Tilgate Nature Centre
Tilgate Nature Centre is a BIAZA-accredited Local Nature Reserve, located within Tilgate park in Tilgate Forest, South-East Crawley, United Kingdom.[1][2][3]
History
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Tilgate Nature centre was formed in 1966 by Crawley Borough Council to breed ducklings for introduction into the three lakes at Tilgate, namely Campbells, Silt and Titmus.[4] Its focus changed over the years and it now houses an impressive animal collection including reindeer, owls, raccoon dogs, coati, parrots, mongooses, otters, snakes, tarantulas, lizards and various invertebrates. Tilgate Nature Centre is actively involved in breeding programmes for threatened species such as the Northern bald ibis, and has also been involved in re-introduction programmes; most notably the fen raft spider (Dolomedes plantarius) from the UK.[5]
Attractions
The centre is open to the paying public with attractions such as public talks, feeds and presentations, "Animal Adoptions", "Meet the Meerkats", "Junior Keeper for a Day" [6] and "Pamper a Pony" experiences. They also offer educational visits for schools and animal-themed birthday parties for wildlife-loving youngsters.[7] On 2 April 2016 over 2300 people witnessed the opening of an area dedicated to Australian wildlife [8] which included a single kangaroo and wallabies to represent marsupials, and for Australian birds were Emu's, pink galahs and kookaburras. The next area planned is for a Madagascar zone which is to include ring-tailed lemurs and reptiles, due to be opened in Easter 2017, then an Americas zone with tapirs and capybaras which is planned to open in Easter 2018.[8]
Conservation
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Many endangered species are kept at Tilgate Nature Centre, which has taken on an important role in conservation, protecting endangered species from extinction due to rapid changes affecting their natural habitats. Tilgate Nature Centre has become nationally important for maintaining breeding groups of these animals to preserve a variety of endangered wild species. Critically endangered animals include Northern bald ibis, Utila spiny-tailed iguana and Laysan duck. Endangered animals at the centre include British Lop pig, Edwards's pheasant, red-breasted goose, Stanley crane and yellow-backed chattering lory. Vulnerable species include Abyssinian blue-winged goose, Azara's agouti, Baikal teal duck, Barraband's parrot, and brown eared pheasant.[5][7]
References
- ↑ Crawley Borough Council. Accessed 18 June 2007
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- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Conservation at Tilgate Nature Centre Retrieved October 3, 2013
- ↑ With Video: Cute meerkat pups on display at Tilgate Park Nature Centre in Crawley. The Argus, 30 May 2013.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tilgate Nature Centre Retrieved October 3, 2013
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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