With newly-arrived animals settling in and an exciting new play area, Hanwell Zoo is the perfect place to go wild this summer holidays. It is fun, educational and, at just £6 for two adults and two children, a visit is amazing value for the whole family.
New play area and animals
The new playground is now open and has already proved very popular. It features new equipment, a water play area and climbing fort, and easily accessible sensory features to enjoy.
There have also been some exciting new additions to the zoo, with three emperor tamarins now calling Hanwell Zoo their home. Arriving from Newquay Zoo, the monkeys have been moved into a specially-adapted enclosure designed to be similar to their natural arboreal habitat.
These rare creatures, named Manu, Tambo and Ande, are native to the South America’s Amazon basin and face habitat destruction from intensive logging in the wild. Conservation, and a healthy captive population in zoos, is vital; and it is hoped that the Hanwell Zoo tamarins will become an essential group for the international breeding programme.
You can find out more about Hanwell’s latest additions courtesy of zookeeper Beau Jensen McCubbin in this video.
From porcupines to peacocks
There are now 50 species at the zoo, including the ever entertaining meerkats, porcupines, and a family of ring-tailed lemurs which all live in the zoo’s African space.
Spectacular, endangered red-crowned cranes and green peacocks grace the zoo’s Asian aviary, which is dedicated to the conservation of rare birds from the Far East, and the ‘Jungle Walkthrough’ houses a number of fantastic lizards, snakes and butterflies.
The world’s largest rodents called capybara also reside at the zoo, alongside many other species, from the flock of flamboyant flamingos, to more familiar favourites such as pigs, goats, rabbits, ducks, chickens and turkeys.
Alpacas and frilled-neck lizards have now also arrived, adding to the zoo’s impressive array of creatures.
‘Always something amazing to see’
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, the council’s cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “Hanwell Zoo is the summer destination for families in west London. There’s always something amazing to see, from the wonderful new tamarins, to familiar favourites like our meerkats and ring-tailed lemurs.
“Over the past few years, the zoo has been transformed with the renovated, larger and more modern habitats for the animals that live there. There’s even more to enjoy with the exciting new play centre, which is now open.
“I’m really proud to have Hanwell Zoo in the heart of our borough – it’s a real gem for both local people and visitors from far and wide. The zoo also plays a vital role in conservation and education programmes and this would not be possible without the support of our wonderful visitors and volunteers, so I thank everyone involved.”
Going down to the zoo?
Entrance fees into the zoo (not the park) – adults will pay £2.50 and children over three years old £1; but children under three years old will continue to be free.
There will be annual season tickets at great prices – and membership packages too. This entrance money will be essential in funding the running costs of the zoo. You can read more on the zoo’s Facebook page.
