National news
UK zoos working together to populate the UK with new species
The kangaroos will be bred and reared in wildlife parks and conservation areas and gradually released in selected secret locations across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Upon the successful release and introduction into the wild, the Roos will be allowed to roam free and expand their habitats.
According to government officials, the introduction of kangaroos to the first country in the northern hemisphere will provide numerous benefits to the country, including boosting tourism, promoting outdoor activities such as hiking and wildlife watching, and improving the overall health of the environment.
Hopping furious
However, some experts have expressed concerns about the potential impact of kangaroos on local ecosystems, as well as the safety of humans and other animals. The government has assured the public that strict measures will be put in place to ensure that the kangaroos are properly managed, taught the local dialect and do not pose a threat to anyone.
Further questions have been raised about the potential difficulties in breeding Kangaroos, with no indigenous species, lineage or sub-species’ strains to work from. However, Dr Ima Joanne King, who is leading the project, hopes to breed the first of 16 sets of Macropods by combing DNA from the little-known Hopping Mouse, Tree Frog and native Brown Hare.
The Australian Government have yet to officially comment on the endeavour, but a source from within the Australian tourist board has confirmed they will be “ready to provide creative marketing once they’ve stopped laughing”.
So, if you happen to spot a kangaroo hopping around your local park or countryside this April Fools' Day, don't be alarmed - it's just part of the government's new initiative to bring a little bit of Down Under to the UK.
CSSC in conservation
If you really wish to see the excellent conservation work that’s actually going on at zoos and wildlife parks across the country, explore our offers online at Whipsnade, Edinburgh, Yorkshire, Marwell, Cotswold, London, Woburn and many others, by typing ‘Wildlife’ into our search tool.
