies in Africa and four in Asia.  As with many rare animals, the pangolin is under threat. Pangolin trafficking is a serious problem in Africa.

For more information on World Pangolin Day, click here.

Zoo polar bear dies after eating visitor's belongings

Following the shocking and less than favourable events that happened in zoos just this weekend, a polar bear at Wilhelma Zoo in Germany has died after eating fabric.

25 year old Anton began vomiting pieces of fabric, and later died of severe intestinal injuries. He could have lived for a further 10-15 years. It is thought that the fabric was a bag or jacket dropped into the enclosure by a member of the public.

Anton's keepers said it was not clear why he swallowed the item, rather than just ripping it to pieces as he usually would, but thought there may have been food inside that he was trying to get to.

It is thought that in the past elephant seals and hippos at the same zoo have died as a result of eating items dropped into their enclosures.

Longleat kill six healthy lions

Lioness and cub in South African wild

Following on from this morning's news that Copenhagen Zoo killed a healthy giraffe that was 'surplus' to their requirements, it has now emerged that Longleat Safari Park in the South West of England have had six of their lions, including four young cubs, killed.

Less than a week after being voted Best Large Visitor Attraction in the South West, a whistleblower apparently told the Mail on Sunday that adult male Henry, female Louisa, and four of her cubs were all put down for no obvious reason. Many staff who worked closely with the animals were not aware of the plans until after their deaths and were left devastated.

Longleat have blamed the need for the deaths on a sharp increase in their lion population numbers, which in turn led to an increase in violence in the pride, putting some of the lions at risk.

One of the world's leading big cat experts John Knight is quoted as saying "‘Most zoos have a contraceptive programme in place and manage to control populations perfectly well. That’s why this seems a bit odd, in a way. It’s just not a problem that most zoos experience."- which brings into question not only this incident, but the killing of the giraffe at Copenhagen Zoo, which revealed that that zoo puts down 20-30 healthy animals a year due to overbreeding.

The following statement appeared on Longleat's Facebook page in response to the predictable abuse:

"Firstly, we do not and will not ever put down any of our animals unless their health is very much at risk and even then it is only because we would have exhausted all other options. In regards to the lions, there has been a large increase in pregnancies, resulting in a 40 per cent increase in population. This has unfortunately resulted in excessive violent behaviour, putting 21 of them at risk.

Sadly one lion, Henry, had to be put down earlier this year due to injuries from an attack within the enclosure. The further lions referred to were put down due to associated and severe health risks. Following these incidents, five lions from this enclosure are to be moved to other premises. Longleat takes the utmost care in trying to protect the welfare and safety of all our animals."

However, this seems to leave two large questions unanswered; firstly, why were they unable to transfer the lions to another zoo, safari park or breeding programme? The BBC are reporting that five other Longleat Lions are being moved to other premises- why was the same not down for these lions?

 Secondly, and most importantly, how was this situation of lion overcrowding allowed to happen in the first place? Other zoos, London Zoo included, use contraceptives on their lions - they have to, to prevent inbreeding when members of the same family live side by side. Why were Longleat not using the same procedures?

What adds insult to injury is that the park, which was closed for the winter at the time of the lion deaths, uses the "Lions of Longleat" heavily in their promotional material. Star of the show one day, cast aside the next.

Copenhagen Zoo destroys healthy giraffe that was 'surplus' to requirements

Copenhagen Zoo have killed a healthy 18-month-old giraffe because he was "surplus".

Earlier this week Marius caught the attention of the public when it was announced that Copenhagen Zoo were planning to put him down and use his remains for research and to feed to their lions.

The problem was that Copenhagen Zoo were running out of space for giraffes, so had to get rid of Marius before he became old enough to produce his own offspring.

This led to an international outcry and a campaign to stop his death, with thousands of people signing online petitions. It is even claimed that British and Swedish zoos, including Yorkshire Wildlife Park, had offered to give him a home, but Copenhagen Zoo went ahead regardless.

Marius was put down early this morning. It is claimed that in the past, Copenhagen Zoo have also put down healthy bears, tigers and zebras, and currently put down 20-30 animals a year.

Copenhagen Zoo have apparently defended their decision, with Bengt Holst, scientific director of Copenhagen Zoo reportedly telling the BBC,  "Giraffes today breed very well, and when they do you have to choose and make sure the ones you keep are the ones with the best genes"- so basically, space in zoos should be reserved for animals with the best genetics. He also stated that all responsible zoos maintain animal numbers in this way.