Dublin Zoo launches new survival centre to conserve Irish wildlife

Dublin Zoo has announced it will be launching a National Centre for Species Survival.

The centre will see conservationists work to safeguard species in danger with their focus on Irish wildlife, working in conjunction with other conservation partners such as the Irish Peatland Conservation Council and Bat Rehabilitation Ireland.

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dublin Zoo Director Dr Christoph Schwitzer said it is a strategic partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission to enable conservation and action to take place under one roof, and it will be closely aligned with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

"We've had initial conversations with them and also with the fourth iteration of the National Biodiversity Action Plan that will hopefully be published by the Government next year. So, this will give us our priorities.

"It's really about helping Ireland, helping the Government achieve the priorities of the country in terms of species conservation."

Dr Schwitzer added that there are "quite a few" threatened species in Ireland and that "many of our habitats are not doing too well unfortunately".

Depending on the species, there can be very different, varied actions that can be taken he said, adding "we hope to play a little part in the whole machinery of trying to recover species from the brink of extinction in some cases."

Dr Schwitzer said that the pine marten, one of Ireland's rarest mammals which can be found in sparse populations mainly in the west of the country, is coming back by itself and will be able to help with increasing red squirrel population by preying on the grey squirrel, which is not native to Ireland and has played a huge part in the declining red squirrel population.

"Unfortunately we've got rid of some of the predators here in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe as well, so that sometimes allows invasive species to increase in numbers dramatically."