It’s Easter! We’re all familiar with the bunnies and chicks that grace our decorations and chocolates over the easter period but what about other cultures? In this blog, we travel across the world to see what other animals are associated with easter and how they are celebrated!   5 Easter Animals From Around The World Rabbit - UK Probably the most recognisable animal surrounding easter, they are often linked in ancient religions to fertility, which is fitting for a celebration of rebirth and new life. In German folklore, rabbits were also said to judge whether children had been good or bad and lay colourful eggs for the good ones to find. In one version of the story, the goddess of springtime found a nearly frozen bird and took pity on it, turning it into a rabbit with lots of warm fur. The rabbit keep some of its bird-like traits and continued laying eggs.   By Sardaka - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65195279 Bilby - Australia Rabbits are believed to be an invasive species in Australia, having been brought to the country in the 17 th century. In opposition to this, Australia picked a new easter mascot – the Bilby! This animal is well loved in the country and are also endangered so having them be the national symbol for easter raises awareness for their conservation! Cuckoo Bird - Switzerland This bird is popular at easter in Switzerland. They are considered a symbol of spring, representing new life and new beginnings. Switzerland is part of their natural habitat and are said to be the ones that bring eggs to children around easter. Cuckoo birds are notorious egg thieves which would explain the array of colourful eggs in their nests – they’re all from different birds!   Fox - Germany In Germany, it’s the foxes, or the Osterfuchs, that deliver eggs to children before the easter bunny took over in the early 1900s. This association likely comes from early spring, when foxes emerge from the chilly weather and go on the hunt for food. They also relate to the tradition of Eierheischen, which is where people went door-to-door leading a fox on a leash, collecting eggs as donations.   Doves – Italy In Italy, doves don’t deliver eggs but they still play an important part in the festivities. A traditional easter cake, Colomba de Pasqua, is baked in the shape of a dove and in Florence a dove shaped rocket zooms through the city to the cathedral and ignites fireworks. The dove also represents peace, linked with God’s ability to communicate with humanity. So there you go! What was your favourite? Let us know in the comments and check out our dedicated easter workshop!

Where to see ZooLab in April Below are a selection of locations that we are visiting in April, please check with each venue for times and ticket information. 3rd - 5th - Newhailes House and Gardens , Musselburgh 3rd - 6th -  Blenheim Palace ,  Woodstock 6th - Summerlee Museum , Coatbridge 5th & 19th - Ocean Edge Park Resort, Lancashire 7th - Dalby Forest , Pickering 7th - Denbies Wine Estate , Dorking 7th, 9th, 15th, 16th and 17th - Buffalo Farm , Kirkcaldy 8th and 13th -  Robert Burns Birthplace Museum , Alloway 9th - Alice Holt Forest , Farnham 9th - Tuckton Tea Gardens , Bournemouth 11th - Natural History Musuem , London 19th - Romney Sands Holiday Park, New Romney 19th - Southerness Holiday Park, Dumfries 25th - Hamsterly Forest, Bishop Auckland Come back in a few weeks' time to see where you can see ZooLab in April, or contact us if you would like ZooLab to visit your setting.

It's time for this year's Big Garden Bird Watch! Every year in January, the RSPB encourages people across the UK to sit and watch the birds for an hour and record their findings on the RSPB website. In celebration, we thought we'd run down some common birds you can find in your garden and what you can do to attract them! 5 Birds You Can Spot In Your Garden House Sparrows These birds are the most commonly sighted in the UK, largely because they thrive in both countryside and urban areas. There are more than 5 million breeding pairs across the country. House sparrows are also noisy, sociable birds and excellent scavengers, enjoying rubbish left by humans.   How to spot them Small; males are chestnut brown with black markings and pale grey underparts; females and juveniles are brown with black markings, a pale-yellow stripe behind the eyes, and a pale chest; short chunky beak.   How to encourage them in your garden These birds like berries, nuts, and household scraps, so make sure bird feeders are fully stocked. They prefer to nest near people, so nest boxes near your house are a great choice. Blackbirds Blackbirds are particularly fond of playgrounds, with 85% of schools reporting sightings of them on their grounds. They have an estimated population of 10-15 million birds and are the leading voice in the UK’s dawn chorus across the country.   How to spot them Males are all black with a yellow bill and a ring around the eyes; females and juveniles are all brown with yellow bills and chest patterning.   How to encourage them in your garden Blackbirds like fruits, plants, and insects, so consider planting fruit trees and shrubs in your garden, as well as leaving leaf litter on the ground for the birds to forage through.   Chaffinches Chaffinches are the UK’s second most common bird you can spot in your garden. They were historically caught and caged as songbirds, with competitions even being held to see which bird would repeat its song the most. They also have regional accents to their song, just like us!   How to spot them Chaffinches are often spotted near bird feeders. They have patterned feathers to blend in with the ground. You’ll usually hear them before you see them.   How to encourage them in your garden They like seeds and insects, so make sure your bird feeders are well stocked with seeds. Consider leaving leaf litter in your garden for them to forage for insects.   Wood Pigeons These birds tend to have a bad reputation as pests; they are much more than that. They are the most common breed of pigeon in the UK, and you can see them across the UK, especially in towns and cities. They may seem shy, but they are tame and approachable if you take your time.   How to spot them They have a grey body, a pink chest, and a white patch on the neck.   How to encourage them in your garden Like other birds in this list, they like grains, seeds, and leafy greens. So, make sure the bird feeders are full and that there are plenty of plants for them to feed on. Magpies These birds are very well known thanks to the popular rhyme: “one for sorrow, two for joy…” They’re very sociable and like to spend their time chattering with other birds. One myth about them is correct: they love decorating their nests with shiny objects!   How to spot them They have a long, black, feathered tail and very recognisable black-and-white stripes on their bodies and wings.   How to encourage them in your garden Magpies are omnivorous, so providing high-protein foods like mealworms and suet balls is a sure-fire way to get them interested in your garden. Learn more about the Big Garden Bird Watch on the RSPB website .

India is rich in biodiversity. It is actually one of 17 megadiverse countries and includes 3 the world’s 36 hotspots for biodiversity: the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas, and the Indo-Burma hotspot. So, let’s travel through rainforests, Himalayan mountains, grasslands, and coral reefs to discover some of the animals that call the seventh-largest country in the world home!   10 Fun Facts About Indian Animals Bengal tiger The Bengal tiger is the largest cat and the most common tiger. They number about half of all tigers. Their habitats stretch across the country, except for the Thar Desert, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Kutch. Research has theorised that each Bengal tiger has unique stripes – no two are alike! Just as all humans have unique fingerprints, so do tigers with stripes, and no two tigers will ever look the same.   Russell’s Viper This viper comes from the grasslands and shrubs of North-Eastern India and was discovered by the Scottish herpetologist Patrick Russell, who first described many of India’s snake species. Russell’s viper is one of the big four snakes in the country and is responsible for causing more snakebite incidents and deaths than any other venomous snake. Himalayan Newt This little critter is only found in the Darjeeling district of India. They are the sole representative of the Caudata order among amphibians on the Indian subcontinent. They’re a semi-aquatic amphibian found in hilly lakes and water bodies at high altitudes.   Indian rhinoceros Kaziranga National Park is home to a large number of one-horned Rhinoceros. The forest within the park has a whopping 2,000 of them! They are the largest species of rhino on Earth and males and weigh up to 3 tonnes!   Peacock These birds are a type of peafowl, with males being peacocks and females being peahens. India adopted the peacock as its national bird in 1963, and it is one of the country's national symbols. They’re mentioned in the Uttara Ramayana, a famous text from Ancient India. The peacock originally had dull feathers until it saved someone during battle. In return, they blessed the peacock, its colourful plumage that has thousands of ‘eyes’. Fire ants Fire ants are a common pest that invade houses, roads, trees, and other areas in the village of Brahmansahi. Local sources say the ants began invading after a flood caused by torrential rain. Manta rays Manta rays are the largest rays in the world and can weigh up to 1.5 tonnes! The market for manta rays and devil ray gill plates has boomed in recent years, marketed as a medicinal tonic claimed to detoxify and purify the body. There is no scientific evidence supporting these claims, and they are actively harming ray populations. India was identified as one of the top source countries for supplying gill plates. Local conservation efforts in India are attempting to target this. Purple Frog This species is endemic to the Western Ghats. Females carry the males on their backs to crevices along fast-flowing streams to lay eggs. These frogs spend most of their life burrowed underground and only resurface for two weeks during the monsoon season to mate.   By Gejuni - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45575554 Dugong Dugongs are a protected species in India, and can be seen in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, the Gulf of Kutch, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Sadly, the population used to thrive but has declined in recent years to about 200 individuals. Also called ‘sea cows’, they graze peacefully on seagrasses in shallow coastal waters.   Sea Pig Sea pigs are a type of sea cucumber and are super fragile. If brought to the water’s surface, they completely disintegrate. Found in the Indian Ocean, they can survive up to 1,000 metres down on the seabed. So there you go, some of our favourite Indian animals! Got a suggestion for what country we should do next? Let us know in the comments!

Animals are experts at adaptations. These allow populations to survive and thrive in different habitats, and humans have often been inspired by them. This is biomimetics! Biomimetics is the branch of science that examines concepts in nature to inspire engineers to solve human problems. We’ve looked at some of our favourites, read on and let us know yours!   How Scientists Are Inspired By Nature Spiders During Roman times, spider silk was used as a seal to cover wounds. It is flexible yet strong, which helps it stretch over them and create a seal. Spider silk is also as strong as steel yet incredibly flexible. It has tensile strength and can absorb a lot of energy before rupturing. So, how has this material been used by nature-inspired engineers?   Bulletproof vests! They have to withstand a significant impact without injuring the wearer. So, scientists have created artificial spider silk with properties very similar to those of natural spider silk, which they used to create bulletproof vests. It can also help produce surgical thread and artificial ligaments.   Cockroaches These little critters can move at speed through rough terrain and very small gaps, even when surfaces and objects are touching both sides of their body. Engineers discovered that they can tilt their bodies when sliding through small gaps or openings without expending extra energy.   There is value in turning this design into a similar-sized robot. A robot that can be operated from afar - from a remote control – and fitted with a recording device and camera. A cockroach robot is really useful for undercover work, such as espionage for organisations like MI5. Perhaps it may be a war-torn area where it is dangerous to send in a human being. Who is going to notice a cockroach robot that looks like....well, a cockroach!   Snail Snails may seem like they fit nicely in humid environments like forests and gardens, yet you can find them all over the world, including deserts! You may ask yourself how they deal with the heat and the direct sun - we know snails are at risk of drying out. In the desert, snail shells are a different shape, with a slightly different aperture to keep the opening flat with the ground, preventing further moisture loss. The shell itself has ample space at the base, allowing for good airflow!   The design of a desert snail shell not only means good air flow, but the colouring of the shell is also light, almost white! These colours reflect all wavelengths of light and therefore absorb the least heat, while black absorbs all wavelengths of light and reflects none. So the desert snail shell has multiple methods for keeping cool, including a different colour from that of many snail shells. Architects have designed human desert dwellings based on this design because of the excellent air flow from the shape of the shell and the colour   Frog If you’ve ever had to go through stomach surgery, you may well have had an ingenious design wandering around in your stomach. Tree frogs are arboreal amphibians with special toe pads that allow them to stick to many different surfaces. Their feet have hexagonal patterned channels that, when in contact with a wet surface, build an adhesion force. It is the same kind of idea as a Coke glass sticking to a beer mat!   Scientists at Leeds University designed a tiny robot to move across the patient's internal abdominal wall, allowing surgeons to see what they are doing on a real-time video feed. The tree frog's feet provide a solution to the critical problem of keeping the device from slipping off wet, slippery tissue when it is vertical or upside down. Although it is relatively easy to find ways to stick to or grip tissue, the patterns on the frog's feet allow holding and releasing a grip without harming the patient. So a ribbiting robot - who knew!   Snake On a snake's upper body, the scales are diamond-shaped, and on the underside, they are rectangular-shaped and overlap. So, why are they shaped like this? Well, the scales are diamond-shaped to provide a tough exterior for protection and waterproofing. The scales underneath overlap to reduce friction when the snake is in motion and to provide maximum resistance to wear and tear.   If you looked at a snake's scales under a microscope, you would find small hairs called fibrils on the scales. When a snake moves, it grips and pushes down with one part of its body while the other part slides forward. Scientists have found that there are many fibrils on the part of the body that needs to push down, and very few on the part that slides forward. These fibrils are incredible adaptations that allow the snake to move without legs. Expert friction control and durability make snake and lizard skin highly desirable to engineers seeking to build those characteristics into machines.   Eventually, replica reptilian materials could find use in high-end automotive engineering, such as Formula One race cars, or in the next generation of search-and-rescue and exploration robots modelled after snakes.   Rats & Gerbils Rats are scavengers and can breed incredibly quickly. A female rat can produce up to 7 litters per year, totalling around 84 offspring. There is a relationship between the number of people and the number of rats, as population numbers go up, so does the rat population. You may have seen reports during the COVID lockdowns, when people were shut away, and there was less food waste in the usual places where rats were seen out in the day.   Male rats release a pheromone to attract females, and scientists have been able to recreate this exact smell and composition synthetically using chemicals. In the suburbs of New York, baited boxes were placed around the city that contained synthetic rat pheromone, attracting many female rats. In addition to the artificial pheromone, the box contained food for the female rat. The food was laced with contraceptives, preventing the rat from getting pregnant. This was an ingenious design to control the rat population without harming them. Interested in learning more? Check out our dedicated Biomimetics workshop!

It's International Women's Day! We thought we'd combine this with Science Week to discuss some of our favourite influential women in STEM. From pioneers in biology and mathematics to heroes of nature, women have always played an important role in our understanding of the world. It's about time we celebrated them! Top 5 Influential Women in STEM Image by Henri Manuel - cdn-images-1.medium.com, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=153208284 Marie Curie Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a Polish scientist born in 1867. She was a pioneer in the field of radioactive research and discovered two new elements – polonium and radium. Her research revolutionised how we treat cancer patients; she even won two Nobel prizes throughout her life for her work. She sadly died of radiation exposure at the age of 66, and her notebooks are still so radioactive that they are stored in lead-lined boxes.   Image by Unknown author - https://www.starkefrauen.online/home/wollen-ist-knnen-atybc-5eewc, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=105279929 Mary Seacole Mary Seacole was born in Jamaica to a Jamaican doctress and a Scottish British Army officer. She was the first free black woman to write and publish an autobiography. Mary studied the disease Cholera after an outbreak in Jamaica and used her knowledge to help soldiers fight infection during the Crimean War. She also regularly visited the battlefield on horseback, delivering food, bandages, and medicine.   Image by U.S. Department of State from United States - Deputy Secretary Higginbottom Poses for a Photo With Dr. Jane Goodall and the State Department's Global Health Diplomacy Director Jordan in Washington, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=176194954 Jane Goodall Jane Goodall was a conservationist and activist best known for her work with Chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. With no formal academic training, Jane studied chimpanzee behaviour and discovered things that completely revolutionised our view of primates. She observed chimpanzees eating meat (previously considered herbivores) and using tools they had made, as well as developing strong social and emotional bonds among pack members. She then worked for the national park for twenty years before setting up chimpanzee refuges and campaigning for animal rights.   Image by Antoine Claudet - shared by Paul Graham on x.com https://x.com/paulg/status/1927655441913250041, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=166285599 Ada Lovelace Ada Lovelace is considered the first computer programmer, although living long before the invention of the computer. She was the daughter of the famous poet Lord Byron, and her mother insisted she be tutored in maths and science. She became the mentee of mathematician Charles Babbage and made brilliant observations about an early version of a calculator he was inventing. She likened it to a weaving machine in the way it followed patterns and considered that a machine could do the same to create numbers and even letters. These were the early formations of computer-related thinking.   Image by MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology - This file was derived from: Rosalind Franklin.jpg:, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77075413 Rosalind Franklin Rosalind Franklin is often considered one of the most famous victims of male prejudice for her work on DNA structures. She was the person who took the X-ray image that led to the first double-helix model of DNA, yet her two male co-workers took the credit and denied her a Nobel Prize. She also discovered that DNA strands change depending on the humidity around them. However, her contributions to research extended beyond DNA; she also made significant advances in understanding coal, graphite, and viruses. So, there you go! Who is your favourite woman in STEM? Let us know in the comments! If you're interested in learning more, get in touch to book one of our STEM workshops!

It's Love Your Pet Day! Animals are a passion of ours and many members of our staff own animals of all types, so we thought we'd share some of our top pets! All the pictures in this blog are also real animals owned by members of our team, so get ready to see some really cute animals! ZooLab's Top 10 Favourite Pets 1) Frogs It wouldn't be a list of our favourite pets without talking about frogs - they're on our logo for a reason! Every member of our presenting team owns at least one frog and they're a big hit at our workshops too! It is believed that frogs have existed for around 200 million years and there are over 6,000 species worldwide. 2) Dogs Dogs are the most popular pet in the UK, with 30-36% of the population keeping them as pets, and this is definitely similar among our staff. They were first domesticated over 20,000 years ago and come from a species of wolf that are still around today! 3) Rabbits It's always a good day when we get pictures from staff of their pet rabbits in the work group chat! Rabbits can make great pets when cared for properly, they are clean, sociable, and gentle. Rabbits are happiest when kept with other rabbits and they can even play tricks on each other! 4) Geckos Geckos are another core member of our animal team, and we love keeping them as pets. There are approximately 1,000 species across all continents except Antarctica. They enjoy warm climates, and they use their tails to store fat. 5) Snails Snails may seem like an odd choice to keep as a pet, but they're a firm favourite among our field team, especially Giant African Land Snails. Snails have existed for hundreds of millions of years and can even slow down their metabolism to survive months (and sometimes even years) without food. 6) Cats Around 11-25 million cats are kept as pets in the UK, with increasing numbers of them being non-pedigree breeds. They're also very popular among our staff, in both the office and presenter teams! There's nothing quite like seeing them snoozing in the sun or curled up on a comfy bed, and cats can sleep up to 12-18 hours a day! 7) Katydids Ranger Emily has been wowing her local area with her collection of Katydid pets! They are in the same family as crickets and have an excellent ability to disguise themselves as leaves! Rarely, pink versions of katydids will be born and this usually only happens to 1 in 500 katydids! 8) Bearded Dragons As of 2024, between 300,000 and 800,000 people in the UK kept lizards as pets, with bearded dragons being among the most popular. This is due to their gentle nature and being active mostly through the day. Their name comes from the spiny scales that surround their head. 9) Gerbils The number of small animals being kept as pets in the UK is slowly rising, with gerbils numbering around 300,000 in 2024. They are a particular favourte among staff and customers, as many of our fluffy animals are! They're happiest in groups with lots of fresh bedding to burrow down into. 10) Snakes Snakes are another animal that sometimes gets a bad reputation, but we love them here at ZooLab. The species that we keep as pets are friendly and inquisitive, making them perfect for our animal meet and greets. Many people think they are slimy, but their scales are actually extremely smooth and dry! Did you know you can meet some of our animals in person? Get in touch with us to book your own animal meet and greet!

Below are a selection of locations where you can see ZooLab in March. Please check with each venue for times and ticket information. 6th - Natural History Museum, London - Dino Snores for Grown Ups 9th - The Emmanuel Centre, London - Biomimicry 11th - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London - Biomimicry 12th - 14th - Hull Science Festival, Hull - Oceans 20th - Life Science Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne 21st - Natural History Museum, London - Dino Snores for Kids 27th - Natural History Museum, London - Dino Disco VIP 29th - Barony Castle, Peebles - Easter show 30th - 31st - National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth - Sounds of the Sea Come back in a few weeks' time to see where you can see ZooLab in March, or contact us if you would like ZooLab to visit your setting.

It is clear now, more than ever, how important mental health is in our day-to-day lives. This Children’s Mental Health Week, we thought we’d answer some of the big questions about how mental wellbeing affects the young people in our lives. The NSPCC says that over half of calls to Childline are related to mental or emotional health issues. So, let's look at why mental health is important and what we can do to support children. Why is mental health important for children? A child’s mental health is just as important for their development as physical health. If children feel good, they’re more ready to learn, build relationships, and become healthy adults. It can also help build resilience, enabling them to handle whatever life throws at them. What can affect a child’s mental health? There are so many things that can affect a child’s mental health. Children go through many changes throughout their lives, and the stress of these changes can act as triggers for a shift in their mood. As well as this, traumatic events, a bad home life, and even the stresses of everyday life can have an effect on their mental health. As a child goes through puberty, hormones and other bodily changes can also have an effect.   How can I support a child dealing with mental health issues? It’s important to have conversations with the young people in your life about mental health and make them feel comfortable and confident to talk to others about how they are feeling.   As well as this, you can… Make sure they have plenty of time to play, both inside and outside Feed them a healthy, balanced diet and make sure they are regularly exercising Check in with how they’re doing at school and that the school is taking care of their mental well-being Ensure they have good friends who make them happy   How can animal therapy support mental health? Animal-assisted therapy is recognised as an occupational therapy within psychology, as animals are believed to bring people together. Having an animal to interact with can help children who may be struggling with schoolwork or home life, including those on the autism spectrum. It can also inspire a desire to learn and foster a sense of purpose. Learn more about how animal-assisted therapy can help people of all ages on our website and get in touch to book your session today!

Below are a selection of locations where you can see ZooLab in February. Please check with each venue for times and ticket information. 7th - Natural History Museum, London - Dinsosnores for Kids VIP 14th - 15th, 21st - 22nd - Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury - ZooLab Adventure Trail 14th - 22nd - Wicksteed Park, Kettering - Animal Explorer 16th & 19th - Bodmin Jail, Cornwall 16th - Chipping Barnet Library, Barnet - Animal Explorer 17th - Alice Holt Forest, Farnham - Chinese New Year 17th - Tring Library, Tring - Henry’s Senses 17th - Radlett Library, Radlett - Henry’s Senses 17th - Whitworth Library, Rochdale - Animal Explorer 17th - Leeds City Museum, Leeds - Animal Explorer 17th - 18th - National Army Museum, London - Rainforest Discovery 18th - Lochwinnoch Community Library, Renfrewshire - Animal Explorer 18th - Osterley Park and House, Isleworth - Morpho the Munching Millipede 18th - Ferguslie Library, Paisley - Animal Explorer 1 8th - 19th - Market Hall Museum, Warwick - Animal Explorer 19th - Baldock Library, Baldock - Henry’s Senses 19th - Royston Library, Royston - Henry’s Senses 19th - Denbie’s Estate, Surrey - Chinese New Year 20th - Newington Library, Edinburgh - Animal Explorer 20th - Finchley Church End Library, London - Slow Down With Slo Mo 20th - Colindale Library, London - Slow Down With Slo Mo 20th - Natural History Museum, London - Dinosnores for Grown Ups 21st - Norwich Science Festival, Norwich - Biomimicry & Z.E.T. 27th - Natural History Museum, London - Dino Disco VIP Come back in a few weeks' time to see where you can see ZooLab in March, or contact us if you would like ZooLab to visit your setting.

Guten Tag! Today, we take a tour around a country full of culture, environmentalism and fairy tales - Germany.  We’ll take a stroll through the forest, go caving, fish in Lake Ammer, and climb the Alps to find 10 fun facts about German animals. 10 Fun Facts About German Animals Meet the Cave Animal of the Year , 2023 The fire salamander is found throughout Germany in damp caves and mine shafts. Its bright colours make it easy to identify and act as a warning to predators. This species secretes a potent toxin that causes muscle convulsions, hypertension, and hyperventilation in vertebrates. Ammersee Ruffe is an endemic bioindicator Found only in Lake Ammer,  Bavaria, the Ammersee Ruffe acts as a bioindicator due to its sensitivity to environmental change, helping researchers assess freshwater habitat health. Learn more about this fantastic species.  10 bearded vultures have been released to Berchtesgaden National Park. Due to misconceptions, bearded vultures were persecuted to local extinction in the Eastern Alps over a century ago. Over the last 5 years,  Landesbund für Vogelschutz in Bayern (LBV) , Berchtesgaden National Park and Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) have collaborated to release a pair of birds annually in the hope to reestablish a breeding population. Found out more about Luisa and Generl , 2025’s pair.  Home to hamsters that weigh the same as a loaf of bread The European field hamster weighs up to 600 grams . They are one of the most endangered mammals in Germany and are already extinct in some areas due to farming practices. Dice snakes play dead to avoid predators. While some animals play dead by lying down and staying still, the dice snake takes it one step further. They cover themselves in musk and feces and fill their mouth with blood to mislead their pursuer.  2/3 of spruce trees in the Harz mountains have been eaten by bark beetles Climate change has caused spruce trees to become drier making them more susceptible to bark beetles. Six times more trees are being damaged by the pest in the last two years.  2 million raccoons call Germany home Introduced in the 1930’s for their fur, invasive raccoons now run free across Germany with high numbers in Hesse and Brandenburg. Their existence is diverse with many locals befriending individuals while others support culls due to the damage they can cause to ecosystems and property.  A new species of dinosaur was identified in 2025  Originally found in fossil beds in Holzmaden in 1978, Plesionectes longicollum was an ancient marine reptile. In 2025, further studies took place, which discovered its features were different, allowing it to be recognised as a unique species. Read more.  Cockchafer was a German delicacy Cockchafer, AKA the may bug, was a huge pest to crops. Locals collected them to help reduce the population, and cockchafer soup was born. It’s said to have a crabby flavour.  Chamois can climb at 45° angles Chamois are wild goats found throughout the Bavarian Alps, Vosges Mountains in the Black Forest, and Swabian Mountains. They are nature's mountaineers who have adapted to survive in harsh environments. Find out more fun facts on our blog

Our native biodiversity is in decline. The State of Nature Report, 2013 , shows that 16% of the UK’s species are classified as threatened, with one in six at risk of extinction. The report states that the UK is one of the world’s most nature-depleted areas.  ZooLab is passionate about raising awareness of our region's endangered animals. This is the third post in our series exploring each UK county, spotlighting at-risk species and the conservation efforts to protect them.  Today, we are looking at five endangered animal species from Wales, where 18% of Welsh species are threatened with extinction. 5 Endangered animals in Wales Eurasian Curlew The Eurasian curlew is Europe’s biggest wader and was once an iconic sight in the Welsh countryside. The UK holds a quarter of the global population of these fantastic birds.  They inhabit a variety of different habitats, from mudflats, salt marshes, moorland, farms, and coastal regions. Yet, Wales could face a local extinction within the next decade. In 2015, Curlews were added to the Red List on the UK Conservation Status Report. The BTO estimates that Wales currently holds 400 to 1700 breeding pairs, with populations declining at 6% every year; extinction could be as early as 2033 due to climate change, predation, habitat loss and degradation. Conservation Efforts Gylfinir Cymru launched a ten-year Wales Action Plan for the Recovery of Curlew in 2021. This includes monitoring key breeding sites, protecting nests from predation, and enhancing land management practices. In collaboration with Gylfinir Cyru, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park has funded surveying, predator fencing, and farming support. Welsh Whitefish Endemic to Bala Lake, Gwynedd, the Welsh whitefish is a native fish in the salmon family. It is believed that the species was left behind during the ice age, and shoals have inhabited the deeper areas of the lake for the past 10,000 years. Due to human activities, from farming practices that have deteriorated water quality to the introduction of invasive species, the future of the Welsh whitefish is under threat.  Conservation Efforts:  In 2007 , fertilised Welsh whitefish eggs were successfully relocated to a new site to create a second population. Conservation efforts are ongoing to improve water quality and safeguard natural habitats, thereby reducing the presence of chemicals in the lake.  Snowdon Beetle Wales is home to a fantastic rainbow glacial beetle. The Snowdon beetle is found on Yr Wyddfa with an estimated population of 1000. Once also found on Cwm Idwal, the species has not been recorded here since 1980. Due to climate change, Snowdon beetles are being forced further up the mountain and will eventually have nowhere else to go.  Conservation Efforts:  Plantlife’s Vascular Plants Officer, Robbie Blackhall-Miles , is working to protect and revive populations of the Snowdon rainbow beetle and 11 other endangered plant and insect species from Eryri through changes to agricultural and grazing practices. The BMC Access and Conservation Trust is taking part in a big clean-up, removing a decade’s worth of litter to improve habitat.   Welsh Mountain Ponies Mountain ponies have grazed Carneddau, Snowdonia, for 500 years and are the closest thing to wild ponies we have in the UK.  However, there are currently fewer than 1000 breeding mares left in the whole of Wales.  The species play an essential role in the Carneddau mountain and are classed as conservation grazers, maintaining plant and insect biodiversity. It is thought that the economic factors of maintaining and rearing the ponies have led to reduced breeding. Conservation Efforts:   The Welsh Pony and Cob Society promote Welsh breeds and encourages breeding programmes. They hold studbooks and breeding registries to preserve the breed's genetic diversity and distinct characteristics.  Skomer Vole On Skomer Island, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, a subspecies of bank vole resides. The Skomer vole ( Myodes glareolus skomerensis ) has evolved to be larger than those that inhabit the mainland; it is found nowhere else in the world. The Skomer vole conservation status is listed as Least Concern . It is thought that there are 20,000 Skomer voles inhabiting the island. However, as the species is endemic, its population faces higher risks from environmental changes such as severe weather, habitat loss due to shifts in land use, and predation if invasive species are introduced.  Conservation Efforts:  Volunteers for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales manage the natural landscapes and habitats of the Skomer vole as part of their conservation tasks. In line with these efforts, the annual Skomer vole survey is conducted every year to monitor and record the species' population. Furthermore, the biosecurity of the island is closely monitored for invasive species through the use of monitored lures and regular visits from Biosecurity for Wales' conservation detection dog, Jinx.  These animals are all adapted to their own unique environments within Wales. To learn more, check out our Habitats and Adaptations workshops.