Chester Zoo has unveiled a 10-year ‘Conservation Masterplan‘ to prevent wildlife extinction – with experts admitting “we cannot go on losing species at the rate we are.”
The wildlife centre’s new strategy has been designed to reverse damage exacerbated by the pandemic – with COVID-19 interrupting conservation efforts at zoos around the world.
Chester Zoo’s own future hung in the balance last summer – with owners forced to launch a public appeal for help (raising millions in the process).
But despite a difficult year, the wildlife centre has proceeded to launch a huge conservation plan in an attempt to halt or even reverse the decline of threatened populations.
Dr Simon Dowell, Science Director at Chester Zoo, said the facility had published a “statement of intent” to deliver real conservation impact up to 2031.
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“Enough is enough; we cannot go on losing species at the rate we are,” he revealed.
“This 10-year plan will take us up to the zoo’s 100-year anniversary when we’ll be able to look back and clearly see the results of our mission to protect the natural world.”
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As reported by Granada, Chester Zoo’s Masterplan includes:
Ensuring future conservation for 150 species
Stopping decline of 200 highly-threatened plants/animals
Improving landscapes for wildlife totalling 250,000 hectares
Training 5,000 conservationists
Empowering 10 million people to live more sustainably
Chester Zoo will draw on decades’ worth of experience and expertise to implement the strategy.
CEO Jamie Christon said that things had “reached a tipping point” due to the “terrible damage” done by humankind over the years, but that hope was not lost yet.
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Mr Christon vowed that Chester Zoo would “refuse to relent” in its efforts to prevent extinction, with the new strategy designed to improve the outlook for wildlife and conservation in the UK.
“This Conservation Masterplan is the zoo’s most ambitious programme to date and it will make a real difference to our planet while inspiring others to live better to the benefit of wildlife,” he added.
“Together, we can prevent extinction.”
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Police warn criminals ‘don’t bother’ attending Parklife after already making arrest
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester Police have said that criminals shouldn’t ‘bother’ coming to Parklife festival this weekend, after already making an arrest at the festival site.
Officers have been carrying out searches of people arriving on site this week – and have already arrested a 24-year-old man.
A quantity of pills and a knife were both recovered from the man, who has been arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs and possession of a bladed article.
After the arrest, Superintendent Phil Spurgeon issued a statement to criminals, saying ‘don’t bother coming to Parklife’.
He said: “We have a really robust police and partnership community safety operation for the festival, and the arrest and seizure yesterday demonstrates the vigilance of security staff, our thorough search procedures and our commitment to keeping people safe.
Parklife Festival, and (right) the suspected Class A drugs seized this week by police. Credit: GMP
“Make no mistake, illegal items such as weapons and drugs can have fatal consequences. Our top priority this weekend is keeping people safe, and anyone caught trying to take such items into the festival will be robustly dealt with.
“I hope the genuine festival-goers are excited for the fantastic weekend ahead and I am confident the majority will enjoy the event responsibly and safely.”
Greater Manchester Police and Parklife security staff will be working closely together to intercept anyone travelling to the festival with criminal intentions.
The arrest on 8 June was thanks to the festival’s drug detection dogs.
University of Manchester hit by cyber attack with ‘data likely copied’ by unauthorised party
Emily Sergeant
The University of Manchester (UoM) has confirmed that it has today become “the victim of a cyber incident”.
In a formal statement addressing the situation, the city‘s flagship further education institution says some of its systems have been accessed by an “unauthorised party” and that data has “likely been copied” as a result of this.
The University’s in-house experts are said to be “working around the clock” to resolve the issue.
External support teams are also said to be working in collaboration with the University to understand what data has been accessed.
Patrick Hackett – Registrar, Secretary, and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Manchester – explained in a statement issued this morning: “Regrettably, I have to share with you the news that the University is the victim of a cyber incident, [as] it has been confirmed that some of our systems have been accessed by an unauthorised party and data have likely been copied.
“Our in-house experts and established expert external support are working around the clock to resolve this incident, and we are working to understand what data has been accessed”.
— The University of Manchester (@OfficialUoM) June 9, 2023
Mr Hackett said he understands the nature of the issue will “cause concern to members of our community”, and says the University is “very sorry for this”.
The University says it is also working with relevant authorities – including the Information Commissioner’s Office, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the National Crime Agency, and other regulatory bodies – to resolve the issue, and will provide information to those affected as soon as they are able to.
Students and staff are also be told to be vigilant to any suspicious phishing emails within the coming days – with the University’s IT Services team having published some relevant advice to refer to.
The Manc -
22nd March 2021 
