A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR

GENERAL
Welcome! If this is your first visit to the Chester Zoo website, or, if you
have visited before, then we offer you a warm welcome.
As you will see from this website, there is more to Chester Zoo than meets the
eye. We may have over 20,000 wonderful animals right here - but we are helping
thousands more around the world through our conservation and education
activities.
The zoos mission is to be a major force in conserving biodiversity worldwide. To
this aim we currently care for more than 500 different species in the zoo - about
half of which are endangered. Every effort goes into ensuring the highest

You can find out more about our activities through our conservation pages or by
visitingwww.actforwildlife.org.uk.
I am always keen to hear your feedback so that we can continue to achieve the
very best for our animals and our visitors so please do tell us what you think.
Dont forget that you can keep right up to date with the latest zoo news by
following us on Facebook and Twitter, or bysubscribing to our email newsletter.
By visiting Chester Zoo and supporting us you can help make a real difference,
not only to our animals here at the zoo, but also to the animals, plants and people
within our conservation activities around the world.
Enjoy your visit.
Thank you.

standards of welfare and the best care is given to all our animals, from the tiny

Dr Mark Pilgrim

snails to the tall giraffes.

Director General

At each enclosure there are unique ways of learning about the animals too, by
reading, touching and smelling the information panels. By simply observing we
can all learn so much more about the animals, their natural habitats and what

OUR VISION & MISSION

makes them so special and worth conserving.

The only reason were here is because one man, George Mottershead,
had a dream of a zoo without bars.

But our charitable work extends well beyond the zoos perimeter. At home and

That devotion to the welfare and protection of wildlife has always been at the

abroad, we support and conduct some 150 field projects for conservation and

heart of everything we do.

education in more than 50 countries worldwide. We know not everyone can be as

hands on as we are, so weve createdAct for Wildlife, a conservation campaign

For over 80 years, weve dedicated ourselves to protecting biodiversity and

that gives you the chance to get involved and make a real difference for wildlife

fighting to save species from extinction. These days, we sum all this up in our

conservation around the world.

vision and mission.

Our vision is for a diverse, thriving and sustainable natural world.

How amazed and proud hed be today, to see the huge estate we have now in

Our mission is to be a major force in conserving the living world.

total, about 500 acres. The zoo itself takes up a massive 125 acres more than

THE HISTORY OF CHESTER ZOO

ten times the size of that first bit of land George bought in 1930!
There are now 170 buildings at Chester Zoo, from the animal exhibits to the

Back at the turn of the twentieth century, a boy named George

Mottershead was taken to a zoo in Manchester. What George saw that
day inspired him to do something different.

shops, restaurants, toilet blocks and admin offices. Plus, of course, the original
Oakfield House itself and stable block, which are both Grade II* listed.
Weve had a long history here at Chester Zoo. It hasnt always been easy

Determinedly he told his father: When I have a zoo, it wont have any bars.'

(George had to fight opposition to his very first zoo in the 1930s). But weve
always come through stronger than ever.

George never forgot that day, or the vow he made. In 1930, now grown up and
with a family, he bought Oakfield House and seven acres of land for 3,500. And

Today, were not only the UKs most popular zoo, and one of the top 15 in the

with him, he brought a group of animals from a zoo at Shavington, near Crewe.

world; were also a highly respected centre for global conservation and research,

The first animals of Chester Zoo.

and passionate campaigners for wildlife.

The zoo opened in 1931, and in 1934, the North of England Zoological Society

All because one little boy cared deeply about animals, more than 100 years ago.

was born. Keeping the young zoo open through the Second World War was no

NATURAL VISION

mean feat. But George did it. (As you can tell, he wasnt one to give up easily.)
With the war over, the zoo began to grow fast. One of the zoos slogans back
then was, Always building. Georges amazing energy, enthusiasm and skill

We have some really exciting and ambitious plans to improve the zoo for
you and our animals.

earned him an OBE, and honorary Master of Science degree, and a term as
President of the International Union of Zoo Directors.

Natural Vision, our long term expansion plan, will transform the zoo into a world
class animal and visitor experience.

George Mottershead in the Tropical Realm

Planning Approval
Planning permission for the project was formally received in November 2010 from

By the time he died in 1978, aged 84, Georges dream of a zoo without bars was

Cheshire West & Chester Council and the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Eric

well and truly flourishing at Chester.

Pickles MP.

allow us to develop a number of themed zones linked to our animal collection

The worlds wildlife is under threat. And we're playing a big part in the
battle to protect threatened species and habitats.

and international conservation programmes.

Scientists reckon a third of all animal and plant species on Earth face a high risk

The core zoo will expand by approximately a third to cover 50 hectares, becoming

of extinction within this century. Extinction: thats it. Gone - forever.

Natural Vision will be built in a series of phases between 2012 and 2024 and will

one of the largest zoos in Europe.

We have to fight back. And we are. Our mission is to be a major force in

Islands

conserving biodiversity worldwide, and we do it through a combination of field

Islands recreates the amazing tropical environments of six South East Asian

conservation, research, conservation breeding, animal welfare, and education.

islands and features Monsoon Forest, the UK's largest indoor zoo exhibit.

Theres a worldwide network of zoos, who join forces to co-ordinate conservation

Environment

work.

Whilst the Natural Vision masterplan increases the size of the core zoo by

We belong to a number of UK, European and international organisations,

approximately 30%, the majority of the zoos extensive land bank remains
unaffected, and protected from development by its Green Belt status and by our
commitment to maintaining it in an unspoilt state.
This land is home to a wide range of native wildlife species including badgers,
bats and a great diversity of birds.

Economy
It is estimated that Natural Vision will safeguard more than 500 jobs in the region,
and will create a further 660+ jobs in the zoo and surrounding area - many

including the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), the
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the World Association of
Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
We work together to co-ordinate breeding programmes, help zoos do more for
conservation, and keep standards high in every zoo.
Follow the links below and find out more about our vital conservation work and
the partners we work with, in the UK and worldwide.

associated with the hotel development.

FIELD CONSERVATION

Corporate Sponsorship
If your business is interested in supporting our projects you can get in touch with
our Development Team on 01244 650 289 / 01244 650 265 or
email development@chesterzoo.org

CONSERVATION & RESEARCH

We're a major supporter of conservation and research in the wild.

Each year the zoo is involved in many conservation projects working directly with
threatened species in the wild. We participate in field conservation through Field
Programmes, Field Projects, Studentships and Scholarships and Technical
Support.

We have strong partnerships with a large number of conservation professionals

CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNS

and organisations as well as working alongside partners and local communities to

educate and protect about species and habitats.

Each year, we take part in a number of conservation campaigns which

raise funds and / or awareness for a conservation related issue.

The zoo attracts 1.4 million visitors each year and depends on this income to
directly support conservation activities and help protect wildlife in the UK and

Together we can make a big difference in protecting wildlife and by supporting our

around the world.

campaigns, you can help us Act for Wildlife.