Boardman Appointed Director At Twycross Zoo
PRESS RELEASE
26 April, 2004
Internationally respected veterinarian Suzanne Boardman BVMS, MRCVS, is the new Director of Twycross Zoo – East Midland Zoological Society.
She takes over from Natalie Evans who retires after 40 years at the helm at Twycross. Molly Badham becomes President and Director Emeritus of the organisation.
The Misses Badham and Evans won their spurs in the international zoological fraternity with their unique work among primates – notably the chimpanzees of Brooke Bond TV advertising fame, but also with hugely successful breeding programmes with gorillas, bonobos, orang utans, and the smaller rarer primate families.
During the past 40 years Twycross Zoo, started as a private collection, has expanded to include all the principal species of wild animals and has become a charitable trust dedicated to benefiting wildlife with studies in conservation, research and education.
"Virtually all my life has been involved with chimpanzees and the building up of Twycross Zoo," says Miss Badham. "By exchanging animals on breeding loan programmes, we are helping to conserve many animals from the wild. It is our hope that through our work and that of our supporters, there can be hope that some of the animal species throughout the world will again survive and breed in their natural habitats protected from predators and poachers.
"Natalie Evans and I are confident that Suzanne Boardman has the experience, knowledge and dedication to carry on our work in the 21st century."
Yorkshire-born Mrs Boardman comes to Twycross from the veterinary educational charity The Wildlife Information Network. She established WIN 12 years ago when she was a veterinarian at London Zoo, receiving requests for information and technical support from all corners of the globe. The information existed, but was fragmented and, in emerging countries, very difficult to obtain. WIN was inaugurated as a paper network of newsletters and collated information. It became a registered charity (No. 1048059) in 1995. WIN is also the first independent organisation in the world to be elected an Affiliate Member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
"Twycross Zoo is acknowledged as a leader in eduction and wildlife research," said Mrs Boardman. "It is a privilege and a pleasure to succeed Molly Badham and Nathalie Evans here and I am committed to continuing and enhancing the programmes they have put in place.
"Twycross has a unique position as a local education, conservation and animal welfare centre for the English Midlands and as a global centre of excellence in primate conservation and breeding, I look forward to working with the very professional team at Twycross and to encouraging and leading them to new challenges."
Ends
Issued by Twycross Zoo – East Midland Zoological Society
For further information please contact:
Suzanne Boardman
Twycross Zoo
East Midland Zoological Society
Atherstone
Warwickshire CV9 3PX
Tel: +44 (0) 1827 883 123
Mob: 07834 55 2000
Note for Editors:
- A photograph of Suzanne Boardman is available upon request
- Press release prepared by Lindy Margach of Woodcote Communications
Tel: 0208 669 0686 E-mail: Lindym@woodcote-communications.co.uk