Pupils at Whitminster Primary sharing classroom with endangered eels

Children from Whitminster Primary will be looking after more than 100 young eels, known as elvers, while they learn about this critically endangered species. 

In the past 40 years, European eels have declined by over 90 per cent, as a result of habitat loss, climate change, and illegal fishing. 

Over the next six weeks the elvers will grow, before they are released into the River Frome later in the summer. 

Children will see the elvers each day in their classroom and will be feeding them and keeping the tank clean to nurture the elvers as they grow, with help from their teachers and CCC.

As well as teaching pupils about this elusive species, this project will give the young eels a head start.

All eyes were on the tank when the elvers were released to their new temporary home this week, and the children each got a chance to take a close up look.

The students were really intrigued by the elvers and were keen to ask questions about why eels are endangered, as well as using their imaginations to ask questions like “how do they sleep?”

The elvers were introduced by Cotswold Canals Connected (CCC), a collaborative project between Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Stroud District Council and Cotswold Canals Trust. 

The Eels in the Classroom project is being run by Bristol Avon Rivers Trust and the Sustainable Eel Group Group. The initiative is linking schools across the country with the river conservation project.

All photos by Cerys Baker.