Conservation at beale wildlife park
At Beale Wildlife Park, our conservation heart beats through five current projects — from returning water voles to our rivers and nurturing rare dormice, to standing up for civets and preserving the elusive Scottish wildcat. Through research, rescue, and community action, we’re working to keep these wild stories alive for generations to come.
Learn more about these projects and donation options by clicking them below.
Conservation STRATEGIES
This Conservation Strategy details Beale Wildlife Park’s initiatives aimed at supporting biodiversity and contributing to conservation efforts on both local and international scales. The strategy highlights our ongoing commitment to conservation education and wildlife preservation, underscoring our role in the broader conservation community. Through these initiatives, Beale Wildlife Park seeks to sustain biodiversity and engage the public in meaningful conservation activities.
Research and breeding programs
Objective:
To contribute to scientific knowledge and effective management practices that can aid species conservation globally.
Strategies:
- Collaborative Research: Partner with academic and conservation institutions to conduct research on animal health, genetics, and behaviour.
- Ethical Breeding Programs: Implement and participate in controlled breeding programs designed to maintain or increase population numbers, while ensuring genetic diversity.
Policy Advocacy and Global Partnerships
Objective:
To actively participate in shaping wildlife conservation policies and collaborate with UK and global conservation networks.
Strategies:
- Policy Advocacy: Engage with BIAZA and EAZA to support wildlife conservation laws and practices.
- Global Conservation Networks: Maintain active memberships and roles in organisations such as BIAZA to contribute to and benefit from UK and global conservation efforts.
Education and public engagement
Objective:
To educate and engage the public in conservation issues, promoting an understanding of biodiversity and the role of zoos.
Strategies:
- Educational Outreach: Develop a range of educational programs targeting different demographics, including school programs, workshops and animal keeper talks.
- Community Engagement: Foster a connection with local communities through volunteer programs and conservation awareness campaigns.
Monitoring and evaluation
Objective:
To continually assess the effectiveness of conservation activities and adapt strategies as needed.
Strategies:
- Performance Metrics: Develop and monitor key performance indicators for each conservation initiative.
- Regular Reviews: Conduct annual reviews of conservation strategies to adjust objectives and tactics in response to new challenges and opportunities.
Conservation Priorities And Species Selection
Objective:
To prioritise species that are either native to the UK or are of significant conservation concern internationally based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Strategies:
- Native Species Focus: Increase efforts on the conservation of local native species through captive breeding programs and habitat restoration projects.
- Global Conservation Role: Participate in breeding programs for critically endangered species.
- Partnerships: Form strategic partnerships with reputable conservation organisations to support, via donations, their in situ work internationally. Produce regular impact reports on their conservation efforts to ensure effectiveness.
- Staff exchange programs: aim to facilitate international collaboration and information exchange, thereby enhancing our contribution to global conservation efforts.
Conclusion
This Conservation Strategy is committed to upholding the highest standards of animal welfare, education, and conservation. We believe that through the implementation of these strategic initiatives, Beale Wildlife Park will significantly contribute to the conservation of biodiversity both locally and internationally.
“It is widely held that animals in zoos and aquariums are ambassadors for animals in the wild
and assist in communicating key messages to society on the conservation of biodiversity.”
The Trust are passionate about conserving the incredible species of flora and fauna that share our planet.
WHAT IS CONSERVATION?
While the definition of conservation sets itself as “The prevention of wasteful use of a resource” in practice, particularly within a Zoo environment – conservation lends itself to multiple forms. As such we want to create a policy that meets these requirements while maintaining the integrity of both our collection and reputation within the industry.
Breeding programmes
For some species it is vital to build up a sustainable population in captivity, to ensure their survival, this is achieved by participating in European breeding and monitoring programmes, EEP’s and ESP’s.
We currently participate in:
- Binturong *
- Ring-Tailed Lemur *
- Rock Hyrax*
- Snowy Owl
- Eurasian Lynx
- European Wildcat*
- Lowland Tapir
*Aim to Breed to boost captive population
On-Going Project Involvement
Beale Wildlife Park is uniquely situated at the Southern end of the Goring Gap where the river Thames cuts through the Berkshire Downs to the west and the Chiltern Hills to the east. It is a geologically diverse area ranging from the chalk downlands to the blue clay and gravel beds in the valley, all within a short distance of one another. This has led to a wide range of habitats, each with its associated species.
THE ROTHAMSTED INSECT SURVEY (RIS)
The survey currently comprises around 80 light traps across the UK and Ireland with most traps being run by volunteers, BWP has one of these traps. The moths are collected and identified daily, recorded on a spread sheet and sent to Rothamsted for interpretation. The project has been running since 1964, the longest such survey in existence, of which Beale Wildlife Park has contributed for the last 10 years.
Moths are a relatively easy species to monitor and can be used as a key species for looking at population trends for themselves and other invertebrates, the information gathered is of use to growers, conservation organizations, individuals and policy makers. With the advent of global warming the information is more relevant than ever, moths are a good indicator species of the state of our countryside and its habitats, they are an important species in the food chain and excellent pollinators.
RIS provides and maintains all the equipment necessary for the survey and interprets the information provided by the field workers.
BWP provides the manpower to collect and identify the daily capture and provides the electricity to run a 200-watt tungsten filament bulb on a nightly basis, the bulb is controlled by a light sensor for maximum efficiency.
STRIPED LYCHNIS MOTH MONITORING
The Stiped Lychnis is a nationally scarce species of moth occurring locally in Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and West Sussex. It is on Butterflies Conservations ‘watch’ list. There are only two colonies locally. The moth is recorded by counting the number of caterpillars on its food plant, the Dark Mullein. Monitoring has taken place for the last six years, and to date the population seems stable.
This work is carried out by Conservation volunteers and the data gathered is passed on to the county recorder and Butterfly Conservation.
HAZEL DORMOUSE MONITORING
This is a monitoring and research project on Beale Trust land in partnership with the Berkshire Mammal Group and the Environment Agency. 48 dormice boxes have been erected. The boxes are surveyed for signs of dormice several times a year by a Natural England licensed surveyor who records the results for inclusion in the National Dormouse Database (NDD).
In 2024 Beale Wildlife Park was registered as part of the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme which will require monitoring in accordance with nationally agreed timescales.
Nest boxes were supplied and are maintained by Beale Park conservation volunteers, monitoring is carried out by a Natural England licenced surveyor from Berkshire Mammal Group assisted by Beale Park conservation volunteers.
WATER VOLE RECOVERY PROJECT
As part of the Water Vole work that is being carried out, and working alongside the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxon Wildlife Trust, we will install and monitor three Mink Rafts. The American Mink is an introduced species into the UK and since their arrival has had a catastrophic effect on the native Water Vole population. We aim to establish the population of American Mink and record for the long-term plan of bringing the Water Vole back to this stretch of the Thames.
CREATING NATURE ENVIRONMENTS
With a beautiful location, running alongside the river Thames, the Trust looks to promote the upkeep of natural environments for native species to utilise.
2025 we will continue to take part in the iNaturalist network. This will allow visitors and staff the opportunity to report wildlife spotted on site. They will contribute data to biodiversity network, helping to establish the health of our ecosystem
The Trust will aim to promote biodiversity through the Wildlife Park site in creating ‘Wild’ spots around the grounds. Insect hotels, log piles and managed wild gardens will help to increase site Biodiversity and educate visitors on its vital importance.
HARVEST MICE BREEDING PROJECT
2025 will start a breeding programme of Harvest Mice on-site to create heathy and viable animals suitable for release projects.
Monitoring of wild Harvest mice population on zoo site will commence.
Campaigns and projects
The Trust has been involved in several campaigns and projects throughout its history. 2024 we will concentrate on one project that helps wildlife in its natural home (In-Situ).
Rescue
The trust has given homes to many animals throughout its history. Working alongside AAP*, explore the aim to re-home wild cat species and primates that have been mis-treated throughout Europe, giving them a fresh start and forever home.
Global Conservation
The Trust has been involved in several campaigns and projects throughout its history. 2025 we will concentrate on one project that helps wildlife in its natural home (In-Situ).
*Who are AAP?
In Europe, millions of animals, such as primates, tigers and lions, are kept as pets, traded illegally or used in circuses and other forms of entertainment. This causes an unimaginable amount of animal suffering and AAP believes this must stop! AAP is determined to achieve her ultimate goal; put an end to the suffering of exotic animals in Europe!
Education
The Trust is committed to the use of Education to promote conservation through signage and interpretation throughout the zoo as well as the delivery of informative and engaging talks. Engagement is strengthened by our encounters and experiences.
Formal educational visits from schools, colleges and universities provide theoretical and practical learning strategies on various conservational messages.
Sustainability
The Trust will endeavour to make every process as sustainable as we can. Look at solar energy to run heating and lighting of new enclosure builds. A drive on sourcing merchandise made from recycled materials and items that promote conservation and biodiversity. We aim to eliminate single use plastics from our shop and restaurant. 2024 we aim to reduce our landfill waste by 60% with the addition of public recycling bins, restaurant sorting system, compostable waste, plastic, and glass collection
The Trusts commitment to conservation will carry on with the addition of future projects. As we grow, we will develop the collection to include additional species involved in EEP’s and ESP’s.
Forge partnerships with local wildlife groups in the hope of a native species breeding programme with the possibility of re-introductions.
The Trust will also continue to develop areas within the zoo and the wider estate to areas of undisturbed natural habitats to encourage biodiversity and potentially repopulate with native species.
The trust will use sympathetic planting and habitat management techniques to ensure the flora and fauna within the zoo perimeter and on the wider estate continues to flourish.