Cash-strapped zoo wants us to help it by adopting animals like Sialang,
TWYCROSS Zoo has launched a fundraising campaign to help protect its future.
The charity is asking supporters to consider adopting some of its animals – or even the whole zoo.
It said while the attraction is closed, food bills alone total tens of thousands of pounds a month and it has had no support from the Government’s zoo fund.
Previous schemes saw the zoo’s giraffes lead the way with the most adoptions in 2020, but the zebras left behind with very few adoptions last year.
Three new Adopt our Zoo packages cover more than 500 animals from 100 species.
Each adopter will receive gifts in return, such as an adoption certificate, tickets to the zoo when it reopens and cuddly toys, depending on the package.
Dr Sharon Redrobe, chief executive of Twycross Zoo, said: “We’re very pleased to give the public the chance to adopt our zoo as once again we are reliant on the kind donations of our community to continue our conservation, education and research missions. “Adopting one of our animals is a great way to engage with the natural world, learn all about the species and directly fund some of the work that goes on at the zoo day to day. “Some of our adoptions also include tickets to visit the zoo so that, hopefully in the not so distant future, you can visit the animal you adopted and learnt all about during lockdown.
“The Government recently extended the application deadline for the zoo fund until the end of February but, sadly, we and many other zoos around the UK are not eligible.
“This is of course a huge shame and is very worrying for the whole industry, as without funding we are unable to continue our award-winning conservation work.”
Adopt our Zoo packages are available for £15 for a starter, £50 standard and £100 premium.
■ For further information, visit the zoo website at twycrosszoo.org
Adopting an animal is a great way to engage with the natural world and directly fund some of our work Dr Sharon Redrobe