Hobbledown Conservation Strategy
2024
Overview
Hobbledown is committed to conservation, education, research, and protecting the environment. We strive to be an inspirational, and positive influence on our guests as a "lead by example" community resource to promote and support local conservation, education, research and environmental action plans.
We are currently working to develop a more effective way to track and reduce our carbon footprint and ensure we are operating in an even more sustainable manner that is better aligned to the goals of the Ewell and Epsom Climate Action Plan to be carbon neutral by 2035.
2024 breeding plans include our Asian small clawed otters, and we have added a pair of critically endangered Dwarf turquoise geckos to our Imaginarium display.
Team Development in Conservation and Sustainability
For us, in order to be successful at creating, managing and the development of our own long term conservation goals, it is essential that we arm our team with conservation skills and aim to provide robust conservation training and work experience opportunities. Delivered by wildlife experts, highly trained in their fields, this knowledge will prepare Hobbledown’s animal team for this endeavor.
Each year, we will ensure our animal team are provided with additional conservation training as available, and opportunities to attend conferences where they can network and share valuable conservation initiatives and information. It will be required that each year, conservation posters, research projects and papers, and or talks on our works and progress will be submitted for peer review and presentation consideration to further share conservation information and immerse our team in native conservation activities.
Site Development and Guest Engagement
Comprehensive signage will be created and placed across the site to bring attention to Hobbledown’s conservation projects, backyard conservation and actions to be taken at home to protect native flora and fauna as well as how our guests can support our projects.
Our website now contains easy to navigate research, conservation, and environmental pages that will provide more in-depth views into our projects and how our guests can become involved and support.
2024 will also see the launch of a biannual conservation online newsletter and annual summary reports to update on project progress, promote research opportunities for university learners and announce new projects we are developing.
Sustainability Champions - Carbon Footprint Reduction Plan
2024 will see us launch our new sustainability and carbon reduction plan managed by our newly appointed and dedicated Sustainability Champions. We will track our carbon footprint throughout each year and publish our survey results as we explore new ways to operate in a more sustainable and responsible manner.
SSSMZP Commitment Overview
Is the zoo participating in at least one of the following?
- research from which conservation benefits accrue to species of wild animals
- training in relevant conservation skills
- the exchange of information relating to the conservation of species of wild animals
- where appropriate, breeding of wild animals in captivity
- where appropriate, the repopulation of an area with, or the reintroduction into the wild of, wild animals
1. 2024 –
- Launch of new Carbon Footprint Reduction Plan (i) – Appointed Sustainability Champions - aligned with Ewell and Epsom Council’s Climate Action Plan to be carbon neutral by 2025
- Apply to join EAZA (iv) – in order to participate in breeding of EEP or ESB species, and or possible studbook management or co-management dependent on availability
- Attend BIAZA Native Species Conference (iii) – submit paper or poster for presentation Rewilding The Copse - Creating a wildlife haven within a busy adventure park
- Attend BIAZA Annual 2024 Conference (iii)
- Harvest mice breeding set up (I, ii, iii, iv & v) - Project Nature Reserve at Hobbledown Heath
- Conservation and programme management training for team as available (ii)
- Breeding programme – Turquoise dwarf geckos – critically endangered (iv)
2. 2023 - Completed Goals
- Created Conservation, Research, and Environmental webpages and the Hobbler Conservation Fund
- Commitment of funding source for current and future conservation projects – Percentage of all Zookeeper for a Day Experiences go directly to the Hobbler Conservation Fund
- Continued support (funds) for International Otter Species Fund
- Rewilding Project (v) – The Copse
- Project Lugger (iii, iv) – Breeding programme
- Project Nature Reserve (iv, v) – Joint development planning project with Hobbledown Heath – breeding and reintroduction of Harvest mice
- Attendance to the BIAZA Native Species Working Group conference and the BIAZA Conservation Education conference
- Conservation and programme management training for team as available (ii)
Conclusion
Where possible, Hobbledown and Hobbledown Heath will continue to reduce its carbon footprint and going forward make sustainable choices. By doing this we are setting a strong example to our guests, team, and future generations.
Under the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, we welcome the responsibility to the teaching of relevant conservation skills, exchanging information relating to conservation species with peers and other institutions, and sharing information with our guests through signage, talks, and presentations.
Hobbledown and Hobbledown Heath’s aims are to continue to research projects to include more potential repopulation or reintroduction of species programmes as and when we increase our animal populations relevant to research or those involved in captive breeding.
