Supporting Research – A Look Back at 2024

Biodiversity conservation is actively pursued at the animal park through various means, one of which is participating in research that advances the protection of species and biodiversity.

This year, we have supported researchers by:

• Recording bat ultrasound calls. A study conducted by the Finnish Museum of Natural History examines the occurrence of bat species and changes in their population abundance. In recordings from summer 2023 at Ranua Wildlife Park, Northern bats were detected during one month. The recordings from 2024 have been sent for analysis.
• Collecting moth samples. Coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute, the national species monitoring program has provided over 30 years of data on how environmental changes affect moth distribution. Samples from Ranua Wildlife Park reflect the same trend observed across Finland: southern species are expanding northward, reproducing twice in a summer more frequently, while northern species are declining.
• Collecting least weasel droppings. The Swiss assosiaton Artenspürhunde Schweiz trains dogs to identify the scent of least weasels from other animals using the droppings we provided. These dogs’ remarkable sense of smell is utilized in a study by the University of Bern investigating which species benefit from rural landscape features such as stone and brush piles. The study aims to recommend practices for preserving and restoring biodiversity in rural environments.
• Gathering samples for initiatives like the DoGA project, and for future use for the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) biobank, and the University of Oulu. Samples include hair, blood, and tissue collected only in situations where it poses no harm to the animal, such as during medical procedures or after the animal has deceased.
• Facilitating bird banding. The 100 birdhouses installed in the forests of Ranua Wildlife Park provide both nesting sites and ample opportunities for a volunteer bird ringer. Last summer, a total of 185 birds were ringed within the park. Bird ringing is a vital research method in many areas of ornithology, such as migration studies.

Participating in research that supports the conservation of animal species and biodiversity is one of the legal obligations of zoos. Often, the role of zoo’s in research involves collecting samples and data. Their value to researchers is immense — often the research cannot proceed without samples of which origins are well-known.