Yorkshire Wildlife Park: A Year in Pictures 2024

If you love wildlife and inspiring stories of animal rehabilitation, 2024 was a wonderful year for Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP) in Doncaster.. From adorable baby animals to dramatic rescue stories, we've had so much to celebrate. Here's our round up of the highlights.

January: Auckley the Amur Leopard

Our January star was Auckley, the park's first Amur Leopard cub. She finally emerged in Leopard Heights after being born behind closed cameras in November. The sole surviving cub of her European litter, her birth is a vital conservation success story. With less than 100 Amur Leopards remaining in the wild, Auckley's future is bright and she's helping to put a spotlight on the critically endangered big cat.

February: Rocco the Rhino

Our February star is Rocco, the Black Rhino calf. His mother, Najuma, carried him for an impressive 15 months. With fewer than 5,000 Black Rhinos left in the world, Rocco's birth is a significant conservation achievement. He's already a favourite with visitors and loves to explore the vast 'Into Africa!' reserve.

March: YWP's Ukrainian Lion Rescue

In March, YWP played a part in rescuing four lions—Aysa and her cubs Emi, Santa and Teddi—from the conflict in Ukraine. The lioness and her cubs travelled 2,000 miles through six countries to safety after months of uncertainty. The family were finally reunited at YWP, bringing a heartwarming end to a complex and long-distance rescue mission.

April: Quill and Quaver the Camels

As spring arrived, we welcomed not one, but two, adorable Bactrian camel calves, Quill and Quaver. Born to mother-and-daughter pair Elizabeth and Darcy, the little ones started venturing out almost immediately. It was wonderful to see them bonding with the rest of the herd.

May: Cheetah Cubs Kendi and Tafari

Our May stars are cheetah cubs Kendi and Tafari, born to Darcy in our cheetah house. With fewer than 7,000 cheetahs left in the world, these mischievous cubs, born as part of the European Endangered Species Programme, are a vital conservation success story.

June: Lemurs Enjoy a Treat

A sizzling start to June meant our lemurs needed cooling down. They loved munching on fruit lollies! YWP is involved in the conservation of the critically endangered Greater Bamboo Lemur. Habitat destruction is the main threat to this and other Madagascan species, so our support is vital.

July: Californian Sea Lion Pups' First Birthday

Our Californian sea lion pups, Coral and Stanley, celebrated their first birthday this summer. The playful pups love cooling off in the waves of their large Point Lobos pool. Born just a week apart, they've grown close to their colony and love exploring their vast enclosure.

August: Okapi Kora

Our August arrival was okapi Kora, a two-and-a-half-year-old who travelled from Chester Zoo to join our breeding programme for this rare and mysterious species. She settled in quickly and loved the sunny weather.

September: Bush Dog Pups

As summer drew to a close, our bush dog pups finally emerged from their den after weeks of snuggles with mum and dad, Belle and Gaston. They loved exploring their outdoor area, while their parents kept a protective eye on them. The playful quadruplets were a delight for visitors.

October: Yuma the Polar Bear

Halloween fun came to the animals, but none reacted quite like Yuma to a giant red spider! He swatted it into the lake before later retrieving it. Polar bears are an important part of YWP's conservation work, as climate change is the biggest threat to their Arctic home.

November: Tschuna's Snow Day

The first snow of the year was a delight for many, but especially for Amur Tiger, Tschuna. She loved exploring her snowy garden and sniffing a frosty snowman. Conservation success stories like the rise in Amur Tiger numbers from 20 to over 500 in the wild, thanks to programmes like YWP's, give us hope for this beautiful big cat.

December: Red Pandas Receive Christmas Treats

As the year came to a close, the park got into the Christmas spirit. Our Red Panda trio, Alice, Ariel and Aurora, loved receiving treats from the "elves". The shy and elusive red panda population has declined by 40% in just 20 years, so they need our protection and conservation efforts.

From new births to rescue missions, Yorkshire Wildlife Park has once again proved its conservation and animal welfare credentials. Here's to more amazing stories in 2025!