Native species conservation at Twycross Zoo

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A pond surrounded by trees and plants on a sunny day — Twycross Zoo Nature Reserve (Twycross Zoo)

By Dr Stu Young, Conservation Programmes Manager, Twycross Zoo

In 2023, we launched our 2023-2030 Conservation Strategy. This strategy lays out six key goals to increase our conservation impact over this period:

1. Supporting ex situ populations
2. Protecting wild species and habitats
3. Inspiring positive change for wildlife
4. Enhancing the value of zoos for nature and society
5. Caring for our UK ecosystems
6. Becoming environmentally sustainable

Conservation of native species and habitats was given its own goal and targets; ‘to conserve UK native wildlife and habitats on our site and beyond and support key UK environmental initiatives’. This is distinct from those focusing on our work internationally (goal 2), largely in recognition of the fact that the 2023 State of Nature identified the UK as one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. Also, this highlights the significant impact we can have locally working with UK conservation partners. On top of this, as a zoo we are well placed to contribute to native species recovery and reintroductions, with veterinary and animal husbandry expertise.

Two people in black jackets walking through a mountainous forest area — Working in Kentish glory moth habitat (Twycross Zoo)

Protecting habitats on site

In line with global ‘30x30’ commitments, one of our targets is to manage 30% of our land for native biodiversity by 2030. Our 4 ha Wetland Nature Reserve currently means that 10% of land is managed for biodiversity. Other areas of zoo land, including potential expansions, are being explored to hit this target. This reserve, with free public access, contains a variety of habitats including ancient hedgerows, species-rich grassland, reedbeds, and open water. Last year the reserve was designated as a Local Wildlife Site due to the presence of grassland indicator species as well as the ancient hedgerows on site. The nature reserve also has a number of priority species present, including harvest mice and grass snakes, and the Biodiversity Action Plan implemented last year aims to enhance the site to benefit these, and other, species.

Species monitoring

2024 was the third year of conducting systematic butterfly population counts on the Nature Reserve as part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). The data collected here by Zoo staff is important not only to show local trends in butterfly populations and numbers on the reserve but also feeds into regional and national datasets. This is vitally important since Butterfly Conservation declared a “butterfly emergency” due to butterfly numbers declining by 80% since 1970 – indeed, data from our Nature Reserve showed declines in butterfly abundance of 62.5%, with some species such as the Common Blue declining by 93%.   Continuing contributing to the UKBMS means we can monitor further declines and highlight species particularly at risk, as well as being able to track the effectiveness of interventions.

A close up of a Kentish glory moth in the sunshine on a lichen covered branch — Kentish glory moth in Cairngorms National Park (Twycross Zoo)

Species recovery

As part of the World Species Congress in 2024, we pledged to ‘Reverse the Red’ of 15 species, five of which are native. One of those species is the Kentish glory moth (Endromis versicolora). The Kentish glory is extinct in England, last being found in the Wyre Forest, Worcestershire, in the 1970s. We are working in partnership with Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, and Forestry England to restore this moth to its former stronghold.

We have identified 80 ha of suitable habitat in the Wyre Forest as potential release sites, and as a partnership we are developing long-term management plans for these areas. In addition, we are working with the University of Leicester to investigate the genetics of the extant populations of the moth (in Scotland and continental Europe). With the Natural History Museum we can then compare this to the genetic make-up of the historic English populations using ancient DNA techniques.

This genetic data, along with habitat modelling to identify populations of moths living in habitats similar to that found in the Wyre, will allow us to identify the most suitable populations to use as potential sources for reintroduction. To build up a sustainable population for reintroduction, we will develop breeding facilities for the moth at Twycross Zoo, utilising the in-house expertise in insect husbandry.

Future plans

There are some exciting next steps ahead to reach our targets by 2030. This year we will join the hazel dormouse reintroduction programme, coordinated by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, as a quarantine centre for dormice before release. This is another example of how we can use our animal husbandry and veterinary expertise to contribute to species recovery. We’re also on track to achieve our ‘30x30’ target, with exciting opportunities of areas of zoo land to take under the biodiversity banner.

Find out more about the work at the zoo at twycrosszoo.org/our-charity/conservation