Chester Zoo has set a new all-time visitor record, welcoming more than 2.1 million people through its gates in 2025.
New figures released today reveal that 2,136,224 visitors visited the conservation charity last year, making it the busiest year in the zoo’s history since it first opened in 1931.
It marks the first time Chester Zoo has surpassed the 2.1 million visitor milestone, overtaking its previous record of 2,086,785 visitors set in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zoo conservationists have issued a heartfelt thank you to supporters, saying the record-breaking numbers reflect continued public backing for the zoo’s mission to protect wildlife and prevent extinction around the world.
They say the milestone year follows sustained investment in world-class animal habitats, cutting-edge conservation science, and global field projects aimed at safeguarding some of the planet’s most threatened species.
Two major developments launched in 2025 played a key role in the landmark year. In spring, the zoo opened Heart of Africa, the largest zoo habitat ever created in the UK. Spanning 22 acres, the immersive landscape is home to more than 57 highly threatened African species and showcases the zoo’s long-standing conservation work across Central and East Africa.
The habitat highlights efforts to protect species including the Eastern black rhino, Northern giraffe, giant pangolin and Eastern bongo, with on-the-ground conservation projects led by Chester Zoo teams in the wild.
Later in the year, the zoo unveiled The Reserve, its highly anticipated nature-inspired hotel featuring 51 luxury lodges. The unique accommodation allows guests to wake up to views of giraffe, zebra and antelope roaming just metres from their private balconies, creating a new way for visitors to connect with wildlife.
Zoo bosses say funds generated by both developments are already supporting vital conservation breakthroughs globally, helping to protect endangered species, restore habitats and support communities living alongside wildlife.
They added that every visit directly contributes to the zoo’s conservation work, both in the UK and across more than 20 countries worldwide, reinforcing the importance of public support in the fight against extinction.
Jamie Christon, Chief Executive Officer at Chester Zoo, said:
“2025 has been a truly remarkable year for Chester Zoo and one that will be fondly remembered in our long history. To welcome more than 2.1million visitors and set a new record is an extraordinary achievement, and one that belongs to every single person who chose to visit our national conservation zoo – as well as our incredible staff and volunteers whose dedication makes everything we do possible.
“This year alone, that support has helped us open the UK’s largest zoo habitat for some of Africa’s most endangered species, launch a new conservation-led hotel where income is helping wildlife globally, and achieve pioneering scientific breakthroughs – including the development of the world’s first vaccine to protect elephants from one of their greatest threats, a deadly disease called EEHV.
“None of this would be possible without the unwavering backing of our visitors, members and donors, who are helping us to prevent wildlife extinction every day.”
The landmark year was also defined by successes in the zoo’s conservation breeding programmes, including the historic birth of a snow leopard cub – a first for the conservation charity. This was followed by the birth of the UK’s only fossa pups, a species found in Madagascar, and eight Socorro dove chicks, a bird declared extinct in the wild in the 1970s and now only surviving thanks to the global efforts of zoos.
The zoo also welcomed several highly endangered new arrivals, including two Asiatic lions – the world’s rarest lion species – alongside two Northeast African cheetahs, a pair of jaguars and two Asian elephants, each carefully selected to play a vital role in safeguarding the future of their species.
Kirsten Pullen, Chief Conservation Officer at Chester Zoo, said:
“Thanks to our visitors, our impact is being felt around the world as every ticket is funding vital conservation work, from caring for and breeding some of the world’s most threatened plant and animal species right here in Chester, to delivering projects on the ground in 20 different countries across Africa, Asia, South America and Europe.”
“These global initiatives bring together pioneering science and research, the expert technical knowledge of our teams and, importantly, the involvement of local communities who share their landscapes with wildlife. By ensuring people feel genuinely connected and invested in protecting the natural world around them, we can create lasting change for generations to come.”
Chester Zoo spans 130 acres and is home to more than 30,000 animals from more than 500 highly threatened species. It generates around £50m every year for the regional economy and, during peak summer months, employs up to 1,000 people.
The zoo is widely regarded as the UK’s leading conservation zoo and is firmly established as one of the top three zoos in Europe, and one of the best in the world, according to users of the travel website TripAdvisor.
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