The North of England Zoological Society – Annual Report and Financial Statements 2021
OUR MISSION – PREVENTING EXTINCTION As one of the world’s leading conservation zoos, we are at the forefront of efforts to conserve biodiversity and are playing a special role in tackling the global extinction crisis.
At Chester Zoo, everything we do is guided by our mission, preventing extinction. Our zoo is a complex centre of excellence, brimming with specialists in an array of disciplines. We are a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, veterinary experts, botanists, wildlife managers, animal welfare experts, animal behaviourists, endocrinologists, behavioural change experts and environmental policy influencers. We are among the world’s leading conservationbased charities, with decades of experience and highly respected levels of expertise. We empower communities to pursue pro-conservation behaviours and we influence policy and people. We are committed to the recovery of threatened species and tackling the
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challenges faced by wildlife, globally, with professionally planned, science-led conservation at our core. We are a major wildlife charity, a genuine powerhouse for conservation and we are finding solutions to safeguard biodiversity at a time when it’s needed most. Preventing extinction is highly challenging and requires a multi-faceted approach. This puts us in a leading position to provide immaculate levels of care for hundreds of threatened species, to protect and restore wild habitats, to foster deep and lasting connections with nature, and to inspire the next generation of conservationists. Right now, our planet’s rich biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate, meaning zoos like ours are more relevant to the fight against extinction than ever before. What first began as a family-run zoo back in the 1930s has now grown into a world-renowned centre for scientific research, a conservation academy training more than 400 conservationists a year, and a place with the capacity to engage more than two million annual visitors with conservation and empower them to lead more naturefriendly lifestyles. Driving our charity is our ground-breaking conservation model. When people visit the zoo, they not only connect with and learn about wildlife and nature, but they also help us to generate the vital funds needed to tackle some of the world’s most pressing conservation challenges. We are fighting extinction through our conservation, education and research work – here at the zoo, across the UK and in more than 20 countries around the world. This work is only possible because of the success of our pioneering model for conservation, which allows us to operate at the scale and urgency that’s needed to tackle the environmental emergency we face. Our zoo is a shining example of what real conservation action in the 21st century looks like, and is vital to preventing extinction – securing a brighter future for wildlife on this planet.
chesterzoo.org
