News
Efforts to save the world’s rarest duck receive timely boost
Efforts to establish a breeding programme to save the world’s rarest duck, the Madagascar pochard, have received a boost from Defra’s Darwin Initiative. £282,000 over three years from the Darwin Initiative will help to fully establish the breeding p
3 March 2010
Er...don't you think we 'otter' say grace first...?
While male otter Ned barely pauses for breath before tucking in to the celebration fish cake, partner Thai (left) clearly decided that the occasion deserved a little more reverence as she appeared to put her hands together and ‘say grace’ - a tradi
2 March 2010
New report reveals the ups and downs of Britain's waterbirds
Each winter Britain sees the arrival of millions of waterbirds of many different species from the Arctic and northern Europe. A report - Waterbirds in the UK 2007/08 – published today highlights some startling changes in the fortunes of these visitors o
19 February 2010
Early birds confused by late spring
Reports that spring may be delayed this year do not seem to have reached the birds at WWT London Wetland Centre. Some birds have already surprised visitors by singing unusually early. Birdwatchers heard the first bittern, a rare type of heron, ‘booming
19 February 2010
A step forward in Laos
WWT’s work in Laos has been a resounding success, with the threat of building development around the sensitive and vulnerable That Luang Marsh averted, at least for the time being. WWT’s chief executive was able to report on the latest work at the m
18 February 2010
Lady Scott sadly passes away aged 91
WWT is deeply saddened to announce that Lady Scott passed away last night at the age of 91. Lady Scott was the widow of the late Sir Peter Scott, who founded the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) more than 63 years ago. There is a saying ‘behind every
6 January 2010
Almost two girls for every boy is perfect start to pochard breeding programme
Scientists working to save the rarest bird in the world, the Madagascar pochard, have reported ducks (girls) outnumber drakes (boys) by almost two to one in the first two broods being reared in captivity, giving further hope to the emergency rescue missi
24 December 2009
Madagascar pochard population set to double
The race against time to save the Madagascar pochard from extinction is well on the road to success. WWT’s ‘Team Pochard’ in Madagascar, along with colleagues from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and The Peregrine Fund look set to achieve the
13 November 2009
First step to save the world’s rarest bird taken successfully!
A complicated and challenging mission to a remote lake in Madagascar has resulted in a huge step being taken in efforts to save the world’s rarest duck from extinction. A collaborative team of specialists were hampered by electrical storms, gruelling j
4 November 2009
First Bewick's swans return to Slimbridge
The first group of Bewick's swans arrived last night. Around 13 of swans, which winter in the UK having migrated from their breeding grounds in Arctic Russia, flew in under strong south westerly winds, much to the surprise of staff at Slimbridge. The usu
1 November 2009
Will our wildlife be celebrating Natural England’s third birthday?
Three years ago last weekend, Natural England was born. Formed from the merger of three organisations, it emerged into the expectant glare of England’s wildlife charities, including WWT, the UK’s leading wetland conservation charity. We have been watc
13 October 2009
Artist-led bat house gives a lead to building design of the future
WWT is marking today's centenary of the birth of our founder, Sir Peter Scott, by urging architects, builders and home-improvers to follow his lead and do work which benefits wildlife as well as people. The call coincides with the opening this morning of
14 September 2009
Largest butterfly invasion in over a decade!
Over three thousand painted lady butterflies were counted at WWT Slimbridge yesterday in what is thought to be the largest migration of the species in over a decade. Millions of the species have been arriving in Britain in the past week after an amazing
29 May 2009
Birds of conservation concern - report published
The latest assessment of the status of all of the UK's 246 regularly occurring birds - Birds of Conservation Concern 3 - shows 52 are now of the highest conservation concern and have been placed on the assessment's red list. The revised red list now incl
28 May 2009
WWT makes a World of Difference in Nepal
WWT's project Wetland Management for Sustainable Livelihoods at Koshi Tappu, Nepal received a special commendation for CIWEM's World of Difference Award. This project addressed the issues of unsustainable exploitation at Ramsar site Koshi Tappu Wildlife R
28 May 2009