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.

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. 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 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.

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. 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.

Chester is home to the UK’s only zoo-based wildlife endocrinology lab. Endocrinology is the study of hormones and can provide us with a deeper insight into animal health and reproduction – aiding the conservation breeding of highly endangered species. Through studying endocrinology, experts can closely monitor the needs of the animals at the zoo. Wildlife monitoring surveys on the 12-hectare Chester Zoo Nature Reserve in 2021 confirmed the presence of 658 species previously not seen on the site before. This is more than 54 species per hectare!

The conservation charity is the UK’s most visited paid-for attraction outside of London and its popularity helps boost the regional economy in the North West of England by more than £50m each year – helping to sustain around 1,000 jobs at the zoo and a further 1,000 in the region. The zoo launched its brandnew Conservation Training Academy in 2021, offering workshops and professional development sessions across the entire spectrum of applied conservation. In its first year, the Academy has already trained 163 people participating in professional training courses, 90 students on our higher education training workshops, 11 PhD scholars who completed their zoo research training and 33 conservation trainees on-year placements.

All plastic bottles were removed from sale at the zoo in 2021, while a number of new electric vehicle (EV) chargers were installed to increase the total to 18 for visitors – further reinforcing our commitment to a more sustainable future. By summer 2022, there will also be brand-new waste segregation units to enable the public to become more informed and involved in the zoo’s sustainability targets. Experts at the zoo brew a range of gins, including a new winter gin, infused with cinnamon leaf handpicked from its Monsoon Forest habitat, and Himalayan honeysuckle berry from the stunning botanical gardens. These unique ingredients, which are grown by the zoo’s Horticulture & Botany team, create a deliciously unique gin. In 2021, the zoo launched a whole raft of exciting new animal experiences that allow people to get closer than ever before to the incredible animals at the zoo. This includes brand-new chameleon, butterfly, Komodo dragon and aquarium experiences, as well as Breakfast at the Lions and a Secret Life of the Zoo tour.