Banham Zoo’s project to aid rare frog shortlisted for national award

Work to protect one of the UK’s rarest amphibians has seen a zoo shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Banham Zoo is in the running for a Great British Wildlife Restoration award – created to shine a spotlight on some of the work taking place to tackle a decline in the UK’s native species.

The Norfolk attraction has earned the recognition for its project to support the very rare northern pool frog.

It is helping to safeguard the species from extinction by rearing and breeding pool frogs on-site at the zoo and then releasing them back into the wild.

Sarah Lee, group head of conservation at the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), which runs the zoo, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award, which highlights the work we are doing, alongside our project partners, to safeguard the future of the native northern pool frog.

“With all the challenges against nature, such as habitat loss and climate change, it is vital that conservation organisations, like ZSEA, step up and face these challenges head-on to save species from further decline, whilst placing a spotlight on the incredible biodiversity we have here.”

As a shortlisted project, representatives from Banham Zoo will be invited to a special awards evening, hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, in January.

Organised by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Biaza), the competition tasks MPs and members of the House of Lords with voting for the winners.

Andy Hall, who founded the Great British Wildlife Restoration awards, said: “The shortlist shows the depth and breadth of work going on in our great British zoos and aquariums to save the nature on our doorstep.

“We need to recognise and reward this incredible work, and I hope politicians of all stripes will get behind these awards.”

Hannah Stone, chairman of Biaza’s native species working group, said: “This shortlist shows all organisations, from the largest to the smallest, have a role to play in conserving native species. Whether that is creating homes for our under-loved invertebrates or nesting sites for our bird species.

“Every action is important and every project contributing to a future where British wildlife thrives.”