26 June 2026
As we celebrate 200 years of ZSL, we've marked the milestone with something new: a Thankathon.
Over two days, colleagues from across the organisation came together to personally thank the supporters who have made two centuries of conservation, science and discovery possible.
A first for ZSL
This is the first time we've run an event like this. Rather than marking our 200th anniversary with celebration alone, we wanted to use it as an opportunity to say thank you, properly and personally, to the people who have supported us along the way.
Over the two days, our teams made 1,098 phone calls and sent 32,319 people emails, reaching as many supporters as we possibly could.
Two hundred years of protecting and restoring wildlife does not happen without sustained support.
We work to enable wildlife and people to thrive together, and that mission has only been possible because of the generosity, passion and dedication of our community.
A message from Kathryn England, our CEO
"Your support plays a vital role in helping us create a world where wildlife thrives. From protecting Endangered species and restoring habitats to inspiring future generations to care about nature, every achievement is made possible by people like you. Whether you have supported us for many years or have only recently joined our community, your commitment helps drive our conservation work forward, both here in the UK and around the world."
While we were not able to speak with every supporter individually, we wanted every one of you to know how much you mean to us. That is why we are sharing this message on behalf of all of us at ZSL.
More from our 200th year
The Thankathon is one part of an exciting and multi-faceted programme marking our momentous anniversary year - designed to celebrate our impact, connect new and existing audiences with our history, and renew our commitment to wildlife for the next two hundred years.
We’ve announced a new wildlife health centre. Made possible by the most significant philanthropic donation in our two-hundred-year history, our new wildlife health centre will help us protect animals, advance science, prevent disease and train the next generation of conservationists, building on two centuries of expertise in wildlife health.
A poem from the Poet Laureate. To mark our bicentenary, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage wrote a special commemorative poem reflecting on our history and our work for wildlife.
Wildest Moments, our new podcast. Hosted by Ben Fogle and created in partnership with Mountain Warehouse, Wildest Moments explores the surprising, emotional and transformative encounters people have had with wildlife, with new episodes released on the third Thursday of every month. And there’s so much more to explore this year.
Looking back, and ahead
As we look back on two centuries of conservation and scientific discovery, we are reminded that none of it would have been possible without the generosity of our supporters.
