Conservation Chat UK LTD

07/01/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined tonight's talk. We just love mustelids
🦡🦦🐾❤️🦡🦦🐾❤️🦡🦦🐾❤️🦡🦦🐾❤️

07/01/2025

Taking place online Wednesday evening. Ticket sales end soon, grab yours to learn more about some of the sharks found in UK waters 🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-introduction-to-british-sharks-tickets-712840494107?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

07/01/2025

⛔️Online tonight⛔️. Ticket sales end at 5pm. Can't make it live? Don't worry all ticket holders will be sent a recording

Join us to learn about the UK's mustelids!

06/01/2025

Marine scientists and Māori cultural experts in New Zealand have completed the first ever dissection of one of the world’s rarest and least-studied whales, the spade-toothed whale, revealing new secrets about this mysterious species!

Although spade-toothed whales were first discovered in 1872, they’re so rare that it wasn’t until 2010 that the species was first seen intact. For hundreds of years, skull fragments and a jawbone were all that scientists knew of this elusive cetacean.

In July last year, the body of a 5-meter-long male spade-toothed whale washed ashore in New Zealand. Although sad, this event created a unique opportunity, as it was the first time a specimen was able to be preserved for research.

The dissection, which took place in December, has already led to several new discoveries, including tiny vestigial teeth in the whale’s upper jaw and the revelation that the whale had nine stomach chambers!

The dissection was not only groundbreaking for marine research but was also an innovative collaboration between scientists and representatives from the Māori group Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, combining Indigenous and Western systems of knowledge and reaffirming local cultural connections to whales.

Find out more: https://news.mongabay.com/2024/12/scientists-maori-experts-uncover-new-insights-into-rare-spade-toothed-whale/

(📷 Photo by Michael Hayward, New Zealand Department of Conservation)

06/01/2025

Stay out of the cold weather, grab yourself a hot drink and join us online this Wednesday evening 🦈❤️
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-introduction-to-british-sharks-tickets-712840494107?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

06/01/2025

This is so powerful and so thought provoking. Art is a weapon we need to utilise more when raising awareness about the and

'The Turning Point' explores the destruction of the environment, climate change and species extinction from different perspective. Music by Wantaways. Create...

06/01/2025

⚠️Tickets sales end soon⚠️ Book now to join us online and to learn more about these amazing animals

Join us to learn about the UK's mustelids!

05/01/2025

Happy New Year Nature Lovers 🐸🐾🦋🐟🐒🐋🦈🦡

A warm welcome to Conservation Chat UK ltd, we are a small business that hosts conferences, workshops and online events in which nature is always at the core.

Laura and Stu can't wait to welcome you at some of their upcoming events, check them out via the link
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/conservation-chat-uk-ltd-26881658565

05/01/2025

*Brand new talk for 2025* Book your place and join us online to learn more about the beautiful Golden Eagle
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-golden-eagle-an-introduction-tickets-713667898897?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

04/01/2025

Looking to be more green in 2025? We put together this short video offering some top tips to go green

10 Tips to Reduce Your Carbon FootprintWe are seeing evidence of global climate change right now and we need to act, but it can be overwhelming if you don't ...

04/01/2025

We have seen lots of unusual flower sightings for this time of year? Let us know in the comments if you have too! 🌻🌼🌺🥀🍁🌸
In the meantime check out this video from spring (perhaps a more normal time to see flowers)

On the hunt for wild flowers!When you're out and about on your daily walk, do you ever look closely enough at the wild flora along the way? Today we decided ...

03/01/2025

Let's make 2025 the year of rewilding 🤞🐾🐍❤️🦋🐚

Welcome to the first part of our Rewilding Series, What is rewilding?The idea of rewilding is not a new one, but within the last couple of decades, it really...

03/01/2025

We have some amazing speakers lined up for this year's South West Marine Fest Conference. See you in Brixham?

🌊 Exciting News! Meet Our First Speaker for South West Marine Fest 2025! 🌊

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Marie Hale to next year’s conference!

Dive into Newquay’s surfing culture as Dr. Hale unpacks its evolution into a community of ocean stewards, blending tradition and eco-consciousness. From discussions on surfers' environmental roles to insights on preserving the coast's socio-economic value, her session promises to inspire all ocean lovers.

📅 Join us in Brixham for this incredible journey into the heart of our local marine world!

Buy your Early Bird tickets here while they're still available! ⬇️
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/south-west-marine-fest-conference-2025-tickets-713678721267?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

02/01/2025

Anyone ready for spring yet? 🐍🤞

We found an adder!We went looking for reptiles and hoped to find an adder, but we had no idea that we would actually find one!!! Have you seen adders in the ...

02/01/2025

We are super proud and excited to announce another speaker for the South West Marine Fest Conference

We are super proud to announce Luke Bullus will be presenting at this year's South West Marine Fest Conference

Luke Bullus is the Diving Officer and a trustee of the marine conservation charity Fathoms Free. Passionate about the marine environment, Luke dedicates most of his free time to ghost gear recovery operations and ocean conservation.

Fathoms Free is a group of experienced volunteer divers, and skippers committed to protecting marine wildlife and the environment. They focus on removing ALDFG (abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear) and other marine debris from the coastal waters of Cornwall and Devon. ALDFG, often referred to as "ghost gear", continues to "fish" by entangling, trapping, and killing wildlife indiscriminately.

Since its inception in 2014, Fathoms Free has led initiatives to remove these hazardous materials from the ocean, preventing further damage to the marine environment. The charity also collaborates with and supports other organisations by using its boats and experienced skippers to assist with conservation efforts that contribute to a cleaner, safer ocean for everyone. Over the past decade, Fathoms Free has become a leading advocate for healthier oceans, inspiring collective action to protect marine ecosystems for future generations.

Secure your place https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/south-west-marine-fest-conference-2025-tickets-713678721267?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

02/01/2025

Only FIVE Early Bird tickets remain for the 2025 South West Marine Fest Conference.

To celebrate I have the great pleasure of announcing another speaker.
Welcome Dr Margot Morel, who will be discussing her research-
'Advancing shark conservation through medical training and feeding-time conditioning'

Abstract: In zoo settings, routine veterinary care of sharks poses unique challenges due to their large size, aquatic environment, and natural aversion to handling. This presentation describes a conditioning program implemented at Budapest Zoo to train various shark species for essential medical procedures using feeding times as an opportunity for positive reinforcement. The primary objective was to reduce stress and improve compliance during medical interventions, allowing for non-invasive health assessments, wound care, and therapeutic administration without the need for capture. Sharks were trained using a target-based system, responding to specific cues that encouraged controlled movement and positioning. Over a six-month period, sharks demonstrated increased tolerance to proximity and handling by trained staff, enabling safer interactions and more frequent health checks. This program underscores the efficacy of behavioural training in enhancing shark welfare and care efficiency, offering a model that may be adapted in other aquatic facilities aiming to improve the standard of health monitoring and treatment in large marine animals.

Beyond immediate welfare benefits, this topic holds conservation significance. Conditioning allows for in-depth health monitoring and data collection, contributing critical insights into the health status and needs of species under threat. As many shark populations face pressure from habitat loss and overfishing, the success of these programs in managed care settings bolsters species conservation by promoting longevity and reproductive success. This approach offers a model adaptable to other facilities, enhancing the standard of care and support for conservation goals in marine species.

Margot Morel1, Endre Sós2,3, Lilian Csehó2, Márton Hoitsy2,3
1 Great Western Exotic, Units 10-16, Berkshire House, County Park Business Park, Shrivenham Rd, Swindon SN1 2NR, United Kingdom
2 Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, H-1146, Budapest
3 Department of Exotic Animal-, Wildlife-, Fish- and Honeybee Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, H-1078 Budapest, István Street 2., Hungary

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/south-west-marine-fest-conference-2025-tickets-713678721267

01/01/2025

We have lots of online events already added to our eventbrite. Here's a taster of what you can expect

🌊 Dive into the World of the Basking Shark! 🦈 This video is a taster from one of our Wild Events. It introduces you to the fascinating basking shark—the g...

01/01/2025

Want to learn more about nature in 2025? Why not start in your own garden with a bioblitz 🐾🐸🦋🐚

How to do a bio-blitz in your garden!The Easter Bio-blitz is less than a week away, so we decided to show you how to do a bio-blitz in your own garden ready ...