By Harry Mottram: Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo were put up for sale last year, Axe Valley Wildlife Park has closed down and Helsinki’s Ahtari Zoo has been sold for one euro with all these animal attractions suffering the same problems: historic debt, rising costs and falling visitor numbers. Borth Wild Animal Kingdom in Wales was wound up in 2021 with debts exceeding £100,000, while Jersey Zoo had to implement cost cutting measures including closing an expensive to heat tropical fruit bat house which needed replacing after it made a loss of £4.8million in 2024.
Fortunately for Paignton and Newquay Zoos they have been saved after they were bought by Dutch leisure company Libéma in December. But others have…