A leading British zoo has announced it is making a game-changing contribution to the fight against global extinction, with the creation of a Global Conservation Centre, thanks to an £18 million investment from the UK Government.
Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, UK, is set to receive the biggest single Government grant ever given to a UK zoo, for a state-of-the-art facility which will be dedicated to advancing global conservation solutions, from the heart of the UK.
The £25million Global Conservation Centre is being developed in partnership with the local borough council and some of the UK’s leading universities. It will act as a hub for the zoo’s expanding global conservation work, scientific research, and education programmes; as well as a community space to inspire, train and facilitate the next generation of conservation leaders under one roof.
Chief conservation officer at Twycross Zoo and vice chair of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), Dr Rebecca Biddle said:
“The unrelenting pressure that we face from the dual climate and biodiversity loss crises, pose a serious threat to the survival of our planet. Our conservation efforts need to be bigger, bolder and more united. Zoos are being called on to do more in this mission, and the Global Conservation Centre is our answer to that call.
Uniquely designed and positioned to allow international conservationists to work in connection with the natural world, we believe that being alongside the species we are working to save will offer unrivalled opportunities to study, learn and develop real-world solutions for endangered wildlife.
We are truly grateful to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and our local MP, Dr Luke Evans, for their continued backing of this project, supporting us for the last few years to secure this staggering £18million of Government funding for our charity.
Twycross Zoo has been a pioneering organisation since it opened its gates in 1963, but we know that we cannot solve the biodiversity crisis by ourselves. The Global Conservation Centre will facilitate collaboration to accelerate innovation, multidisciplinary research and applied conservation action for the species who need it most.”
Alongside the development of the Global Conservation Centre, Twycross Zoo has announced a brand new Indonesian-themed land is set to be created adjacent to the conservation campus.
This area will include a new, world-class Bornean orangutan habitat, as well as new habitats for several other threatened Indonesian species which the zoo will begin to care for as part of its ex-situ conservation work.
Additionally, the zoo has pledged to expand its conservation projects in Indonesia, in partnership with Borneo Nature Foundation, and Action Indonesia.
The development of the Global Conservation Centre at Twycross Zoo forms part of the charity’s ambitious future vision and commitment to tackling the biodiversity crisis; having published its first-ever public-facing conservation strategy in 2023.
Within its 2030 strategy, the zoo pledged to scale up its actions and maximise its resources as a charity to fight the biodiversity crisis that our planet currently faces. It has committed to reversing the IUCN Red List status of 15 species, including the four great ape species it currently cares for: chimpanzee, orangutan, gorilla and bonobo.
The centre’s facilities will create a base for international scientists, conservationists and animal welfare experts to collaborate and create impactful solutions for protecting endangered species.
Key features of the Global Conservation Centre will also include:
- A 200-seat lecture theatre overlooking the new Bornean orangutan habitat.
- Research & Teaching Spaces featuring 3 indoor classrooms with adjacent wildlife gardens, and a science lab.
- 24 bedrooms to accommodate welcome professionals and students from around the world.
Alongside, boosting the charity’s conservation impact, the Global Conservation Centre is said to be generating 90 gross direct jobs and £3.9m GVA per annum. Construction is due to start in late June 2025, with the Global Conservation Centre campus planned to open in late-2026, marking a bold chapter in Midlands-based charity’s journey.
