It could be zoo…

The Zoo is also anticipating its highest visitor figures since 1991, when a financial crisis brought visitors in their droves to help save it from closure.

The success of new exhibits Gorilla Kingdom and Clore Rainforest Lookout has bolstered visitor numbers - and even the miserable “summer” hasn’t been enough to stop people visiting the Zoo to come face-to-face with a gorilla, spot the world’s smallest monkeys or see sloths sloping around the rainforest canopy.

This bumper year for ZSL London Zoo proves that its “bring down the bars” crusade is moving the Zoo in the right direction, and, as visitors vote with their feet, Zoo bosses pledge to keep up the good work.

Zoo staff are now poised for the millionth paying customer to walk through the gates. The lucky visitor and their companions will be taken around the Zoo on a personalised behind-the-scenes tour, treated to a free lunch, and given the opportunity to adopt an animal of their choice before leaving with a selection of fantastic souvenirs.

ZSL Marketing Manager, James Bailey, said: “Our rising visitor numbers are proof that ZSL London Zoo is doing things right, and we will continue improving the Zoo for both animals and visitors. We are very excited about welcoming the millionth visitor this year, it’s a real milestone for us and someone is certainly going to have an extra special day out.”

Based on current ticket sales, ZSL predicts the millionth customer is likely to visit the Zoo between the 18th and 24th of October this year. Income from ticket sales is ploughed back into wildlife conservation, so each ticket purchased offers endangered animals the prospect of a brighter future.

Notes to editors

• ZSL London Zoo welcomed 883,000 visitors last year (2006).
• The last time ZSL London Zoo visitor numbers topped 1m was in 1999, when 1,017,469 guests came in.
• In 1991, ZSL London Zoo faced closure as funds dwindled. Publicity surrounding the impending closure saw a spike in visitors who wanted to do their bit to save the Zoo, resulting in 1.1m people visiting.
• Current figures indicate that if the number of visitors continues as expected, around 1.2m people will have visited the Zoo during 2007.
• Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. The Society runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research in the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in other countries worldwide.

Press Contact

Emma Kenly
Press Officer
Zoological Society of London
ZSL London Zoo
Regent's Park
London NW1 4RY
emma.kenly@zsl.org