Molly Badham MBE, Nathalie Evans and their unique collection of amazing animals opened the gates to Twycross Zoo on Sunday 26 May 1963, in an opening ceremony performed by Jean Morton.

Becoming the UK's first female zoo founders, little did they know they were launching a business that would grow to have an international impact on the conservation of endangered animals.

Dedicated to achieving the highest standards of animal care and conserve the natural world, we became one of the founding members of BIAZA - British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Learn about BIAZA

To continue its conservation work and secure its future, the zoo became a charitable trust - The East Midland Zoological Society.

The famous association with Brooke Bond (PG Tips) Tea came to an end. The advertising campaigns featuring Twycross Zoo's chimps are fondly remembered by the British public and helped to raise vital funds for the zoo

Twycross Zoo employed its first, of many, dedicated Education Officers and taught over 7000 children that year.

Learn about education at Twycross Zoo

Bonobos arrive in the UK for the first time, at Twycross Zoo. We're still proud to be the only zoo in the UK caring for bonobos today.

Learn about bonobos

Miss Molly Badham was awarded an MBE by HRH Queen Elizabeth II for her services to the conservation of endangered species.

Learn about conservation

A giant leap forward for conservation. Twycross Zoo launched our 'Conservation Welfare Fund' to aid the conservation of wild animals. We continue to support numerous projects across the world today.

Learn about our global partners

A world-class enclosure opened for our gibbons. Gibbon Forest shows a movement towards the future of the zoo, with naturalistic enclosures designed to provide the most enriching environment as possible for our animals.

Bringing the zoos chimp groups together under one roof the first time. With the help of the University of Birmingham the enclosure was designed to provide the chimps with the ability to behave like their wild counterparts.

Two critically endangered species arrive at Twycross Zoo. The Eastern black rhino and the Sumatran tiger (Along with a multi-million pound purpose built habitat).

Twycross Zoo is awarded a record £19.9million from the Government to create a National Science and Conservation Centre. Accelerating our vision to become a 'centre of excellence' in primate care, and a hub for conservation, research and STEM education.

Learn about our future

Aimed at sparking the imagination of the next generation and engaging them with the wonders of the natural world at the youngest age, The Gruffalo Discovery Land opened at Twycross Zoo.

Learn about The Gruffalo Discovery Land

We're proud to be celebrating 60 years of incredible animals, people, moments, achievements, and conservation work; whilst looking forward into the future and the next steps in fighting the extinction crisis together.

Support our fight against extinction

As an organisation led by science, research and education, we proudly launched our new Conservation Strategy 2023-2030. A six goal strategy that will maximise our impact in the fight against extinction. Twycross Zoo's future activity will be guided by these goals, to ensure we are using our resource efficiently to preserve species across the world.

Discover our strategy