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Don't forget to keep your ticket - you can return within a week for just £1 per person!
Zoo Tales - Summer writing competition- family tickets to the zoo to be won!
Unleash your creative side with a chance to win family tickets to the Zoo .
Throughout the summer we wil be running a special writing competition for children aged 16yrs and under.
Simply try to imagine what the zoo animals get up to when no one is looking.What sort of adventures do you think they might have? Then write a short story- up to 600 words- and illustrate it with your own pictures .
You can download a copy of the entry form in either pdf or word format version by clicking the link below or alternatively you can pick up an entry form from our reception area.
Once you have completed your story you can then post or email your entry back to us.
For full details of where to post your entry please see the entry form.
Good luck !
Summer Writing Competition Entry form. pdf.pdf
Summer Writing Competition Entry form-word format.doc
"Make a Tree Appear Here" appeal
As the warmer weather starts to arrive,our animals,just like us,enjoy spending much of their time in the sunshine. For our lemurs in particular, trees are an important part of their enclosure interior,this is not just for its atheistic appeal.Lemurs are predominantly arboreal , meaning " living in or among trees ". Both our animal and horticultural teams spend lengthy periods trying to develop a " tree living space " for the lemurs but this is not always as simple as it sounds.
The animal team have installed a number of 'fake’ trees in the black and white ruffed lemur and black lemur enclosures,for the animals to climb on.However these are constructed from dead branches recycled from the Zoo grounds and will, over time,fall apart.
We would ideally like the animals to have real living trees but if we plant young saplings the animals will unfortunately destroy them before they can become established.
Our best option is to purchase and install mature trees...But this is an expensive project!The team are now launching a " Make a Tree Appear Here" appeal.Paws crossed,our wonderful Zoo supporters and visitors will help make this quest a reality. The target of the Tree Appeal is to raise £2000 by September 2017. This will be enough to replace the nine fake trees with real ones !
The month of September is a great time for planting trees. We would warmly welcome donations both big and small from Zoo visitors,from a few pennies up to hundreds of pounds! Every bit will help!
If you would like to help donate towards our "Make a Tree to Appear Here " appeal,you can use the Donate Here button on the right hand side of the website homepage , please add a note " Tree Appeal " during your paypal donation process.Alternatively,if you are visiting,you can simply call into our Adoptions centre Centre .
Start your day with a roaringly good breakfast at the Zoo
Give your day a wild start with a roaringly good breakfast at the zoo . With stunning views over Culver, and great sight into the zoo overlooking our primate complex ,our newly refurshished cafe is now open daily from 9.30am serving breakfast.
Our cafe is open to both Zoo visitors and non zoo visitors alike, so why not arrive early and enjoy a morning feast before you begin your zoo visit.
Home of the Wildheart Trust
After 40 years of being a family business we are proud to announce that we have become a charity!
The IOW Zoo now belongs to The Wildheart Trust (reg charity 1171144) which was set up to make a meaningful impact on the health of the natural world as well as improving the well-being of animals in human care.
The Trust is committed to providing a life-long home to rescued big cats as well as providing a loving home for other animal residents. We aim to engage, involve and empower people from both the heart and the head to help us in the global challenge to make the world a better place for animals.
We also actively contribute towards conservation projects in India,Madagascar and more locally,on the Isle of Wight and,as a charity,we expect to grow our capacity to do so.
We look forward to welcoming you,our 'Wildheart Friends’,to the zoo.
Please remember that if you are a UK taxpayer you are eligible to Gift Aid when you visit!
Charlotte Corney
Founder and CEO
Our Animologists are roaring in for 2017
Our animologist team are looking forward to warmly welcoming you,whether you are new to the zoo or a regular visitor.
The 2017 season is gearing up to be a memorable and exciting one,with so much to see and do for the whole family at the Isle of Wight Zoo.
Our knowledgeable and friendly Animologist team have been working hard to create a wonderful new programme of daily walking safaris around the zoo. This is a great way to get the most from your visit.
Our dedicated Animologists will help you to discover how we lovingly care for our animals as well as giving you an insight into our wildlife conservation programmes in India, Madagascar and on the Isle of Wight.Come and find out how you, can also be a wildlife hero.
The walking safaris are completely free to zoo visitors so please come and join us as we explore the wonderful world of nature.