Wetland wildlife
History made as world's rarest bird released into the wild
21 Madagascar pochards, a duck thought to be extinct for 15 years, has been brought back from the brink and given a new home on a remote lake in Madagascar.
28 December 2018
It could become legal to kill wild barnacle geese in the UK in the future
It could become legal to kill wild barnacle geese in the UK in the future, if a proposal by Norway to the EU is adopted. The reason is that the species has increased through conservation efforts to stop it sliding towards extinction. UK numbers of Sval
26 November 2018
New WWT study reveals what captive flamingos get up to when the lights go out
Captive flamingos are as active as their wild counterparts at night despite their different lifestyles, according to latest research. Although the birds were provided with food and protected from predators, footage shows that flamingos at WWT Slimbridg
5 October 2018
Fish and chips: Eels microchipped to track species on the brink
Wild eels are being microchipped, similar to the way people microchip their pets, in an attempt by conservationists from WWT to better understand their activity. The study at Slimbridge in South Gloucester will allow scientists to monitor how eels are
27 September 2018
Bewick's cygnet numbers in Arctic early sign of bumper breeding season
Our experts made the exciting discovery during their annual 2000-mile trip to the Arctic to ring the critically endangered birds. After spotting just one cygnet last year, Conservation Scientist Kane Brides and Reserve Warden David Dinsley sighted 24 c
31 August 2018
Heatwave makes flamingos broody for first time in 15 years
The rare flock of Andean flamingos at WWT Slimbridge have become foster parents to chicks from their near-relatives, Chilean flamingos, after the hot spell triggered them to lay their first eggs since 2003. The record-breaking temperatures sparked six
9 August 2018
Exotic spider discovered during WWT species survey as part of Salt Hill Playday
A wasp spider – a species relatively new to the UK – was uncovered during a survey to discover local animals and plants as part of the Salt Hill event. The striking arachnid with yellow and black stripes was first recorded on the island in the 1920
7 August 2018
Rare plant with roots in south returns to Arundel after century's absence
A total of 400 triangular club-rushes have been planted over an area of 20 square metres which will be managed by WWT at Arundel Wetland Centre to reverse the hands of time and encourage the shrub to seed.
2 August 2018
Chris Packham's Caerlaverock visit unearths unusual discovery
A rare bug - never recorded in Scotland before – was discovered during Chris Packham’s Caerlaverock visit. Two rare saucer bugs, Ilyocoris cimicoides, were spotted by eagle-eyed local expert naturalist, Bob Merritt in a pond on the reserve. Up unti
24 July 2018
Cranes here to stay, new model predicts
The UK’s tallest bird – the common crane – is here to stay and we could have as many as 275 breeding pairs within 50 years, according to the latest population model from scientists at the University of Exeter, WWT and RSPB published in Animal Conser
17 July 2018
Rare eggs hatch after spring flooding rescue
A total of 15 godwit eggs rescued from muddy farmland in East Anglia have hatched successfully so far. Conservationists, trying to protect the rare black-tailed godwit, teamed up with local farmers to save the eggs, which were found in poor condition due
25 May 2018
First hand-reared godwit returns to UK
A black-tailed godwit has returned to The Fens in East Anglia where it was hand-reared after migrating as far as Portugal for the winter. The bird is one of 26 black-tailed godwits raised at WWT Welney and released into the wild last summer. The wader, a
24 April 2018
Once common duck now rarer than giant panda, experts reveal
The Critically Endangered Baer’s pochard population is estimated at less than 1000, making them rarer than giant pandas. There are between 250 and 999 Baer’s pochard left in wild compared to 1864 giant pandas, according to the latest figures on the
11 April 2018
Wildlife though a lens! WWT launches photography competition in Slough
Slough’s budding wildlife photographers will have the chance to showcase their skills at a local photography competition launching in March. WWT, together with Slough Youth Parliament, are running the event which aims to celebrate the town’s waterw
27 February 2018
Using a 'Fitbit' to unearth the secrets of Greenland white fronted geese
Greenland white fronted geese are masters of the long distance. Each year they make a 3000km trip to Scotland where they shelter for the winter before returning to Greenland to breed. But fewer and fewer geese are arriving on our shores and in the last 20
31 January 2018