ZSL Copyright: ZSL

Zoos' vital conservation work is being put at risk by a Covid-related funding crisis.

Breeding programmes to rescue rare species may have to be cancelled, with many zoos facing the biggest cash crisis in their history.

The body that represents British zoos says a government rescue package is inaccessible for most of its members.

Only one zoo has claimed successfully, the BBC has learned.

"The extinct-in-the-wild species are absolutely dependent on human care," said Dr John Ewen of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

"It's our decision about which way to go forward that determines extinction or recovery."

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