For the last 60 years, we have been known as a privately owned Zoo with a charitable arm, since 2004, which has provided much needed funds to conservation projects around the world, including our own Nature Reserve in South Africa, UmPhafa.
We are delighted to announce that Colchester Zoological Society, has now taken the reins and we begin our new chapter as a charity!
Each and every visit made to Colchester Zoo has contributed to not only the continuous development of the Zoo, but to vital conservation projects worldwide. Whether you have made a purchase of admission tickets, adoptions, experiences, annual passes or by donating through our website, without your support, we wouldn’t be able to help protect wildlife and wild places… but now we can do even more!
Since 2004, we have supported a wide range of projects, from the Elephant Orphanage Project in Zambia, to the Red Panda Network in Nepal. We have always cared passionately about the world’s threatened species so by providing financial and technical assistant, we aim to raise awareness among local people in community conservation programmes, as well as supporting conservation research.
Introducing Colchester Zoological Society
Introducing Colchester Zoological Society
Why has it changed?
Colchester Zoo was privately owned so by changing to Colchester Zoological Society, a charitable trust, we are securing the future of the Zoo and creating a Zoo that can be enjoyed by future generations to come. This change ensures that Colchester Zoo remains a key destination in Colchester and continues to protect and preserve wildlife and wild places with conservation at our heart, as well as providing a first-class visitor experience.
What has changed?
Although it seems like a huge change, you won’t notice a vast difference during your day-to-day visits. The Zoo itself has remained the same, albeit with continuous development as we work towards our future vision. The big change has happened behind the scenes, with the setup of the charitable trust itself. For example, you can now Gift Aid to maximise your donation for conservation! Saying yes to gift aid means that Colchester Zoological Society will receive 25p extra for every £1 you spend on admission and Zoo Passes without costing you a penny more. You can find out more about Gift Aid here.
Will I still be able to use my Zoo Pass?
Yes! We hope that you will join us throughout the exciting journey and enjoy the whole host of benefits included with your Zoo Pass such as entry to our special events, discounts in our catering outlets and Outpost Gift Shop.
Conservation
Since 2004, Colchester Zoo has donated over £4.7 million to a broad spectrum of conservation projects worldwide. Projects over the years have included a wide range of species from orangutans to vultures, hornbills to Komodo dragons and elephants to moths.
