Latest news with #wildlifeConservation
BBC News
12 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Wildlife reserve welcomes birth of endangered white-lipped deer
A wildlife reserve has welcomed a new deer calf which is the first of its kind to be born in England. Watatunga Wildlife Reserve based in King's Lynn, Norfolk, said a male white-lipped deer calf had been born at the site on Tuesday, 10 June. Molly Ruder, reserve operations manager, said there are only 69 white-lipped deer in the European captive population, and only three sites in the United Kingdom have the species. "To see the very first calf born here in Norfolk, in a naturalistic setting that mirrors their wild habitat, is something we're incredibly proud of," she said. The 170-acre reserve is dedicated to the protection of endangered deer, antelope and bird species. Typically native to parts of China and Tibet, the white-lipped deer is listed as a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) red list, and has had a 30% population decline due to hunting, habitat loss and overexploitation. The reserve is only one of 14 facilities in Europe to be involved in the white-lipped deer European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), which aims to manage the genetic health of rare captive populations. It said the father came to Norfolk from Germany about five years ago and is not genetically related to the UK's existing population, whereas the calf's mother is a first-time parent. The new arrival has been described as a "confident little chap" and has been tucked away, hiding in the site's grasses. The reserve said the birth highlights Norfolk's growing role as a leader in UK conservation, and with the movement of animals between countries, adds significant value to global conservation efforts. Species360 confirmed the birth of the calf at the reserve was the only one in England, with a few births recorded in Scotland. Ms Ruder said: "This is what Watatunga is all about, creating the conditions for wildlife to behave naturally and thrive."We're not just here to showcase animals; we're actively working toward the long-term future of species that many people may never have heard of." The site said its second female white-lipped deer is heavily pregnant, with another birth expected "imminently". Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
19 hours ago
- The Independent
New rules could see end of close-up polar bear photos in cruise brochures
Small ship cruise lines may stop putting close-up images of polar bears in brochures because of new restrictions in Norway, according to an industry expert. Akvile Marozaite, chief executive of UK-based global representative body Expedition Cruise Network, said limits on how close ships can get to the animals means the sector must change 'how we communicate' with travellers. Polar bears are a key draw for people embarking on sailings to Norwegian-ruled archipelago Svalbard, as they can be observed in their natural Arctic habit. But concerns about interference from humans means the government has banned ships in the region from being closer than 500 metres from the animals. Ms Marozaite said the sector is partly paying the price for 'always talking about polar bears' in relation to Svalbard trips. She told the PA news agency: 'Of course they are something that people want to see, but expedition cruising to Svalbard is actually an incredible opportunity to experience a lot of other things about the destination. 'There is incredible human history, beautiful scenery, other species of wildlife.' Ms Marozaite said cruise lines are continuing to show their guests polar bears, some by sailing closer to Greenland. The impact of Norway's distance rule is 'more to do with how we communicate', she said. 'The communication around Arctic voyages is going to change. 'Companies hopefully will no longer be putting close-up images of polar bears on the brochure. 'That's a good thing, because finally we will start talking about the destination the way it should be talked about.' But expedition leader and photographer Paul Goldstein criticised the new regulations. He told The Independent's travel podcast: 'This is a classic example of what I term 'conservation fascism'. 'I have led small ship charters in the region since 2004. 'Never once have I seen a single incident where tourists intimidate or affect the behaviour of polar bears.' He added that if a camera lens 'the size of a Stinger missile' is required to see polar bears then most visitors will miss out. Norway's minister of climate and environment Andreas Bjelland Erikse previously said the rules are necessary as climate change is 'leading to more difficult conditions for polar bears on Svalbard'. He went on: 'It is important for them to be able to search for food, hunt, rest and take care of their cubs without interference from humans. 'That is why we must keep a good distance.' The minimum distance will be reduced to 300 metres from July 1. The Norwegian government said visitors to Svalbard have 'a duty to retreat to a legal distance' if they encounter a polar bear that is too close. Ships are also banned from carrying more than 200 passengers in the region.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
New rules could see end of close-up polar bear photos in cruise brochures
Small ship cruise lines may stop putting close-up images of polar bears in brochures because of new restrictions in Norway, according to an industry expert. Akvile Marozaite, chief executive of UK-based global representative body Expedition Cruise Network, said limits on how close ships can get to the animals means the sector must change 'how we communicate' with travellers. Polar bears are a key draw for people embarking on sailings to Norwegian-ruled archipelago Svalbard, as they can be observed in their natural Arctic habit. But concerns about interference from humans means the government has banned ships in the region from being closer than 500 metres from the animals. Ms Marozaite said the sector is partly paying the price for 'always talking about polar bears' in relation to Svalbard trips. She told the PA news agency: 'Of course they are something that people want to see, but expedition cruising to Svalbard is actually an incredible opportunity to experience a lot of other things about the destination. 'There is incredible human history, beautiful scenery, other species of wildlife.' Ms Marozaite said cruise lines are continuing to show their guests polar bears, some by sailing closer to Greenland. The impact of Norway's distance rule is 'more to do with how we communicate', she said. 'The communication around Arctic voyages is going to change. 'Companies hopefully will no longer be putting close-up images of polar bears on the brochure. 'That's a good thing, because finally we will start talking about the destination the way it should be talked about.' But expedition leader and photographer Paul Goldstein criticised the new regulations. He told The Independent's travel podcast: 'This is a classic example of what I term 'conservation fascism'. 'I have led small ship charters in the region since 2004. 'Never once have I seen a single incident where tourists intimidate or affect the behaviour of polar bears.' He added that if a camera lens 'the size of a Stinger missile' is required to see polar bears then most visitors will miss out. Norway's minister of climate and environment Andreas Bjelland Erikse previously said the rules are necessary as climate change is 'leading to more difficult conditions for polar bears on Svalbard'. He went on: 'It is important for them to be able to search for food, hunt, rest and take care of their cubs without interference from humans. 'That is why we must keep a good distance.' The minimum distance will be reduced to 300 metres from July 1. The Norwegian government said visitors to Svalbard have 'a duty to retreat to a legal distance' if they encounter a polar bear that is too close. Ships are also banned from carrying more than 200 passengers in the region.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
UK farm swaps milk for cow cuddles as floods, food prices take toll
Charleigh Gartell takes part in a 'cow Cuddling' experience at Dumble Farm. Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP By Marissa Davison for Reuters Years of floods and low food prices have driven a dairy farm in England's northeast to stop milking its cows and instead charge visitors to cuddle them. Dumble Farm started as a dairy farm in the 1970s, but in recent years, flooding washed out crops and killed off the type of grass the cows like to eat, while milk prices below cost of production proved an insurmountable challenge. "The amount of flooding and the pressures on our land were just making it unsustainable for us to carry on," said farm co-owner Fiona Wilson. Agriculture is one of the sectors worst-affected by climate change, with farmers in Europe and elsewhere suffering under increasing heat, drought and flooding. In 2022, Dumble Farm sold all but a few of its dairy cows and, in a scramble to re-invent itself, began offering "cow cuddling" experiences to fund a wildlife conservation scheme. For £95 (NZ$213), visitors can cuddle, brush and stroke the cows, as they lie down on a straw-covered enclosure inside a barn. The experience includes a safari to see Highland cattle. "It's been so worth it, just to get so close to the cows, and they are so loving and gentle," guest Emma Hutton, 25, said, after she spent some time cuddling one of the cows. It took more than a year to train the cows to feel comfortable with cuddling, but now the animals have fully adjusted, farmer James McCune said. "They like being pampered," he said. "They are like big dogs... it's more of a spa day for the cows. "The farm uses the proceeds to create habitats to protect wildlife and support declining species, such as lapwing birds. "It's great that we can fund the conservation scheme by having visitors to the farm and that's really the bigger picture." - Reuters
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
ITV's first female weather forecaster Wincey Willis dies age 76 after being diagnosed with dementia
ITV weather presenter Wincey Willis has passed away at the age of 76 after being diagnosed with dementia. The channel's first national female forecaster, she joined she joined TV-am in 1983. Famous for her magnificent blonde hair, Willis was already a minor star when she took on the forecasting role and had presented her own show, Wincey's Pets, in 1982. She had joined ITV's national programme from Tyne Tees Television, where she had been a forecaster despite admitting that she was not a specialist. In 1985, she joined game show Treasure Hunt as an adjudicator before leaving full-time TV in 1987. She went on to star in pantomime, wrote three books and spent years devoted to wildlife conservation. At one point she lived in a tent in Greece for six months while guarding a turtle population. She did return to screens as a wildlife presenter in 1993 but subsequent TV appearances have been few and far between.
