GB: Plans for Yorkshire Wildlife Park Expansion Approved

Founded in 2009, Britain’s Yorkshire Wildlife Park has recently been given green light by Doncaster Council for its planned expansion of around 60 hectares (150 acres) directly adjacent to the existing park site. Besides the addition of animal enclosures, which are to bring new species to the popular zoo, plans include the development of restaurants, shops, a destination hotel and a visitor hub that will be located at the new park entrance at Hurst Lane. The expansion will boost the local economy with the creation of around 300 new jobs at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, doubling the current number of 300 employees. Also, visitor numbers are expected to increase – last year, the zoo registered a new record in attendance with a total of 761,000 guests.

Currently the animal park hosts more than 400 animals from 80 (partly endangered) species. Running a wide range of education offers for visitors of all ages and thanks to financial resources generated by the related Yorkshire Wildlife Park Foundation, the zoo is actively contributing to wildlife conservation. (eap)