Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Twenty African penguins, including five established pairs, have arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park as part of the European Endangered Species Programme. The critically endangered species has settled into a £1.2 million specially designed habitat featuring a 552,000-litre pool and underwater viewing panels.

African penguins have been reclassified from endangered to critically endangered status, with scientists predicting the species could become extinct in the wild by 2035 if population declines continue. The species faces threats from habitat loss, climate change, pollution, reduced fish stocks, and predation.

Twenty African penguins have arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park as part of the European Endangered Species Programme, marking the first time the species has been housed at the park. The colony of ten males and ten females includes five established pairs and will settle into a £1.2 million custom-built habitat this weekend.

African penguins have been reclassified from endangered to critically endangered status in 2026, with scientists predicting the species could become extinct in the wild by 2035 if population declines continue. The species faces threats from habitat loss, climate change, pollution, reduced fish stocks, and predation.

The WildLife Foundation, based at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, is funding a Rhino Tactical Refresher Course for 30 wildlife rangers at Ol Jogi Conservancy in Kenya to enhance their skills in protecting endangered rhinos. The training covers tactical response, navigation, surveillance, and first aid, supporting the long-term conservation of critically endangered eastern black rhinos and southern white rhinos.

Leaf, a 13-year-old female Golden Lion Tamarin, has arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park from Chester Zoo as part of the EAZA Ex-situ Breeding Programme to support conservation of this endangered species. She has been matched with resident male Demonio and joins just 39 Golden Lion Tamarins living across 13 UK zoos, playing a vital role in maintaining genetic diversity as wild populations face habitat loss and disease threats.

Four cheetah cubs have been born at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and are now visible to visitors in Cheetah Territory. The cubs represent another breeding success for the zoo's conservation efforts.

Cisco, an 8-year-old male sea lion, has arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park from the south of France to join the zoo's breeding programme. He is being gradually introduced to the resident colony of seven sea lions in the Point Lobos habitat.

A baby Titi Monkey has been born at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and can be seen in the South American walkthrough exhibit Amazonas. The birth adds to the zoo's recent breeding successes.

Three Lar gibbons have been born at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and are now on display in the Malaysian Singing Forest. The births represent continued success in the zoo's breeding programmes.

Setanta, a Rothschild giraffe, has arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park after 11 years at Twycross Zoo in the East Midlands. The 15-year-old was transported 75 miles using a purpose-built giraffe transporter and will be introduced to the park's existing giraffes Jambo and Jengo over the coming days.

Four female Northern Cheetah cubs born on Valentine's Day have made their first public appearance in the main enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park alongside their mother Darcy. The cubs are part of the European Endangered Species Programme, with their parents Brooke and Darcy representing the rare Northern Cheetah subspecies.

The WildLife Foundation, the charity based at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, has partnered with the Cheetah Conservation Fund to preserve cheetah ecosystems through sustainable and socially responsible interventions. The partnership aims to address habitat loss, poaching, and pollution threatening wild cheetah populations.