Q: I'm really interested in Blackpool Zoo's breeding programme for Californian sealions. Could you please give me some information about it please? I am wondering why you chose to breed them, how successful the programme has been, and the role of the breeding coordination organisation. Nicole.
R: (from Mammals Section Head, Hayley) - The sealions are not in an official breeding programme at the moment, but Blackpool has always had a breeding group rather than a performance group. We have bred 29 pups in 20 years with Hugo (our male who sadly died in 2006), but, at present, we are not breeding as we have no suitable male. We have moved all but 2 pups to other collections in the UK, Ireland and Israel.
Q: What is the average weight of an elephant?
R: Good question, a male adult African elephant weighs about 5 Tons and female between 4 to 4.5 tons. A male adult Asiatic elephant weighs around 4 tons & female less than 3.5 tons. Quite heavy aren't they!!!
Q: And a baby elephant?
R: About 500 lbs.
Q: How does the Zoo help conservation?
R: Blackpool Zoo is actively involved all year round in raising funds for various conservation projects around the world including tigers, gorillas, elephants and orang utans. These and other supported charities are carefully checked to ensure that all monies are, in fact, used directly to benefit the animals.
Each year, EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) supports a particular project of major concern, and member collections are invited to join in the fund-raising efforts. Blackpool Zoo was awarded a prize in 2007 for the second highest amount of money raised for the Madagascar project. In 2008, efforts are being made to raise funds for the Amphibian Ark Campaign to save endangered amphibians in the UK and around the world. Look out for dates of events in 2008.
Although the Zoo is heavily involved in the breeding of endangered species, these are not suitable to be returned to the wild. However, studies of these animals and their habits can be directly relayed to those working with the animals in their natural habitats, and can often lead to the valuable education of local people in how to live with and respect the species.
Q: What are zoos good for?
R: This can be a quite controversial question as everyone has their own view on the existence of zoos. They do play a valuable role in preservation of certain species - for example, the Bornean orang utan is likely to be extinct in the wild within the next 10 - 15 years, a very sad loss to wildlife. However, they do breed very well in captivity and so can be studied, if not for their own future preservation, but for that of other species of apes.
Also, zoos bring animals within the reach of the very people who are responsible for the maintaining or destruction of wild habitats. Seeing these species at close quarters brings home the damage being done to the planet by man, and helps to reinforce the message being put forward by conservationists worldwide.
Whether or not zoos should exist will always be a very personal matter of opinion, but Blackpool Zoo management strives continually to upgrade facilities to ensure that all the animals are cared for to the very highest standards.
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