Southport Zoo facts for kids
| Date closed | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Location | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| Land area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Coordinates | 53°39′04″N 3°00′54″W / 53.651°N 3.015°W |
| No. of animals | 1,272 |
| No. of species | 154 |
Southport Zoo was a special place in Southport, Merseyside, England. It was a zoo that covered about 6 acres of land. A family named Carol and Douglas Petrie ran it. The zoo was located very close to the Pleasureland amusement park, a fun place with rides. Many different animals lived there, including 154 kinds of wild animals and birds. Sadly, Southport Zoo closed its doors in 2004.
At Southport Zoo, you could see many amazing animals! Some of the animals living there were chimpanzees, lar gibbons, African lions, and mandrills. There were also beautiful flamingoes, huge giant tortoises, and colorful parrots. Other residents included black-and-white ruffed lemurs, many kinds of reptiles, wise owls, and fancy pheasants.
Animals at Southport Zoo
The zoo was home to a wide variety of creatures. Here is a quick look at how many different types of animals and how many animals there were in total:
| Type of Animal | Number of Species | Number of Animals |
|---|---|---|
| Mammals | 33 | 124 |
| Birds | 60 | 193 |
| Reptiles | 31 | 128 |
| Amphibians | 3 | 12 |
| Fishes | 23 | 166 |
| Invertebrates | 4 | 649 |
| Total | 154 | 1272 |
Why Did Southport Zoo Close?
Southport Zoo closed in 2004. The local council decided not to let the Petrie family continue their lease on the zoo land. Instead, the council gave the lease to Pleasureland. This was so the amusement park could grow and add more fun attractions.
In 2005, the former zoo site became a paintball park. However, the fairground itself closed a year later. Pleasureland later reopened with a new owner and new investments. It is now doing very well and has plans to develop the area where the zoo enclosures used to be. Some groups thought the zoo's lease was not renewed because of concerns about animal welfare.
What Happened to the Animals and Staff?
When Southport Zoo closed, the Petrie family moved to Yorkshire. They took many of their animals with them. They planned to create a new zoo at the Yorkshire Dales Falconry and Conservation Centre in Giggleswick. This center had recently closed down.
Most of the other animals from Southport Zoo found new homes across the country. Large mammals went to a new home in Cumbria. The primates, which are monkeys and apes, moved to a special sanctuary in the Midlands. Other animals found a new home at a smaller zoo in Wales. The Petries had hoped to keep their older animals at their new zoo, as they had cared for them for many years. However, an application to build new exhibits for exotic animals at the falconry site was withdrawn. This was due to efforts by the Captive Animals Protection Society. It is believed that the animals the family took with them were allowed to stay, but not for public display. This was because their zoo license did not cover exotic animals.
Ten people lost their jobs when Southport Zoo closed. This included the manager of the animal collection and five keepers who looked after different types of animals. There was also an estates manager and three other staff members.
