| Colchester Zoo was first opened in June 1963. It was
called Stanway Hall Zoo Park and was owned by two zoologists called
Frank and Helena Farrar. The Zoo was very small just 25 acres and
had a very small collection of animals ranging from Big cats to Kangaroos.
It was soon renamed Colchester Zoo. It was a conservation centre then
as it is now.
“Stanway Hall offers me the opportunity of helping in
the preservation of animals”. Frank Farrar May 1963
Colchester Zoo was taken over in 1983 by the current owners who
run the zoo as a family business and a private limited company (Colchester
Zoo Ltd). At that time the zoo received around 100,000 visitors
a year. The zoo was a tight team with just 5 keepers and 5 other
part time staff!
The zoo grounds over the last 37 years have increased from 25 acres
to over 60 acres. We now employ over 250 staff and have over 500,000
visitors a year.
Over the last two decades the zoo has seen many changes, bigger
and better designed enclosures and the introduction of more new
and highly endangered species including Komodo Dragons, Waldrapp
Ibis, Amur Leopards and Amur Tigers.
A number of species at Colchester Zoo are members of the EEP breeding
programs (European Endangered Species breeding programs), these
programs are aimed to maintain the captive populations of endangered
species and some of the future offspring of these animals could
be used in reintroduction programs.
Colchester Zoo is a conservation centre first and foremost. We
want to educate the public about the animals, their habitats and
the threats to the animals and their environment. We want to raise
awareness and empower people to respect and help animals world-wide.
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