Telford’s Hoo Zoo gets around 90,000 to 100,000 visitors per a year, and is celebrating being ranked highly for another year by TripAdvisor.
This is great news for the zoo which is gearing up for a special May Bank Holiday weekend of festivities to celebrate its 35th birthday.
From Saturday to Monday (May 2 to 4) the zoo will host a ‘Big Birthday Bash’ and visitors are encouraged to come along to see the zoo’s popular walkthroughs and attractions.
“Without our visitors, ultimately, we’d be nothing so we appreciate that more than anything,” owner Will Dorrell told the Shropshire Star.
He continued: “We’re delighted, the entire team has worked very hard to make sure that provide as good a day out for people as possible. Obviously, still caring for the animals that we look after.
“It’s nice to know that we’ve beaten a lot of the bigger zoos. It hopefully shows that people are looking for something a little bit different, a more personal touch that perhaps we can provide that the big zoos can’t.
“When you visit us, you’re not going to find state-of-the-art massive buildings and paved paths. Hopefully what you are going to find is something that tickles that family feeling.”
“Obviously [we’re] now in our 35th year. I’ve got two young kids myself, I’ve literally grown up here so we know how important it is for people, and what people are looking for in a day out.
The zoo has just under 300 hundred animals in total, the “most famous” one being Cinnamon the capybara who famously went missing for a week in September 2024.
Cinnamon is back home and the zoo has lots of other fantastic animals worth visiting.
Will Dorrell shared 10 reasons why he thinks you should visit Hoo Zoo in Telford:
1. Cinnamon the Capybara
Will Dorrell says that Cinnamon is the world's most famous capybara and number one reason why you should visit the zoo. | Local Library
2. Home to realistic dinosaur figures
The zoo is home to animatronic dinosaurs and prehistoric beasts which are really popular with children and families. | STEVE LEATH / ICONIC MEDIA
3. Home to 300 animals
These animals include, domestic goats. Hoo Zoo offers chance for families to learn about goats and farming practices. Pictured here Melissa Shipley with Bernard the goat and friends. | STEVE LEATH / ICONIC MEDIA
4. Home to Shropshire's only bouncy pillow
Staff members Nathan Scollay-Harris and Sam Elsby enjoying the huge bouncy pillow | STEVE LEATH / ICONIC MEDIA