Science and global conservation news from Chester Zoo's Science and Field Programmes departments.
Happy to link up with conservationists, vets, keepers, ecologists, academics and animal-lovers.
Journo requests to [email protected].
Chester Zoo Science
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🦎 Skink alert:
The recent Ecological Genetics Meeting included a presentation by one of our scholars.
He genetically sequenced 183 Bermuda skinks - that's ~7% of the entire wild population! This data will inform conservation work.
Find out more: communities.springernature.com/posts/highli...
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Welcome to the inaugural 🧪#TestTubeTuesday🧪 updates from our Science Centre labs.
It's June - and that means a sample surge!
💩 In the first week of every month, roughly 400 faecal samples a month, all recovered from animals living at Chester Zoo, are gathered for analysis.
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🐃 'Dung donors' include endangered species like anoas.
✉️ We also test samples sent from other European zoos.
📈 Our scientists look at hormone levels for various reasons, including checking fertility, confirming pregnancies and monitoring general reproductive health of endangered animals.
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Did you catch the #bongos news yesterday?
Here's the background:
👎 The bad news: our AI-powered cameras detected only 28 individuals in their Aberdares mountain stronghold last year (highly experienced Mountain Bongo Project rangers confirmed there are likely fewer than 40).
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👍 The good news! We can share evidence that these incredibly rare bongo antelopes have been seen in the forests of Maasai Mau for the first time in more than half a decade.
The Maasai Mau region sits about 200km from Aberdares protected area and the pics spark new hope for conservationists.
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One of the biggest risks to bongos is habitat loss.
We and our partners believe confirming the presence of this incredibly rare antelope in Maasai Mau strengthens the case for broader protections for these vital forest habitats.
You can read more here:
www.chesterzoo.org/news/bongos-...
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Our experts and MBP rangers analysed the pictures. They show a mature male, a young male and a young female bongo.
We support the Mountain Bongo Project rangers working hard every day to patrol and monitor this vital habitat.
Unlike the Aberdares, Maasai Mau is not legally protected.
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BMC Zoology and BMC Ecology and Evolution were delighted to follow EGG 2026 online. The meeting included 70 participants, 24 talks and 18 poster presentations over three days with time for discussions...
