Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner praises Chester Zoo

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has hailed “nationally leading” Chester Zoo following a visit to learn more about our pioneering conservation work.

Prominent MP for Ashton-Under-Lyne, Angela Rayner, met with our animal care teams, conservation experts and CEO, Jamie Christon, to discover more about the zoo’s ongoing efforts to prevent extinction and create a future where nature can survive and thrive.

The visit came as Chester Zoo’s voice has become increasingly prominent in Parliamentary debates, with cross-party MPs starting to draw on the conservation expertise offered by us as a wildlife charity on a range of important topics linked to protecting the environment and restoring global biodiversity.

Ms Rayner said:

“Chester Zoo is a national leader in science, conservation and conservation education that is playing a crucial role in preventing extinction both here in the UK and worldwide… At every turn, Chester Zoo represents pioneering conservation work undertaken by a nationally leading zoo.”

During the visit, we took Ms Rayner on a tour of the largest zoological building in the UK, Monsoon Forest, to share more about Chester Zoo’s work to prevent deforestation by being a driving force in changing behaviours.

She also learnt about our plans to welcome a pair of highly threatened snow leopards, joining the international conservation breeding programme for the species, and our latest project to bring an authentic African savannah with lodge-style accommodation to Cheshire, within the Heart of Africa development which is due to be unveiled in 2025.