London Zoo wins top award from the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

The prize was awarded for the high standard of accommodation for invertebrates and lower vertebrates in London Zoo's unique biodiversity exhibit, the Web of Life, housed in the Millennium Conservation Centre. The exhibit was judged to have best promoted natural behaviour, high standards of animal welfare and public understanding of animal needs.

Paul Pearce Kelly, Curator of Invertebrates at London Zoo, said: "We're absolutely thrilled to receive this welfare award. It certainly reflects the tremendous efforts of all concerned in ensuring that the Web of Life's animal care facilities have realised the highest standards. It is excellent that our visitors have the opportunity of seeing so much of those facilities at first hand."

Professor David Bellamy will present London Zoo with their award on behalf of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, at the Web of Life exhibit at London Zoo on Friday 30 November at 1.30pm. The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare has been running this competition since 1986; it is aimed at promoting high standards of welfare for captive wild animals.

Professor Bellamy commented: "This is great news indeed, all the animals will be wagging their tails, and all the creepy crawlies waving their antennae. Anyone who hasn't seen the Web of Life,make a New Year's resolution and join the party, you will be made as much at home as the animals."

The Web of Life tells the story of biodiversity - the term used to describe the astonishing variety of life on Earth. Located in a state-of-the-art, environmentally progressive building, the Web of Life is the world's first zoo exhibition specifically tailored to feature biodiversity and its conservation.

Using a unique combination of over 60 live animal exhibits, most of which are invertebrates or 'lower' vertebrates, the Millennium Commission-funded project investigates and explains the meaning of biodiversity and the need for conservation in a clear, fascinating and exciting way. Interactive displays and on-show breeding facilities illustrate each part of the biodiversity story.

For further information please contact:

The Zoological Society of London Public Relations Office:
Joe Laing: 020 7449 6236 / Fax: 020 7449 6362
Debbie Curtis: 020 7449 6363
E-mail: publicrelations@zsl.org

The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare,
The Old School,
Wheathampstead AL4 8AN
Samantha Mills: 01582 831 818 Fax: 01582 831 414
Email: scioff@ufaw.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• The Web of Life exhibit housed within the Millennium Conservation Centre was partially funded by the Millennium Commission.

• The Web of Life is home to more than 60 different species, from locusts and cockroaches to the critically endangered Bali starlings and giant anteaters.

• The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare also awarded Blackpool Zoo's Gorilla Mountain the animal welfare award.

• The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare is an internationally recognised, independent, scientific and educational animal welfare charity. The organisation is concerned with promoting high standards of welfare for farm, companion, laboratory and captive wild animals and for those with which we interact in the wild.

• The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare works to improve animal welfare in the UK and overseas by:
  - Promoting and supporting developments in science that underpin advances in animal welfare.
  - Promoting education about animal welfare, the assessment of animal welfare and current issues in animal care, particularly at the university and college level.
  - Providing information and expert advice about animal welfare to government departments and other bodies; organising meetings; and publishing books, videos, articles, technical reports and the quarterly scientific journal Animal Welfare.

• Previous winners of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare 'Zoo Animal Welfare Awards' include:
  - 2000 Awards
  Seal and Penguin Coasts, Bristol Zoo
  - 1999 Awards
  Twilight Zone, Chester Zoo
  Penguin Cone Feeder, Edinburgh Zoo
  - 1998 Awards
  Woolly Monkey Habitat, Monkey World in Dorset
  - 1998 Awards
  Marie Le Fevre Ape Centre, Paignton Zoo
  Artificial Termite Mound, Paignton Zoo