Belfast Zoo Belfast Zoo News 2025

Al said:
I look forward to seeing what the next chapter of Belfast zoo brings. The zoo really has declined under the last leadership with a complete loss of its identity. The zoo was once known for its unique collection and this has all been decimated over the last decade. Financial issues, serious health and safety concerns and a very high staff turnover are all things that are quite often glazed over.

Species such as the colobus which had one of the largest open topped enclosures have been moved permanently to an enclosure built for puma in the 80’s much much smaller over the fear of the odd escape. The same for the red pandas who have been relegated to an old small cat enclosure.

Enclosures have been replaced with larger garish cages. When elephants and sun bear left, the enclosures remained the same with wallabies and bush dogs added. No thought, no vision, no development just a sign of a zoo with no direction.

The touted state of the art lion enclosure, really is just the one tiger enclosure with a window to the house and the moat filled in with a pile of massive viewing windows and a concrete slab for the ancient ‘Barbary’ lions to live out their days.

I really do hope they hire or promote someone with a real understanding of what makes a modern zoo and that the council actually let that person take the zoo forward. Too much time is spent from management blaming the council for not enough support and the council struggling to understand why the zoo isn’t performing. They just need a good manager and to let them root out the issues and make serious changes to its operating model.
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With all of these issues, could be difficult recruiting the right person. However, I really hope that whoever gets the job gets the backing from the council and the zoo gets the improvements it deserves.
 
Yes I forgot about the dinosaurs. There were plans of Tasmanian devils or chacoan peccary at the top of the zoo and they got a picnic area and some tacky dinosaurs and the other area they used to have pied and black lion tamarins! Sad times.

There is always hope for someone good to get it but it would take a very brave person to take the brave move to try and take it on from another collection without understanding the at time toxic HR issues and the hurdles and politics that working under a council entails. Internally there are still good people there but whether the right person gets it and if they do again they can navigate the issues I’m not sure.

The zoo is such a beautiful site and it has such a rich history, I really do genuinely hope it turns a corner.
 
Al said:
Yes I forgot about the dinosaurs. There were plans of Tasmanian devils or chacoan peccary at the top of the zoo and they got a picnic area and some tacky dinosaurs and the other area they used to have pied and black lion tamarins! Sad times.

There is always hope for someone good to get it but it would take a very brave person to take the brave move to try and take it on from another collection without understanding the at time toxic HR issues and the hurdles and politics that working under a council entails. Internally there are still good people there but whether the right person gets it and if they do again they can navigate the issues I’m not sure.

The zoo is such a beautiful site and it has such a rich history, I really do genuinely hope it turns a corner.
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Sometimes, recruiting from within, can be for the best. Somebody, who already works there, will know what to expect, plus they can be very loyal to the zoo . Dudley Zoo is a good example of how recruiting from within can work extremely well.
 
It will remain to be seen! A lot of money has been spent on the zoo over the last few years with nothing of note to talk of any modernisation or revolutionary new enclosures. In an ideal world the zoo would be taken over my a charity/trust with experienced zoo professionals and supported by the council for 5-10 years until it is financially stable but knowing the council they will let some random local company take it over and run it like some kind of cheap entertainment attraction.
 
The zoo has been closed today and will be closed again tomorrow for unexpected maintenance.
 
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Exciting news from Belfast Zoo!

In July, Blesbok mum Bluebell and dad Prosper welcomed a healthy calf

Native to South Africa’s grasslands, Blesbok were once hunted to near extinction. Thanks to conservation efforts and successful breeding in Zoos, their future is much brighter – and we’re proud to play a part in that story

Our newest arrival is settling in well, so keep an eye out for the calf alongside mum on your next visit!
 
The zoo are currently hiring for a development manager to oversee "the development and implementation of strategic plans for the zoo's growth and improvement". Fingers crossed they hire someone who truly cares about the zoo's current situation and will help to finally bring it out of the doldrums.

Belfast Zoo | Belfast
 
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