50 rare harvest mice have been released into the wild

We are proud to announce that harvest mice born into the breeding programme run by Battersea Park Children’s Zoo and our sister site The New Forest Wildlife Park were reintroduced into restored habitats at Horsenden Hill in Ealing, West London in partnership with Ealing Wildlife Group.

The habitat at the release site had been restored by EWG and the Ealing Council parks team, reestablishing a diverse ecosystem of native wildlife in this location once again. Monitoring surveys will be carried out over time to assess the harvest mouse population, with the potential for further reintroductions in the near future.

Our native species are increasingly under threat, making the fight against biodiversity loss in our habitats across Britain a priority. Harvest mouse populations have been in decline across the country due to habitat loss for many years, making conservation projects like this even more vital. Many people often turn a blind eye to our harvest mice, but they are a key part their ecosystem and the only species in Britain with a prehensile tail!

Here at BPCZ we are passionate about inspiring the next generation of conservationists, encouraging communities to be proactive in restoring our native habitats and the wildlife they support. We are delighted that Ealing wildlife group involved local children in this release project, and look forward to supporting the wildlife group with more reintroduction projects in the capital going forward.