Brian lends support to zoo’s fight for survival
Visitor numbers are well down on this time last year
TWYCROSS Zoo saw less than a third of its expected visitor numbers over the summer holidays, putting its future in jeopardy.
The attraction has said it is facing “multi-million pounds of crippling debts” due to not being able to open during the lockdown.
Chief executive Dr Sharon Redrobe said: “Covid-19 has been the worst crisis we have faced in our 57-year existence and the past five months have been, in short, an emotional rollercoaster.
“Every day we are open we are slowly clawing back the uncertainty that lockdown has caused but by no means are we out of the woods.
“If we ever faced another lockdown it’s hard to imagine that our zoo would survive.
“We are fighting, our communities and supporters are fighting but, disappointingly, there has been no update from the government on how it is going to support the UK’s large zoos, which in all honesty is devastating.”
It costs more than £500,000 a month to run the 100-acre zoo.
Dr Redrobe said: “We have, sadly, had to make some difficult decisions and sacrifices over the past few months. “Vital restructuring to help save the zoo has taken place across our teams and has had a significant impact on our commercial and education departments.
“We have put on hold future development projects that would have brought a huge boost to our local economy. However, animal welfare is not an area that we can or will ever compromise on.”
So far, Twycross has raised more than £360,000 through donations since it closed in March, but the zoo said while that is “an amazing achievement” it is no where near what it needs to survive.
Dr Redrobe said: “With the summer holidays coming to an end and schools reopening, our situation is even more critical and we call again on our communities, MPs and supporters for renewed help to get us through these notoriously quieter months.”
The zoo has garnered widespread support, including from actors Brian Blessed and Dame Judi Dench, broadcaster and professor Alice Roberts and X-Factor winner, Sam Bailey.
Blessed, pictured right, said in a video made in support of the zoo: “Twycross Zoo needs to survive. It needs to continue its vital role in educating the next generation.
“It needs to care for its 500 animals and refuses to compromise on their welfare.
“The zoo needs to continue its mission to protect the species with which we share our planet and without your help Twycross Zoo could close, and it’s going to take an entire community to save this zoo from extinction.”