Colchester Zoo shares visitor memories in celebration of BIAZA’s Love Your Zoo campaign

In celebration of BIAZA’s Love Your Zoo campaign, which ran from 27th to 31st May 2024, Colchester Zoo invited visitors to share their favourite memories of the Zoo on social media.

In just a under a week, Colchester Zoo’s Facebook post received over 200 comments with visitors sharing photos, stories and messages. As a result of the overwhelming response, the Zoo decided to share the memories on their website for everyone to enjoy.

Colchester Zoo’s Managing Director, Dr Dominique Tropeano OBE said, “I find these stories amazing and am extremely grateful to all the people who took the trouble to write and share their memories with us, thank you!”

One visitor said, “My favourite memory is of when my mum was alive she used to love being the last person to visit the chimpanzees. She adored these beautiful animals and could watch them for hours. My mum sadly passed away before she met my beautiful children and gorgeous nephew and it brings me so much joy that they too love visiting the chimps and crocodile and could sit for hours in the exact spot my mum would have.”

Another visitor said, “I have loads of memories from a first date with my now husband to sharing trips to the zoo with my daughter, who has gone since she was a newborn. But mine has to be when I did Zoo keeper for a day. Such an amazing day and to meet the lovely and hard working keepers who care for the incredible animals. That was the day I realised how much I love hyenas.”

BIAZA’s Love Your Zoo campaign is an annual nationwide event which promotes the important work carried out by Zoos and Aquariums across the country, to support nature conservation, education and research.

Throughout May half term, Colchester Zoo had a number of activities taking place to support this year’s Love Your Zoo theme, ‘Animal Champions’, including Keeper on the Couch and their ever-popular Exploratorium. The Zoo also held their very own ‘Conservation Celebration’ on Wednesday 29th May 2024, which welcomed stalls from local colleges.