Animal magic for youngsters as zoo reopens to public
Young animal lovers struggled to contain their excitement as Twycross Zoo reopened its gates to the public for the first time in months.
Following numerous closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, the popular attraction welcomed its first outdoor visitors on Monday morning last week.
It wasn’t just families who were glad to see the most recent round of lockdown restrictions in England lifted, with some of the zoo’s liveliest residents - including its bonobo monkeys and chimpanzees – as excited as anyone else to see some new faces.
The third national lockdown has hit the zoo hard, but with lockdown restrictions easing, something approaching an air of normality finally returned to Twycross.
Karen Clarke, the zoo’s chief operating officer, said it has been a difficult few months for all involved, but the zoo’s work had been continuing out of the public eye.
The zoo is renowned for its work helping to conserve endangered species across the globe.
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome visitors back,” she said. “It’s been an incredibly challenging period but we’re so happy to see guests on site and interacting with our incredible animals.”
She added: “Despite many lockdowns, life at the zoo has continued behind the scenes. Our conservation work has continued around-the-clock and that’s why the ongoing support of the public is so important - to help us continue this work and safeguard the zoo’s future, and that of the animals we care for.”