Northumberland College Zoo facts for kids
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| Date opened | 26 May 2011 |
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| Location | Ponteland, Northumberland, England |
| Coordinates | 55°5′21.2″N 1°45′58.94″W / 55.089222°N 1.7663722°W |
| No. of species | Over 200 |
| Memberships | BIAZA |
| Website | https://www.northumberland.ac.uk/for-visitors/northumberland-college-zoo/ |
Northumberland College Zoo is a fun place to visit in Ponteland, Northumberland, England. It's located within the huge Kirkley Hall College campus, which is about 400 acres big! This zoo is home to more than 200 different kinds of animals. It's managed by Northumberland College and has been a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) since 2012.
Contents
A Look Back at the Zoo's History
The zoo first opened its doors to visitors in May 2011. Back then, it was called the Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens. Before it became a visitor attraction, the campus was mainly used for teaching. It was a training place for students learning about animal care at Northumberland College.
Early Animal Residents
When the zoo first opened, it had many interesting animals. Some of the first animals included emus and wallabies. There were also cute marmosets, playful lemurs, and curious meerkats.
Joining the Zoo Community
In 2012, the zoo became a member of BIAZA. This group helps zoos and aquariums work together. Because of this membership, the zoo received two red-crowned cranes from Chester Zoo. This helped the zoo grow its animal collection.
A New Name for the Zoo
In July 2020, the zoo changed its name. It became known as Northumberland College Zoo. This new name helps people know it's part of Northumberland College.
What You Can See at the Zoo
The zoo is part of a large 400-acre campus. This campus is shared with Kirkley Hall. The zoo has two main purposes.
Learning and Visiting
During the week, the zoo is a special training place. Students who are studying animal care use it to learn about animals. But on weekends, bank holidays, and school holidays, the zoo opens to everyone! You can visit and see all the amazing animals.
Meet the Animals
Northumberland College Zoo is home to over 200 different species. You can see many interesting creatures there. Some popular animals include meerkats and raccoon dogs. You might also spot bush dogs, binturongs, and palm civets. The zoo also has many small primates, fish, birds, and reptiles.
