The North of England Zoological Society – Annual Report and Financial Statements 2021
THE SECRET LIFE OF THE ZOO Chester Zoo works with more than 3,000 species globally – including 139 international animal conservation breeding programmes, led by science, which are working to ensure genetically viable safety-net populations of species in zoos.
Every year, the zoo inspires more than 265,000 young people through conservation education programmes – including up to 50,000 children, many from underprivileged areas, who are offered the opportunity to visit the zoo free of charge.
The zoo is home to five national plant collections, comprising orchids, cacti and pitcher plants – making up more than 1,000 threatened species. The zoo’s horticulture and botany teams grow a number of plants, herbs, vegetables and trees within the grounds, to help feed the animals at the zoo.
The zoo works with more than 60 partners in 20 countries globally to recover threatened wildlife and restore habitats – including orangutans in Bornean rainforests, elephants and tigers in Indian grasslands, lemurs and frogs in Malagasy forests and rare fish in Mexican lakes.
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Recognised by governments and NGOs across the world as leaders within the global conservation community, the zoo’s specialists use their expertise to influence policy both in the UK and internationally – working with governments worldwide to take action to halt the biodiversity crisis.
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This year, the zoo formed a partnership with a world-leading waste and recycling operator, and pledged to become a zerowaste organisation by 2030. Work is already underway to find ways of recycling, reusing and, where possible, avoiding the 798 tonnes of waste the zoo currently generates each year.
