Twycross Zoo Attempts To Stop Invasion From The United States

By Kim Riley

Twycross, UK - Conservation Welfare Fund provides funding native white-clawed crayfish

White-clawed crayfish are an endangered species in the UK. Although they were once common in our water courses they have greatly reduced in numbers over the last few decades.

American crayfish were introduced to the UK as a food product and escaped into UK waters. They are much bigger than our native version and easily out-compete them for resources. That combined with a fatal fungus has led to the need for conservation action for this species.

Gopsall Fishing Club in Leicestershire have started a project to protect two newly discovered populations of white-clawed crayfish in the river Sence. They have received funding from the Conservation Welfare Fund to protect river banks and improve the habitat for the crayfish.

Updates
A new project has started in the Democratic Republic of Congo thanks to the Conservation Welfare Fund. Awely employs local people to work as ‘green caps’. These green caps help other local people develop projects to reduce their dependence on the forest. Funding is allowing a new green cap to be employed in Mbandaka to reduce hunting of bonobos.

In January Twycross Zoo’s Conservation Officer, Claire Pipe, travelled to northern Vietnam to visit the Cao Vit Gibbon Conservation Project run by Fauna and Flora International. This will be the 3rd year the zoo has been involved in the programme primarily funding ranger patrols and awareness raising.

Species Focus
Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)
Cotton-tops are a critically endangered species that only come from a very small area of north-western Colombia. Their range has reduced by 75% as the forest is turned over to agriculture and pasture. Much of the meat that is produced is imported overseas to satisfy the fast growing demand.

To find out more about the conservation work of Twycross Zoo and to find out how to support us visit www.twycrosszoo.org