We’ve submitted plans for the biggest ever single investment in our 44-year history
An exciting multi-million project to build a new elephant facility has been proposed for currently unused zoo land which will be home to a family of one of the largest land mammals on earth – the endangered Asian Elephant.
We already have one Asian elephant, Kate, who was the first animal to arrive before we opened in 1972 when she was just four years old.
Kate will remain in the current elephant enclosure whilst the proposed works take place, and will be the first resident in the much larger luxury pad when it is completed.
Darren Webster, Managing Director at Blackpool Zoo, said:
“Blackpool Zoo is committed to improving the welfare of its elephants both present and future, and, with this in mind, we are planning to build a new, state of the art facility on a large area of previously unused land within the park. The new house and paddock, which will be one of the largest in the UK, will offer an extensive outdoor enclosure with a pool, a grazing field and a spacious indoor area which will exceed welfare recommendations and safety standards for the elephants and their keepers.
Whilst we are committed to the long term future of our current elephant, Kate, whose welfare and well-being is paramount, her future and that of other elephants residing within this new facility will ultimately be decided upon by the EEP for this species.
Blackpool Zoo is certain that, with the development of this new facility, it will not only enhance the current welfare of its existing elephant, but will offer the captive population of elephants within Europe a facility that will help to achieve the aims and target population required to act as a safety net for this iconic endangered species.”