A new home for the UK's only bonobo troop

This World Bonobo Day, we are excited to share that we are making some changes here at our charity zoo, to create two reimagined animal habitats for our bonobos and chimpanzees...

Following careful plans by our expert teams, we will be swapping over our chimpanzee and bonobo habitats, to improve our care of both species. The bonobo troop will move into what's currently 'Chimpanzee Eden' and our chimpanzee group will move to the existing bonobo house. 

Over time the needs of both species has evolved! This change helps us better meet those needs and maximise our contribution to conservation, whilst also creating some wonderful new spaces for you, our visitors to explore and discover these incredible endangered apes.

For the chimpanzees, their new habitat will offer our keepers greater flexibility to support their current social structure and daily routines; and for the bonobos, this change will provide the space and structure needed for their highly social, active and growing troop. Both groups will continue to receive high standards of care, enrichment and welfare that we pride ourselves on providing for every animal in Twycross Zoo’s care.

Visitor Note: To allow for these exciting changes, Chimpanzee Eden and the current bonobo house will close after February Half Term, reopening in Easter 2026.