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Conservation

Breeding Programmes:

At Dartmoor Zoo we are part of European EEP’s (EAZA Ex-situ Programmes); these are population management programmes run by members of the European Associations of Zoos and Aquaria.

EEP’s coordinate which animals can breed, and at which zoos, to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population of animals. We are currently active members of 3 EEPs; Amur leopard, Carpathian lynx and grey crowned crane.

The survival of endangered species in the wild is increasingly more reliant on the sustainability of zoo populations. By working together and investigating factors that could negatively impact on the reproductive success of our animals, we can make informed management decisions to boost the numbers of our threatened species. 

By managing zoo populations effectively we’re also maximising the chances of captive bred individuals being successfully reintroduced to the wild. In some cases, conservation breeding centres need to be established in the field and the knowledge and skills of zoo staff is critical in ensuring the success of these centres for re-establishing populations in the wild. 

Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF)

Did you know that a portion of our ticket sales are used to help conservation efforts worldwide?

We are supporting the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) who are dedicated to saving the Cheetah in the wild, by sponsoring 2 ‘Livestock Guarding Dogs’!

  • Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) works throughout Africa and beyond.
  • The cheetah is the most endangered big cat in Africa with less than 7,500 in the wild.
  • CCF Headquarters are in Namibia, which hosts one of the largest cheetah populations in Africa, with another centre in the Horn of Africa.
  • CCF’s mission: ‘To be the internationally recognised centre of excellence in the conservation of cheetahs and their ecosystems. CCF will work with all stakeholders to develop best practices in research, education, and land use to benefit all species, including people.’
Reducing Conflict with Farmers: Most cheetahs live on unprotected lands and can come into conflict with farmers by attacking their goats, sheep, cattle calves and camel foals (livestock) if there is not enough prey. CCF trains farmers under the Future Farmers of Africa programme on how to take better care of their livestock and how to protect them against predators, including cheetahs. CCF also helps farmers by giving them a Livestock Guarding Dog which protects livestock by barking loudly to keep the cheetah away. 
Dogs Protecting Cats CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dogs are provided to farmers to grow up with their livestock to stop the cheetah and other predators from attacking the farmers’ livestock. These dogs are very large and if a cheetah/predator comes near, they place themselves between the livestock and the cheetah and bark loudly to chase the cheetah away. CCF has a Livestock Guarding Dog breeding programme in Namibia. The cute puppies spend the first three months of their lives with their mother, goats and/or sheep, and they bond to the livestock. What they bond with, they then protect as they grow up.   CCF uses Turkish Anatolian Shephard or Kangal Dogs, as well as mix breeds in areas where smaller predators are the problem.
Achievements: Between 1994 and 2023, CCF has provided over 750 Livestock Guarding Dogs to rural farmers in Namibia. Farmers who have a dog report that the killing of livestock is reduced by up to 90%. These dogs are so popular there is a 3-year waiting list by farmers. Costs: It costs over £600 to raise a Livestock Guarding Dog. This cost covers vaccinations, food, training, travel to place the dogs with farmers and follow up visits at 6, 9 and 12 months and annually thereafter to make sure the dogs are healthy and being well looked after, thus providing more contact and training with the farming community.

Wildcat Conservation Alliance

A portion of our ticket sales have gone to Wildcats Conservation Alliance who mission is to save wild tigers and Amur leopards for future generations by funding carefully chosen conservation projects. We are so proud to house both Amur tiger and Amur leopard at Dartmoor Zoo.

We were fortunate to welcome our Amur Leopard, Freddo, in November 2023 who was joined by female Lena, in August 2024 after years of planning and fundraising. There are fewer than 80 Amur Leopards in the wild making them one of the rarest cats on Earth. Our aim in the future is to contribute towards the ex-situ breeding programme that is in place to help increase their numbers in the wild.

Our Amur Tiger, Dragan, arrived in 2016. Listed as endangered, there are now between 480 and 540 of these tigers left in the wild, with around 100 of these know to be cubs. Dragan is not currently participating in a breeding programme at the zoo, due to his brother already representing his family genes in a breeding programme elsewhere. He is however raising vital awareness of the work we need to do to save tigers. We are so pleased to support the charities’ work and have raised over £8000 for them.

ABConservation

A portion of our ticket sales have also gone to ABConservation, a conservation charity working in Palawan, Philippines, who focus on researching and protecting binturong.

The project involves using camera traps to better understand the population of binturong in Palawan and radio tracking individuals to learn more about wild behaviour and ecology. ABConservation also work to educate people about the binturong – both in the Philippines and internationally through the development of World Binturong Day (Second Saturday in May!).

 

Native Conservation

We have conducted various biodiversity studies on site to see what is living right on our doorstep! We have various areas on site dedicated for native wildlife including ‘wild areas’, ponds around the site and a new wildlife garden is being designed in collaboration with Sparkwell Primary School.

Total list of species spotted since 2018

We are also on iNaturalist! As part of BIAZA’s Spotted on Site campaign, you can log any native wildlife you see whilst you’re on site to help us keep track of what’s here.

Do you want to help native wildlife in your garden? Here are some ideas to get you started!

  • Make a hedgehog highway to make sure hedgehogs can get in and out of your garden
  • Keep your garden a little untidy – lots of critters will love piles of leaves or branches to hide or forage in
  • Plant some wildflowers that pollinators love
  • Pop out a bird feeder for the garden birds
  • Reduce your carbon footprint and choose locally sourced products
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