RECORD HAT TRICK FOR BLACKPOOL ZOO
Blackpool Zoo is toasting a tremendous hat trick of records as visitor numbers, membership sales and school visits hit all-time highs in 2011.
Visitor numbers and revenue are up three per cent whilst memberships have seen an eight per cent rise. School visits topped more than 50,000 for the first time during the year, up more than 1500 on 2010.
Significant births, the introduction of additional species, a new Children’s Farm and aviary and substantial investment in the zoo’s main restaurant have all played a part in the increases.
Ecstatic keepers really earned their stripes in February after becoming the first UK team to successfully breed a Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra in the last nine years.
The adorable foal, who was named Tebogo, was also the first of its species to arrive in the whole of Europe in 2011, with just 12 born around the globe in 2010.
Other births included two critically endangered Bactrian Camels, a miniature donkey, Four Ringtailed Lemurs, two Red Fronted Lemurs, two Red Titi Monkeys, a Debrazza’s monkey, a Goeldi’s Monkey and two Maganellic Penguin chicks.
New species arriving at the zoo during the year included Zebus, Llamas, Alpacas, Waldrapp Ibis and a pair of L’Hoest Monkeys.
A £500,000 Children’s Farm was officially opened by Blackpool FC star Gary Taylor-Fletcher in May. The huge barn and extensive outdoor paddocks allows visitors to get hands on with donkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits and guinea pigs in daily interactive sessions and educational talks.
The £350,000 overhaul of the main restaurant saw indoor and outdoor seating capacity double and a new and exciting menu was introduced, which was based around visitor feedback.
Blackpool Zoo’s new 10,000sq ft purpose built aviary, which cost £12,500, is situated on the site of the former Children’s Zoo and is now home to a whole host of feathery friends, including critically endangered Waldrapp Ibis, African Spoonbills, Sacred Ibis, Black-crowned Night Herons, White Storks, Little Egrets and Eider Ducks.
Jude Rothwell, Marketing and PR Co-ordinator at Blackpool Zoo, said: “It has been another fantastically busy year here at Blackpool Zoo and we are delighted with the support we have received.
“It is very important for us to continue investing in the zoo to give people reasons to return again and again.
“Our breeding programmes have, once again, been given a huge boost with so many first time arrivals, including the Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra and the only two Maganellic Penguin chicks in the UK.
“In the face of bouts of severe weather at the start of the year, a very wet summer and the continued economic uncertainty we have, once again, built on last year’s visitor, membership and school group visit numbers, which is tremendous.
“Next year we will celebrate our 40th anniversary and, with more investment already confirmed and the planned introduction of some very exciting new animals, we are looking forward to a sensational 2012.
“The entire team at Blackpool Zoo would like to thank all our visitors for their support during 2011 and we look forward to seeing them over Christmas and in the New Year.”
Blackpool Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Visitors can save 10 per cent online at www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk
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Pictures show: A variety of the highlights of 2011. Please click on links below to download pictures.
More information about Blackpool Zoo
Blackpool Zoo’s visitor numbers continue to hit record highs in 2011, with the year to date being hailed as the busiest in the zoo’s 39 year history.
Blackpool Zoo is owned by ParquesReunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world-wide player. The zoo is home to over 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates set amidst thirty-two acres of mature woodland and lakes.
The zoo’s signature animals include elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, orang-utans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos. It is open every day of the year, apart from Christmas Day, from 10am.
For further information please contact:
Paula Holden, Julie Hackett or Denise Dawson at ICG on 01772 679383
paula@icgonline.co.uk julie@icgonline.co.uk or denise@icgonline.co.uk
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