The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Lesley Scott-Boutell, was invited by CZS to speak with the management team to learn more about the Zoo’s recent transition to a charity and how their conservation work is helping to care for wildlife and wild places worldwide.
On 1st February 2025, the Zoo officially became a charity known as Colchester Zoological Society. Becoming a Conservation Charity Zoo, CZS are working hard to raise awareness of the importance of conservation and how a day at the Zoo also contributes to various projects worldwide.
During her visit, the Mayor also visited the Zoo’s newly refurbished ‘Capuchin Climb’ habitat, home to the Critically Endangered buff-headed capuchin species.
Zoological Director, Rebecca Moore, said “We were pleased to welcome the Mayor, Ms Lesley Scott-Boutell, to Colchester Zoological Society to update her on some of the important changes that have taken place with our charity this year, on our recent conservation and education work and on our plans for the future.“
“We took the opportunity to highlight the aspirations of our charity, which links into the Mayor’s commitment to make Colchester an even more vibrant and inclusive city for all, and to showcase the hard work our team have undertaken to build a new habitat for our critically endangered buff-headed capuchins. With the Mayor being a keen animal lover, it was a good opportunity to highlight the unique features of this primate species and show how we pride ourselves in providing the best welfare for the monkeys and across the Zoo.”
Trips to CZS mean more to the world of conservation than visitors may realise, and this transition will hopefully encourage a new generation of conservationists. We are very grateful for the support of the local community and want to continue to grow this relationship, so we were delighted to welcome the Mayor for this visit.
The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Lesley Scott-Boutell, said “I was delighted to visit Colchester Zoological Society, meet the team, and learn more about the benefits of their new charity status. It was inspiring to hear about the vital conservation work they’re carrying out at UmPhafa, their supported nature reserve in South Africa, which plays a key role in wildlife research and species protection.”
“I was also pleased to see the focus on education and how they’re engaging schools and young people in conversations about conservation and sustainability – topics that are crucial to our shared future.”
“The strong connection between CZS and our local community is clear, and I’m proud to support efforts to grow and strengthen that relationship.”
