My rainforest trips are often dominated by the search for reptiles - usually of the venomous variety. There have been many times when I've encountered species that were simply unexpected and particularly unusual. Chris's Reptile Encounters The Draco Lizard Exploring the depths of the Sumatran rainforest, I was looking for the rare and endangered Sumatran Orangutan. A few hours into the trek, I was making my way up the side of a mountain. It seemed like a good health 'primary forest' (the trees had been there a long time, were well spaced and not much shrubbery at floor level). I suddenly spotted a small rusty red bird swoop from one tree trunk to another. Assuming it was a species of tropical tree creeper, I waited to see where it went next. Nothing! I took a step. A stick snapped under my feet, and knowing this would probably flush out the bird, I fixed my gaze back on the branch, and sure enough, I saw that rusty red flash shoot to another tree. This time I got a better look. I didn't see wings flapping; I just saw a flash of colour and where it landed. I crept closer to the spot to see a tiny lizard hanging on the bark. I couldn't believe what I saw - it was a Draco lizard! Famous for its gliding ability, this small lizard is often found high up in the canopy. When threatened, it will launch itself into the air and then use its elongated ribs to push folds of skin from its flanks and form a large pair of gliding wings, allowing it to travel long distances and avoid predation. Sadly, I couldn't photograph this unique species, but it will always be one of the most unusual reptiles I've ever encountered. The powdered tree snake When I lived in the Ugandan Rainforest for six months, I had a little round hut with concrete walls and a thatched roof (locally called a 'banda'). Being deep in the forest, you would occasionally get the wildlife entering. Once I went into the forest for the day, only to return to find 15 baboons come running out after stealing most of my food supplies. Giant rain spiders lived in the roof, and I could hear them walking around at night. The worst and most annoying animal, however, was a tiny mouse. Often I'd be sleeping comfortably only to be rudely awoken by the mouse doing some sort of mission-impossible climb around my mosquito net. I once went to get some money and found all the notes were gone! My big bag of nuts was empty, and I couldn't locate my passport!! After a few days of searching for my mousy friend, I lifted my gas canister and small hob attached to it to discover a treasure trove of MY stuff - my passport, money; it was all there, seemingly transformed into the perfect mouse-nest. However, the mouse wasn't home. I took my stuff back and decided this was enough! I must catch this mouse and evict it from my hut and life. The next day I was in the jungle and returned just as it was getting dark; I figured now was the time to hunt him out and release him from my banda. As I scanned with my torch along the edge of the room, I spotted a bright pink tail - there he was! However, the pink tail kept going - longer and longer; it was a bright pink snake, maybe 3 feet long. I had no idea what species it was, so I put it into a bucket to adequately I.D it the next day. It was the seldom seen Powdered tree snake, often a canopy-dwelling species. This individual had been attracted to my banda by the mouse. I don't think it got the mouse as I couldn't see any bulge inside the snake, but the mouse never returned to my jungle hut! The Blunt-headed tree snake This time I was in Costa Rica and had been searching for snakes for at least two weeks and turned up nothing! It was pretty unusual for me, especially as Costa Rica is well known for being one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet! I had already seen vast numbers of animals- including puma, tapir, and monkey and bird species. I started to wonder if my snake hunting technique was off or if maybe all the snakes had gone on holiday themselves. My luck changed one evening when there was a sudden, heavy downpour of rain. It was the change of fortune I had been waiting for! At the time, I had decided to take a shower and on my 50m walk to the shower block, I found four snakes! The 4th is the stunningly beautiful and elegant blunt-headed tree snake. This experience hammered home the importance of environmental conditions when tracking certain animals! On my way back to my accommodation, I heard screams from another building. It seems the rains had brought out lots and lots of snakes; a tropical bird-eating snake had found its way into someone else's accommodation! Thankfully I was near enough to hear the screams and release the snake back into the forest - the tourist could now relax, knowing their room was snake free. The Coral snake and the Amphisbaenian I had spent a month at the tops of mountains in the Atlantic rainforest, Brazil. I saw many amazing species there, including many fer-de-lances (a highly venomous pit-viper). My time there was at an end, and it was time to take the 8-hour walk back to civilisation. I kept my eyes open as I tried to make the most of every second I got in a rainforest. It was a good thing too as I was in the last couple of hours of the walk when I saw a sudden flash of bright colours, a blur of red and yellow slipping through the leaf litter. I instantly knew what I was dealing with. It was a highly venomous Atlantic coral snake! I couldn't believe my luck! My first ever coral snake! After spending a few moments photographing the snake, I allowed it to disappear again into the dead leaves on the ground. I put my camera back. I got ready to continue the walk, but I hadn't even taken a step before I realised there was a second reptile in front of me, and this one truly blew my mind! It was an Amphisbaenian. A rare and unique group of reptiles, often known as worm-lizards - they look a little like snakes, worms and lizards combined but are none of these. It was dead - almost certainly the prey of the coral snake before I had come across it and disturbed its meal. They are subterranean reptiles and are extremely rare to find, even a dead one. The one I found ended up getting preserved and put in a museum, and photos of it were published in a couple of books!

Technology is revolutionizing conservation efforts worldwide, offering new and innovative solutions to protect many endangered species and their habitats. From tracking animal movements to monitoring environmental changes, here's a deep dive into how technology is aiding conservation.   One of the most impactful applications of technology in conservation is wildlife tracking. GPS and satellite tracking devices have enabled researchers to monitor animal movements with unprecedented precision. For instance, sea turtle conservationists use satellite tags to track the migratory routes of these ancient mariners. By understanding their movements, scientists can identify critical habitats and advocate for their protection.   Radio collars can be equipped with GPS technology which has transformed our understanding of large mammals like elephants and big cats. These collars provide real-time data on their whereabouts, helping conservationists mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and combat poaching. In Africa, organizations like Save the Elephants use GPS collars to track elephant herds, allowing rangers to respond swiftly to threats and protect these majestic creatures from illegal hunting.   Drones have become another game-changer in conservation efforts. These unmanned aerial vehicles are used for various purposes, including anti-poaching patrols, habitat monitoring, and wildlife surveys. In the fight against poaching, drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras can detect poachers even in dense forests or at night, providing rangers with crucial intelligence to intercept illegal activities before they occur.   Advances in camera trap technology have revolutionized wildlife monitoring. These motion-activated cameras capture images and videos of elusive animals, providing valuable insights into their behaviour and population dynamics. For example, camera traps have been instrumental in studying elusive big cats like snow leopards in the rugged mountains of Central Asia. By analysing these images, researchers can estimate population sizes, assess habitat quality, and develop targeted conservation strategies. In addition to tracking animals, technology is also helping to address broader environmental challenges. Remote sensing satellites, for instance, provide a bird's-eye view of our planet, allowing scientists to monitor deforestation, habitat loss, and other ecosystem changes on a global scale. Conservationists can analyse these images to identify areas of high conservation value and prioritize conservation actions accordingly.   Data analytics and artificial intelligence are transforming how we analyse and interpret ecological data. Machine learning algorithms can process vast amounts of data, such as camera trap images or satellite imagery, to identify patterns and trends that may not be apparent to the human eye. This enables researchers to make more informed decisions and allocate resources more effectively. One notable example of AI in conservation is the use of acoustic monitoring to study marine mammals like whales and dolphins. AI algorithms can identify species-specific vocalizations and track their distribution and abundance in real time. This information is invaluable for marine conservation efforts, helping to inform marine protected area designations and mitigate the impacts of human activities such as shipping and seismic exploration.   Citizen science initiatives harness the power of technology to engage the public in conservation efforts. Mobile apps allow users to report wildlife sightings, record environmental data, and participate in research projects from anywhere in the world. Projects like eBird and iNaturalist have amassed vast amounts of data contributed by citizen scientists, providing researchers with valuable information on species distributions, phenology, and biodiversity trends.   Technology is playing a vital role in conservation by providing innovative tools and solutions to protect endangered species and their habitats. From wildlife tracking and habitat monitoring to data analysis and citizen science, these advancements are helping to safeguard biodiversity for future generations. By harnessing the power of technology, we can achieve more effective and sustainable conservation outcomes.

After the world-changing pandemic events, I finally got the opportunity to explore another rainforest. I went back to Trinidad and visited the Arima Valley - it had been nearly four years since I had been in this incredible habitat. The high humidity and botanical scents excited me about what unusual animals I might encounter. The first thing to do was to set up a couple of camera traps, one on a trail and the other on the main pathway. I used chilli sauce to attract some animals (which is frequently done in South Africa to attract predators) and fruit for the other camera. After waiting a couple of days, I went back to check the cameras! The one baited with fruit was stolen and had no evidence of where it could have gone. I quickly went to recover the second camera, which thankfully was still there, but sadly hadn't been triggered once! One of my goals was to see some of the fantastic woodpecker species, so I downloaded an app with all the bird species and their calls and woke up early to play woodpecker calls through a speaker. I did call some beautiful woodcreepers, but I only heard the lineated woodpecker and did not capture one on camera. A highlight was seeing a blue and yellow macaw, a species that was pushed to the brink of extinction in the 1970s, and after an extensive captive breeding project, this species is now holding on well in the wild. There are very few places in the world where you can see these giant parrots living their life in their natural habitat. High on my list of animals to see will always be snakes, and thankfully this trip was rich with different species. I found many coffee snakes; these are tiny solid black snakes which fully grown are around 15cm long. I also managed to get a huge tree boa out of its tree, all without taking any bites to the face - which was a surprise as tree boas are well known for being a little snappy! It turns out a fer-de-lance had taken up residence in the pond outside the research station, so it was nice to see it out hunting frogs each night! I witnessed hundreds of flamingos coming into roost one evening in a nearby swamp. These birds have just started to go across to Trinidad from Venezuela, about 7 miles away. Still, they put on a fantastic display of colour and relatively awkward flying abilities. Hopefully I won't have to wait so long to explore rainforests again!

This series will answer some of the most common questions about animals and habitats. Today, it is all about oceans and those that call it home. How many oceans are there? 5 - Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern. Why are oceans important? Oceans are a significant ecosystem, accounting for 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Oceans help to regulate the climate by producing 70% of our oxygen, absorbing CO2 and regulating temperature. It provides food, resources and jobs, contributing to the global economy. How many animals are in the ocean? In the 2021 census, The World Register of Marine Species reported 240,000 known species in the ocean. However, with 80% of our oceans yet to be explored, it is estimated that 91% of ocean species are yet to be classified. Which ocean animals are endangered? The U.S. Endangered Species Ac t reports that the global count is approx. 2270 marine species classed as threatened or endangered. This includes the vaquita, blue whale, Hawaiian monk seal, hawksbill turtle and white shark. How does climate change affect the ocean animals? We've spoken about how the ocean helps to regulate our temperature on land, but what happens when climate change makes the temperature too high? Coral reefs are susceptible to the effects of global warming - a 1.5°C increase could destroy up to 90% of coral reefs, and 2% could lead to complete loss . Higher temperatures make oceans more acidic, and these factors encourage coral to grow algae (see coral bleaching), which puts pressure on the ecosystem. Acidity also damages the shells of sea molluscs and crustaceans and disrupts the food chain. Climate change reduces the oxygen supply in the water. As the ocean's temperature increases, the amount of available oxygen decreases (hot water holds less oxygen), causing an increased demand for oxygen for sea creatures. Deoxygenation leads to habitat compression and an increase in disease. Temperature and current changes affect migration patterns, breeding and the health of sea creatures. For example, the rising sea levels are estimated to flood 2,835 sea turtle nest locations across seven breeding grounds from 2010 to 2100 under moderate and high greenhouse gas emission scenarios . Can sea animals drown? Marine mammals can drown. The International Marine Mammal Project reports that the leading cause of drowning in marine mammals is caused by entanglement from plastic fishing gear, lines and nets. On the other hand, fish technically cannot drown as they breathe through their gills rather than inhale. However, they can suffocate if oxygen levels aren't sufficient or their gills are damaged (see Discover Wildlife for more information). What is the biggest animal in the ocean? The blue whale is the largest animal in existence. Can fish that live in oceans see in the dark? Deep sea fish have adapted to life with little light. While some have evolved to have large eyes with more rods, detecting more light, others produce light ( bioluminescence ). Those with little or no sight ‘see’ with their other adaptations, such as light-sensitive cells on their heads or mechanoreceptors that detect pressure change and vibrations in the water. What are ocean animal adaptations? There are so many! We've chosen 5 animals with pretty cool adaptations below: Peacock mantis shrimp: They are not only extremely clever with incomparable eyesight but also have the most powerful punch in the animal kingdom. Clownfish: Clownfish can change gender. When clownfish are born, they are gender-neutral - they are hermaphrodites and will become male in the juvenile stage. The clownfish school is run by a dominant female, the largest of the group. The second-largest is the dominant male. If something happened to the dominant female, the dominant male would switch genders. These fish are monogamous - if two males become partners, the more dominant will become female to mate. Blue dragon: This gorgeous sea slug feeds on the deadly Portuguese man-o’-war (and other venomous creatures), stores the toxins and releases them when threatened. Notothenioidei: Notothenioidei is a suborder found around the Antarctic. To survive the extreme cold, they produce antifreeze proteins. Mimic octopus: The mimic octopus is the master shapeshifter; it can impersonate a plethora of different sea animals by changing colour, shape and behaviour. And lastly, do fish sleep? Yes! Some fish slow their breathing and lie motionless. Others have to keep moving to breathe; it is thought that these creatures sleep with half their brain at a time - just like dolphins. COMING SOON: ZooLab's Ocean's workshop will be available for booking in September 2023. Keep an eye out for more details. do fish sleep

World Animal Day takes place every year on the 4th of October. Like ZooLab, it aims to focus on the amazing animals we share planet Earth with to promote the animal welfare movement. To thrive, an animal needs all its life necessities and has the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviours. Given these opportunities, an animal will develop, prosper and flourish. These innate behaviours include basking, thermoregulating, producing their vitamin D3, hunting, climbing, digging/burrowing, problem-solving and the chance to choose voluntary interaction. You can do many things to enrich your animal enclosures and provide plenty of stimulation, and we will focus on a few ideas in this blog. Effective Enrichment Enrichment is a crucial principle in animal husbandry as it aims to enhance the quality of captive animal care by identifying and providing the environmental stimuli necessary for optimal psychological and physiological well-being. Appropriate enrichment is essential to providing animals with their five freedoms. Providing appropriate enrichment for the species reduces the animal’s stress, increases their confidence and helps them relax while on the road. Enrichment must be species appropriate, safe and encourage natural behaviours. It does not need to be expensive or complicated. The purpose of enrichment: Stimulate mental faculties Encourage exercise Encourage species-specific behaviour Reduce boredom/fighting/stereotypical behaviour Novel Enrichment Enrichment is most effective when the animal is exposed to something new or unfamiliar. Novel enrichment involves changing the position of hides and decor within an enclosure and is mentally stimulating for your animals. Enrichment should not cause harm or stress to the animal, and the animal should be able to choose to use the enrichment to promote their natural behaviour or move away from the item. A Few Ideas for Reptiles and Amphibians Substrate - Soil-based substrates allow reptiles to dig and burrow in the soil simulating their natural behaviour Food - Varying the reptiles’ diet occasionally can be highly enriching. Providing a range of insects for insectivores is also enriching. Climbing - Terrestrial snakes are capable of climbing in their natural habitats. Providing sturdy branches allows them to exhibit this behaviour and improves their health, fitness and core strength. Hides and Clutter - Extra hides and fake plants make reptiles feel safer and less exposed. This decreases their stress, increases their confidence and helps them to be more confident on the road A Few Ideas for Rats Dig box - one of the best and most important forms of enrichment that can be provided for rats is the opportunity to dig. Rats are natural diggers and burrowers, and promoting this natural behaviour greatly reduces their stress and anxiety. Ropes designed primarily as pull toys for dogs are ideal for rats to climb on. Hammocks can be made from old pillow/cushion cases, tote bags, tea towels or clothes by hanging up each corner of the item Rats LOVE boxes - Fill recycled cardboard boxes with paper, tissues, hay or bedding for the rats to make nests Scatter feeding 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).

Once upon a time, there was a noble form of literacy – storytelling. From the time we learned to speak, telling stories around a fire, to reading storybooks to our children, storytelling has had a world of benefits. It enriches our understanding of topics, helps us remember information, sparks creativity, and strengthens bonds, among other things. This week is National Storytelling Week, an opportunity for us to celebrate all the best that storytelling has to offer. The Benefits Storytelling is a great way for us to stretch our creative muscles. Thinking up new storylines, hearing descriptions of far off and exciting places, it all aids in building a rich world of imagination for us to use. Listening to stories encourages children to come up with their own tales and worlds. Storytelling also helps children to open themselves up to learning and fully understand the subject matter in hand. A study done of a class of students at a high school in Australia found that by asking the students to write stories about what they had learned in class, they were able to develop a deeper understanding of what they had just learned. They reported being “absorbed” by their stories and made them more comfortable “step[ping] out of their comfort zone”. Children are able to expand their vocabulary, increase their attention span, and engage with subjects through the power of storytelling. Listening to stories allows children to put theories into context. What might be a big, abstract, or difficult issue for children can be made easier by listening to a story of a relatable character exploring that issue. This in turn leads a reinforcement of children’s’ morals – if they can understand a topic, they can then start to apply that to their own lives. Linked to the idea of Narrative Theory , storytelling is seen as a part of a “basic human strategy” for understanding basic elements of the human experience. Our favourite storytelling workshops We have a whole range of workshops centred around storytelling which include our animal team members, here are some of our favourites… HENRY’S SENSES Henry and his rat, Beans, love learning about any animal they meet. In this workshop, we join them as they learn all about how animals us their senses and explore their habitats. Children have an opportunity to explore different senses and compare different habitats to their own, joined by members of our animal team. MORPHO THE MUNCHING MILLIPEDE This one is based on a much-loved children’s picture book and follows Morpho the Millipede. On his week-long adventure, he travels meets a variety of exciting and awe-inspiring ZooLab animals. Through this story, children develop their understanding of literacy and numeracy, as well as exploring the topic of healthy eating in an engaging environment. JANE’S EGG HUNT This workshop is a veritable storytelling egg-stravaganza. We join Jane on a hunt for some chocolate eggs. On her hunt, she meets some farm animals and asks for their help spotting the chocolate goodies. She does spot some – but they may belong to some of ZooLab’s animal team, so we learn to leave them alone so they can hatch. This story-based workshop teaches children how to identify animals that come from eggs and reinforce the importance of protecting nature. National Storytelling Week is happening from 30th January to 5th February 2023, you can learn more about it (as well as pick up resources) at the Society for Storytelling website .

Here at ZooLab, we have carefully tailored our fun and engaging workshops to coincide with the National Curriculum. Let's take a closer look at some of our sessions as examples of how we can help you meet curriculum coverage through enriching hands-on experiences. Workshop: Senses and Textures in SEN Schools During Senses and Textures, children explore and understand how animals use their senses within their habitats, perceive their surroundings and adapt. Children make hands-on discoveries of textures and senses in an animal handling experience suitable for everyone from new intake to SEN classes. So how does this workshop enrich the national curriculum? ZooLab has many workshops for those with special educational needs, both in mainstream and specialist settings. The workshop ‘Senses and Textures’ looks at the five primary senses and how animals use those to perceive their surroundings. ZooLab’s animals bring new sights and sounds to classrooms and enrich the experiences of those who may be less able to access educational experiences outside of school hours. One of the main reasons I enjoy visiting SEN settings as I feel I can bring something different and unique to them. The choice of which animals join a Ranger on that day is organised in advance, and special care is taken to which animals meet sensory needs. For example, I would bring more tactile animals, such as snails and millipedes, over non-handleable animals, like the frog, as this allows more hands-on experiences for pupils. In some cases, a pupil might have a physical need meaning one or more of their senses does not function in a typical way. If this were the case for pupils in my workshop, adjustments are made through the animals I use, or the senses spoken about with that particular child so that the learning is still applicable. So how do we make learning accessible within this workshop? ZooLab Rangers undertake training and guidance on delivering workshops in various settings, including SEN specialist facilities. All ZooLab workshops can incorporate PECS Animal Flash Cards allowing each participant to feel safe and secure in knowing what is coming next. These are reinforced using Makaton signs to support visually in a familiar method. It is worth mentioning to a Ranger if particular signs and symbols are used with pupils which could aid the delivery of the workshop, e.g. now, next, finished. For non-verbal pupils, I always check whether a pupil can participate in handling beforehand and use clear language and instructions. Our workshops allow time for a slower pace, where pupils have quality time with each animal from a sensory point of view but also to maintain everyone feeling relaxed and enjoying themselves. Adapting our handling techniques to allow all pupils to participate is also essential. For example, where a child might be quick to grab items or favour sensory stimulation by putting things in their mouth, our ZooLab animals can be used on the backs of the hands or arms to support this pupil. Our Senses and Textures workshop aims to follow objectives based on the National Curriculum for EYFS, KS1 and KS2. Age-related vocabulary is used to discuss our senses and body parts of animals; however, adjustments can be made to fit the attainment level of pupils in the class. We will pitch the workshop to fit in with your learning outcomes. If your setting is looking to book one of our tailored SEN workshops, feel free to discuss any specific needs you would like us to cater for and how best we can support you.

Geckos are one of the most fascinating and unusual groups of lizards that capture the imagination of many, myself included! Often they are small in size but big in personality, and some of the most flamboyant colouration seen in reptiles! Here are my top 10 facts about geckos! Climbing One of the most well-known special abilities of geckos is the ability to climb vertical surfaces, walls and glass - these animals can stick to almost anything! This is achieved by microscopic hairs called setae which cover the underside of their toes. Millions cover each toe and create van der Waals forces - an interaction between molecules on a near-atomic level. Spiderman has nothing on geckos!! Although not all have this ability, it is very common. Why would a gecko need to stick to something as smooth as glass? The answer is in their habitat, many rainforest leaves have a waxy layer to allow rain to flow down to the roots of the plant, and so geckos have adapted to walk over them! Tail Regeneration Geckos can drop their tail at will, a common defence mechanism that comes at a cost and is the last line of defence. Should a predator successfully catch a gecko, the gecko can willingly allow their tail to break off and wriggle around by itself. This often gets the predator's attention so the gecko can make a break for freedom.  Some geckos can regenerate new tails within a few months; others cannot, so it's a one-time survival strategy. Parthenogenesis Parthenogenesis means animals can have babies by themselves, a survival strategy for when an animal lives where finding a partner is hard. The female gecko can self-fertilise her eggs and the babies are genetically identical to the mother. Yes, some geckos can clone themselves! Long Lives Geckos can be pretty long-living animals, especially given their size. One of the longest-living geckos is also one of the largest (and my personal favourite). The New Caledonian giant gecko can reach 15 inches long, and according to literature they will live for 30 years but I know someone who has a 55-year-old individual still laying eggs! Given the animal's overall condition, it may live for 60-70 years! Did you know? The New Caledonian giant gecko pairs up for life, an unusual behaviour for any reptile! Active Camouflage Nearly all geckos can change their colour through special cells called chromatophores which can expand, contract and overlap each other thus producing different colours. For the most part, this allows geckos to match certain colours around them and allows for superb camouflage. Colour changing is also used as a form of communication and for temperature regulation. If a gecko is too hot it can turn a lighter colour and reflect some heat and likewise, if they are too cold they can turn a darker colour which would allow them to absorb more heat. The Madagascan leaf tailed geckos probably are the best examples of camouflage within the gecko family, they seamlessly blend into the mossy branches they inhabit. Spectacular Colours Not all geckos use colours for camouflage, many use bright colours to attract a mate. The most impressive has to be the electric blue day gecko from Tanzania. The male of the species is neon! It's not just one of the most stunning geckos, it's one of the most stunning lizards in the world. Sadly it's only found in the Kimboza forest reserve and has an extremely small natural distribution and therefore at great risk of extinction in the wild (classed as critically endangered). All day geckos are beautiful with mixtures of greens and reds but the 'glowing' blue seen in this species makes it stand out amongst the others. Flying Geckos Yes, some geckos can fly...well, glide really well! The flying gecko found in South-East Asia is cryptically coloured, hiding on the trunks of trees hunting small insects, however, if a predator spots it, it has an ace up its sleeve. This gecko has unique folds of skin along its flanks and even along its tail which gives it a huge surface area ratio to its body and allows them to glide long distances to safety. Having a specifically flattened body also gives it an aerodynamic shape to help it move with more precision. Extraordinary Eyes Geckos have some of the most beautiful eyes in the animal kingdom, they also have some incredible functions. Many geckos have a vertical pupil, which gives excellent night vision. Their eyes are so well adapted for a nocturnal lifestyle that they are 350 times more sensitive to light than our eyes! They have specialized rod cells in their eye which allows for colour vision at night! More impressive yet, their eyes are tetrachromatic - they can see a wider spectrum of colours than us too (our eyes are only trichromatic). Parental Care Unlike most reptiles that lay their eggs and abandon them, many geckos exhibit some levels of parental care. Both males and females often work as guardians protecting the eggs until they hatch, this is when the care ends. This is a great advantage as it will increase the odds of them surviving. Geckos can only lay 2 eggs at a time so it's a considerable investment from the parents. Not all geckos lay eggs however, some give live birth to their young (like the greater and lesser rough-snouted gecko), which may live with the parents until large enough to survive by themselves. Vocalisations Geckos are a noisy bunch, quite impressive given how silent most other reptiles tend to be. Squeaks, squarks, chirping and barking sounds can be heard from many species. The reasons for these strange sounds are many - declaration of territory, attracting a mate warning off predators to name a few. Did you know? The Tokay gecko received its name from the sound it makes, 'Too-Kay'. The sound is made to alert other geckos to its presence. Geckos are a truly awesome group of lizards, some of the most charismatic, beautiful and packed to the brim with unusual evolutionary adaptations. What's not to love about them!?

Last week, we looked at some interesting facts we learned while writing our new Ocean workshop. We ended on a worrying note, learning about The Great Pacific Garbage Patch; unfortunately, this is only one of the issues facing the world’s oceans. 1) Around 5 trillion plastic items are floating in our oceans; the number is growing. 2) Around 10% of dead sea life is entangled in plastic bags. 3) Seabird populations have fallen by 70% in recent years, with the most significant threats being habitat loss and the fishing industry. 4) Coral bleaching is a severe problem facing reefs – so far, there have been six mass bleaching events, whitening of the reefs due to disruption of symbiosis between coral and algae, associated with reef devastation from chemical pollution and an increase in temperature. 5) The most considerable loss recorded was in 2016, when the Great Barrier Reef lost 30% of its coral. 6) One large-scale survey found 90% of sea birds and 52% of sea turtles have ingested plastic. 7) The Atlantic cod population is at a critically low level due to overfishing. 8) Human-generated noise can create a problem for marine life by interrupting the communication and navigation of different species. 9) Between 1970 and 2012, the oceans experienced a 50% species loss. 10) All seven species of sea turtles are endangered or critically endangered, with the most significant threat being fishing equipment.

Who is Natureman? Meet Natureman – Chris Knowles . He has travelled to every continent (bar the poles!) in search for 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 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! Now over to Chris. Let's talk unusual inverts I'm asked often about the most unusual animal I've ever seen. There have been many! From the mysteries of octopuses to the wonders of leaf insects, there have been a few animal encounters over the years that have stood out to me as being really unusual or have caught me by surprise. Inverts will dominate this list, as they have the greatest diversity in the animal kingdom. The first experience was deep in the Ugandan rainforest. After many hours of exploring, it was time for me to return back to my little hut. I had seen a few baboons, Colobus monkeys and an African Grey parrot. As I pushed my way through the leaves, I noticed sitting on a large leaf was a lovely green grasshopper. Slowly my hands drew closer to it from underneath the leaf so not to startle it. I whipped my hands around the leaf, capturing it. The next thing I knew was a warm and wet feeling on my palms, white foam started squeezing between my fingers. I quickly opened my hands to find the grasshopper sucking air into its body and then producing large amounts of foam from its head! It was a truly bizarre defence mechanism that I've never heard of from this group of animals! The next strange encounter is with an animal that I had only seen in books when I was age 6-7 - I'd assumed that it would probably always stay that way. This utterly unusual animal surprised me one morning in Trinidad. It wasn't hard to spot having being attracted to a moth lamp that had been on overnight. I immediately recognised it from the books I had looked at 30 years previously. It has many common names, including the 'peanut head' and 'alligator head', but, in fact, it is a type of lanternfly. What makes this animal so unusual is that most of its body is a false head - complete with false eyes and a wide toothy false mouth. This incredible defence would intimidate any bird or lizard looking to make a meal of the 'Alligator head bug'. The last encounter for this blog is back in Africa and again deep in the rainforests of Uganda, where this tiny wonder found me. Many insects are drawn to you in a jungle for various reasons - thankfully this one was after my sweat and not my blood. I always inspect any animal I find on my body as it could be vital information should I fall ill! What I saw on my hand looked like a tiny letter 'T'. With a closer look I could see it was a tiny little fly. What made this fly so unusual were the eye stalks - having eyes on stalks is unusual for a fly but these were extraordinary. This was a 'hammerhead fly' and much like how stags use their antlers for fighting and proving dominance this fly has evolved its eyes to do the same thing. The wider the eyes, the more powerful a fly is. Please enjoy the photos I managed to get of these unusual animals. I've seen many other bizarre parts of nature and no doubt I wills share some more stories in the future!

Sunday16th July is World Snake Day, which aims to raise awareness for conservation efforts for snakes all over the world. In celebration, we thought we would bust some common misconceptions about our serpentine sidekicks. With over 3500 different slithery species on earth, there’s plenty to learn! Here are a few of our teams favourite facts. 6 Fascinating Snake Facts Pumpkin, the dodoma sand boa, is an example of an ovoviviparous species Not All Snakes Lay Eggs "Some snakes are ovoviviparous, which means the eggs hatch inside the snake and give birth to live young! For example, most boa species (boa constrictor, sand boa, rainbow boa, green tree boa etc.) have live babies!" - Lottie Heat Pits "Some snakes have little holes on the ends of their nose. They are called heat pits! They act as a thermal heat sensor to tell whether the animal in front of them might be food." - Ellie Record Breaking "The largest snake in the world was a 33ft reticulated python!" - Lottie Parthenogenesis "My favourite snake fact is some have the ability to reproduce asexually through parthenogenesis! I worked with the only reported Kenyan sand boa in Europe to do it (at the time we think, could be wrong). Prior to this it was believed this individual was a male so we were very surprised to find a bundle of baby boas on our morning round!" - Ben Poisonous vs Venomous "Many people call a snake 'poisonous' when they mean 'venomous'. Venom is when an animal bites or stings injecting a toxin. Poison is if they secrete a defensive toxin absorbed through the skin (or eaten). There are only two groups of snakes that are poisonous! North American garter snakes can become poisonous by eating newts - this would only be temporary and only happens in the wild, not in captivity, where they wouldn't have access to the newts. Asian keelback snakes also obtain toxins from their prey, this time toads, but retain the noxious chemicals in special glands in their neck, so they can be poisonous long after eating the toads!" - Lottie Brilles "Snakes don't blink! They don't have eyelids, so they sleep with their eyes open. They have protective eye caps to burrow down in the soil without damaging their eyes."- Emily

Our rangers have returned from their time volunteering at Mankwe Wildlife Reserve, a 4700 hectare wildlife reserve in South Africa. We sat down with a few of them to discuss their time volunteering and some of their highlights! From L to R: Rangers Lottie, Anna, Emily, Eleanor, and Domanique What was your favourite part about volunteering at Mankwe?  Lottie: My favourite part was riding in the back of the truck, watching the sunset over the African bush, and watching the antelope leap around while rhinos and zebras grazed. It was like a scene from The Lion King!    Eleanor: Experiencing wildlife is incredible, seeing animals in their natural habitat. Being able to work hands-on to protect the rhino and meeting people who dedicate their lives to this cause was an honour! The landscape is absolutely breathtaking! Being around such amazing people who are passionate about nature and wildlife!   Domanique: It's very difficult to pinpoint one favourite part about volunteering, as the whole experience was just incredible. I would say, aside from seeing the incredible species of animals in their natural habitats, it would be listening to the staff presentations about the history of the reserve, the work they do and their commitment to the cause. The staff pour their heart into protecting the animals daily, and I have to say their presentations to the cause were so truly heartwarming to hear. Not only this, but knowing as a volunteer that my colleagues and I were helping aid in this important task.   "I was surprised by how full of tiny life the bush was!" What part of the trip surprised you the most? L: I was surprised by how full of tiny life the bush was! I expected to see the large, impressive animals, but because we were there after heavy rain following a long drought, we saw some AMAZING invertebrates! While we weren't a huge fan of the moths and other flying things you had to duck and chase out of your room at night, we absolutely loved seeing some of the animals we keep as pets such as millipedes (or 'shongololo' as they are known), scorpions, stick insects, and even a few species of praying mantis!   E: The tracks and signs talk was extremely interesting. How much information can be taken from animal tracks by an experienced person is incredible, such as identifying specific rhinos by looking at cracks/wrinkles in their footprints!     D: I was surprised that the Anti-Poaching Unit, who help protect the rhino and antelope from poachers, spend each evening walking on foot in the darkness of the reserve. I honestly thought they would be in vehicles patrolling the reserve; however, it makes sense for them to be quietly patrolling so that no poachers are aware of their location.    "I did not expect to have the opportunity to stroke any of the animals, never mind a Zebra!" What was your most memorable experience? L: My most memorable experience was learning about the history of rhino poaching at Mankwe. It was a difficult talk to listen to, but it was important to hear. It made it very real hearing the lost rhinos stories, and they tell it both to honour those lost lives, as well as educate as to why it's so important to be vigilant and protect them.    E: Seeing 3 rhinos (Adult/sub-adult & baby) whilst on a night deployment, walking far too close to the fence line (this leaves them exposed to poachers). We alerted the APU who were out that night, and we managed to spook the rhino, moving them further into the reserve. The next morning, they were spotted at the centre Dam, meaning they had moved deep back into the reserve. Knowing we had done something that directly protected them was incredible!   D: It would have to be stroking Mbeze, the semi-tame Zebra. I did not expect to have the opportunity to stroke any of the animals, never mind a Zebra! After hearing her story and how the staff at the reserve saved her, I was very excited to meet her, and when she ran right up to us after hearing us call for her, that was just so incredible. Also, seeing first-hand the companionship that she and her best friend, Bongi the donkey, have was so adorable.   "We encountered the most amazing larger animals!"  What animals did you encounter? L: We encountered the most amazing larger animals! Rhinos, giraffe, zebra, jackals, ostrich, buffalo, antelope, chameleons, warthogs, snakes, and even a couple of elusive wild cats! We were also lucky enough to be there in 'baby season', so we saw tiny babies of all of those animals!   E: Rhino, Giraffe, so many Antelope (blesbok, waterbuck, Eland, Gemsbok, impala) about a million moth species, Elephant, Leopard, dung beetles, elegant locust so many more!   D: On a daily basis, we saw various antelope, ostrich, rhino, warthog and giraffe whilst driving through the reserve, which I never got bored of seeing. When we looked closer, we also saw so many invertebrates, like dung beetles, millipedes and flying stick insects. What was even more incredible was encountering two Mozambique Spitting Cobras on our campsite! One within the garden furniture and the other behind the ladies’ toilet - I did not expect that! I'm so grateful for the staff who acted swiftly and removed them from camp to ensure our safety.   "  The best thing we can bring back with us isn't souvenirs or trinkets from the bush. It's the stories and knowledge that I will carry with me forever.  " What knowledge will you be taking back to schools/other settings? L: When we left, I thanked Melissa (Nkombi Volunteer Programme's Research Coordinator) for sharing her emotional story and for allowing us to be part of the amazing experience. All she asked me to do was bring it back with me and keep telling everyone who would listen everything we've learnt and experienced out in South Africa. My first week back, I had the privilege of delivering our 'Africa' script to Year 2. The kids loved hearing about it, and I managed to gently discuss rhino poaching in an age-appropriate way (with the teacher’s permission). The immediate willingness of the children to ask questions and learn and ask what they could do to help was inspiring. It showed me Melissa was right. The best thing we can bring back with us isn't souvenirs or trinkets from the bush. It's the stories and knowledge that I will carry with me forever.    E: The importance of biodiversity, even though we were focusing on large mammals such as rhinos. There was also so much research dedicated to the grasses & trees (VCI), the soil quality (which is improved with controlled burns), and the invertebrates living on the reserve. It's so important to look at all of these factors to ensure the best possible ecosystem for all of the wildlife on the reserve.     D: Having first-hand experience in the South African bush and witnessing animals within their own habitat will aid me when delivering sessions such as Africa, Habitats or Biodiversity. I will have the ability to describe details in full during my sessions to help enhance the wow factor that ZooLab already provides. I really hope the knowledge that I have gained during this experience helps to inspire others to support wildlife reserves like Mankwe and those considering taking part in volunteering work to go for it! Learn more about Mankwe Wildlife Reserve on their website and get in touch with for more info on our Africa workshops.