Conservation in Action 2025 (EXTERNAL SHARE) - Flipbook - Page 29
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Panther chameleon at Twycross Zoo - Caitlyn Pepper
SHOWCASING ENDANGERED REPTILES,
AMPHIBIANS AND INVERTEBRATES
In April we opened Close Encounters. A series of new habitats designed to bring our guests closer to a
variety of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. It allowed us to showcase the diversity of habitats
these species can be found in by separating the area out into four distinct zones – UK, tropical,
aquatic and desert/shrub.
Many of the species in Close Encounters have signi昀椀cant conservation value and face varying threats
to their survival in the wild, such as small remaining ranges (desertas wolf spider, gooty ornamental
spider), introduced predators (Fiji banded iguana), habitat loss and the illegal trade (multiple species).
Six of the 13 (46%) species are active or newly formed EAZA Ex situ Programmes (EEPs), two are part of
re-introduction programmes in the UK (sand lizard) and Europe (desertas wolf spider), and eight (62%)
are classi昀椀ed as Endangered or worse on the IUCN Red List.
Alongside the wider conservation impacts, several species now residing in Close Encounters were
already in the zoo in other areas. Moving these species to larger and more complex habitats allowed us
to more e昀昀ectively meet their needs. This was demonstrated through signi昀椀cant improvements in our
animal welfare assessment scores. In 2024, 88% of animal needs were classed as best practice
for invertebrates and herptiles, which increased to 91.3% in 2025. The inclusion of new back of
house facilities also provides us with the space and infrastructure to manage breeding in a quiet and
controlled environment.
