Ever since Senior keeper Tyrone joined Whipsnade, we have been carrying out more surveys at the zoo.# Last year we deployed a number of SM4s around the zoo as well as our regular walked transects, and were able to send a report of our findings to ZSL
We have identified more areas for intensive studies with SM4s this season.
Whipsnade has a number of Lookout Lodges where families get to stay overnight at the zoo, which includes a walk around the zoo at night.https://www.whipsnadezoo.org/plan-your-visit/zoo-experiences/lookout-lodge-zoo-sleepover
We have been suggesting for a while that we could train staff to help run bat walks
Tyrone and Bob ran an indoor training session on Saturday 15 th April for the enthusiastic group and as luck would have it a keeper found a grounded pipistrelle in the zoo and the group was able to meet a real life bat.
photos by Hannah Cole
On Monday 24th April we put theory into practice with a bat walk. I say in theory as it was a really cold night and very few bats were about.