Cotebrook red squirrel helps animal extinction project

Back in 2019 we developed our Red Squirrel Village in our Hollybush Woodland Area. Working closely with the Welsh Mountain Zoo who oversee this conservation project.

It is their longest-running conservation project, beginning back in 1989.

We have had a few years of very successful breeding with our young being redistributed to continue the good work.

Unfortunately, we recently lost our last remaining squirrel before a new breeding pair arrived from Peak Wildlife Park.

We donated the squirrel we lost to the conservation charity Nature’s SAFE one of the world’s first living biobanks.

They  are on a mission to Save Animals From Extinction. As animal populations decline, a point is reached when the genetic diversity essential for species survival is lost. As EAZA Biobank’s UK-based cryopreservation partner, Nature’s SAFE works with zoos and wildlife rescue centres to secure the future of animal biodiversity. 

They do this by storing cells and tissues from threatened wildlife species using advanced cryopreservation technologies, free of charge. Through developing next-generation genetic rescue approaches to restore diversity to threatened populations, Nature’s SAFE acts an insurance policy to prevent extinction.

We are proud to be able to support their fantastic work.

Find out more about Nature’s SAFE here