Zoo applies for approval to help keep its jumping rats cool

Jersey Zoo Seeks Green Light for Cooling System in Rare Jumping Rat Habitat

Jersey Zoo has submitted a planning application to install a new air-conditioning unit in the enclosure housing its endangered Malagasy giant jumping rats.

The proposal, lodged by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, also includes plans for new timber fencing around the building at the zoo’s Les Augrès Manor site.

Native to Madagascar, the species is critically endangered, with estimates suggesting fewer than 5,000 remain in the wild. The trust has been involved in efforts to protect the jumping rat since the 1990s, when it began conservation work in Madagascar.

According to the application, the cooling system would ensure the enclosure maintains the ideal climate for the animals’ wellbeing, helping replicate the conditions they require to thrive.