News

Folly Farm Zookeeper travels the world

Published

8 years ago

December 23, 2016

Jack with rangers: At Ujung Kulon National Park

IN A BID to improve his knowledge of conservation and research of the critically endangered Javan and Sumatran rhinos, a 24- year old zookeeper from Pembroke has travelled to Indonesia on a rhino expedition.

Jack Gradidge is a rhino keeper at Folly Farm and is responsible for two eastern black rhinos, Manyara and Nkosi, living at their latest enclosure in the Kifaru Reserve.

Self-funding his trip, Jack travelled to Singapore and two Indonesian islands, Java and Sumatra, with keepers from the Aspinal Foundation in a bid to learn as much as he could about the Asian rhinos and hopefully catch a glimpse of one in the wild.

Jack, who joined Folly Farm in 2014 after finishing an Animal Management Degree at Sparsholt College, has already visited zoos across the world, including Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Australia, and hopes to continue to travel, learning as much as he can about the animals.

“I have a great relationship with the rhino keepers at the Aspinal Foundation and they were going to the International Elephant and Rhino Conservation and Research Symposium hosted by Singapore Zoo and I decided to join them and planned to visit a few national parks.

“We organised a four-day expedition in Java where we spent most of our time with local rangers, chatting all things rhino and exchanging stories about the ones we care for back home.

“There is said to be only 63 Javan rhinos left in the wild. The rangers have identified all 63 rhinos at the Ujung Kulon National Park using camera traps and each now has a name. This is the only place Javan rhinos exist in the world.

“We patrolled the parks and spent time tracking the wild animals, looking at their footprints, mud wallows and trail of poo. We were on a canoe travelling down a river and we actually heard a rhino crashing through the forest; they were just metres away.”

“We then travelled up to Sumatra where there are just 100 Sumatran rhinos left in the wild and their population is fragmented, which means they can’t reach each other to breed. We visited a semi-wild reserve in the Way Kambas National Park, where we got to meet four of the seven rhinos, including a small calf, Delilah, who was just six months old.

“This was great, as we’re expecting a breeding female to join the two rhinos at Folly Farm next year and hope to hear the pitter patter of tiny rhino feet in the future.

“The whole experience was just amazing, I’ve learned so much and will be able to feedback to the keepers and visitors at Folly Farm about the pressure the world’s rhinos are facing. I’m so passionate about their conservation – I want to learn as much as possible.”

Folly Farm raises money for the Rhino Dog Squad appeal by Save the Rhino at Kifaru Reserve. All money raised will help train dogs and dog handlers as they play a vital role in protecting rhinos across wildlife conservancies by tracking the scent of rhinos, their horns, guns and ammunition as well as being able to attack poachers in order to disable the gun holding arm.

“I don’t know what it is about rhinos, they’re just so sensitive and surprisingly affectionate. I’ve always loved animals. I grew up on a sheep farm in Wiltshire, and I had a lot of animal toys when I was growing up – I even used to make my own little zoos.

“When I returned from being away for three weeks, the rhinos were a bit grumpy as if to say ‘where have you been?’, but soon warmed up after a few hours. They love attention – especially Nkosi, who rolls over to be scratched and likes a good belly rub. Manyara’s a bit more reserved and likes her own space, but she does love showers, especially when it’s hot.

“They’re also incredibly intelligent animals. Manyara has been doing some target training where she has to touch a ball on a stick to get a treat, and she’s also been doing some mouth training so it’s easier for us to get to their teeth and check their oral health. They have a very strange mouth with hooked lips that helps them browse the trees and shrubs, and huge teeth to crush the branches.”

The rhinos’ daily routine starts with checking they are happy and healthy, before their morning feeds are made up and given to them.

The outside exhibits are then cleaned while the rhinos are eating inside, before they are let out again and provided with any enrichment they need.

Jack continued: “When you get to work with such amazing animals, it doesn’t feel like a job at all. The best part is seeing the animals content and happy, and I particularly like feeding time because of the contact and closeness you get to experience with the animals.”

With fewer than 650 eastern black rhinos left in the wild, the IUCN Red List categorises them as critically endangered and they will be the 16th European Endangered Species Breeding Programme, of which Folly Farm is an active member.

Community

Pembs Agricultural Society’s Christmas Fair expands to an all-weekend event

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S Christmas Fair will be an all-weekend event next month. The Christmas shopping extravaganza is all set to take place on Saturday, 14 December as well as Sunday, 15 December.

The Parkhouse building on the Haverfordwest Showground will be transformed into a Christmas paradise. There will be even more stalls this year with a wide variety of quality local businesses exhibiting as well as festive music, Santa in his Grotto and an outdoor food court.

Judith Roach and Emma Thomas, the event organisers, said, “We are excited to be able to announce that our Christmas Fair will be on for two days rather than just one this year. We continue to build on the success of last year’s event with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. It will be the perfect start to the festive season as the Parkhouse Building will be transformed into a one-stop-shop for those preparing for Christmas.”

The Fair will be open from 10am until 4pm and admission is free. Visitors will find unique gifts, handmade decorations, art and beautiful homeware. Some of the county’s very best food and drink producers will also have stalls to give visitors the opportunity to stock up on all their festive treats. From decadent chocolate brownies, fudge, festive spirits to Welsh cheeses, there’s something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds. There will also be a range of outlets for ‘on the go’ eating and drinking.

One special guest at the event will be everyone’s favourite bearded gentleman in red – Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. There will be a charge of £3 per child to visit Santa and all proceeds will go directly to Sandy Bear charity to support their work. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa as part of their visit. Parents can book in advance via the website: www.sandybear.co.uk/santa

Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President is looking forward to the festive event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Judith and Emma for all the hours they have put in, voluntarily, to organise the two-day Christmas event. We’re delighted to be able to offer visitors the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

Follow Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for a full list of stallholders in the run up to the event.

Community

Officials announced for 2026 Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire

Published

12 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD returns to Pembrokeshire in 2026, and organisers have named the officials who will steer this major cultural event over the next year and a half.

With the artistic and local committees already established, meetings to finalise competitions and adjudicators are underway to ensure the List of Competitions is ready by spring. Committee members have also been voting over the past weeks to elect key officials for the Executive Committee.

John Davies, former leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, has been appointed Chair of the Executive Committee. Known for his deep connection to Pembrokeshire and extensive experience with national organisations, Davies aims to make the Eisteddfod a true community event, welcoming involvement from all corners of the region.

Tegryn Jones, Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, takes on the role of Deputy Chair (Strategy). With a strong passion for Welsh culture and language, Jones brings a wealth of experience working with local communities, visitors, and volunteers across three counties.

Deputy Chair (Culture) is Carys Ifan, Director of Canolfan Egin and a seasoned cultural organiser. Based in Llangrannog and originally from Llandudoch, Ifan has led numerous artistic and community projects across the region.

Cris Tomos, a community development veteran with over 30 years of experience, will lead the 2026 Eisteddfod Local Fund. Working with PLANED, a community development charity, Tomos has supported countless community enterprises and co-operatives in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire.

Non Davies, recently elected as Executive Committee Secretary, brings extensive cultural management expertise as Ceredigion County Council’s Corporate Manager for Culture. Having chaired the Cardigan Local Fund Committee for the 2022 Ceredigion Eisteddfod, Davies is well-versed in managing cultural projects.

National Eisteddfod Chief Executive, Betsan Moses, said: “We’re looking forward to working with John and the team over the next few months as we prepare for the 2026 Eisteddfod.

“There’s almost a quarter of a century since the Eisteddfod was last held in Pembrokeshire, and we’re very much looking forward to returning to the area. 2026 is an important year for us as we celebrate 850 years since the first Eisteddfod was held in Cardigan Castle in 1176.

“We’re looking forward to working in a new way within a catchment area which includes parts of another two counties, which is, of course, a chance to work with local people in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire again.”

Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks, including the sale of competition prizes and opportunities to donate the Crown and the Chair.

The National Eisteddfod will be held in Llantood from August 1–8, 2026.

News

Campaigners urge Welsh Government to adopt proportional representation for Local Elections

Published

13 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Welsh Government to introduce the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for local elections, following moves by two councils to shift away from the First Past the Post (FPTP) system being blocked on technical grounds.

Yesterday (Nov 14), Ceredigion Council voted narrowly, with an 18 to 17 majority, in favor of adopting STV. This follows Gwynedd Council’s decision last month, where 65% of councillors backed the move. However, both councils have been prevented from implementing STV due to a requirement for a two-thirds majority under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

In recent consultations, public support for STV has been overwhelming, with over 70% in Gwynedd and 67% in Ceredigion favoring the change. Only Powys Council rejected the proposal, despite 60.5% of its respondents supporting STV. Campaigners argue that the current system deprives voters of representation, citing that over 100,000 people were denied a vote in the 2022 elections due to uncontested seats.

The Electoral Reform Society Cymru (ERS Cymru) highlights the contrast with Scotland, where the introduction of STV for local elections in 2007 has significantly reduced uncontested seats. According to ERS Cymru, Scotland has had fewer uncontested seats in the last four elections combined than Gwynedd Council recorded alone in 2022.

Jess Blair, Director of ERS Cymru, said:

“Decisions made in council chambers affect everyone in those areas, so every vote should count. It’s absurd that councils choosing STV are blocked by a technicality, leaving them stuck with an outdated system that denies representation to thousands. The Welsh Government must act to avoid repeating the undemocratic outcomes of the last elections.”

Campaigners are now calling on the Welsh Government to introduce STV across all councils in Wales, ensuring representation that reflects the electorate’s wishes.