Chester Zoo facts for kids
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Main Zoo Entrance
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| Date opened | 1931 |
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| Location | Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire, England |
| Land area | 51 hectares (130 acres) |
| Coordinates | 53°13′36″N 2°53′3″W / 53.22667°N 2.88417°W |
| No. of animals | 35,000+ |
| No. of species | 500+ |
| Annual visitors | 2+ million (2019) |
| Major exhibits | Monsoon Forest, Islands, Mkomazi National Park Painted Dogs Conserve, Elephants of the Asian Forest, Realm of the Red Ape, Tsavo Black Rhino Experience, Spirit of the Jaguar |
| Website | https://www.chesterzoo.org |
Chester Zoo is a famous zoo located in Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire, England. It was first opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family. Today, it is one of the largest zoos in the UK, covering about 51 hectares (125 acres).
Chester Zoo is run by the North of England Zoological Society. This group is a registered charity, meaning it's a non-profit organization. The zoo doesn't get money from the government. It's super popular, with over 2 million visitors in 2019! Forbes magazine even called it one of the top fifteen zoos in the world in 2007. In 2017, TripAdvisor ranked it the best zoo in the UK and third best globally.
Discovering Chester Zoo's Past
How the Zoo Began
The Mottershead family used to run a garden business. George Mottershead, the zoo's founder, loved collecting animals. He found lizards and insects that came with exotic plants. A visit to Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester in 1903 sparked his dream. He wanted to create his own zoo!
George was hurt in the First World War and used a wheelchair for years. But his animal collection kept growing. He searched for the perfect place for his zoo. He found Oakfield Manor in Upton-by-Chester. This was a quiet village back then. He bought the manor in 1930 for £3,500. It had 9 acres of gardens and was easy to reach by train. Some local people didn't like the idea. But George didn't give up! Chester Zoo opened its doors on June 10, 1931. The first animals were shown in pens in the manor's courtyard.
After the Second World War, the zoo grew quickly. George was very clever about finding materials. For example, the polar bear exhibit, built in 1950, used old wartime road blocks. "Always building" was the zoo's motto. George Mottershead received special awards for his work. He passed away in 1978 at 84 years old.
Zoo Design Ideas
George Mottershead had a big idea for his zoo. He didn't want animals kept behind old-fashioned iron bars. He was inspired by Carl Hagenbeck, who created the modern zoo concept. Hagenbeck used moats and ditches instead of cages.
George took this idea even further at Chester. He used moats for many different animals. In 1956, chimpanzees moved into their new home. It was a group of grassy islands. Only a 12-foot strip of water separated them from visitors. No one knew if chimps could swim! It turned out they couldn't. Today, the chimp islands are a main attraction at Chester Zoo.
In 1986, a fence was built around the zoo. This was required by a new law.
Chester Zoo in the 21st Century
In 2007, the "Realm of the Red Ape" opened. This exhibit looks like an Indonesian forest. It's home to threatened Sumatran and Bornean orangutans.
In 2009, Chester Zoo shared a huge plan. It was called Natural Vision. This £225 million plan aimed to make the zoo one of Europe's largest conservation places. The first part was a £90 million, 56-hectare (138-acre) African rainforest area. It would have gorillas, chimpanzees, okapi, and many other animals. Visitors could even take a boat ride through it! This big plan also included a hotel and a new entrance.
However, some parts of the Natural Vision plan were put on hold in 2011. This was due to funding changes.
In 2012, the zoo got permission for a new project. This was "Islands at Chester Zoo." It's a £40 million project. It made the zoo bigger and recreated six island habitats from Southeast Asia. This amazing area is now open to visitors.
A large nature reserve opened in April 2018. It's outside the main zoo and free to enter.
In 2018, a fire started at the Monsoon Forest Habitat. This was due to an electrical fault. The zoo had to be evacuated and closed for a day. All the mammals were safe. Sadly, some birds, frogs, fish, and small insects died. The zoo reopened the next day.
The Chester Zoo monorail was a ride for visitors from 1991 to 2019. It closed because it wasn't reliable and didn't cover much of the expanded zoo. The land from the monorail will be used for new attractions. These include "Heart of Africa," an open African savannah, and a new hotel project.
How Chester Zoo is Run
The North of England Zoological Society (NEZS) runs Chester Zoo. George Mottershead, the zoo's founder, started this organization in 1931.
The zoo is managed by a team led by CEO Jamie Christon. This team works to support the zoo's goals. These goals include developing new areas like "Heart of Africa" and new education facilities. The zoo also focuses on education and making sure everyone feels welcome.
Chester Zoo employs over 650 permanent staff. During the busy summer, this number grows to over 1,000. This makes it the largest zoo in the UK by staff size.
Zoo Layout and Visitor Facilities
A public path called Flag Lane goes through the middle of the zoo. For many years, only one bridge, Elephants' Bridge, crossed it. This bridge could be used by zoo vehicles and wheelchairs. In 2008, a second bridge, Bats' Bridge, opened for walkers and mobility scooters. This made it much easier for visitors to get around.
The main entrance to the zoo used to be on the east side. Now, it's on the north side, with special access from the A41 bypass. This means you enter the newer part of the zoo, near the elephants. The old car parks are now being used for service and education buildings. The new entrance was updated in 2012 to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The zoo also owns land outside the public area. They use this land to grow food for their plant-eating animals.
Chester Zoo has many places to eat. Bembé Kitchen is near the main entrance. June's Pavilion is on the west side of the zoo. Manado Street Kitchen is in the Islands exhibit. The Oakfield is a restaurant in a beautiful Victorian mansion. It's near the lion enclosure. The Oakfield and Acorn Bar are used for private events and for zoo visitors.
You'll also find children's play areas, shops, and picnic spots around the zoo. There's a second entrance for walkers behind Oakfield House.
Animals and Species at Chester Zoo
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Chester Zoo is home to a huge variety of animals. At the end of 2007, over half of the species at the zoo were on the IUCN Red List. This list shows species that are at risk of disappearing. 155 species were considered threatened species. The zoo helps manage breeding programs for many animals. These include Congo buffalo, jaguars, blue-eyed cockatoos, and Sumatran tigers. Chester Zoo also cares for 265 threatened plant species.
In 2015, Chester Zoo became the first zoo outside of New Zealand to successfully breed the tuatara. This is a very special reptile!
Here's a quick look at the types of animals at the zoo:
| Group | Number of species | Number of animals |
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| Mammals | 79 | 1864 |
| Birds | 155 | 1138 |
| Reptiles | 52 | 230 |
| Amphibians | 24 | 577 |
| Fish | 100+ | 3829 |
| Invertebrates | 300 | 1381+ |
| Total | 710+ | 9019+ |
Amazing Animal Exhibits
Islands at Chester Zoo
The "Islands at Chester Zoo" opened in July 2015. This project added 15 acres to the zoo. It was built to look like six island habitats from Southeast Asia.
Islands shows off areas where the zoo helps with conservation. These include Sumatra, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Visitors can walk between the islands using bridges. You can also see animals from a boat trip! The area also has educational displays, play zones, and a restaurant.
The exhibit opened in stages. The first stage included a boat trip. From the boat, you can see animals like Visayan warty pigs, southern cassowary, and lowland anoa. There's also a walk-through bird aviary. It has rare birds like the Bali starling and Java sparrows.
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The second stage opened later in the summer. It features Sumatran tigers, Sunda gharials, and other reptiles. You can also see birds like Javan rhinoceros hornbills. This stage also has many invertebrates and fish. The Monsoon Forest is part of this area. It's now complete with Sumatran orangutans and Javan silvery gibbons.
A third stage for Islands opened in summer 2017. This part includes new homes for Malayan sun bears, Palawan binturongs, and Malayan tapirs. There's also a new aviary for Indonesian songbirds. This aviary sometimes features the very rare Javan green magpie.
Membership and Adopting Animals
Chester Zoo offers a special program. You can "adopt" an animal of your choice! When you adopt, you get two free tickets to visit the zoo. You can also become a member. Members can visit Chester Zoo and other UK zoos for free for a whole year. The zoo has over 145,000 members. Every three months, members get an online magazine. It shares updates and news about the zoo.
Chester Zoo on TV
In summer 2007, a TV show called Zoo Days filmed at Chester Zoo. It showed what happens behind the scenes every day. The show was very popular. A second series aired in 2008.
In 2014, BBC One aired a drama called Our Zoo. This show told the story of how George Mottershead and his family started Chester Zoo in the 1930s. Millions of people watched the series.
In 2016, Channel 4 started a series called The Secret Life of the Zoo. This show follows the zookeepers and animals at Chester Zoo. It has been very successful and has run for many seasons.
Images for kids
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A lion at the zoo.
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The Thailand Hornbill enclosure.
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A baby elephant at the Elephants of the Asian Forest exhibit.
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A Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx).
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Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) with a zookeeper.
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A giraffe.
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At the rhinoceros enclosure.
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A Meerkat (Suricata suricatta).
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A butterfly on one of the many flowering plants at the zoo.
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Artwork on a walking path.
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