Animals will not be behind-the-scenes while works are being carried out unless stated otherwise. All developments are listed in order of most to least recent.

Ongoing:

• • Humboldt penguin – We’re conducting a range of works on Penguin Cove, including making repairs to the underground pipe feeds and recoating the pool to ensure durability for years to come. We’re also improving access to Penguin Cove for guests with accessibility needs, by lowering the kerb and creating a new access gate.

Completed:

• UK Native Species Zone – officially opened in March 2025, visitors can now experience the wonders of UK wildlife in our UK Native Species zone.
• Snow leopard habitat – We’ve completed works to expand our snow leopard habitat, which, in time, will house more snow leopards. There is a long-term plan to breed them when allowed to by the European breeding coordinator.
• Thriving Through Nature – Improvements to this habitat.
• Bokiboky – Improvements to this habitat.
• Cusimanse – Improvements to this habitat.
• Cold-blooded corner – Developments to the prehensile-tailed skink, snake-necked turtle, and green tree monitor habitats.
• Tamarin viewing – This new mixed area will allow guests to see golden lion tamarins, pygmy marmosets and Brazilian guinea pigs all in one space.
• Tiger habitat – Our teams carried out essential maintenance works to the tiger’s territory. Their pond waterfall has been repaired to allow flowing water for the tigers to rest and cool in. This also adds natural noises to reduce external sounds and make their environment more complex.
• Bokiboky viewing – A previously off-show area has been opened for guest viewing. The climbing structures you can now see in this area provide a positive life experience by allowing climbing opportunities as well as foraging. Also, improvements such as updating heating and lighting provisions allows the team to mimic their natural environment.
• Kirks dikdik viewing – A new viewing window into their previously off-show area is giving guests a behind-the-scenes look at their indoor habitat.
• Hippo house – Essential maintenance and roof repairs. The team took out the fence that splits the paddock and replaced it with natural materials.
• Giraffe outdoor area – Previously a gated off-show area, the team introduced natural materials such as rocks to create a natural barrier between the animals and guests, to allow a more interactive up-close experience.
• Red-tailed laughing thrush aviary – The bird’s team recently reviewed the red-tailed laughing thrush’s environment. They made a series of changes which included adding additional materials to give better nesting support. As a result, two eggs were successfully incubated, and the chicks hatched at the end of May!