Blackpool Zoo sends donation to Australian wildlife crisis

The money will be donated to the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia’s Wildlife Conservation Fund to rescue and rehabilitate native wildlife, restore and improve resilience of habitats, fund the reassessment of species status and support and help to establish targeted breed for release conservation activities.

During Sunday 26th January staff at the zoo hosted lots of themed events and activities including a dedicated Australian trail that took visitors on a journey to see species native to the country

In addition, the Conservation Station taught people about the zoo’s aussie residents including wallabies, kangaroos, potoroos, White’s tree frogs, roseate cockatoos, emus, kookaburra and eclectus parrots. 

Lots of visitors took the opportunity to name one of the zoo’s wallabies, kangaroos, potoroos, galahs or rainbow lorikeets and all the proceeds from the sale of nectar pots to feed the lorikeets in Rainbow Landings were added to the fund.

Finally, the online raffle was a huge success with people winning prizes including a big cat feed, a family ticket for the zoo, Blackpool Tower or Sandcastle Waterpark, two Golden Circle tickets to the Blackpool Illuminations switch on or one of five kangaroo or wallaby adoptions. 

Darren Webster, Zoo Director, explained: “The devastating fires in Australia continue to burn and the effects will be felt for a long time to come. 

“The latest fires are burning through 400 hectares an hour, with thousands of people and animals being forced to flee their homes. 

“The team here at Blackpool Zoo worked really hard to ensure the day raised as much money and awareness as possible and they did an absolutely fantastic job. 

 “We’re proud to be donating £3500 to the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australia’s Wildlife Conservation Fund.”

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Blackpool Zoo is a proud Partner of Visit Lancashire

Blackpool Zoo is owned by Parques Reunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world-wide player. The zoo is home to over 1,000 mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates set amidst thirty-seven acres of mature woodland and lakes.

The zoo’s signature animals include elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, orangutans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos. It is open every day of the year, apart from Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information visit www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk

Blackpool Zoo is a member of The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), which is a conservation, education and wildlife charity, representing over 100 of the best zoos and aquariums in Britain and Ireland.

BIAZA collections have global impact, participating in over 800 conservation projects, 1,400 research projects and contributing more than £24 million a year to field conservation. With over 30 million visitors being welcomed annually, BIAZA zoos and aquariums are recognised as offering a fun and safe way to learn about animals and together they deliver formal education sessions to more than 1 million students. www.biaza.org.uk