Page 23 - Ratel 2023 Summer

Ratel volume 50, issue number 2

Milestone Anniversaries for UK Zoos

This year sees several UK zoological collections celebrating significant milestone years. Such anniversaries are great
opportunities for these zoos to rejoice their achievements and look to the future. Here we examine some of the zoos
that are celebrating in 2023.
Compiled by Roxy Newton.

Paignton Zoo - 100 years

Paignton Zoo turned 100 years old on 1st July 2023 and they celebrated in style with a
two-day birthday bash enjoyed by over 5,000 people. The festivities included live music,
entertainment and an array of activities. The event provided a great opportunity for
Paignton Zoo to celebrate its place in the local community – from humble beginnings as
one man’s private collection to one of Devon’s top visitor attractions and one of the UK’s
best zoos. Many ex-staff members joined in on the celebration and nostalgia. Paignton
Zoo intend to keep their centenary celebrations going for the duration of the year,
including their biggest ever festive event ‘GloWild’.

Twycross Zoo - 60 years
Colchester Zoo
- 60 years Twycross Zoo, the only UK zoo to hold all four species of great ape,
celebrated 60 years in May. Their ‘Great Big Zoobilee’ celebration saw a 60’s
themed celebration for visitors during the half term. They also created a
Colchester Zoo was first established in community page online for visitors to share
1963. Since opening it has grown into 60
their favourite memories of the zoo. Recent
acres of beautiful parkland and lakes. 2023
years have seen new developments for existing
marks its 60th anniversary and to celebrate
species and the introduction of new species.
there has been a series of activities Twycross now looks to the future of the zoos
through the year. These include asking
contribution to conservation work. Further
local schools to paint their favourite
information on their anniversary can be found
Colchester Zoo memories onto rocks for
on their website.
display in the zoo gardens; introducing a
new zoo mascot, Oren the Orangutan;
bringing in entertainers through the
holidays to help celebrate with visitors and
producing a special guidebook and
anniversary merchandise. This also
included a limited edition print of the late
Rajang the Orangutan, as he was a huge
part of Colchester Zoo’s history and a
firm favourite with visitors and staff. Welsh Mountain Zoo -
Looking to the future, it is with great pride
that Colchester can announce that, as of 60 years
January 2025, the Zoo will become a
charitable trust, known as Colchester The Welsh Mountain Zoo is overjoyed to
Zoological Society. reach a milestone birthday of 60 years. From
humble family beginnings to the recognition as the
National Zoo of Wales, this zoo has seen many
changes over the years. Its two longest supporting
staff have overseen many of those developments from
their 20+ years of dedication. Claire Taylor and Tom Lawrence started their
zoo journey as passionate, teenage volunteers, and under the mentorship of
Peter Dickinson, have excelled in their current positions as head and
assistant head keepers. Their commitment to native species has thrived
through the many successes of the zoo’s reintroduction programmes for
both red squirrel and pine marten in Wales, alongside their contributions to
breeding projects including snow leopard, margay, cotton-top tamarin and
red panda. The Welsh Mountain Zoo is special for both staff and visitors as
it holds long-standing family memories, outstanding natural beauty and
diversity. Looking to the future and many more years to come, the zoo
looks forward to more conservation breeding triumphs, training the next
generation of keepers and the progression of animal husbandry.

23