Whipsnade Zoo warning about delays in vital conservation work
Plans have had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bedfordshire Zoo says the pandemic has affected conservation plans and breeding programmes.
Whipsnade Zoo are warning people about disruption to vital conservation work as they celebrate the successful first step of a new breeding programme.
Earlier in the year Zoo's warned about a crash crisis affected them, and now they are sharing the issues it will have on rare species.
Mark Holden is a team leader at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo:
"These animals have been around for millions of years and one way to look at it is they should be here and they belong to the planet as well.
"It is not just for humans to use and abuse as we see fit and they belong here. They have a role in functioning ecosystems and they are part of our health and our survival.
"Everything has a role in this world we live in and if we loose these animals I think the world becomes a less interesting place."
Visitor ticket sales not only pay for the animals zoos house but also goes towards breeding programmes and conservation work.
Following their temporary closure and then limited ticket availability funding is restricted for the group.
Mark explains this can have huge consequences:
"Our conservation programmes team are currently looking at everything and if we do have to pull out of programmes it will be a managed process but we will keep engaged with partners where we can.
"All programmes will be looked at individually but as far as the public are concerned they are probably aware of the conservation work we do and their ticket sales, donations and memberships can help the animals we do hold and our work further afield."
One example of the important work being done is with the white rhinos at Whipsnade, which is part of the European endangered species breeding programme.
There is a population of around 300 of them within European zoos.
Recently the zoo has introduced two new female white rhinos, which will be introduced to their male rhino soon.
Some tension is expected when the male meets the new females however the goal is to result in breeding.
Mark explains it is important to remember the positive steps being made in difficult times like these:
"It is really important as there has been a massive increase in poaching in Africa in the last 10 years, it is estimated there are 2 or 3 white rhinos killed every day.
"If the world population is around 18,000 you can imagine these animals might not be around in 15 to 20 years. So it is really important we have genetically viable population in Europe, so if the wild population is hit hard we have ones that we can reintroduce.
"I think we should celebrate these programmes, because peoples actions can make a difference."