Coventry Zoo facts for kids

Coventry Zoo was a zoo located in Whitley, a part of Coventry, England. It was owned and run by members of the well-known Chipperfield circus family.

Coventry Zoo: A Look Back

The zoo opened its doors in 1966. It was built on a site that was about seven and a half acres big. On its busiest day during the first week, over 8,000 people came to visit!

Early Success and Later Challenges

Sadly, the zoo's early success did not last very long. Within ten years, local newspapers started writing about problems. They mentioned that the zoo looked "shabby" and didn't have enough facilities for visitors. They also reported concerns about the conditions where the animals lived.

Animal Adventures and Incidents

There were a few memorable events involving the animals. Once, a zookeeper named Richard McCormack was seriously injured by a two-tonne hippo named Harry. The hippo charged him, causing significant injuries.

In 1972, a leopard named Zac managed to escape from the zoo! Luckily, he was caught again later without hurting anyone.

The Dolphinarium

Between 1972 and 1975, Coventry Zoo had a special dolphinarium. This was a building shaped like a geodesic dome where two dolphins, named Chipper and Nero, lived. In 1975, these two dolphins were moved to a new home at Tierpark Hagenbeck in Hamburg, Germany.

The Famous Impi Statue

One of the most memorable things about Coventry Zoo was a huge statue at the entrance. It was a 35 foot (that's about 10.6 metres) tall fibreglass figure of an Impi. An Impi is a type of Zulu warrior.

After the zoo closed, this large statue was thought to be lost. But in 2011, a surprising discovery was made! The head of the Impi statue was found in a local resident's garden. What happened to the head after that is still a mystery.

Why Did the Zoo Close?

Coventry Zoo closed its doors for good in 1980. The land where the zoo once stood was then sold. In 1983, a sports club was built on the site. Today, that location is home to a David Lloyd Leisure sports club.