Latest news with #TropicalWorld
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Giant 1970s cheese plant rehomed at Leeds indoor zoo
A giant cheese plant which has been growing at a Leeds medical school since the 1970s has been rehomed at a nearby indoor monster Monstera - named Audrey after the blood-sucking antagonist of the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors - had lived in the stairwell of Old Medical School at Leeds General to building work at the site, the 3m (10ft) tall plant has now been rehoused at nearby Tropical World in Roundhay, which boasts the largest collection of tropical plants outside Kew attraction manager Jo Langton said moving Audrey had been a "massive challenge" but they were "determined to do everything we could to rescue her". Audrey needed to be trimmed back before she was able to be moved, but has now been replanted in the Rainforest Canopy established, the NHS plans to install a plaque to explain her Langton said: "She's going to need a lot of TLC and it's still early days, but fortunately we do have an established cheese plant here already which grows extremely well, so we all have our fingers crossed that she'll adapt to her new surroundings."We also know that Audrey has quite a following on social media, so we're happy to share that she's still around in Leeds and would love visitors to come along and see her settling in." Native to central and south America, monstera can grow up to a height of 20m (66ft) in the wild, climbing trees by using a network of aerial roots which hooks over Rafique, Leeds City Council's executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: "It's wonderful that we've been able to give Audrey a new home so her story can continue, and we can preserve a little bit of Leeds history for visitors so enjoy too." About the Monstera Deliciosa The Monstera plant's scientific name is Monstera deliciosa, from the Latin which means "delicious monster".The delicious element comes from its fruit, said to taste like a cross between a banana and a is also known as a Swiss cheese plant, as its leaves are heart-shaped when young, but become perforated (or Swiss cheese-like) as they cheese plants are easy house plants to care for and are generally pest- and disease-free. They can live for years in the right are very forgiving when it comes to watering. They tolerate even the most neglectful of plant owners, so it's a great plant for those who are new to growing house plants or are away from the home frequently. (Source: BBC Gardener's World) Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Tropical World meerkat mum surprises keepers with new pups
A meerkat at a Leeds zoo has taken keepers by surprise as she showed off two new pups - before staff had even confirmed she was at Tropical World in Roundhay suspected Soya Bean was pregnant and booked her in for an the 11-year-old presented the pups in her nestbox a few days before her appointment on 21 April and she is now showing them off to Rafique, of Leeds City Council, said it was "always exciting to welcome new arrivals to our zoos and I'm pleased that the meerkat family is doing well". 'Bean' family tradition Soya Bean was among the original mob of meerkats at Tropical World and gave birth to two male pups in 2020, called Jelly Bean and Lima father of the new arrivals Jay-Z, five, arrived from Flamingo Land in 2022 as a potential mate for Soya meerkat babies have yet to be named but keepers said they would follow the "Bean" family World recently launched a meerkat adoption scheme allowing visitors to support their upkeep, as well as the zoo's conservation projects. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Leeds: Tropical World welcomes arrival of five giant tortoises
A zoo in Leeds has welcomed five giant tortoises after they outgrew their previous group of sulcata tortoises, also known as African spurred tortoises, has moved from the Blue Plant Aquarium in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire to Tropical World in are the third largest species of tortoise in the world, after the Galapagos tortoise and the Aldabra giant Hardwick, animal officer at Tropical World, said the group were all settling in well. They have been named Tank, Scoop, Dizzy, Roley and Muck."They all have coloured markings on their shells so we know who is who," said Ms Hardwick. "Tank is the biggest male and the most boisterous, he can often be seen pushing the other boys out of the way to be first to the food bowls," she new arrival comes as Tropical World, which is run by Leeds City Council, received official accreditation by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), after being screened by experts earlier this year. A Tropical World spokesperson said the mark of excellence recognised the high quality of the zoo in the fields of animal welfare, conservation, education and Rafique, Leeds City Council's executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: "The tortoises are very impressive to look at, and we're glad to have been able to give them a new home at Tropical World."Receiving the accredited status from BIAZA is also a testament to the passion and hard work of all the staff members," he added. Sulcata tortoises have a life expectancy of more than 70 have no real known predators as adults, due to their large shell and average weight, which is around 80kg for a are the largest of all mainland tortoises and usually reside along the southern edge of the Sahara species is classed as endangered. Desertification, where land turns into desert, caused by climate change, is leading to habitat loss and competition for food. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
