Your latest Discover Animals update
Welcome to The Herd, our regular newsletter featuring thoughts and ideas on how to better connect with nature, learning about wildlife and conservation along the way.
It’s our first round-up of Discover Animals content for 2025, and we have plenty of news to share from the world of wildlife. It’s been a while since our last update, but as I learnt in Katherine May’s beautiful book Wintering, which I recently finished, we need to embrace this darker time of year as a chance to recharge and recover, as nature does so well.
Back in the autumn, our roving videographer, Geoff Moore, reported on Salisbury Cathedral’s first pet service. We also covered news of the Orkney Native Wildlife Project, which is working to protect the island’s endemic species, including the Orkney Vole. Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation launched its first ever Youth Panel, Whipsnade Zoo welcomed a trio of rare Northern African lion cubs and nearly 40 rare species were recorded in the New Forest as part of the Species Survival Fund.
For more wildlife stories and inspiration on how you can help the natural world, visit the Discover Animals website.
Our content picks
Rare species recorded in New Forest restoration project
The Willow Emerald damselfly - a recent colonist in the New Forest.
Nearly 40 rare species have been recorded in the New Forest during a project to restore areas for nature.
The species were identified during surveys undertaken by Wild New Forest last year as part of the Species Survival Fund, which is restoring and creating habitats to halt species decline. The surveys were completed at 10 sites, mostly around the northern and southern fringes of the New Forest National Park.
Read more here.
Trio of rare lion cubs born at Whipsnade
A trio of rare Northern African lion cubs have been born at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, marking a huge conservation success for the vulnerable subspecies.
Born to three-year-old lioness Winta, and three-year-old dad Malik, the litter of three arrived on 25th November 2024.
Footage captured by the conservation zoo‘s ‘cub cam’ CCTV shows attentive mum Winta being tender with her tiny newborns, carefully cleaning and nuzzling them.
Find out more here.
Butterfly Conservation launches first ever Youth Panel
Image credit: Felix Littlechild
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has launched its first ever Youth Panel, championing its mission to engage more young people with nature.
This groundbreaking initiative brings together 10 passionate young people aged 16-25 from all corners of the UK to help shape the future of butterfly and moth conservation.
Read more here.
Conservation project fights to protect Orkney Vole
Image credit: Adam Hough
A groundbreaking partnership between the RSPB, NatureScot and Orkney Islands Council, the Orkney Native Wildlife Project (ONWP) is fighting to protect the islands’ rare and increasingly threatened wildlife populations.
A new report published by the RSPB shows that in just four years, the project is delivering on its mission to protect nationally important bird and small mammal communities found on the Orkney Islands including the Orkney Vole.
Read more here.
The first Salisbury Cathedral pet service
Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire recently held its first service for pets. Discover Animals’ Geoff Moore went along to find out more.
‘All Creatures Great And Small: A Service Of Blessing For Our Pets’ was an informal afternoon service that gave thanks for the joy and companionship that pets bring to our daily lives. All were welcome to come along with their pets or a photograph of their favourite animal.
Find out more here.
What a wonderful idea.