Who is Natureman? Meet Natureman – Chris Knowles . He has travelled to every continent (but not the poles!) in search of the world’s most incredible wildlife and habitats. He’s been stalked by lions, survived malaria, swam with sharks, squeezed into a bat cave, sat on a scorpion and been savaged by a lemur! You name an animal and there is a good chance he’s spotted it, photographed it and studied it in great detail! Chris has spent more than a year of his life living in rainforests all over the world. Who better to teach pupils about Rainforests, nature and habitats. He enjoys passing on some of the more interesting stories about his adventures during workshops! Now over to Chris. Let's talk Rainforests I have been lucky to travel all over the world and visit some of the Earth's most biologically diverse hotspots; places where the forms of animals know no bounds. Yes, I'm talking about Rainforests! What draws me to these special places? Well, it's the sheer diversity of life that can be found there. Grasshoppers that squeeze foam out of their heads, birds that echolocate, spiders that mimic bird droppings and if your lucky, you might even see a big cat! Entering a Rainforest feels like walking into a steam room at a gym; the humidity surrounds you. The smell of fresh plants fills your lungs. Within a few minutes, you'll start to get bitten by the numerous small insects, it's unavoidable but a small price to pay to enter an environment as rich as this. Although life is abundant here but with so many animals inhabiting the same environment, the competition for survival is extreme. That competition for survival has evolved over hundreds of thousands (maybe even millions) of years; it's why we can see animals with such extreme camouflage here. However, animals cannot adapt to deforestation. The clearing of Rainforest for human purposes is destroying life on this planet in so many ways. Species are declining at an alarming rate - we need to do something to stop or reduce the impact as much as possible. Operation Ocelot is a project from the World Land Trust , a charity that specialises in purchasing Rainforest for conservation. I've seen their work in Brazil and I was blown away with their reforestation projects. The World Land Trust is asking the public to measure out their garden; then using Operation Ocelots online calculator to gain a donation amount to protect the same sized piece of land in a Rainforest. It's very affordable, my garden was around £20. This will have a real difference to thousands of species in a dire situation. My garden supports songbirds, squirrels and the occasional hedgehog; however, my garden in a Rainforest would host Monkeys, Parrots, Snakes, Hummingbirds, Tarantulas, 1000's plant species and of course, maybe even that elusive big cat! It's a small price to pay to protect our global biological heritage! Please enjoy a few of my photos of rainforests I've visited from around the world!

At ZooLab, we like to work with teachers to challenge gender stereotypes and ignite a love for science in all pupils! However, 40% of teachers believe STEM gender biases are already ingrained in pupils by the end of primary school (Accenture, 2018). We have always found it imperative to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities and encouragement to participate in STEM subjects. Showcasing the positive impact a strong female presence can bring to any STEM field is a staple of our brand. Below are just a few women who have broken boundaries and made history in their STEM careers. Women in STEM Who Made History Marie Curie We bet you have heard about Marie Curie but did you know that she was: the first woman to win a Nobel Prize the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields the first woman to become a professor at the University of Paris. In her native Warsaw, girls were still not allowed to go to university, so Marie Curie studied physics and mathematics at the University of Paris and got her doctorate in 1903! She made her first discovery of radium with her husband and coined the term radioactivity to describe the heat and light emitted. In 1903, they jointly won the Noble Prize in Physics. Further research found that radioactivity could damage cancer cells, paving the way for modern treatment! In 1911, Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "in recognition of her services to the advancement of chemistry by the discovery of the elements radium and polonium, by the isolation of radium and the study of the nature and compounds of this remarkable element." (Nobel Prize, ND) . Beatrice Shilling Like many great minds, young Beatrice showed an interest in finding out how things work and how she could fix them. After school, she became an apprentice and then graduated in Electrical Engineering from The University of Manchester. I'm sure that it will come as no surprise that she was one of only two women on the course. In the second world war, British fighter planes had an issue; the engine would cut out during a nosedive due to the flooding of the carburettor, putting them at a massive (and potentially lethal) disadvantage. Shilling invented the RAE restrictor, allowing just enough fuel flow. This small change to RAF fighter planes helped them match the powerful Luftwaffe. In 1948 Beatrice Shilling was awarded an OBE for her contribution to Aviation. Beatrice was not just a trailblazer in the field of engineering, she was a keen motorbike racer and 1 of only 3 women who won a BMCRC Gold Star for completing a circuit at over 100mph. Katherine Johnson Katherine Johnson helped put the first American on the moon using math! Katherine was always extremely clever - she started high school at 10 and achieved a degree in mathematics and French by 18! She overcame both gender and racial prejudices to be one of the first African-American females to work as a scientist at NASA. Her team were referred to as “human computers”, working out the calculations needed for flight. She soon began working on larger projects, including America’s first human space mission in 1961! Her calculations of orbital geometry helped to send Alan Shepard to space and bring him home, then later to take humans to the moon. Johnson has won many awards for her work including 5 NASA Langley Research Centre Special Achievement Awards, Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and 2021 was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Hedy Lamarr From Hollywood femme fatale to one of the top inventors of the 20th century. Encouraged by her father, Hedy was known to study the inner workings of machinery as a child. However, her childhood passion took a backseat in 1930 when she got her first role in a small film - it didn’t take long for her to be an international sensation signed to MGM. Between takes, she was known to work on inventions and at the start of WW2, she had her most important epiphany. Working with musician George Antheil, Lamarr wanted to help the war effort and created a secret communication system that worked with frequency hoppers to prevent the interpretation of radio waves. Although not picked up by the Navy at the time, it has influenced the current technology used in WIFI, Bluetooth and GPS - where would we be without those! In 2014 (14 years after her death), Lamarr became the first woman to receive the Invention Convention’s Bulbie Gnass Spirit of Achievement Award.

Why learn through storytelling? Using storytelling as a teaching mechanism involves structuring learning around a narrative. It helps children (and adults) make sense of issues and topics by engaging them in a story, making facts easier to remember and participants more open to learning. ​ The benefits of learning through storytelling does not stop at increasing knowledge of the subject area - storytelling encourages creativity, expands vocabulary, increases attention span and helps to reinforce morals. ZooLab stories for all year round! Spring Jane's Easter Egg - This egg-citing Easter egg-stravaganza follows Jane on a chocolate egg hunt. Along the way, she spies a series of eggs - could they be her chocolate egg prize? Naturetown - This rhyming adventure follows the eco warriors of Naturetown in a crusade to help their local wildlife. We investigate issues of plastic pollution, deforestation and litter; teaching us about alternatives and what we can do to protect and care for our animal neighbours. Morpho the Munching Millipede - This active-learning workshop follows ‘Morpho the Munching Millipede’ as he travels through a week-long adventure, meeting a variety of exciting and awe-inspiring ZooLab animals. Summer The Zagaro - The Zagaro, based on a famous children's story, takes us on a trip through the deep, dark wood. We bring this classic tale to life, adding an extra dimension and sense of excitement through our live animal interaction. Speedy the Snail - ​We follow Speedy the Snail’s journey through the jungle and across a number of habitats. They also get to be up-close and hands-on with some ZooLab animals getting to compare the senses and textures and think about how different animals are adapted to different environments. Autumn The Zoo on the Broom - This Halloween, join ZooLab on a rhyming story adventure based on a well known children's classic! Follow our friendly witch Zog on her broomstick ride through towns, forests and bog. Along the way, her broom starts to resemble a zoo! Our helpful and kind witch offers a ride to a selection of amazing animal hitchhikers, who the children will get to meet! However - it's not all plain sailing. Will Zog’s journey end with a bump?! We’re Going On An Animal Hunt! - This story-based workshop based on a classic children’s book takes children on a fantastic animal hunt! Their ZooLab presenter will take them through grass, a river, mud, a forest and a snowstorm before coming face to face with an array of amazing ZooLab animals! Using animals, songs and rhymes helps promote language, physical, social and emotional development. Winter Zola the Kind-hearted Elf - Join Zola the Elf on a wonderful Christmas adventure as we help her deliver presents to children all over the world. From Africa, to India and through America via Australia, we encounter a variety of fascinating creatures along the way! This is a special, festive workshop that focuses on the themes of selflessness, kindness, friendship and fun. Perfect for an end of term treat! Ben In The Glen - Follow Ben through his home in the glen as he explores the changes and wildlife of the seasons and learn how he records his findings in his nature book. Meet some ZooLab animals linked with the seasons along the way.

What is Operation Ocelot? Operation Ocelot is an initiative run by the World Land Trust and their patron Steve Backshall to help raise funds for Rainforest habitats in Guatemala! The project supports the expansion of the Laguna Grande reserve by encouraging children (and adults) to measure their garden, playgroups or local greenspace and fundraise to protect the same amount of area in the Laguna Grande Reserve. Why is it important? Caribbean Guatemala has already lost 80 % of lowland forest to deforestation for plantations and cattle ranching (ICFC, 2022 ) . Laguna Grande Sarstún Reserve is considered the largest remaining lowland and tropical rainforest in Caribbean Guatemala. The area is a safe haven to an estimated 359 species of birds, over 126 species of mammals, 35 amphibian species and 71 reptile species and is one of the most important sites for the conservation of West Indian Manatee ( World Land Trust, ND ). Not only is Laguna Grande important to animals, but the water-holding capacity of the wetland areas of the reserve helps to prevent and mitigate flooding for hurricane-prone Caribbean Guatemala. What are ZooLab doing? ZooLab's team will be measuring their gardens to create their target and donating or fundraising for the same sized area in Guatemala. On top of this, ZooLab is donating £5 per customer who books a Rainforest workshop between January - March to Operation Ocelot.

One of the best things about ZooLab has got to be working with an incredible team! Each month, Ranger Anna will interview a member of the ZooLab family. This month we will be speaking to ZooLab Ranger, Rob Hunt . Hi Rob, how long have you worked for ZooLab? I've worked for ZooLab for 8 years now, I believe. What is your role in the company? My role in ZooLab is as an educational presenter, I spend all my time out on the road saying hello to people. With ZooLab, everyday is different! Can you think of a day which was completely out of the ordinary for you? When my days are super quiet, that is definitely out of the ordinary. What is something you love about working for ZooLab? I love seeing people smile when they get to see animals they wouldn't usually, plus educating future generations about unusual animals. Tell us a little bit about yourself! If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be? Hardworking, funny , honest What was the last TV show you binged watched? Vikings If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be? I'd love an Asian water monitor, but they need loads of space Tell us some of your hobbies! So when not working for ZooLab, you will generally find me working out at the local gym. I like training to compete in powerlifting. What is your favourite ice cream topping? I definitely like sherbet on my ice cream. And finally, what is the craziest thing you have ever done? Of the top of my head, I don't think there's anything to crazy that I've done (at least not what I consider crazy). We hope you enjoyed meeting Rob Hunt, what staff member will we speak to next?

Anyone exhibiting animals in England should hold an Animal Activities Licence. Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 It has been a few years since the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into effect to ensure high standards of animal welfare. We are huge supporters of this legislation! It is fantastic to see more customers making educated and ethical choices when choosing providers. ZooLab’s Licensed Rangers ZooLab is proud to have a team of fully licensed professionals delivering high-quality presentations across England. You can rest assured that the Presenter visiting you will hold an individual Animal Activities Licence, representing the highest levels of animal welfare and care. It is our job to make sure the ZooLab animals are happy, safe and free from stress. Through inspections and guidance, we ensure that our experts maintain the highest welfare standards when looking after ZooLab animals. Please note: You can request a copy of their licence at the time of booking (sent along with confirmation details for your ZooLab visit). What to look for when booking an animal encounter! Always make sure that anyone coming to your establishment with live animals in England carries an active Animal Activities Licence, details of which should be on a provider’s website – if not, please ask before you book. Checks from local councils ensure that the animal’s home environment is safe and well maintained and that the animals used are suitable for display in mobile animal handling settings. Animal Activities Licence ensures that those visiting you have demonstrated the ability to adequately care for their animal’s welfare and have a firm knowledge of disease control, hygiene and handling safety– ultimately keeping you safe! Please put animal welfare first and do not support an unlicensed company!

One of the best things about ZooLab has got to be working with an incredible team! Each month, Ranger Anna will interview a member of the ZooLab family. This month we will be speaking to ZooLab Ranger, Lottie McPhillps ! Hi Lottie, how long have you worked for ZooLab? I first got hired by ZooLab in April 2020. Needless to say, coronavirus kind of put everything on halt for a while! I went and worked in my old primary school as a SEN teaching assistant during the pandemic until ZooLab called me up to rehire me in June this year! What is your role in the company? I'm a ZooLab ranger. I visit lots of different places, teaching people about my animals and look after them all at home! Lottie (left) with Jess and Anna at Wellington Country Park With ZooLab, everyday is different! Can you think of a day which was completely out of the ordinary for you? I recently was booked for a session to bring the animals to a school so the GCSE students could take photos of them for their Art photography project! It was unlike anything else I'd done but so much fun, some of the photos came out absolutely amazing. I wish my GCSE art project had been like that! What is something you love about working for ZooLab? I love when you can tell you've really made a difference to someone's day. Sometimes that's in residential care homes and a sweet old lady coos over your rats while cuddling them. Sometimes it's a young boy who was crying because he was so terrified of the snake, but by the end is beaming and holding her and stays behind to tell me how much he loves snakes now. My favourite is visiting The Children's Trust (the UKs leading charity for children with brain injuries) because sometimes you just get this one moment where they reach out to touch an animal or make eye contact and give this absolutely amazing smile. Tell us a little bit about yourself! Do you have any siblings? I do have siblings! I have two younger brothers. One works in film and TV production and my youngest brother is training to be an aerospace engineer. What are some of your hobbies? I'm a bit of an old lady with my hobbies if I'm honest! I like knitting, even if I have no concept of sizes (my most recent project makes me look like an orangutan), I like reading and doing research on my animals. I suppose one pretty cool hobby I have is scuba diving- I'm a PADI certified Rescue Diver which I did at age 17. It was one of the things I was most proud of accomplishing. What food could you not live without? I absolutely could not live without Mexican food. A great big veggie burrito is my absolute favourite thing to eat! It's a beautiful, sunny day! What's your ideal way to spend it? Oh that sounds like the perfect kind of day for a picnic down by the river! Tasty food, sunbathing and relaxing. Although my partner and I always pack far too much food whenever we go on picnics- I make him carry the giant wicker picnic basket! Who are your favourite ZooLab animals to work with? My favourite ZooLab animals to work with are my giant snails! I have a variety of species and find them really interesting and cute. Although at home I'm always found cuddling my rats! And finally, what would you do if you won the lottery? If I won the lottery I would upgrade all my animal enclosures! They are all in large, bioactive or naturalistic enclosures but I love spoiling my animals and would always give them more if I could! My biggest corn snake is in a giant 5ft enclosure- I'd love to have all of them in something that size if I had space! We hope you enjoyed speaking to Lottie McPhillips, which staff member should we speak to next?

World Cleanup Day (18th September) is a civic movement, uniting 180 countries worldwide to clean up the planet. In one day, World Cleanup Day 2019 brought together 21 million people from 180 countries who cleaned up over 100 thousand tons of waste in 24 hours; this year's event will be bigger than ever. You do not have to be a ZooLab Ranger to know that a cleaner planet means better habitats for animals and thriving ecosystems. As part of World Clean up Day 2021, we pledge to collect bags full of rubbish throughout the UK to help improve the life of local wildlife as part of Mission: Clean Up . Together we can do this! Ready for the shocking facts? In a single day, 2 million bits of rubbish are littered in the UK ( Keep Britain Tidy, ND ) Highways England collects over 180 thousand bags of waste from on roads each year ( Countryfile, 2019 ) Littering costs local councils £700 million each year ( DEFRA, 2021 ) Worldwide, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered annually ( Zero Waste Scotland, 2021 ) Part of our oceans contain 6x more microplastics than plankton ( MCSUK, ND ) An estimated 2.9 million small animals lose their lives each year due to the incorrect disposal of bottles and cans ( BBC, 2018 ) The problem with litter bugs Living in what has been dubbed the “ fly-tipping capital of Britain ” , I can often be seen litter picker in hand as one of many volunteers keeping our neighbourhood clean. Still to this day, I am taken aback by the sheer volume of rubbish left behind in our green spaces. Not only is litter unsightly, but it is also a massive danger to people and animals. How many times have you visited your local green space and had to walk around the broken glass? Me, far too many times to count. In an area where children play, this can cause terrible injury and for us dog walkers, a huge vet bill. For a wild animal, litter can mean death! From glass injury to ingestion or becoming trapped, incorrect disposal results in at least 11 calls a day to the RSPCA ; the biggest culprits being plastic bags (we’ll come on this in a moment), plastic holders, balloons Chinese lanterns, food containers, cans, glass, elastic bands and fishing tackle. Plastic Pollution Notice how many of the above items were plastic? We’ll we’re using more than ever. It’s durable and cheap to produce - we’re consuming it at staggering rates. Current estimates show that at least 8 million pieces of plastic are entering the oceans every year ( ICUN, ND ). The real impact of discarded plastic bags is felt by wildlife, both in the marine environment and in rural areas. Plastic bags, once ingested, cannot be digested or passed by an animal so it stays in the gut which can prevent food digestion and lead to a slow and excruciating death. Food for thought, worldwide, there is approx. 100 million tons of plastic in our oceans ( Sea Turtle Conservancy, ND ), this leads to an annual death toll of 1 million marine animals ( UNESCO, ND ) The scary part is that now, it is not just animals ingesting plastic! A study on fish in the English channel found that 1 in 3 caught for human consumption contained microplastics. Mission: Clean Up - What can you do? The number one thing you can do is dispose of your litter correctly - put it in a bin (if there isn’t one, take it home). It is a massive help to the environment if you also pick up any litter that you see. World Cleanup Day (18th September) is the perfect time to start; see if there is an event in your area or host your own! Be mindful of packaging, reduce the amount of plastic you consume. RSPCA also have a lot of tips on how to dispose of waste in a way that will have less impact on wildlife

We love our animals. We feed them, care for them and take them to the vets when they get sick. We welcome them into our families and give them a safe home. A special home with no predators, plenty of food and warmth, it's ideal! When we want to spoil our cats and dogs we often buy them special treats, let them run around outside and play with them to spoil our fur-babies. Even rabbits and guinea pigs, we let them have time outside in a run to feel grass underfoot and smell fresh air. So how can we do this for our more unusual pets? Reptiles and amphibians deserve to be spoiled just as much as other pets! It's just hard to know how to do this sometimes. A fantastic way to do this is naturalistic and bioactive enclosures! So first of all: what is bioactive? Bioactive is basically an advanced method of keeping involving the use of soil, live plants and small invertebrates known as 'Clean Up Crew'. Together with the reptile (or amphibian) this creates an entire functioning ecosystem! In our ZooLab session, ' Habitats ' , you can learn all about our different animals and where they live in the wild. Plants: Provide hiding spots for the animal, as well as purifying the air and removing harmful nitrates from the soil (which build up over time). Always check that plants are safe for your specific reptile before putting them in your enclosure. Clean Up Crew (CUC): Eat waste material produced by the reptile or amphibian and prevent moulding. Soil: Provides natural digging opportunities for the animal, and a medium for the plants to grow. Leaf litter: For the Clean Up Crew to eat and hide under. Heat source: It is important to use an overhead, light emitting heat source such as a basking bulb, as this provides deep penetrating heat, unlike heat mats, which will not penetrate the substrate and can potentially be dangerous. Bioactive can seem daunting at first but it is definitely worth it! When functioning correctly, this does not need to be fully cleaned out! It provides a natural and enriching environment for the animal to thrive in and explore. They are also much nicer to look at in your house! Naturalistic enclosures also replicate the animal's; environment, but without real plants or Clean Up Crew. This needs to be cleaned out periodically but still retains many of the benefits of bioactive! What works for one species may not work for another, as we need to consider the animals natural environment. Leopard geckos, for example, will have very different requirements to tree frogs. Clean Up Crew This is a variety of small invertebrates used for their role as detritivores to break down organic matter and turn it into plant fertiliser. There are lots of different types and have different jobs, so it's good to have a variety if you can. Springtails - Incredibly small invertebrates which are a staple in most bioactive enclosures. They like it quite moist so in arid enclosures will mostly be found under the water bowl. They maintain the ecosystem by eating mould and dead plant matter. Isopods - These are woodlice like you find in the garden! There are thousands of species, and some people buy 'fancy' tropical ones to keep as pets for hundreds of pounds (look up ' rubber ducky isopods '; to understand why). Some good tropical varieties are dwarf whites and dairy cows (just make sure to provide enough protein if you go with dairy cows). Isopods eat faeces and other waste matter. Worms - This can be anything from earthworms to morio and mealworms. They aerate the substrate and keep it from becoming too compacted. Beetles - Mealworms and morioworms are readily available as reptile food. They eventually pupate into darkling beetles which are very useful in a bioactive enclosure. They may even reproduce and you could end up with a breeding population (free gecko snacks anyone?) Tropical Bioactive Enclosures Tropical species of reptiles and amphibians (crested/other arboreal geckos, tree frogs etc.) often prefer hot, humid environments. For these animals I recommend a drainage layer of clay balls to prevent the soil becoming too waterlogged. Organic top soil is ideal as it is safe for animals and will allow plants to grow. Adding cocofiber to this mix can help raise the humidity. Suitable plants: Spider plants ( Chlorophytum comosum ) Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) Snake plants (Sanseveria) Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) Dwarf umbrella plant (Schefflera arboricola) Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) Chinese evergreens Orchids Bromeliads Begonia Arid Bioactive Enclosures Arid means a fairly dry environment (great for leopard geckos, bearded dragon etc.). You may think this means you cannot have live plants, but this is untrue! You just need to choose hardy plants which do not require much watering (snake plants, spider plants and succulents are great options!) There is no need for a drainage layer in this type of enclosure. It is a good idea to add play sand to your organic soil to better replicate their natural environment. Adding excavator clay will help the animal to dig and even create burrows! Suitable plants: Spider plants ( Chlorophytum comosum ) Golden Pothos* ( Epipremnum aureum ) Snake plants ( Sanseveria ) Ponytail Palm ( Beaucarnea recurvata ) Elephants bush ( Portulacaria afra ) Turtle vine ( Callisia repens ) Dracaena Yucca Succulents Spineless prickly pear Desert ornamental grass Philodendron* (those with * next to them may be unsafe for plant eating reptiles such as bearded dragon) Snake Bioactive Enclosures Snake bioactive enclosures for corn snakes, royal pythons, boas, milk snakes, king snakes, rat snakes. The most important thing for snakes is that they won't destroy the plants by bulldozing over them! Use hardy plants like in an arid enclosure and make sure the enclosure is large enough for your snake to move around in. Think about your snake's wild habitat. If they like high humidity, add cocofiber to the mix. If they dig or burrow, add excavator clay. If they come from dryer environments, add play sand to firm up the soil. Pitfalls Heat -The most common method of heating reptile enclosures is a heat mat. Heat mats produce surface heat which will not penetrate a deep soil layer. In nature, heat comes from the sun above! Give your reptile a mini sun in the form of a basking bulb! Overwatering - If you overwater your plants, your animal, clean up crew and plants will not be happy! Plant lighting - Often this problem comes from those already familiar with UV bulbs for their animal. Unfortunately UV bulbs are not enough for plants to thrive as they need a different wavelength of light. Aquarium white LED lights are ideal as plant lights, or reptile companies do make them (but will put a dent in your savings!) Greedy reptile - It's happened to all of us. You've got your beautiful bioactive enclosure all set up, planted your plants, chosen your clean up crew. Then, within days, it appears your gecko has eaten everything in sight and is looking very smug. Keep half your clean up crew back to breed just in case this happens, and top up if you need to. Choosing CUC which are adept at hiding (such as dwarf woodlice, springtails and worms) can also help prevent this. There is no single right way to do a bioactive enclosure and it may take a little trial and error. If you are unsure or have never used loose substrate for your reptile before I recommend trialing with a naturalistic enclosure to start with! You can use loose substrate and bury the plants in their pots until your comfortable with this new type of husbandry. It is not easy, nor is it a solution to not cleaning out enclosures! It can take a lot of work and perseverance but in the end it is worth it for the physiological and psychological welfare of your reptile. Reptiles have even been shown to bond with their owners if provided with a suitably large and enriching environment ( Hoehfurtner, Wilkinson, Nagabaskaran, Burman, 2021 ). Learn more from these sources: Leopard Gecko - Advancing Husbandry Corn snakes - Advancing Husbandry Crested Gecko - Advancing Husbandry Bearded Dragon - Advancing Husbandry Reptifiles Josh's frogs

We are delighted to present our new series, ‘In Conversation with...’. Throughout the series, we will interview interesting professionals from a range of different backgrounds across the animal industry. Each has a fascinating story to tell and our series will tell you a bit more about what they do and how they got to where they are today. This month, Chris sits down with Lynne MacTavish, who runs Mankwe Wildlife Reserve with her family. Lynne has an extraordinary story, and one which will touch the hearts of many. She dedicates her life to wildlife conservation, most notably protecting the white rhino within the reserve from the constant threat of poaching. It's been a particularly challenging 12 months for Lynne and her team, who already face daily struggles on the reserve. Listening to their story is enough to make anyone want to take action, and in normal times it's possible to head to the reserve for an unforgettable, hands-on volunteering experience. Now more than ever they need our help as South Africa continues to face COVID-19 and the restrictions still in place.

In this series, we will be answering some of the most common questions asked about our animal team. This month, we are starting with our spotty friend - the leopard gecko. Where are leopard geckos from? South Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, North West India and parts of Iran What is a leopard gecko's habitat in the wild? Where do leopard geckos live? In the wild, leopard geckos can be found in rocky, dry grasslands and desert areas. Are leopard geckos nocturnal? Leopard geckos are actually crepuscular - this means that they are most active at twilight. Why? Temperatures are cooler and there is less competition for prey (or from being preyed upon themselves. Are leopard geckos good pets? We think so! Leopard geckos are quite docile creatures in captivity and even enjoy human contact. Before getting any pet, please do your research! Please follow the RSPCA’s advice . What is the leopard gecko lifespan in captivity? 10 - 20 years. Are leopard geckos social? No, leopard geckos are fairly solitary creatures and we would recommend housing them alone. In the wild, leopard geckos are territorial and don’t live in groups. Do leopard geckos have teeth? Yes, lots. Around 100, in fact! Why do leopard geckos have spots? Not all leopard geckos have spots - each morph is different. Reptile Advisor has a great post about different variations. However, the yellow body with black spots is the norm and most common in the wild. The bumpy skin and spots on a leopard gecko helps them to camouflage, making it harder to spot by predators.

We are delighted to present the first in our new series, ‘In Conversation with...’. Throughout the series, we will interview interesting professionals from a range of different backgrounds across the animal industry. Each has a fascinating story to tell and our series will tell you a bit more about what they do and how they got to where they are today. First up, our South ranger Chris Knowles sits down with Grace Dickinson, an animal presenter, educator and trainer. Grace began working professionally in zoos and as a film industry wrangler/trainer in 2002 - you may even recognise some of her animal stars from your favourite TV shows and movies! Grace has an amazing passion for animals which comes across in everything she does. It’s amazing to learn about the level of patience, trust and skills involved in her line of work. Next month, Chris sits down with Lynne MacTavish from Mankwe Wildlife Reserve in South Africa to discuss the incredible conservation work undertaken on the reserve, and the serious threats posed by rhino poachers especially through the COVID-19 pandemic.