Not just tigers: how a Devon zoo is saving UK species too

Springtime at Dartmoor Zoo isn’t all about our exotic animals. 

Our native species thrive at this time of year, with every square metre of our 33-acre site bursting with life.

As a conservation charity, we take the responsibility of looking after our native wildlife just as seriously as we do with our more exotic residents. 

We are fortunate to have a very natural site, with lots of trees and shrubs.

Each year, we have students carry out a biodiversity survey to look at what species are using the zoo grounds. 

In the case of bats and birds, not every species will be roosting within the zoo, some may simply be foraging or hunting here, but their presence is always very welcome.

Over the years, the list of both plants and animals recorded within the zoo is really impressive.

We have 34 species of tree, with the oldest being an English Oak estimated to be 350 years old.

These are joined by 96 species of plants, 33 species of bird, two species of reptile, five amphibian species, 18 species of mammal (including six species of bats), 22 species of butterfly, 27 species of bee or wasp, and another 102 species of other invertebrates.

Biodiversity is a fantastic way to measure the “health” of a habitat. 

Take a walk through a conifer plantation anywhere in the UK, and the first thing you’ll notice is the silence! Hardly any birdlife, and very little other life for that matter. 

Low diversity in plant life means very little suitable habitat for insects and birds.

By contrast, walk through a mixed broadleaf forest or a wildflower meadow and the difference is staggering. In the clearings, you will find shrubs and young trees competing for light. Hundreds of birds will be chasing insects through the undergrowth, and there will be an array of small mammals all making the habitat their homes.

By managing the land that the zoo sits on, we can ensure there is a good variety of different habitats for our native wildlife. 

We leave areas of grassland uncut to allow plants to flower. 

This provides nectar for the pollinators, which in turn provide food for birds and small mammals.

Wherever it’s safe to do so, we leave dead trees standing to create habitat. In the off-show areas, we also leave fallen branches on the ground. 

As the wood starts to decay and rot, hundreds of insects move in to feast on the rotting wood and enjoy the warmth and shelter. In turn, birds and small mammals forage for the bugs. 

We have also put up dozens of bird and bat boxes around the zoo, with plans to put up far more in the future. 

We have hibernaculums (piles of dead and rotting branches) to provide shelter for overwintering animals.

We’ve built wildlife ponds and bug hotels, sown wildflowers and flowering shrubs to provide food for pollinators.

Our work isn’t finished yet though, there is always more to do to encourage our native wildlife. 

We’d love you to join us on our journey by looking at how you can manage your own gardens for the benefit of our native wildlife.