Actual Leonardo DiCaprio has publicly praised Chester Zoo for its conservation work, which saw a fish species ‘brought back from the dead’.
The Oscar-winning megastar and keen environmentalist posted on Instagram to his 55.6m followers to talk about golden skiffia fish.
The fish species hasn’t been seen in its native central-western Mexico since the 1990s, but 1,200 were successfully bred and released into the Teuchitlan River this month.
The reintroduction of the fish coincided with the country’s Day of the Dead celebrations.
Leo wrote: “This year’s Day of the Dead celebrations included a unique ‘resurrection’ in Jalisco, Mexico, where conservationists released more than 1,000 Golden Skiffia into the fish’s native range in the Teuchitlán River.
“The freshwater fish had not been documented in the wild since the late 1990s. The events, in the midst of Mexico’s #DayoftheDead celebrations, included formal speeches, traditional dances and the official release of the fish.
“Bringing the species back from the ‘dead’ is the result of collaborative conservation work between Michoacan University of Mexico, @chesterzoo, the Goodeid Working Group and @Shoal_Org (a program of @Rewild and @synchearth).”
Paul Bamford, regional programme manager for Latin America at Chester Zoo, added: “This project is a great example of how zoos can contribute to conservation in the field through conservation breeding and research, utilising the skills and experience that have been developed in zoos to help strengthen existing and new wild populations.
“By supporting freshwater conservation in Mexico and the ecosystems where the fish live, we’re not only protecting biodiversity and the wellbeing of freshwater environments, but also the people and communities that live alongside them.”
Omar Domínguez-Domínguez, a professor and researcher from the Michoacan University of Mexico, who is leading the golden skiffia reintroduction, said: “The Day of the Dead is a traditional Mexican celebration, when it is believed that people’s deceased ancestors return to the land of the living for one night, to talk and spend time with their families.
“Releasing the golden skiffia at this time is a metaphor for how the species has come back from the dead to return to its home, not for one night, but forever.
“Releasing this species back into the wild is a light of hope for this wonderful family of fishes – the goodeids – and for the conservation of freshwater fish more generally. Knowing that universities, zoos and aquarists can come together to fix some of what has been destroyed and return to nature some of what has been lost is an amazing thing.”
The skaffia was pushed to extinction by dam construction, water extraction, pollution and the introduction of invasive species.
Conservationists hope that the fish being released will ultimately result in a healthy, self-sustaining population that can fulfil its important natural role in the ecosystem of eating algae and mosquito larvae, which helps keep populations of those species in check.
Featured image: Sony Pictures
Cheshire
Chester Zoo is looking for volunteers to help care for its animals and ‘prevent extinction’
Emily Sergeant
Are you ready to help make a genuine difference? Chester Zoo is currently looking for volunteers to help care for its animals.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo is committed to the recovery of endangered species around the world, and is making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most… but it can’t do this alone, and that’s why it’s calling on people to volunteer and spend a year of their education gaining ‘invaluable’ work experience.
Chester Zoo is offering a number of year-long Animal Husbandry Voluntary Work Placements for those currently studying for degrees relevant to the industry.
During these placement years, candidates will get comprehensive practical training by Chester Zoo specialists covering a wide range of subjects, and receive on-the-job experience in the husbandry of the species they’re working with, taking on plenty of hands-on husbandry tasks along the way.
Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2024 / Credit: Chester Zoo
Candidates will be assigned to one of the animal keeping sections for the year – specialising in either birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, or invertebrates.
The ideal candidates for these placement years will have an interest in all aspects of animal husbandry and the work of Chester Zoo, an ability to work as an individual or as part of a team, excellent communication skills, and have the ability to financially support themselves for the duration.
The working hours for placement volunteers will be full-time, working five days out of seven, including alternate weekends, on a rota basis, but it’s worth it as Chester Zoo says many of its past placements have gone on to follow careers in zoos.
Full uniform will be provided by the Chester Zoo, along with free lunch vouchers for the days you attend.
The news that Chester Zoo is seeking volunteers comes after it was also announced that the zoo is giving out more than 30,000 free tickets to children, offering them the chance to visit the incredible facilities on offer without having to spend a penny.
Applications for the positions are now open, and applications from individuals living outside of the UK are welcome, but they will be expected to fund your own travel and relocation costs if successful – with the closing date being 10 March.
Assessment days for the placements are anticipated to take place on 4 or 11 April, and you can find out more and apply here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Cheshire
Chester Zoo is giving away more than 30,000 FREE tickets to children
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is giving away thousands of tickets to local schools to help inspire a new generation of young conservationists.
The UK’s largest charity zoo is on a mission to help nature to “survive and thrive”.
And so, in a bid to do just that, has announced that it will once again be handing out tens of thousands of tickets to schoolchildren for completely free of charge, so that they can explore the zoo up close and learn all about the inspiring work the conservation charity does.
Chester Zoo‘s free ticket scheme has been running since 2017, and has already seen more than 175,000 children get to experience all the wonders the zoo has to offer.
We’re giving away 32,750 FREE tickets to the zoo! 🚨
Schools, nurseries, and colleges across the UK – this is your chance to inspire future conservationists and ignite a passion for helping wildlife thrive! 🌍💚
With the hopes of empowering as many youngsters as possible, and sparking their passion for saving species once again, the zoo has now opened the scheme back up for the 2025/26 season – with a whopping 33,000 tickets available for schools, nurseries, and colleges to claim.
Those who secure tickets will have the opportunity to visit the zoo between this November and February 2026.
Applications are open to any school in the UK that hasn’t already benefitted from the scheme within the last four academic years, while home educators are also eligible to apply as a group through a Home Educators’ Network.
Chester Zoo is giving away more than 30,000 free tickets to children this year / Credit: Chester Zoo
“We’re offering thousands of children the opportunity to experience the wonders of the natural world firsthand at the zoo,” commented Charlotte Smith, who is the Director of Conservation Education and Engagement at Chester Zoo.
“Young people are more concerned than ever about nature decline and climate change, and by working closely with schools across the UK, we can provide them with the skills, knowledge and inspiration to make a real positive difference.”
She added that “every child has the potential to be a future conservationist”.
Places are limited each day to ensure everyone can enjoy their zoo visit – with priority given to schools who have not benefitted from the scheme before.
You can find out more and apply for free tickets here.
Daisy Jackson -
28th November 2022 
