2024: Groundbreaking conservation efforts and unforgettable moments
December 26, 2024
Annual animal audit
We kicked off the year with our Annual Animal Audit, where we recorded 52 births and 145 species at the zoo. The audit looked back at 2023, which was packed with exciting new arrivals, including caracaras, bush dogs, and rock hyrax.
10 new penguins waddle into Penguin Cove
In January, we welcomed 10 new penguins at the zoo. They were checked over by our Veterinary and Birds teams on arrival. The group settled in quickly and established their new “pecking order” with the rest of the colony.
Saving Spiders
On Save a Spider Day , our spider keeper, Ali, shared her incredible story of overcoming arachnophobia, showing how these often misunderstood creatures play a vital role in nature.
The tiger who had a root canal
A truly unforgettable moment this year was when an all-female dentist team, led by Dr. Elysé Summerfield-Smith and Veterinary Dentist Rachel Perry, performed a root canal on a tiger at the zoo after he broke a tooth!
A new chapter with our new CEO Laura Read
In March, our new Chief Executive, Laura Read started at the park. Her arrival sparked a wave of positive change, guided by her lifelong connection to the zoo and commitment to conservation. We’re excited to see how Marwell continues to grow and develop in the coming years.
Connecting children with nature
We formed an exciting new partnership with Barrett David Wilson Homes (BDW) Southampton to give more children the chance to connect with nature outside the classroom.
One Zoo Three
Amy Denny, Primates and Small Mammals Team Leader and Tashi, our red panda, were featured in the episode “Hello Goodbye” of One Zoo Three. Later in the year, Marwell was featured again, highlighting our innovative zoo poo biomass boiler.
A new male snow leopard, Warjun
We were chuffed when our new male snow leopard, Warjun arrived from the Czech Republic. Warjun is a young animal, and we hope one day he will play a vital role in securing the future of this species.
Big Give’s Green Match Fund
In April, we launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to save one of the UK’s most endangered native species, the white-clawed crayfish. Thanks to your support, we are well underway to creating a breeding centre for this vulnerable species which is set to open in March 2025.
Picture perfect calendar
It was hard work but we managed to select just 12 stunning photos of our resident animals for our 2025 Marwell Calendar, now available to buy in our Gift Shop. All profits from the sale of products in our Gift Shop are used to support our conservation work and care for our animals here at the zoo.
BIAZA’s Love Your Zoo week
We spread the love during BIAZA’s Love Your Zoo week with special events, keeper talks and talks from our conservation and veterinary teams. The nationwide week-long event led by the British and Irish Association of Zoo’s and Aquariums (BIAZA), aims to promote the important work zoos contribute to nature conservation, education and research.
World Scimitar-horned Oryx Day
During BIAZA’s Love Your Zoo week, BIAZA invited zoos and aquariums to nominate an overlooked animal for a World Awareness Day. At Marwell, we nominated scimitar-horned oryx. After working with these impressive animals for more than 50 years, we contributed to them being downgraded from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered. Thanks to everyone who voted, we won! World Scimitar-horned Oryx Day will officially start on 16 August 2025. Keep an eye out for our exciting plans as we prepare to celebrate this day for the very first time!
New to the family, a cotton-top tamarin baby
Just in time for Endangered Species Day, we welcomed a Critically Endangered male tamarin. We invited you to help us decide on a name, and you voted for Fester! Our cotton-top tamarin troop are in Life Among the Trees and have recently been joined by brand new to the zoo, Chacoan mara.
2,000 kindergarten trips to connect kids with nature
In June, we celebrated 2,000 kindergarten trips with Kids Love Nature at Marwell Wildlife! Over 300 children from Kids Love Nature have explored our zoo and woodlands, learning to connect with nature.
Four Przewalski’s horse foals
Born over May and June, we welcomed four Przewalski’s horse foals to the herd in the field at Café Graze. The first foal was born to mother, Lena, on 3 May. She’s named Xaela, which means mystical or fierce in Mongolian. The second foal was born to mother, Tsetseg, on 11 May and is named Shara after a mountain in Mongolia. The younger two foals were born just one day apart with Bilüü arriving to mother Tuya on 12 June and Ereen born to Speranza on 13 June. Their names are both cities in Mongolia.
Where tea meets tusks
This summer, we introduced Afternoon Tea just a stone’s throw from our rhinos, scimitar-horned oryx and Grevy’s zebra. Guests stepped inside our historic Grade I listed Marwell Hall for an afternoon of elegance. Pinkies at the ready for 2025…
Chomping down on The Very Hungry Caterpillar trail
Throughout the summer holidays at Marwell, little ones adventured through the nation’s favourite children’s story. The trail featured interactive elements, including supersized 3D fruit to climb through, allowing children to become The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the day.
Swapping sunhats for snowballs
After the hottest day of the year in August, visitors enjoyed a snow day at the zoo! Children at the park took part in a snowball fight with Father Christmas to help test out the snow cannons for Glow Marwell 2024.
Snow leopard habitat extension opens
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our fundraising appeal. Your generosity helped us double the size of our snow leopard habitat. Guests can now enjoy new viewing areas and and discover new signage highlighting Marwell’s conservation efforts, while children engage with interactive and immersive play.
An arrival of an Endangered Grevy’s zebra foal
We proudly welcomed an endangered Grevy’s zebra foal to mother, Khumba. The foal delighted visitors as it playfully explored the Wild Explorers paddock. This new addition plays a vital role in supporting conservation efforts, as fewer than 3,000 Grevy’s zebras remain in the wild.
The pitter patter of tiny hooves
As the back to school season arrived, so did exciting news across the park with the birth of two Critically Endangered calves. In September, we welcomed a male addax calf, the fourth offspring of parents Amelia and Tamerisk, and a male mountain bongo born to Jumapili. With fewer than 100 bongos remaining in the wild, this birth is a vital contribution for conservation.
We snailed it
More than 6,000 Extinct in the Wild and Critically Endangered Partula snails travelled over 15,000 miles to French Polynesia from the UK for release. 1,640 of these came from Marwell Zoo, marking this, in terms of the number of animals bred at Marwell, the greatest contribution to a conservation project in our history.
A new companion for Tashi the red panda
A female red panda, Cherry, arrived from Manor Wildlife Park as a companion for Tashi, our male red panda. Head over to see Tashi and Cherry together in their habitat in Wallaby Walkthrough.
Przewalski’s horses, Takhi and Basil head to Eelmoor Marsh
Endangered Przewalski’s horses, Takhi and Basil, joined Dorov and Elmo at Eelmoor Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest to help maintain the open heathland. Their presence supports conservation grazing, helping to maintain the heathland ecosystem. This reintroduction marks another step in the species’ recovery, following Marwell’s role in their reclassification from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered.
We completed our first Green Status assessment
Over the past 10 years, we have proudly supported the Antelope Specialist Group (ASG) and recently we contributed to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): the Green Status of Species. The Green Status shows how conservation efforts can drive recovery. Recent assessments of four threatened antelope species revealed that, with focused efforts, species like the mountain nyala, dibatag, Heuglin’s gazelle and Speke’s gazelle can recover.
Modern Innovation, Shaping the future of conservation
In collaboration with the University of Southampton, we explored the use of drones for monitoring endangered species. The project uses thermal imaging, high-definition cameras, and AI to identify animals and, eventually, individual coat patterns, such as zebra stripes. Trials at Marwell have proven successful, and it is hoped the technology will be deployed in the wild in 2025.
The countdown to Glow Marwell
Father Christmas’s elves arrived at the zoo ready for Glow Marwell, and caused mischief across the park. From taking over the Chief Executive’s office to gift-wrapping statues, their playful antics added festive magic to the event.
Snow arrives at the zoo
The park transformed into a winter wonderland as the county experienced its first cold snap of the season. The snow leopard, Amur tiger and birds were seen exploring their frost-covered habitats, perfectly at home in the chilly conditions.
Glow begins…
The magical light experience with new and interactive displays launched in November. Guests embarked on a journey through zones inspired by fire, earth, air, and water, enjoyed a new ocean display, and experienced immersive VR. Father Christmas returned to Marwell Hall to spread festive cheer.
The excitement doesn’t end there! Start your new year with a little sparkle, Glow Marwell has been extended for 2 extra dates on Saturday 4 January and Sunday 5 January 2025. Book now.
A rare birth at the zoo
As the year draws to a close, we celebrated the birth of a rare okapi calf, marking a significant milestone for the conservation of this endangered species. The calf, named Kayemba, is the third generation born at the zoo. Mother Niari, born at Marwell, has been attentive, and the calf is thriving under her care.
Thank you!
We couldn’t do what we do without you! We’re incredibly thankful to every single one of you who is part of our community. Stay tuned for exciting announcements in 2025, it’s going to be an action-packed year full of fun!
