Chester Zoo is to invest £7 million this autumn, enhancing its world class reputation for animal wellbeing by further improving the habitats of some of its 20,000 animals.
Unprecedented visitor figures in 2015, which saw almost 1.7m people flock through the conservation charity’s gates, have been followed up by even higher visitor figures so far in 2016.
Income from ticket sales and visitor spending has already helped boost the zoo’s 80 conservation projects to help endangered animals in more than 30 countries worldwide.
Now, an extra £7m will be spent within the zoo, including developments to the facilities for animals in Chester.
The work continues the ‘always building’ philosophy of the zoo’s founder George Mottershead, 85 years after he created the UK’s first zoo without bars centred on animal wellbeing.
Development director at Chester Zoo Simon Mann said: “This zoo was founded with the principles of animal wellbeing at its heart and for 85 years we have led the way in delivering world class habitats for the species in our care.
“It is with great pride that we are now able to deliver an even better future for the 20,000 animals here as we provide state-of- the-art improvements to their facilities.
“What’s more, we have our visitors to thank! As a charity, it is only thanks to the community of visitors who have supported us in record breaking numbers over the past two years that we are able to do this.
“We know there is nothing our visitors would rather see than first class habitats for our animals to enjoy, so that is what we are going to continue to deliver.”
The developments will include a new behind the scenes Bornean orangutan area in the zoo’s Realm of the Red Ape exhibit, improvements to its Monkey House and a new bird aviary building.
Visitors will also be delighted by the creation of a new outdoor space for the zoo’s pair of two-toed sloths, Tina and Rico, a new habitat for the giant anteater alongside the current capybara exhibit and improvements to the cheetah viewing yurt.
Stunning new journeys within the zoo’s South East Asian habitat, Islands, will also be created.
This will include a large state-of- the-art walkthrough bird aviary, a new home for the zoo’s two sun bears Milli and Toni, and an impressive Malayan tapir exhibit.
Visitors will still be able to complete a full expedition through Islands to see every species and habitat while the development is under construction.
The entire 125-acre zoo will remain open throughout the autumn as normal.
