British Gypsum helps London Zoo

Help given to London Zoo after emergency request to British Gypsum's Robertsbridge mine for 50kg of high grade gypsum rock for the 400 litre aquarium.

British Gypsum has responded to an unusual request from ZSL London Zoo for gypsum rock to help their breeding programme for an endangered Mexican fish.

The Checkered pupfish (Cualac tessellatus) is on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.

ZSL London Zoo recently took delivery of twenty of the 8cm long silver fish from a zoo in Vienna, and is now hoping to breed and expand the group to form a 200-strong stable population.

The problem is that their natural habitat in central Mexico is high in calcium sulphate (gypsum) and their eggs will not develop normally unless the mineral is present.

Staff at the zoo therefore sent out an emergency request to British Gypsum's Robertsbridge mine for 50kg of high grade gypsum rock for the 400 litre aquarium that is currently home to the new arrivals.

Assistant Mine Manager at Robertsbridge, David Dunk, was surprised to get the call, but only too happy to assist the Zoo.

"This is the first time, to our knowledge, that gypsum has been used as a reproduction aid, but we were naturally delighted to help", he said.

"We have always been aware of gypsum's versatility and long history as a building product, but perhaps now our marketing department should expand their horizons.

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