Twycross Zoo have record breaking year

New arrivals, visitor numbers and awards all contributed to a great year.

With the exciting arrival of critically-endangered species the Eastern Black Rhino and the Sumatran Tiger, record breaking visitor numbers and numerous awards, Twycross Zoo is reflecting on a successful 2019.
The past 12 months at the zoo has seen an important movement for conservation as it welcomed two critically endangered species into multi-million-pound habitats, birthed several babies from endangered species, and has been recognised as one of the fastest growing visitor attractions by Visit Britain.

In 2019, a record-breaking 644,033 people visited Twycross Zoo to see one of the zoo’s many attractions, such as the innovative multi-million-pound Tiger Habitat, which opened last July and has since homed a pair of Sumatran tigers, giving visitors a rare chance to see these beautiful animals up close.

Chief Executive Officer, Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, said: “We are proud of our teams for receiving the recognition by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) for their outstanding work in research, education and conservation.

“The dedicated team were awarded a Gold Award for Chimpanzee Eden, an enclosure designed to encourage natural behaviours in their 17-strong troupe of chimpanzees. A Silver Award in animal husbandry, care and breeding for the elephant move to Blackpool Zoo in July 2018, a Silver Award in education for the free nature connect programme of 2018 connecting families with British wildlife and conservation techniques and a Bronze Award in animal husbandry, care and breeding for the successful move of chimpanzees to their new habitat in 2018.

“These achievements would not have been possible without the ongoing support from visitors and we would like to actively thank everyone who visited over the course of 2019.”

Chief Operating Officer, Karen Clarke, said: “It’s been fantastic to welcome so many visitors to the zoo over the course of 2019 and we’d like to thank them for making us their destination of choice for a day out in the current economic climate. Every single penny we make here at the zoo helps us to achieve our conservation goal so each visitor really does help to make a difference.

“With welcoming a record-breaking number of visitors in 2019, we’ve also generated a record-breaking amount of revenue, not only through entrance tickets but through memberships, our shops and restaurants. The money received over 2019 will be invested straight back into vital conservation work as we continue to deliver our 20-year, £55 million master plan. The ambitious, market-leading Sumatran tiger habitat joins Chimpanzee Eden, Gibbon Forest and Giraffe Savannah as yet another example of the work the zoo can complete with the help of our visitors.”