If You Go Down to the Woods Today .....

Life in the woodlands is like an everyday walk on the wild side.

The warm forests of the world change with every season. In the spring, they are sweet smelling and full of new life, in the summer, they are cool and green, and, in the autumn, they are bursting with bright colours. But, come winter, the woods become cold and very bare.

Siberian (or Amur) Tiger

Found - Siberian, Northern China

Threats - Seriously endangered. There are thought to be as few as 250 left in the wild, but there are over 600 in zoos around the world. Apart from the threat of habitat destruction, tigers are always under threat from hunters. They are seen as a menace and also hunted for their skins and body parts, which are used in many traditional oriental medicines.

At the Zoo - In 1996, our female had 3 cubs which are now part of the European breeding programme, helping to keep tigers alive.

Did you know? - The Siberian tiger is used to temperatures as low as -45 degrees C, and so is quite comfortable in any British weather.

Muntjac Deer

Found - Eastern China, introduced into Britain

Threats - Not much is known about the threats other than habitat destruction

At the Zoo - Graze freely in the deer paddock

Did you know? - These beautiful, delicate animals are very shy but enjoyable to watch if you sit and watch quietly.

Tree Porcupines

Found - North America

Threats - They are hunted as pests because porcupines kill trees by eating their bark, leaves and fruit buds

At the Zoo - You can find them getting snug in their favourite tree barrel in the wooded enclosure

Did you know? - Our short-sighted, prickly friends have as many as 30,000 quills when fully grown.

How Can You Help?

* Conserve energy

* Follow the country code

* Recycle, so less woodland destroyed

* Don't use pesticides and herbicides

Quick Facts!

* Annual Rainfall - 1500 - 2500 mm

* Temperature - Daytime above 10 degrees C

* Total area of planet covered - 9.7%

* Area lost in last 5000 years - 64%

* World importance - The lungs of the earth, trees give us oxygen to breathe

* Threats - Deforestation by man for wood, or building land and acid rain

* Amazing fact - Most of Britain was once covered with woodland.