Frog and snail at the surface of a pond

Zoology Live! 2022: Supporting Wildlife Today

In the Zoology Live! livestream on June 22 we explored how we monitor wildlife today, with Dr Julia Mackenzie from Anglia Ruskin University showing how she monitors the nesting birds in Cambridge University Botanic Garden, and Professor Ed Turner of the Museum of Zoology sharing his research into arthropod biodiversity in Southeast Asia: You too can get involved with monitoring wildlife. Get a taste at … Continue reading Zoology Live! 2022: Supporting Wildlife Today

Reed warbler in long grasses

Zoology Live! 2022

It is that time of year again – time for us to celebrate our Zoology Live! festival at the Museum of Zoology. We have an exciting line up of livestreams and activities, culminating in the BioBlitz at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, where you can put what you have learnt about local wildlife to the test. Our Zoology Live! YouTube livestreams are taking place on … Continue reading Zoology Live! 2022

Dark brown cow looking to camera

What’s in that Cowpat?

Have you ever walked through Coe Fen or on Midsummer Common in Cambridge, looked at the cowpats and wondered what lived inside? Well now is your chance to find out! For Zoology Live 2021, we are launching Cowpats About Cambridge (and beyond). Inspired by the Cows About Cambridge sculpture trail, we are asking you to help us collect data on the animals living in cowpats. … Continue reading What’s in that Cowpat?

Gharial skull

Endangered Species Day

To mark Endangered Species Day on Friday 21 May 2021, staff and volunteers at the Museum of Zoology have been writing about the endangered species on display in the galleries that hold stories important to them. Come and explore these amazing animals with us. Orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus Dr Ed Turner, Curator of Insects As Curator of Insects, selecting orangutans to write about might seem an … Continue reading Endangered Species Day

Common Blue Butterfly

Zoology Live! 30 June – 2 July 2021

Join us online for this year’s Zoology Live! Festival. We were live on YouTube at 7pm every evening from Wednesday 30 June to Friday 2 July. Missed it? Fear not – you can still catch up on all the livestreams. Just scroll down and you can find them in this blog post. You can also take part in our challenges all summer. This year we … Continue reading Zoology Live! 30 June – 2 July 2021

Startling murmuration in the sky at sunset

12 Days of Winter Wildlife: 12 Days of Critters

Throughout this week we have been sharing some amazing winter wildlife with you, and today we have joined this all up as our 12 Days of Critters. Why not download the song sheet and sing along with your new festive favourite: Find out about the 12 critters, and scroll down to learn how to make your own origami starling murmuration to decorate your home. Winter … Continue reading 12 Days of Winter Wildlife: 12 Days of Critters

Close up photograph of snowflakes

12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Surprising Winter Animals

Think of an animal of winter and what comes to mind? A robin? A swan? A snow flea? Yes, you read that right, a snow flea. This is just one of the more surprising winter animals you can find out about today on day eleven of our 12 days of winter wildlife. Scroll down for more surprising winter wildlife, and a surprise snowflake craft – … Continue reading 12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Surprising Winter Animals

Photograph of long grasses at dusk

12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Healthy Habitats

For day eight of our 12 days of winter wildlife, we are exploring healthy habitats. Cambridge University Botanic Garden works hard to be a wildlife haven in central Cambridge. Follow our virtual tour of some of the winter wildlife it supports: In today’s blogpost we will be uncovering some of the unsung heroes that keep our habitats healthy. Winter Wildlife: Earthworms Join Dr Ed Turner … Continue reading 12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Healthy Habitats

Woodlouse on wood chippings

12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Life Underground

Above the ground you may be seeing bare branches and fewer flowers, but beneath the ground there is still a lot of activity, particularly in compost heaps. This is the theme for day four of our 12 Days of Winter Wildlife. Here are top tips for creating a compost heap, and how to search for the animals living there, with Dr Ed Turner, Curator of … Continue reading 12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Life Underground

White admiral on leaf

Provide shady spots to protect butterflies from climate change

Researchers have discovered significant variations in the ability of different UK butterfly species to maintain a suitable body temperature. Species that rely most on finding a suitably shady location to keep cool are at the greatest risk of population decline. The results predict how climate change might impact butterfly communities, and will inform conservation strategies to protect them. The results, published in the Journal of … Continue reading Provide shady spots to protect butterflies from climate change

Nephila sp. Golden orb weaver and oil palm

New study assesses the impacts of oil palm replanting on arthropod biodiversity

Michael Pashkevich writes: Palm oil seems to be everywhere:  it’s probably in your shampoo, the instant noodles you ate for lunch and – if you’re wearing it – your lipstick. In fact, palm oil is the most traded vegetable oil worldwide, in part because it can be used in so many products. But the production of palm oil is highly controversial. This is because oil … Continue reading New study assesses the impacts of oil palm replanting on arthropod biodiversity

Photograph of a bat at night

Garden Wildlife After Dark

Join our Curator of Insects, Dr Ed Turner, as he explores the wildlife in his garden after the sun has set. Want to find out more about nighttime wildlife? Watch our Zoology Live broadcast with moth expert Annette Shelford and bat expert Henry Stanier: And find more activities related to nighttime wildlife on our post about Day 5 of Zoology Live. Observe the moths in … Continue reading Garden Wildlife After Dark

Damselfly

Zoology Live! A Wonderful Week of Wildlife

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Zoology Live! last week. Your questions for our experts were wonderful, and we all really enjoyed sharing our love of wildlife with you. We would love to know what you thought of the event. Please do complete our online survey: Please note that the survey prize draw for a Wildlife Explorer Kit has already taken place. The … Continue reading Zoology Live! A Wonderful Week of Wildlife