Chester Zoo Is Struggling

Here is a story that will be of great concern to so many Chester Zoo lovers. Myself included. And of course, not only people from Chester. The appeal of Chester Zoo is so far reaching this story is more than a local issue. The fact that Chester Zoo is struggling is a concern to a lot of people from all corners of the world. Not just Chester and not just the UK.

On the one hand, the problems faced by Chester Zoo really need to be addressed by the powers that be at a national level. Local councillors are lending their support and understandably so, but the Government really need to get involved. And sooner rather than later it would seem.

On the other hand however, we need to do our bit as well. How? Carry on reading to find out more.

Chester Zoo Is Struggling

We all know that businesses, charities, not for profit organisations, individuals and anyone else you can think of are struggling during these worrying times in our lives. As a consequence, the Government are needing to do such a fine balancing act to try and find a way through these troubled times.

Chester Zoo is not alone. The fact that Chester Zoo is struggling is another dilemma for the Government to contend with.

This post will provide some background to the Zoo’s current predicament. Also, I’ll give a quick mention as to some fundraising suggestions and what we can do to help. Throw it open basically and suggest and request some ideas.

Regular website visitors will know I’ve been mentioning a local think tank on a wider scale before now. That thought still holds true by the way. But with regard to the struggles of Chester Zoo, maybe a mini local think tank would be appropriate. A “Chester Zoo Survival Think Tank” possibly?

Or maybe what about tackling it from the residents perspective? Something like “Boris and his mates need your help“

Whichever way it is approached I think some serious thinking needs to be thunk!!! I know that’s not a word, but it should be.

First of all though, Chester Zoo is struggling. How so?

Chester Zoo Is Struggling – How So?

The obvious answer to that of course is because of the coronavirus pandemic. But we knew that before didn’t we. And as I’ve already said, so are so many organisations etc. Since Chester Zoo was allowed to reopen, what has happened, or not happened as the case may well be, to announce that Chester Zoo is struggling today?

You may remember back in June the “Save Our Zoo” campaign was launched after our world famous attraction was told that it must remain closed ‘indefinitely’ following three months of closure due to the coronavirus lockdown.

That ‘indefinitely’ instruction was fortunately overturned just two weeks later. So, the good news was, Chester Zoo could reopen. That in itself was great news going forward. But at that stage a lot of damage had already been inflicted. The Zoo is still suffering from the £5.5million deficit that has been left, having been stripped of 97% of its income. That is a big hit to take for most organisations.

In addition to this deficit, Chester Zoo has suffered even more financial hardship. So far they have been unable to access any of the Government’s £100m “Zoo Animals Support Fund” as a result of the current parameters that are in place. Other, smaller zoos have had the benefit of this Support Fund, but not Chester Zoo. Why is that? I don’t know is the simple answer. Has the Zoo been told why the Government is not supporting them from this fund? I don’t know that either.

Why Is Chester Zoo So Important?

Asking this question on a Chester based website may seem so very obvious to us locals. But it goes beyond just a local issue. Way beyond that. Let’s initially focus on the more immediate local angle though first.

There is the employment aspect of course. Chester Zoo are big, local employers. That alone is a good enough reason for the Government to take a bigger national interest in this. It doesn’t stop there though.

There is the effect on other, local supply businesses. All businesses supplying goods and services to the Zoo will be affected. Also, we need to consider the educational benefits Chester Zoo provides. For instance, a trip to the Zoo for a multitude of local schools, is not only a highly enjoyable recreational experience, but one of huge educational value of course.

Add to that University of Chester job placements, college trips and so on and you can see a big void opening up if the Zoo was no longer with us.

No Chester Zoo would also be a huge local, economic disaster for other businesses. Many times I’ve ambled around Chester Zoo and noticed the many different accents of the visitors. Or seen the many coaches from a variety of places throughout the country.

Many of these visitors of course not only visit the Zoo. They may stay for a weekend for example. The knock on effect of these disappearing visitors will be felt throughout the city and surrounding areas.

And of course, local Cestrians themselves. If the locals can’t visit the Zoo where do they go? A trip out of Chester to another attraction will of course mean that the money spent on these trips is also exiting the local coffers.

A trip to the Zoo has many health benefits as well. For both physical well being and mental health.

The above are just a few of the local issues.

But what about the issues beyond our own locality?

Chester Zoo’s Importance Nationally, Globally and Ecologically

How many times have you read a post on here and elsewhere about the birth of some endangered animal saying ‘hello’ to the world after being born at Chester Zoo?

Chester Zoo is now such an important part of the ecological and animal conservation jigsaw. To lose such an important component of this vital, global necessity shouldn’t even be anywhere near an option really should it.

The ground-breaking scientific research, together with its vital education programmes and its global, species-saving conservation work is so significant you can’t ever imagine the world without Chester Zoo can you. Let alone we Chester residents.

Whenever I post an article about the birth of an endangered baby you can almost hear the “oohs and the aahs.” Understandably so. But what about all the research and the dedicated hard work behind the scenes.

The world should never be in a position to lose this wealth of knowledge and expertise. Preventing animal extinction is of paramount importance. Nor should we ever have to contemplate losing the opportunity to “ooh and aah” as well of course.

It is plain to see therefore how important Chester Zoo is to the city of Chester and beyond that, the world at large. So Boris, what are you doing about it? Let us know. Pronto please. NB: By the way, I’m addressing Boris Johnson here – not our very own Boris the Chimpanzee.

Chester Zoo Is Struggling – Credit To Those Fighting The Fight

As severe as the situation may be it is encouraging to know we have some great support from three local councillors. Jill Houlbrook, Simon Eardley and Matt Bryan are fighting the fight to secure Chester Zoo’s future. They recognise the devastating impact losing our world famous Zoo would have.

We should all be aware of the consequences. So, what can we do?

What Can Be Done About It?

Having now touched on the topic that Chester Zoo is struggling, what can be done about it? Government assistance has been mentioned above. But this is still very much a grey area at the moment. What some people would call a “definite maybe.”

And even if it was confirmed that assistance was available, the question could then well be, when exactly? Aside from waiting for Government assistance, the thinking needs to be, what else can be done? The Zoo needs to be in a position of being able to generate more income. More revenue streams. Stating the obvious there of course.

Wouldn’t it be great therefore if all of us Chester Zoo lovers gave our collective heads a wobble and not only came up with some fundraising ideas, but also supported them.

I’m sure the Zoo has an army of people already with fundraising ideas. I haven’t seen any suggestions, but there again they may not have made the public domain yet.

One suggestion that has already been made is we support the Zoo as much as we can with buying tickets for various events and visits. For instance, the Christmas Lanterns.

But what else folks? Get them cogs cogging!!!

Head Wobbled – What About These Ideas?

As I say, I’m sure the Zoo have many of their own ideas. But until we hear them, I’m going to throw my own thoughts into the mix. Chester Zoo don’t know it but we (Chester Zoo and Chester Lifestyle) are about to have a one-sided, virtual, fundraising local think tank session. In other words, I’m going to post a few suggestions.

In no particular order……

What about offering naming rights to some of the houses or enclosures? Something like rename the elephants enclosure the “MBNA Elephant Empire” or something like that? Or the “M&S Aquarium”? Sponsoring an enclosure or a house could be a great attraction to local businesses. And lucrative for the Zoo.

Talking of MBNA, what about a Chester Zoo MBNA credit card?

I did think about ways of how to utilise the car park a bit more as a fundraising idea. The car park is huge and there is a lot of available space of course. Obviously nothing could be done until we are safe to do so, but initially the idea of a music event came and went very quickly. The space is there to use as a music venue but of course the noise would be too much for the animal residents.

But, the car park idea is there, so go on I urge myself, “wobble your head a bit more!”

Wobble, wobble, wobble and out pops…..

Car Park Fundraising Ideas

If music is a ‘no-no’ what about drive-in movie nights? A big screen, headphones to wear so no loud noise for the residents, popcorn, ice-cream, nibbles…..the whole shebang!!

Car boot sales are an obvious consideration. As are specialist markets, or a fair for the kids. The car park is that big and as long as the Zoo visitor numbers are still to be reduced, there is not the risk of the car park being full if any of these events were during Zoo opening hours. A section of the car park could be utilised.

Imagine being able to pop along to the Zoo and carry out some local craft shopping from the local market stalls on your way back to your car, bus or coach.

Non Car Park Ideas

A monthly online raffle? First prize a year’s membership. Or a half year membership. Or whatever is deemed appropriate. Ticket prices, a £1.00, or £2.00, or whatever.

Regular online competitions? Guess the combined weight of the Rhino enclosure for instance. A £1.00 or £2.00 a ticket. Guess the weight exactly or the nearest to within so many pounds.

Guess how many apples are consumed per week?

The quiz ideas are almost endless really.

Produce education videos. How many of you enjoyed the virtual tours during lockdown? Hearing some of the background information on the animals was fascinating. Why not produce a host of informational DVD’s on a range of the residents.

For instance, a whole DVD on the types of different birds there are resident at Chester Zoo. How many are there? Where are they from? Information about their eating habits, you name it. There must be a lot of scope for the real experts to produce a wide variety of educational DVD’s.

T-shirts? Send in your own photo and have it photoshopped alongside someone like Boris for instance (the Chimpanzee, not the Prime Minister) with a humorous caption along the lines of, “Boris Says…..,” and have it printed on to a T-shirt.

Murder Mystery nights or weekends at The Oakfield? Or a casino night? How cool would a casino night be with Daniel Craig in attendance?

A Zoo Treasure Hunt? With animal related clues. These could be arranged for the evenings while the Zoo is closed.

I’ll stop there for now. The above are only a few ideas. But that’s from giving my head only half a wobble really. More imaginative people than me would no doubt come up with a lot more. These are just tasters. Suffice it to say, fundraising options are aplenty.

Any Fundraising Ideas Need To Be Supported

It’s very well having these ideas and implementing some or all of them, but the public, or the businesses, will still need to support them. And that is where we come in. If we love our world famous attraction, then we must be prepared to show we do.

Yes there are so many demands on us all during these difficult times. Sir Tom did brilliantly raising his £17m or however much it was. But over time people are now maybe growing weary of the constant requests for assistance. And of course, any assistance provided by the public has to be because it is of interest to them.

As it happens, all of the fundraising suggestions above are not just a request for money with no interaction with the public or businesses. We get something out of the suggestions as well. So there is something to interest us. Whether that be the wearing of a T-shirt, enjoying a Treasure Hunt day out, or a casino evening.

As I say folks and fellow Chester Zoo lovers, get yer heads wobbling and your cogs cogging!! Let’s make sure Boris and his pals (NB…our Boris, not the other fella!!) are not wanting for anything.

Thanks for reading my “Chester Zoo Is Struggling” blog post. And thanks for visiting my Chester Lifestyle website. Much appreciated.

Chester Zoo Blog Posts

This is one of many Chester Zoo blog posts here on Chester Lifestyle. To see all of my other Chester Zoo blog posts, click HERE.

Chester Zoo Page

I also have a Chester Zoo page where you can find even more information on our world famous attraction. Go to this link HERE to see this page.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

To see all of my other Chester Lifestyle blog posts on a variety of topics, click HERE.

Please Note

I earn commissions from Amazon for any qualifying purchases made from my Chester Lifestyle website.

By clicking the image below, or the product links below that, you will be taken through to Amazon where you can search and shop safely and securely to your heart’s content. Many thanks.