Colchester Zoological Society (CZS) gets green light for brand-new African lion habitat

The Zoo have been working closely with architects at DEARADH ZÚ to develop the design of the new and exciting habitat. A number of professionals have also been involved in the project to ensure a state-of-the-art habitat is delivered with sustainability in mind.

Work has now begun to discharge a number of pre-commencement conditions that were issued with the formal permissions so that CZS can deliver this project as soon as possible to bring something new and exciting to their loyal supporters.

The location of the new habitat will see the expansion of the current area, Edge of Africa, to create a holistic African adventure. The inspiration for the project comes from looking at nature, in particular, the rich biodiversity of the African scrub and Kopje habitats.

This new development will see the construction of an approximate 3000m2 naturalistic lion habitat, complete with scrubland planting areas, mature tree cover, rocky outcrops, dens and water bodies, all of which will encourage the animal’s natural behaviours. The aim of the new exhibit is to encompass the feeling of exploring Africa’s wildlife, discovering a number of species including meerkat, aardvark, fennec fox and of course, African lions.

Jonathan McLoughlin, DEARADH ZÚ Director said, “We are delighted to have received successful approval for the new Lion development at Colchester Zoological Society. With this milestone achieved, the design team will now commence work on the detailed design phase and the discharge of relevant planning conditions. These next steps will bring the project’s ambitious vision closer to reality, creating a vibrant, immersive and high-quality habitat showcasing the lions within a state-of-the-art facility.  We look forward to progressing the project to its next stage and sharing more updates as the project gains momentum.”

This new habitat is not just a lion development but is part of the Zoo’s exciting future plans. In addition to a new lion house, outdoor habitat and indoor viewing, the area will also offer several other exciting features for visitors with ample space for edutainment and activities. A themed African Boma Village will introduce new toilet facilities as well as new food outlets, bringing an immersive dining opportunity.

This is a project that the Zoo have been wanting to start for several years but following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been delayed due to not being in a position for such an investment.

With this multi-million-pound investment, CZS hopes this will pave the way for the future with it being created, not just for lions, but also to enhance visitor experience for all ages and encourage a new generation of conservationists helping to care for wildlife and wild places.

“We are pleased to have received planning permission for this new development that encompasses a whole new visitor experience alongside a number of new habitats including the magnificent African lions. We’ve been waiting in anticipation since we submitted the pre-application in May 2024. Now that we have the green light, we are wasting no time in discharging conditions so works can commence and we can open this new area in 2027. A new lion habitat has been a long time in the making so we really are excited to get to work and offer a new adventure for visitors to discover a range of incredible African species and how they can help towards conservation which is vital for future populations.” Melissa Dench, Business Development Manager at CZS.

Follow the progress of this build via CZS socials and website. You can also donate to CZS to assist with the development of this habitat along with supporting a number of different conservation projects worldwide. Find out more at www.colchesterzoo.org