Snakes and lizards are off to school

[faze]

Snakes and lizards are off to school

Oct 12 2004
ic coventry.co.uk



Zoo animals are off to school - under a new initiative from Twycross Zoo.

The zoo's education department has been presented with a van from motor company Daihatsu, so staff can take animals out to schools.

Pupils will be able to get close to and even touch a range of creatures, such as dragon lizards, leopard geckos, snakes, cockroaches and chinchillas.

The van is air-conditioned to provide a safe and comfortable environment for animals while they are being transported.

Through the scheme, pupils will be able to learn about the rainforest, colour camouflage, the environment and the way animals adapt to their habitats.

Kim Riley, a manager at Twycross Zoo said: "A lot of children can't come to the zoo because of budget problems so if they can't come to us, then the zoo will come to them. It will be an inter-active workshop and kids at schools around Nuneaton will be able to actually touch the animals."

Paul Tunnicliffe, marketing director of Daihatsu, said: "Our cars are all very eco-friendly and, as we want to do our bit for the environment, the work the zoo does for conservation touched us.

"Their outreach work is very valuable so we thought they would have a need for the van to take their work to show to schoolchildren."

Zoo staff are also involved in another new approach - the creation of a single database combining wildlife networks all over the world.

One of the animals to benefit from such a database could be concolor gibbon Ethan who might be able to find a mate through on-line dating if the new internet scheme takes off.

The little gibbon could potentially select a mate from anywhere in the world depending on the outcome of a meeting between international experts on animals and conservation in London.

They will discuss the creation of a single global database combining wildlife networks all over the world.

The meeting is being organised by the Twycross Zoobased Wildlife Information Network and will be attended by zoo director Suzanne Boardman.

It would mean huge strides in the fields of animal conservation and care, and would allow zoos around the world compare rare animals in the wild and in captivity to find breeding partners.

Twycross Zoo has already used computer matchmaking. Ethan was conceived after zoo staff used an international database to pair up his parents.