Conservation in Action 2025 (EXTERNAL SHARE) - Flipbook - Page 62
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UK SPECIES CHAMPIONS 366
PRO CONSERVATION BEHAVIOURS
This year we intentionally upscaled opportunities for our guests to be a part of our UK species
conservation goals. Under guidance of educators and UK species experts, such as the Leicestershire
and Rutland Bat Group, our guests were invited to explore the wonders of our Wetlands Nature Reserve
on a series of wildlife walks. Guests were introduced to surveying and monitoring techniques and
were encouraged to practice nature-connectedness, a proven driver of pro-environmental behaviour
change in everyday life.
This initiative extends to our younger guests via our Zoo Crew Champions pack, which is included in our
Annual Pass Plus ticket. Young conservationists are assigned a series of exciting challenges that they
can complete at home to support their local wildlife. Our Zoo Crew Champions must evidence that they
have completed these tasks before they are awarded their Champion badge. Long-term this enables us
to assess the scale of action taken for native species through this programme.
In 2025 we collected 366 pieces of evidence, and 24 Champions completed
all of the challenges.
Beyond the zoo gates, our education team delivered free assemblies to 12 local primary schools. We
used interactive storytelling to explore conservation actions and their impacts.
17 SPECIES AND 753 BUTTERFLIES RECORDED AS
PART OF BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION TRANSECT
On the edge of Twycross Zoo lies our Wetlands Nature Reserve, a designated Local Wildlife Site, home
to 19 interconnected ponds which provide refuge for a range of UK wildlife. For the past two years, our
Biodiversity Action Plan has ensured we are managing the reserve for biodiversity and protecting and
enhancing wildlife within it. Now, two years on, we can already see the results of our e昀昀orts. Bat surveys
undertaken in summer 2025 have recorded barbastelle bats on site for the 昀椀rst time ever. This rare and
distinct species is classi昀椀ed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and is thought to be using the reserve as feeding
grounds - the protected hedgerows and 635 mature trees support the needs of the species.
Alongside these survey e昀昀orts, 2025 was the fourth year Twycross Zoo undertook systematic butter昀氀y
population counts, recorded as part of The Butter昀氀y Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). Results from 2025
survey e昀昀orts found 17 di昀昀erent butter昀氀y species, with a total of 753 butter昀氀ies recorded on the reserve.
This total is a signi昀椀cant increase from 2024 surveys where 273 were recorded.
