Zoo Celebrates 80th Birthday

23 May 2011, 14:27 | Updated: 23 May 2011, 14:52

Eight decades of looking after some of the world’s most endangered and exotic animals are marked celebrated at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo today (Monday May 23rd) on its 80th birthday.

Whipsnade first opened its gates on 23rd May 1931 as Europe’s first open zoo and is celebrated today as a much-respected and world renowned conservation and breeding centre.

To mark the big birthday two supersize figures of 8 and 0 in bold red will be mingling with some of the zoo’s favourite animals.

Zoological Director David Field commented on the anniversary and has been telling Heart:

"ZSL Whipsnade Zoo has, in its 80 years, gone from strength to strength, acting as a focus point for education and raising awareness of the plight of some of the world’s most endangered and exotic animals.

“Today it still provides a wonderful day out in an unrivalled setting. At Whipsnade we can honestly say that at the grand old age of 80 – we’ve only just begun.”