But by extension, because of that spend 'for the public's benefit', how many more visitors come to Chester? How many more does Chester have a chance to educate? And how much more gate money, membership cash and secondary spend as a result? All that money goes back into the zoo or its conservation/education projects, because unlike Disney Land, Chester Zoo is not a profit-making enterprise. Money 'for the public' is also for the animals.
You're right of course. My post was based on the fact that theming just isn't something that attracts me to a zoo, bigger and better enclosures do, but I forget that I'm part of a tiny minority in that regard when compared to the general public.