Staff are celebrating a 22 per cent increase in visitor numbers for January to March 2012 compared to last years figures
CEO?Peter Suddock said:?Given the current economic climate this is fantastic news.
The figures are good across the past three months, not just the last few warm days, which we believe is due to an increased presence on our website and daily news update, plus the arrival of two highly endangered tigers which created massive interest.
This years quarterly figures stand at 23,020 compared to 2011s 18,880 for the same period.
Mr Suddock added:?We have had a wonderful start to 2012 and with Easter just around the corner we look set for a marvellous 75th anniversary year.
Anniversary plans for the site include Penguin Bay, a walkthrough enclosure offering visitors a chance to get close to the zoos 70-strong group of rare Humboldt penguins the largest colony in the UK.
The attraction is due to launch May 6, the date the zoo opened to the public in 1937.
Two anniversary stars are already settling in; Amur tiger Tschuna and Sumatran tiger, Daseep, transferred in February and have already become visitors favourites.
Modification work to the big cats’ enclosure created an eye-level glass viewing area offering never-before-seen angles of the iconic triple Tecton complex, plus a live tiger cam for off-site viewing.
Also on the list is the restoration of the 1958 chairlift one of the oldest in the country.
Work will begin in May with midsummer completion and offer visitors a view from the air of some of the rarest animals in the world.
Mr Suddock added: Its going to be a brilliant year; not only is it our 75th anniversary, well also be finalising plans for the new entrance, retail complex and Tecton interpretation centre, there are wonderful additions to the animal collection and, of course, the chairlift will be restored, so theres a lot to celebrate.
CAPTION: CEO?Peter Suddock celebrates a 22 per cent increase in visitor numbers.
