Head to head: ZSL reveals first four-legged participants of its new fundraising challenge
London Zoo’s pygmy goats will take on Whipsnade Zoo’s golden Guernsey goats as part of ZSL’s new Around the World in 30 Days challenge – putting their best hooves forward to encourage potential fundraisers to sign up to the month-long event.
Launching tomorrow (Thursday 1 June), Around the World in 30 Days will see participants, including both ZSL conservation zoos’ goat herds, walk, cycle or swim a combined 40,075km over the next 30 days: equal to the circumference of the globe.
Competing for first place in the league table - which will rank the fundraisers who travel the farthest for wildlife - London Zoo’s herd of nine pygmy goats will compete against Whipsnade Zoo’s golden guernsey goat duo, with each aiming to tot up the most trots on their daily walks around the conservation zoos.
Wildlife enthusiasts can support the goats by donating and tracking their progress, or following in their hoofsteps by setting their own Around the World in 30 Days target - supporting the international conservation charity’s global work for wildlife.
London Zoo’s pygmy goats Button, Chestnut, Truffle, Marmalade, Chutney, Pickle, Hick, Holly and Brambles already have an impressive route mapped out by zookeepers across the conservation zoo, taking them ‘around the world’ - passing Bactrian camels, Humboldt penguins, flamingos and llamas.
Over at Whipsnade, golden Guernsey goat pair Betty and Doris, will take in ring-tailed lemurs, red pandas, Asian short-clawed otters, giraffes and flamingos on their fundraising journey - providing the perfect amount of exercise for the goats as well as lots of sights and smells to discover on the way.
London Zoo keeper Poppy Jewell said: “The pygmy goats - who can reach a top speed of 6km per hour - love their daily walks though London Zoo, and I’m confident we can cover some impressive ground this June. The challenge will be keeping all nine of them focussed and all walking in the same direction.”
Whipsnade Zoo keeper Alex Pinnell added: “There may be less of them, but Betty and Doris have got the advantage of longer legs and faster speeds of 8km per hour - so they’re definitely still contenders. Our main problem will be that with over 600 acres of the Dunstable Downs to explore, they’ve got lots of opportunity to be distracted by their favourite snack, grass.”
Poppy added: “We couldn’t think of a better way help raise vital funds for ZSL’s conservation work across the world, and both goat herds have definitely been putting in the practice ready to take on their challenge.
“ZSL is working to protect vulnerable wildlife and restore vital ecosystems across the world, so by joining us for this challenge, you’ll be directly supporting nature’s recovery. And if you’re participating, why not get your steps in by coming to cheer the goats on in person - by simply booking a ticket to one of ZSL’s conservation zoos this June.”
Participants will be able to clock their distance on ZSL’s global tracker, and see how, together, they can make progress around the world.
Help ZSL go further for wildlife this June - find out more and sign up now or track the goats' progress.