CHESTER ZOO is the UK's number one zoo, with over 7000 animals and 400 different species, including some of the most endangered species on the planet. The Zoo was founded by George Mottershead. As a child, he visited a now closed zoo in Manchester, and is reported to have been so upset seeing large animals in small cages, that he said to his father 'when I have a zoo, it won't have any bars'. His dream was finally realised in 1930, when he brought his family to live in the Oakfield house and formed the original collection of animals from an earlier zoo at Shavington, near Crewe.
His venture became the North of England Zoological Society in 1934, and with considerable skill and enthusiasm, he kept the Zoo going through the Second World War. Today, Chester Zoo welcomes some 1.3 million visitors a year.
Chester Zoo's mission is "To be a major force in conserving biodiversity worldwide".
Chester Zoological Gardens
Caughall Road
Upton-by-Chester
Chester
CH2 1LH
Telephone: 01244 380 280
Fax: 01244 371 273
www.chesterzoo.org