Blackpool Zoo - History

History

Opened in 1972, in recent years the Zoo has been the subject of demonstrations by local animal rights campaigners, who allege that the conditions in which some of the animals are kept do not reflect their natural habitat and therefore are not conducive to the animals' welfare. These groups stage peaceful pickets and distribute leaflets, usually on bank-holiday weekends. The Zoo prepares for these events by producing targeted, anti-protestor literature that is distributed upon their arrival.

2005 saw the opening of the 'Dinosaur Safari', a walkthrough exhibition featuring models of 32 life-size dinosaurs around a trail. The exhibition has had a lukewarm reception as the models of the dinosaurs are deemed by many to be unrealistic and the extra cost of the trail catches many guests unaware. The Dinosaur Safari was included in the normal entrance fee starting in mid 2007. "Amazonia" opened in 2006. This is a walk-through enclosure of South American animals and birds including 5 species of monkeys. Giraffes were re-introduced to the zoo in 2008, after an absence of 14 years, and over £0.5m was invested in the new giraffe house and pens.

In summer 2009, penguins were to be added to the list of animals at the zoo, with the arrival of 20 African penguins from two Spanish conservation centres. A £1m sealion pool was opened in May 2010 along with the addition of a male sealion from Spain. 2011 saw the opening of a new Children's Farm and the expansion and refurbishment of the main restaurant.